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Back The Christmas Wedding Guest Save as PDF
Chapters (36)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise
  3. Dedication
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. Twelve
  16. Thirteen
  17. Fourteen
  18. Fifteen
  19. Sixteen
  20. Seventeen
  21. Eighteen
  22. Nineteen
  23. Twenty
  24. Twenty-One
  25. Twenty-Two
  26. Twenty-Three
  27. Twenty-Four
  28. Twenty-Five
  29. Twenty-Six
  30. Twenty-Seven
  31. Twenty-Eight
  32. Twenty-Nine
  33. Thirty
  34. Thirty-One
  35. Booklist
  36. Excerpt

“I’ve been back a year, and this is the first time I’ve run into you. I take it you don’t spend much time in town these days?”

There was so much to deal with in those two sentences. She couldn’t decide which to address, then decided to ignore it all.

“I’m back for the holidays. My parents are renewing their vows with a big wedding.” She smiled. “They eloped the first time around, and my mom has always had regrets. I’m helping with the planning.”

Harrison and Belle turned and started back toward them. Reggie watched them rather than risk looking at Toby. So much was the same, but so much was different. He seemed taller and broader than he had before. A man now, rather than a teenager. She wondered what else was different—not that she would ask.

“I understand we’re dating again,” he said conversationally. “How’s that going?”

Her mouth dropped open. She consciously closed it, feeling heat flare on her cheeks.

“You didn’t just say that.”

He flashed her a smile that made her knees get a little wiggly. “I heard it from two sources. One of them was my grandmother. Rumors are flying all over.”

She covered her face with both hands. “No. This isn’t happening.” She forced herself to look at him. “Paisley was joking, okay? It was meant to be funny. I’m sorry someone overheard us. We’re not dating. I mean, obviously you know that.”

Where was that ground-splitting earthquake when she needed one?

“Stupid small towns,” she muttered, walking toward Harrison. “So, we have to go now. It was nice to meet you.”

“Can I walk Belle again sometime?” the boy asked.

“Sure. She would like that.”

Belle inched toward Harrison. Reggie pulled her back. “Come on, Belle. We have to get home.”

Belle sighed heavily before walking with her. She turned twice to look at Harrison.

“You’ll see him later,” Reggie told her. “I was just humiliated. Could you have a little compassion for me?”

Belle shook her head, implying she could not.

“I’m going to let Burt loose to go after you.”

Belle’s knowing look implied she didn’t believe that for a second.

“You’re right. I wouldn’t do that. But jeez, why did Toby have to say that? Who else is talking about us, and what do I do now?”

Belle bumped her gently, offering support but no real advice.

“I’m going to ignore the whole thing,” Reggie told her. “Maybe then it will just go away.”

Seven