Icing on the Cake (Close to Home) by Karla Doyle Read Free Book Online

clueless. The best of the three options she’d spat at him, yeah, but that didn’t make him feel like less of an idiot dick. “Any idea where she might’ve gone? I’ll go apologize.”
    Nia shook her head hard enough to give him a headache. “Oh god, do not do that. Please. She’d take it as pity. Not a good thing.”
    Fuck, he hated having his hands tied. Especially when his gut told him he needed to fix the fractures. “Then what should I do?”
    “Call it a day and forget any of it happened when you see her tomorrow.”
    “You sure that’ll happen?” The way she’d looked when she drove off, he wouldn’t be surprised if Sara was city-bound with no intention of returning for the wedding.
    Conn’s lips thinned to a straight line. Thinking the same thing as Curtis, probably.
    “She’ll come back,” Nia said, apparently reading both their minds. “She’s my only sister and my best friend. She’ll be there for me when it counts.”
    For both women’s sakes, Curtis truly hoped so.
    *
    The alarm on Sara’s cell went off, though unnecessarily. Nobody would be oversleeping in this house today. Conn’s giant dog had paced past her door fifty times already. Across the hall, the bathroom door had to have closed at least a dozen times since she gained full awareness. Her parents had been banging about in the kitchen for an hour, the resultant aromas of quiche and bacon having snuck through the crack beneath her bedroom door about ten stomach-growling minutes ago.
    Unless she could exist on the half package of mints in her purse, she’d have to suck it up and go out there for sustenance. Face the music for bailing on the party last night.
    Maybe the mints would see her through after all.
    “Sara?” Nia’s voice, soft as always. “May I come in?”
    “Sure.” As if she could say no to her sister on her wedding day.
    The door opened and Nia stepped inside. “I come bearing caffeine,” she said, raising two steaming mugs.
    “It’s true, you really are an angel.” She accepted one of the cups, then shifted over so Nia could sit alongside. “Though with all the naughty deeds you and the almost-hubster have been getting up to lately, your halo’s looking pretty tarnished. I’m thinking I may have to work that into my wedding toast somehow.”
    “Oh my god. Remind me why I tell you anything?”
    “Because you know I wholeheartedly approve of your burgeoning depravity.”
    Nia’s laughter filled the room. Her damp hair hung straight, partially obscuring her smiling, freshly scrubbed face. Even without makeup, she had a glow. Nia always looked pretty, but this morning, especially so.
    Sara sat up straight, angling for a closer look. Yup, definitely glowing. “Dude. Are you knocked up?”
    “No, definitely not. I mean, I’d love to have a miniature Conn running around, but that would mean giving up some of that depravity you mentioned.” A different variety of color settled across Nia’s fair cheeks. “And I’m quite enjoying this phase of our relationship.”
    “Look at you. My sister—the goodie-goodie turned kinky nympho.” She sniffled in a show of mock emotion. “This is such a proud moment for me.”
    “Whatever, maniac.” Nia clanged her mug against Sara’s. “Drink up. The breakfast feast is waiting and we’ve got hair and nail appointments in an hour.”
    “I’m on it,” she said, tipping the mug to her lips. Whatever Nia wanted today, Sara would nod and hop to it. She’d be Nia’s bitch—and she was nobody’s bitch. Ever.
    Nia could have come in here loaded for bear. She certainly had justification. Instead, she’d come in peace. In friendship. The type Sara didn’t deserve after her recent behavior.
    She smiled as she and Nia took simultaneous sips, the actions identical in timing and duration. Even the way they scooped a lingering drop of coffee from the rim of the mug matched. For all their differences—and those numbered nearly to infinity—they did share some