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Back First Comes Love Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

“Sure, I’ll find it. I’m sure it’s here somewhere.” I try to appear calm and unconcerned, but inside I’m panicking. What if this guy doesn’t let me in? Will I be on the other side of the wall while Jake says, “I do”? How pathetic would that be? No, it can’t happen. I came here from the other side of the world; I won’t have this stupid, sorry excuse for a bouncer keep me out. I need a distraction; just a few seconds to have him drop his guard so I can slip through the door.

I’m still rummaging inside my luggage when an idea hits me. I position the trolley bag so that the wheels are facing downhill and push it. The bag rolls down the slope, sprawling some of my clothes along the way. I yell in surprise and bouncer guy instinctively runs after the rolling bag. As soon as he turns his back, I duck inside the castle.

I run down a random corridor, having no idea where I’m going or where the ceremony’s being held. Someone shouts behind me, but I don’t turn around. I keep running through a pair of wooden doors, under an arcade, and through another door, until I find myself in a square courtyard crowded with many elegantly-laid round tables. They must be for the wedding reception. I’m getting closer, but where is the ceremony?

“You stop right there, miss,” bouncer guy yells from under the arcade. He’s running toward me at a menacingly fast pace.

A bunch of closed doors overlooks the courtyard. I slalom through the tables and launch myself at the door straight ahead of me, bursting inside just as bouncer guy catches up with me. I’ve made it into a frescoed room full of people.

Someone’s speaking.

“Should anyone here present know of any reason why this couple should not be joined in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace…”

I made it. I’m in.

“Gotcha.” Bouncer guy grabs my elbow forcefully.

“STOP!” I yell. “You have to stop! Let me go. Let me go.”

Bouncer guy has grabbed me from behind, lifting me from the floor, and he’s carrying me outside while I’m kicking my legs furiously in the air. “Stop!” I scream again. “You have to stop. I speak! I want to speak now! STOP!”

“Gemma?”

The groom turns toward me and the entire room falls silent. I freeze, one leg kicked out in midair. If ever someone could master the make-you-feel-like-the-only-person-in-the-room stare, Jake was your man. Suddenly, I don’t seem able to talk anymore.

Four

Not Holding Peace

♦♦♦

Saturday, June 10—Chicago Area

“Should anyone here present know of any reason why this couple should not be joined in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace…”