Unexpected Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

join the guys outside," he said as he stepped through the open doorway, obviously anxious to escape her presence.
    Lara, however, wasn't eager to let him go. She wriggled out of Mrs. McClintock's arms. "Can I go, too, Mommy?" she asked. When Abby reluctantly offered a nod, the child ran out after him. reaching for Clayton's hand as two boys about her age ran up to them. They were dark-haired, blue-eyed miniatures of the man who stood beside Mr. Kelly at the grill. But Lara was obviously not charmed by their cuteness, and she clung to Clayton until the twins ran off across the backyard.
    "Clayton has a fan," his mother said, grinning as she picked up the salad bowl and joined the others on the patio, leaving Molly. Brenna, Colleen and Abby alone in the kitchen.
    A wide smile spread across Colleen's face. "This is so great. We're all here together again."
    "Except for one of us." Molly reminded her younger sister of Eric's absence.
    Abby had a pretty good idea about why Eric had backed out of being a groomsman. She imagined he would still probably rather be Molly's groom. Apparently a lot of things hadn't changed.
    "It's so great to have you home, Abby," Colleen exclaimed, throwing her arms around Abby's neck.
    Despite her concern over the impending marriage, Abby's heart swelled with happiness. She patted Colleen's back. "Hey, it's not like you guys haven't seen me in years. You've visited me. Not often enough," she playfully observed, "but at least you've visited."
    "It's not the same as having you here." Colleen insisted. "Now that you've given up your place in Chicago, you need to move back to Cloverville. You can open the third branch of Temps to Go here."
    The request wasn't exactly new. Abby had fielded it repeatedly in phone calls, letters and e-mails. She'd never been able to make Colleen understand that, to her, Cloverville could never be home. So instead of arguing, she changed the subject. "Brenna, did you hire any strippers for tonight?"
    Colleen's thin body shook with laughter. With her graceful build and gorgeous face, the girl could have been a supermodel rather than an office manager. But like her big brother, she might have assumed her career out of a sense of obligation. Or guilt—as Abby well knew.
    Regret dimmed Abby's happiness as she considered the part she'd played in Colleen's guilt. Maybe Clayton was right. Maybe she had caused too much trouble in the McClintock household.
    "Strippers?" Colleen shook her head. "You haven't met the groom yet. No stripper could measure up to him."
    "We're not having strippers." Brenna insisted, her expression strained. Not that she would disapprove of strippers— Brenna Kelly was no prude. Was she stressed with her responsibilities as maid of honor? From the long-distance conversations she'd had over the past few weeks, Abby suspected Brenna had more interest in planning the wedding than the bride had. And maybe more interest in the groom.
    "It looks like dinner's ready," the redhead murmured as she stepped outside to join the others on the patio.
    "Come on," Colleen pleaded with her sister. "You can share Josh with us for one night. You're going to have him for the rest of your life."
    What little color there had been in Molly's face drained away, leaving her skin almost translucent.
    "The thought of spending the rest of my life with one particular someone would give me the willies, too." Abby admitted. Not that anyone would want her forever. Even her own parents hadn't wanted her.
    Molly shook her head. "No, it's just that..."
    "What?" Abby persisted, hoping Molly would finally admit to her doubts.
    But the brunette laughed. " I haven't even seen him naked yet."
    Colleen sighed. "What a waste. But at least Clayton will be happy you saved yourself for marriage."
    Abby suspected that her friend had waited to make love to Josh for a reason other than her big brother's approval. Molly didn't love her groom. And if she couldn't sleep with him, she certainly couldn't marry