Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt Read Free Book Online

Mitch Herringshaw?”
    â€œHe’s a Realtor who works with me. We were Army Rangers together. Mitch is a double amputee.” A flash of memory—Mitch lying in a hospital bed as Kade waited for him to wake up. How he’d thought sleep, sleep with every breath, because then he wouldn’t have to tell his friend . . . With a shake of his head, Kade dispelled the memory. “If you want your name associated with that kind of project, then I’m your man.”
    Kade sat back. He’d played his hand. Not that any of this was a game. He meant every word he’d said. Soldiers like Mitch shouldn’t have to settle for barely adequate homes. Now all hecould do was wait and see if Eddie was all in. Or if he’d gambled and lost.
    â€œLess than six weeks to do everything you’re talking about.”
    â€œYou know it can get done. And you know no one else is doing it.”
    After a moment, Eddie rose to his feet, stepping out from the booth and holding out his hand. Kade stood, gripping the other man’s hand in his.
    â€œYou’re crazy, Kade—and I must be, too.” The other man shook his head, a grin deepening the lines in his tanned face. “I’ve got some phone calls to make to see about adapting the house. My subcontractors are going to have a few things to say about this, and then they’ll start drawing up their orders. And you, Webster—you need to write me a couple of checks. And contact that home stager of yours. I want to hear some ideas. Soon.”
    â€œYessir.” Kade’s heart pounded in his chest, thundering in his ears so loudly it drowned out the noise of the restaurant. “Thanks for the opportunity, Eddie.”
    â€œThis opportunity is filled with all sorts of risks.”
    â€œThe more risks, the more potential payoffs.”

FOUR

    M aybe she didn’t have what it took to get married. She’d been in almost-engaged limbo for too long. Or maybe a woman shouldn’t go to a bridal fair straight from the airport after an impromptu trip, too much stress, and too little sleep.
    Of course, the fact that one of the last things Alex had said to her before she went through airport security was “I still don’t understand why you’re going to Colorado” pulled her between two places. Alex had kissed her. Told her to have a safe trip. But all the while he’d looked as if he wanted to insist she somehow retrieve her luggage from the airline and come back home with him.
    And now here she was in the middle of Denver. Not a drop of humidity in the fast-paced city’s air. Mountains that lurked just beyond all the buildings that had been framed by the small plane window during their approach to Denver International Airport.
    The bridal frenzy surged around them the minute Margo led her maid of honor and trio of bridesmaids into the conventioncenter. Caron halted just inside the doorway, trying to get her bearings.
    Couldn’t she go sit in the car with her luggage? Check to see if she had any text messages from Alex? Take a nap?
    Margo spun around and faced her. “Come on, we’ve got to get shopping! I paid extra for the early-entrance tickets.”
    â€œIf getting all the way down the aisle to ‘I do’ requires this kind of attack-and-leave-no-survivors approach to shopping, then I’ll just date Alex forever.”
    â€œOh, come on.” Margo grabbed her wrist, pulling Caron alongside her. “You’re braver than this.”
    â€œIf I’m so brave, then what am I doing playing runaway after I quit my job?” Caron whispered the question to herself.
    â€œWhat did you say?”
    â€œLead on. I’m right behind you.”
    Within forty-five minutes, Margo had each of her bridesmaids loaded down with a selection of dresses in various shades of purple.
    â€œThere’s an empty dressing room!” Margo marshaled them forward, using her minisuitcase of