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 And considering what I do for a living, I have a strong sense it s got something to do with this
wedding.
 It s just nervous butterflies, Kelli said, wrapping her palms around her mug of chai.  Planning a
wedding can be stressful.
 Duh. Anna shook her head and gripped her own mug.  It s something else. She nodded at
Kelli s hand.  Where s your ring?
Kelli looked down at her left hand, almost hoping a solitaire might materialize on her ring finger.  I
told you, we still have to pick it out.
 You said you were doing that several days ago.
 I needed a little more time to decide what I want.
 Is that what this is about? You need more time?
 Quit trying to psychoanalyze me. Kelli sighed and poked at a piece of blueberry bagel on the
plate beside her.  Everything s fine. The man of my dreams is pledging to love, honor, cherish, and
protect me with fruit for the rest of my life. I don t even have to handcuff him to make him stick
around.
Anna jabbed a finger at her.  I knew it! That s what this is about. You re afraid of being left.
 Are you stoned? I was making sex jokes.
 No, there s a subtext there. That s what s going on with you. Your fear of abandonment is making
you panicky about getting married.
 Or maybe I just want to get laid. Shut up about it, okay? Here comes Stella. Act normal. She
looked at Anna and shook her head.  As normal as a weird wedding planner with a purple streak in
her hair can manage.
Anna grinned and squeezed her hand.  I ll do my best.
Stella rejoined them at the table and picked up her coffee mug. She looked from Kelli to Anna and
back to Kelli again, her eyes studying them like she expected one of them to confess to sneaking out at
midnight to grope a boy on the playground.
 We were just talking about the bridal party and groomsmen, Anna said, giving Stella her most
helpful smile.  Do you think Mac will want all his brothers to stand up with him?
 Good question, Stella replied.  God only knows where Schwartz is right now. I suppose I should
have asked Grant about it when he was here. You didn t happen to broach the subject with them?
 She didn t get to meet Grant, Kelli said, quirking an eyebrow at her friend.  It s too bad,
actually. I think they would have hit it off nicely.
Anna rolled her eyes.  Thanks, but no thanks.
 You sure? I had a chance to check him out when he tackled me on the beach yesterday, and I ve
gotta admit, the man s ripped. She looked at Stella and grinned.  You re the master breeder of well-
built men.
 I should have that printed on business cards.
Anna shook her head and picked up her teaspoon.  Thanks, but military men aren t really my type.
No offense. Besides, I m still seeing Bryce.
 Bryce? Stella asked.
 Anna s on-again, off-again boyfriend, Kelli supplied.  A narcissistic, tortured artist who totally
doesn t deserve her. I thought you guys were off-again?
 We got back together. And he s not narcissistic. Much. Anna clicked her pen, a sure sign she was
feeling agitated.  Okay, so back to your wedding. Maybe tonight you can ask Mac 
 Ask Mac what?
They all turned to see Mac striding into the coffee shop. He wore all black of course and his
dark sunglasses obscured his eyes.
Kelli felt her traitorous heart do a somersault in her chest. She forced a smile and gripped her
coffee mug to keep from gripping him, or worse, having anyone notice her hands were shaking.
 MacArthur what a surprise! Stella said.  What are you doing here?
 Kelli said she was having breakfast, so I thought I d swing by for a second. He smiled at her and
reached into his pocket.  I have something for you.
Kelli smirked.  Please say it s something off the Williams-Sonoma registry.
 Better. He knelt down in front of her and drew his hand from his pocket. His fingers were
clenched around a small object, and Kelli watched as he uncurled them to reveal a flat palm.
A flat palm that held the most spectacular diamond ring she d ever seen.
Mac pulled his sunglasses off, his brown eyes locking on hers. For a moment, she didn t breathe.
Everything in the room began to spin, the smell of coffee and the whir of an espresso machine fading
to a distant blur in her head.
Mac s eyes held hers, unblinking.
Kelli s heart surged into her throat, and she burst into tears.
Chapter Fifteen
Mac stood up fast, fumbling for a chair from the table beside them. He sat down in it and grabbed
Kelli s hands, the ring still held in his palm.
What the hell was she crying for?
 Kelli, dear, there, there, his mother said, patting her on the back as Mac watched in horror.
 MacArthur, I think you shocked the living daylights out of her.
Kelli nodded, pulling one hand from his to grab a napkin off the table. She dabbed at her eyes as
she pasted on what Mac recognized as her best make-believe smile.  I wasn t expecting you this I
mean  She took a gulp of air.  You picked out a ring.
 Yes, he said, still reeling from her unexpected reaction. Hadn t they talked about staging this
performance at some point? True, he d surprised her with it today he wanted her reaction to be as
authentic as possible but he hadn t expected this. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]