Caroline's Seduction (Montgomery Family and Friends) by Iris Abbott Read Free Book Online Page B

conversation I wanted to have over the phone or within earshot of a room full of parents.”
    Abigail nodded her agreement.  “He does know you’re living here and that you’re his daughter’s teacher right,” Abigail asked.
    “He knows.  He saw me on Parent Night.”
    “Really,” the excitement in Abigail’s voice was evident.  “Anything you need to tell me about that?” Abigail insisted.
    Caroline thought for a minute and then gave her friend the first genuine smile of the afternoon.  “Oh yeah, he’s still a jerk!  Don’t get any ideas about matchmaking.  It would take a lot to help me forget the pain he put me through.  I’m not likely to want a repeat.  I’ve never considered myself a glutton for punishment.”
    “Have I ever mentioned how much alike you and Annabel are?”
    Caroline burst out laughing.  There were much worse people in this world to be compared to than Annabel Montgomery Chambers.  Unlike Annabel and Jonathan however she didn’t think there was a happily-ever-after waiting for her and Kyle.  “Several times,” Caroline reminded her friend.  “I mean it Abigail.  You’re the closest thing to a sister I’ve got, but please just stay out of it,” Caroline begged.  “Trust me when I say no good would come out of you being a matchmaker, at least where Kyle and I are concerned.”
    “All right,” Abigail agreed.
    “Good!  I’ve really had enough dumped on me lately.  I can’t take anymore surprises.” The doorbell rang and several voices filled the foyer of Mason and Abigail’s magnificent house.
    “It sounds like everybody’s arrived at the same time.  Isn’t that the way it always is when one’s hosting a get together.  I guess we’ll let this conversation drop for now, but I expect to see you outside mingling with everyone else and not hiding in the kitchen.  Mason and I have a big announcement to make and you won’t want to miss it!” 
    Caroline wanted to question her friend further.  It was nice to have something to concentrate on other than Kyle Wakefield.
    Abigail evaded her however by grabbing a large dish of baked beans and heading for the back door.  “Bring your delicious pound cake.  All the food is outside on tables by the new water garden we’ve been working on.”
    They walked outside and Caroline stopped to take a deep breath.  “Wow!  You guys finally finished the pond and water garden.  It’s gorgeous, Abigail.  It’s so beautiful here.  I almost envy you.  You’ve got it all,” Caroline wistfully stated.  “A gorgeous and successful husband who loves you, two wonderful kids, a fantastic family, and your own backyard paradise, what more could a person ask for?” Secretly Caroline’s heart ached.  She’d give anything to have a man look at her the way Mason did Abigail. 
    Abigail beamed at her friend.  “Well it looks like everyone is here and you’re about to find out the answer to that question,” Abigail mysteriously promised.
    Caroline gave her friend a hard look.  She was trying to decipher the meaning of that statement.  Before she could ask for more details Mason walked up.  He took the beans from his wife and suggested that since everyone had already arrived they should go ahead and make their announcement. 
    Kyle had almost refused Abigail Blake’s invitation to the barbeque.  Sarah’s pleading had changed his mind.  Now he was wishing he hadn’t caved to those big brown eyes so like his own.  He knew the exact moment when Caroline joined everyone outside on the cobblestone patio.  The skin on the back of his neck prickled in awareness.  The air hummed with an electric current that had been absent before her presence.  He watched her intense conversation with a blond he guessed was Abigail Montgomery Blake the hostess.  Abigail was beautiful, but Kyle only spared her a glance.  His eyes returned almost immediately to Caroline.  He’d always loved the way the sun turned her hair into