Here Comes the Groom by Karina Bliss Read Free Book Online Page B

instead of going upstairs to the Chronicle. “Well, nice to see you. Goodbye.” Jo started striding back in the direction she’d come.
    â€œWho aren’t you marrying?” Mrs. B called hopefully. “I can tell people.”
    Great. The biggest gossip in Beacon Bay on the case.
    Somehow she had to fix this. Her steps slowed, Jo realized, because she was almost at the menswear store again. Dammit, I am not changing how I treat my best friend.
    Dropping her heels onto the pavement, she stepped into them and straightened her suit jacket with a short, sharp jerk. Then with every muscle twitching to run, Jo strolled past the plate glass storefront. I will not look, I will not so much as glance in that window. I am unconcerned.
    Her gaze darted left and two images were burned in her brain. Her reflected face, eyes furtive, hunted. And her would-be groom, naked to the waist, lean muscle rippling as he shrugged on a starched white shirt.
    She was past. Jo tugged open the Chronicle’ s door and took the stairs two at a time. Halfway up she stopped and leaned her forehead against the wall. “Why are you doing this to us now? ” she whispered. And going public was tantamount to emotional blackmail. Jo continued up the stairs.
    The newsroom was empty. Tomorrow’s paper was done—Jo only had to sign off on it before delivering it to the printers—but still, 4:00 p.m. was early to close an issue. In her office, she dumped her bag on her desk then sank into her chair and leaned forward over the desk, head on her arms. Loser’s posture. She sat up straight again, staring sightlessly at the screen.
    She should be strategizing. Instead all she could think about was Dan’s extraordinary behavior. Maybe she was overreacting—maybe he was simply pushing the joke to its absolute limit and everyone was in on it? Any minute now he’d appear with a grin and a gotcha. Yes, that wasit. Of course it was. She relaxed in her chair. There was no other rational explanation.
    The phone rang. That was probably him now. “You got me—”
    â€œIt’s Delwyn. I think I left my invoice book in the staff room. Can you check for me?”
    â€œSure.” Jo walked to the staff room and opened the door. Glimpsing red balloons imprinted with Happy
    Birthday, she closed it again.
    The door burst open and her beaming staff threw their arms high. “Surprise!”
    Â 
    â€œW HERE’S MY INVITE? I had the housekeeper check the mailbox twice.”
    Jo’s grip tightened on the phone, her delight at the birthday call dissipating.
    â€œYou’re on a yacht in Vava’u—how the hell do you know about this?” Maybe her second-best friend wasn’t on a family holiday in Tonga for six weeks. Maybe—
    â€œLuke was reading the Herald online and saw it in the notices.”
    â€œHang on a minute.” Jo pulled up New Zealand’s largest daily newspaper on the internet. “‘Daniel Jansen is delighted to announce his engagement to Jocelyn Swann.’ I’ll kill him.” She was starting to mean it.
    â€œSo you’re not getting married?”
    As she brought the former mayor of Beacon Bay up to speed, Jo’s cell rang. Caller ID showed it was Nan. “Liz, I’ve gotta go, love to Luke… Hi, Nan, how lovely to talk to you.”
    â€œDarling, did I forget that you’re getting married?”Jo rubbed her throbbing temples. “No, love, ignore the invitation. It’s one of Dan’s jokes.”
    â€œSuch a nice boy, Daniel.”
    â€œThat’s one word for him.”
    â€œMy wedding dress might fit you with a little adjustment I think.” A former dressmaker, Nan had always been stylish, matching gloves, bag and shoes. Jo recalled this morning’s mismatch of gardening hat and dressing gown with a pang of regret.
    â€œExcept it’s a joke, Nan,” she reminded her patiently.
    â€œSuch a nice