Fiance by Friday by Catherine Bybee - The Weekday Brides 03 - Fiance by Friday Read Free Book Online Page A

lit up. “Do you think it’s going to happen?”
    “I’d plan on attending two weddings this year, if I were you.” Blake made Samantha marry him in Vegas the first time and had made up for that mistake every year since.
    “How exciting. Has Karen met him yet?”
    “Their ‘chance’ meeting should happen within the hour. She’s at the Boys and Girls Club right now where he is going to make an unexpected PR stop.”
    “I wish we could watch.”
    “That would be too obvious. It’s up to the two of them now.”
    Eliza glanced around the room. “Will she still work here? Or have you talked about that?”
    “Most of her work is online or on the phones, so we’re going to work it out from Michael’s place.”
    “Which means you’ll be here all by yourself.”
    Gwen pushed off the couch. “Oh, please…not you, too?” She walked into the kitchen.
    “Me too what?” Eliza followed her.
    Gwen removed a chilled bottle of Chardonnay from the refrigerator, lifted the bottle for Eliza to see. “Is it too early for wine?”
    “It’s never too early for wine.”
    Good. Because the “you’re living here alone” conversation needed wine. “I’m getting tired of people treating me as if I’m a child incapable of living on her own. Shortly after you moved out Karen moved in. I’ve loved the company. But I don’t need a keeper.”
    “I don’t think I said anything about a keeper.”
    Gwen saw the doubt in Eliza’s gaze. “Samantha brought up me living alone and Neil hasn’t stopped coming over to check on me since the news of Michael and Karen broke.” She uncorked the wine, poured two glasses, and handed one to her friend.
    “I’m sure having Neil over isn’t a hardship…for you.”
    Although Gwen had never confirmed her feelings for Neil to Eliza, her friend had always guessed they were deeper than those of a friend. Besides, she would never say anything in a house Neil listened in on, that might clue him in to just how often she thought of the man.
    “It’s nice outside. Let’s go out back.” Where the audio feeds weren’t as clear as Neil liked.
    Once outside and seated with their wine, Eliza started in. “OK, Gwen…what’s up?”
    “Having… him around isn’t a hardship. It’s a constant reminder that I’ve not had one lover since I moved here. My love life may not have been ideal at home. In fact, it was downright boring after a while, choreographed affairs that usually ended a week after they should have.”
    Eliza sipped her wine. “Where did you meet the men you’ve dated?”
    “Friends of the family, sons of men my father worked with when he was alive. Boring, predictable. Not once did I have the urge to carry on with any of them.”
    “You make it sound like there were a lot.”
    “Not that many. These past months I realize how sheltered I’ve been. Living here, although it couldn’t be more different from Albany, is still an extension of that shelter. Eyes are always on me. I’ve even taken to looking over my shoulder lately.”
    “That might be your subconscious talking. You’re used to the security of people being around…of cameras and alarms.”
    Gwen played with the stem of her glass, chasing the condensation with her manicured nail. “That isn’t real life though, is it?”
    “It’s been your life.”
    “A sheltered life I don’t need and don’t want.”
    Eliza sat forward and lowered her voice. “No one knows more than me what it feels like to have unwanted security guards watching your every move. But you can’t ignore the fact that your brother is titled and very rich. You have a trust fund worth more money than I’ll ever see and there are people out there that wouldn’t think twice about getting to you to get to that money. You want independence.I get that. Lord knows you’re more street-smart now than when you first moved here. But in order to shake off all this security, you’re going to have to prove you can take care of yourself. And not