Walker Bride Read Online Free PDF Page A

later.
    Stupidly enough, she’d thought maybe she
could convince Tyson to come in. Maybe they could spend some time
together.
    The very thought had her tensing up. What had
driven her to be so lonely that she was hitting on her cousin’s
family—Lydia’s brother? She’d never made a move on the man—never.
But today? What was so stellar about today?
    Pearl walked to the living room and plopped
herself down on the couch. She kicked her bare feet up on the
coffee table and rested her head back.
    Weddings never used to bother her. She saw
happy brides walk in and out of her store all the time. But ever
since Susan and Eric got engaged and Bethany and Kent followed
right behind, she’d felt the pang of longing for someone.
    Always the bridesmaid, never the
bride , she thought to herself as she sipped from the bottle of
water.
    But what did it matter? She was thirty-three
years old, had her own place, her own business, and her car was
paid off. She didn’t need a man for anything—well, except for
companionship.
    She squeezed the bottle, and it overflowed
onto her lap. With a jump, she came off the couch and cursed. “This
is stupid. Tyson Morgan isn’t worth getting all worked up over,”
she said aloud as if that would make all the difference.
    It was just the moment she reminded herself
as she walked to the kitchen for a towel. People she loved were
finding happiness and she would too in time. She was caught up in a
moment, and that happened sometimes. In two weeks, Susan and Eric
would be married. In another two months after that, her sister
would marry Kent, and the family wedding craze would be over.
    Tyson would be at both weddings. That was
fine. Pearl was sure once he got home he’d have forgotten all about
her little pity party, or whatever it was, and he’d go on with his
life.
    They’d be at the same weddings. They’d always
have family members in common. No problem, she thought as she dried
off her suit. Today was just a strange day, and she was going to
write it off like that.
    Once she was dry, she went to her purse and
pulled her phone out. She hit the contact with her sister Audrey’s
face on it.
    “Hey! Are you working tomorrow?” she
asked.
    “Yes. I have to go in at nine. Saturdays at
the salon pay well, but they suck,” Audrey added with a grunt.
    “Can you pick me up and take me to my
shop?”
    “Sure? Jake fixing your car?”
    That reminded Pearl that she did need an oil
change, and she should call her brother. “No. I had a few beers
down the street, and Tyson brought me home.”
    There was silence on the other end.
    Pearl looked at the display on her phone to
ensure the connection was still there. “Hello.”
    “You went out with Tyson Morgan?” There was
discomfort in her sister’s voice.
    “He came and got fitted for his tux. We went
down the street for a beer. I had three.”
    “Those have more alcohol in them you know,”
she said in her mother-like way.
    “I know. That’s why he drove me home. So will
you pick me up?”
    “Sure.” She paused for a moment. “Are you
seeing him?”
    “Tyson?” Pearl swallowed hard. “No. Just a
Friday afternoon drink. That’s all.”
    “He’s a Morgan,” Audrey said again as if she
were reminding her what a bad idea it was to have anything to do
with him.
    Pearl got it, but she didn’t buy it. All her
sister’s accusations were doing were pissing her off. “I got that.
I’m a Walker. Oil and Water. One afternoon of drinks. I’m home
alone. No reason to get all bent out of shape over this.”
    “Dad wouldn’t like it.”
    “I don’t give a crap about that. Listen, I
have to go. Will you be here around eight-thirty?”
    “Yes. Please don’t make me late.”
    “I won’t,” Pearl said, disconnecting the call
with a growl.
     
    Tyson drove back to home without even the
radio on though he hadn’t realized that until he pulled into the
large circle drive in front of the house. The sun was low in the
sky, giving the fields