Back The Sweetheart Deal
Chapters (27)
  1. Dedication
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Chapter Four
  6. Chapter Five
  7. Chapter Six
  8. Chapter Seven
  9. Chapter Eight
  10. Chapter Nine
  11. Chapter Ten
  12. Chapter Eleven
  13. Chapter Twelve
  14. Chapter Thirteen
  15. Chapter Fourteen
  16. Chapter Fifteen
  17. Chapter Sixteen
  18. Chapter Seventeen
  19. Chapter Eighteen
  20. Chapter Nineteen
  21. Chapter Twenty
  22. Chapter Twenty-One
  23. Chapter Twenty-Two
  24. Chapter Twenty-Three
  25. Epilogue
  26. Author’s Note
  27. About the Author

Yes, he was tenacious, if she didn’t know that already, but he’d followed her here? If the women’s restroom wasn’t safe, what was?

“I’m…okay,” she managed, blowing her nose and rocking back on her shoes. “I’ll be out in a second.”

Except she wasn’t okay. She was freaking the hell out.

What had she been thinking, dressing up for this, like it was a real wedding? She should have worn that biker chick T-shirt Juliet had brought her from Daytona a few years back that said Make Love on a Harley. Something badass. Because she was feeling anything but.

She realized Leo was still there, as evidenced by the heavy sigh he’d just expelled. A sigh of impatience? Or one of discomfort at being trapped in the ladies’ room, full of tiny pink and white tiles, little baskets of feminine supplies, and a purple plastic flower arrangement between the sinks?

“Don’t worry about me,” she said, trying not to let her voice shake. “I’m fine. Just go.”

Where was Juliet? She was the worst maid of honor ever. And no, she hadn’t told Leo Juliet was coming. But too bad. She wasn’t going to get married without her sister, even if this was a sham marriage. She needed someone on her side who would support her no matter what. Whose presence would calm her enough that she could go through with this.

Despite all their differences, that was her sister.

“Come out here,” he said insistently but not unkindly. “I have water.”

“I’m fine. Really.” She was not going out there with puffy eyes and streaking mascara looking like Frankenstein’s bride. No. Way.

“Tessa?” he said. She heard him pace back and forth in front of the stall. She wanted to answer him, except for some reason she started to cry. Silently, of course. But she couldn’t seem to stop.

Then Leo said, “I’m coming in.” She heard the thud of his hands hitting the stall door. At the same time, the bathroom door squeaked open again.

“Excuse me, young man,” a woman’s voice said, “but what do you think you’re doing?”

Oh no. Who…?

“Oh, hi,” Leo said. “I’m just talking to my…fiancée.”

“Well, I’m in charge of this restroom, and you need to leave right now.” It was a woman with a gravelly voice, like maybe from smoking cigarettes. “Are you okay in there, honey? If you aren’t, just say the word. The police headquarters is right down the hall.”

“No, ma’am, you don’t understand,” Leo said. “It’s just—hey!”

A scuffling ensued. Was that the sound of Leo being dragged away?