The Wedding Guest (Colorado Billionaires Book 5) by Regina Duke Page A
Authors: Regina Duke
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completely.” Madlyn pouted. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me he was the groom’s brother.”
“It never occurred to me that you didn’t know.” Vicky gave her a quick hug. “Don’t worry. We’ll get this mess all figured out. But right now all I want to do is go to bed.”
Madlyn nodded. “Me, too.” She opened the passenger door.
Vanessa’s voice stopped her cold. “Madlyn, wait.”
Madlyn frowned and shot a questioning glance at Vicky, wondering what Vanessa could possibly want. Vicky made a face and shrugged, as if to say, “Heck if I know.”
Madlyn sighed and turned to face Vanessa.
“I just wanted to say that…well, I have a strange sense of humor. People have told me that all my life. And it occurs to me that I may have said one or two little things that didn’t come across well. I just wanted to be sure we were parting on friendly terms.”
Madlyn gaped. When she regained control of her mouth, she said sarcastically, “When I say we’re friends, I’m using that word in the most sardonic way possible. Yes, I used the word ‘sardonic.’ Look it up.” She tossed her glorious red mane, slipped into the Lexus, and slammed the door shut.
Once she was inside, Vicky said, “Brilliant retort.” She started the engine and pulled smoothly away from the stunned Vanessa.
Alone with her BFF, Madlyn crumpled. She doubled forward until she could wrap her arms over the back of her head, then mumbled, “Home, please.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tuesday, November 24th
M adlyn was happy to be back home in Colorado again, but she was still broken-hearted over Kirby. Mina told her she could take a couple of days to recover from her trip, but she couldn’t stand to stay home in the empty house alone with her doubts and her rejection. She used Monday to do laundry, but Tuesday, she went to work.
When she got to the shop, Mina was bubbling over with excitement. “I’ve talked to some more people,” she said, “and they all agree that purchasing the entire building is my safest option. Isn’t that exciting? The shop would have all the room we ever need, and extra to lease out.”
“That’s great.” But Madlyn found it impossible to match Mina’s excitement.
Mina eyed her carefully. “What’s wrong? Tell me quick, before I open the shop.”
Madlyn drooped against the counter. “I think I’m better off alone. If the only kind of man I can attract is the lying kind, maybe life will be easier if I stay single.”
Mina clicked her tongue gently at her. “Your policeman, John, he wasn’t a liar.”
“No, he was brutally honest about wanting to be a cop in Los Angeles and how marriage would only tie us down.” Madlyn sighed heavily. “I guess I wasn’t enough to keep him in Eagle’s Toe.”
Mina’s apple cheeks and loving eyes glowed with sympathy. “Don’t worry. Everything will work out. Isn’t that what you keep telling me about the shop?”
Madlyn forced a smile. “Yes, I do keep saying that, don’t I? I suppose this is a bad time to tell you that I’m beginning to have my doubts.”
“No doubts allowed,” said Mina, patting Madlyn’s arm. “How can we have doubts when our customer base is growing and we need room to expand?”
“But before I left for New York, the bank said—”
Mina shook her head, dismissing the bank. “Harold and I went to school together. He never forgave me for refusing to wear his ring. I was young and silly, and he had very bad acne, and that’s all I could see back then. How was I to know he’d grow up, get his skin treated, and become the president of the local bank? Anyway, I’m not worried about his refusal to help.” She poured more coffee and pushed the cookie plate toward Madlyn. “I write that off as hurt feelings from years ago. There are other options.”
“There are?” Madlyn took an iced sugar cookie. If she was giving up on men, what did a few pounds matter?
“Good heavens, yes,” said Mina. “The universe is full
“It never occurred to me that you didn’t know.” Vicky gave her a quick hug. “Don’t worry. We’ll get this mess all figured out. But right now all I want to do is go to bed.”
Madlyn nodded. “Me, too.” She opened the passenger door.
Vanessa’s voice stopped her cold. “Madlyn, wait.”
Madlyn frowned and shot a questioning glance at Vicky, wondering what Vanessa could possibly want. Vicky made a face and shrugged, as if to say, “Heck if I know.”
Madlyn sighed and turned to face Vanessa.
“I just wanted to say that…well, I have a strange sense of humor. People have told me that all my life. And it occurs to me that I may have said one or two little things that didn’t come across well. I just wanted to be sure we were parting on friendly terms.”
Madlyn gaped. When she regained control of her mouth, she said sarcastically, “When I say we’re friends, I’m using that word in the most sardonic way possible. Yes, I used the word ‘sardonic.’ Look it up.” She tossed her glorious red mane, slipped into the Lexus, and slammed the door shut.
Once she was inside, Vicky said, “Brilliant retort.” She started the engine and pulled smoothly away from the stunned Vanessa.
Alone with her BFF, Madlyn crumpled. She doubled forward until she could wrap her arms over the back of her head, then mumbled, “Home, please.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Tuesday, November 24th
M adlyn was happy to be back home in Colorado again, but she was still broken-hearted over Kirby. Mina told her she could take a couple of days to recover from her trip, but she couldn’t stand to stay home in the empty house alone with her doubts and her rejection. She used Monday to do laundry, but Tuesday, she went to work.
When she got to the shop, Mina was bubbling over with excitement. “I’ve talked to some more people,” she said, “and they all agree that purchasing the entire building is my safest option. Isn’t that exciting? The shop would have all the room we ever need, and extra to lease out.”
“That’s great.” But Madlyn found it impossible to match Mina’s excitement.
Mina eyed her carefully. “What’s wrong? Tell me quick, before I open the shop.”
Madlyn drooped against the counter. “I think I’m better off alone. If the only kind of man I can attract is the lying kind, maybe life will be easier if I stay single.”
Mina clicked her tongue gently at her. “Your policeman, John, he wasn’t a liar.”
“No, he was brutally honest about wanting to be a cop in Los Angeles and how marriage would only tie us down.” Madlyn sighed heavily. “I guess I wasn’t enough to keep him in Eagle’s Toe.”
Mina’s apple cheeks and loving eyes glowed with sympathy. “Don’t worry. Everything will work out. Isn’t that what you keep telling me about the shop?”
Madlyn forced a smile. “Yes, I do keep saying that, don’t I? I suppose this is a bad time to tell you that I’m beginning to have my doubts.”
“No doubts allowed,” said Mina, patting Madlyn’s arm. “How can we have doubts when our customer base is growing and we need room to expand?”
“But before I left for New York, the bank said—”
Mina shook her head, dismissing the bank. “Harold and I went to school together. He never forgave me for refusing to wear his ring. I was young and silly, and he had very bad acne, and that’s all I could see back then. How was I to know he’d grow up, get his skin treated, and become the president of the local bank? Anyway, I’m not worried about his refusal to help.” She poured more coffee and pushed the cookie plate toward Madlyn. “I write that off as hurt feelings from years ago. There are other options.”
“There are?” Madlyn took an iced sugar cookie. If she was giving up on men, what did a few pounds matter?
“Good heavens, yes,” said Mina. “The universe is full
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