Grady's Wedding by Patricia McLinn Read Free Book Online

said. A lazy weekend by the ocean could cure many ills. “But I am not about to intrude on you and Michael. You’ll want to be alone and—”
    “You will definitely not be intruding, so it’s settled— you’re coming. If you can get Friday afternoon off, we’ll leave around lunchtime. And see if you can get Monday off, too.”
    Leslie decided she must be more tired than she knew, because she found herself nodding in acquiescence. The foundation director had been fretting about the vacation time she’d built up, though whether out of concern for her well-being or his record keeping she didn’t know. Either way, she wouldn’t have trouble getting the time off.
    “Besides,” Tris went on, “it would be impossible to be alone, since Paul rented the beach house. He’s not allergic to making plans the way he was before Bette, but he still has his impulsive moments. He decided a weekend at the beach was a perfect way to celebrate wrapping up the installation of the exhibit—you are coming to the opening, aren’t you?”
    “Uh, yes.”
    She’d returned her RSVP for the Thursday evening reception, and she’d turned down Grady’s suggestion they go together. She didn’t want him or anyone else to see them as a couple; that would defeat her whole purpose. But what about at the beach? Where Paul, Bette, Tris and Michael went, would Grady be far behind? But could she back out now without being terribly obvious?
    “Good. And don’t worry about a thing this weekend. I know you’re not the type to get all bent out of shape about being a single woman along with just two married couples for company.” Tris looked at her intently, and Leslie thought she understood; Grady wouldn’t be there. That’s what Tris had found out last night. “But just so there’s no mistake, we really want to have you along.”
    Tris stood and gathered the coffee mug she’d brought with her. “So that’s settled. You’ll drive out with Michael and me on Friday. But first we’ll all be together Thursday night at Paul’s reception.”
    * * * *
    Grady listened to the man next to him, but his eyes followed Leslie as she accepted a glass of wine from a thin man with even thinner sandy hair. The exhibit light, meant to bathe details of handcarved toys and the patina of two-hundred-year-old wooden games, also caught Leslie’s high, wide cheekbones, leaving shadowed hollows before picking out the sharply etched line of her jaw.
    A movement subtly shifted the sheen of her royal-blue silk dress, and halfway across the exhibit area Grady swallowed at the intimation of the curves below.
    She moved closer to the sandy-haired man and Grady’s muscles tightened fractionally; it wouldn’t take but a minute for him to reach them, less than that to send this guy on his way. Then a turn of Leslie’s head showed him her smile. He thought he read tolerance in it and relaxed.
    Even though he kept his conversation with the brother of a Chicago client short, he’d lost sight of Leslie by the time he shook hands and started off.
    Paul was by the exhibit entrance, surrounded by officials, complimenters and questioners. He handled them with almost careless ease. Grady had caught Paul’s interview on local TV as he’d changed for this reception, and marveled at his friend’s naturalness.
    Opposite Grady, Michael stood back from the crowd, watching the comings and goings with his usual quiet intensity. But Grady noticed Michael seldom stood in his out-of-the-way spot alone. Sometimes in pairs, often singly, others made their way to Michael, and when he spoke they listened.
    A shift in the crowd opened a new line of sight and he saw Leslie, alone for a moment, like him. Without moving her head, her gaze came around to meet his. He lifted his glass, and her eyebrows rose as a smile pulled at her lips.
    He took a step toward her, then stopped as she turned away, and he saw Tris had placed a hand on her arm.
    Meeting Bette Wharton Monroe’s eyes then, Grady