In the Line of Fire by Jennifer LaBrecque Read Free Book Online

good. I’ve got one request, though.”
    â€œActually—” Colton said.
    Andi dug her elbow into his side, cutting him off. He was about to spill the beans but she was all for having them mistaken as a couple. Perhaps it would plant a seed in his practical brain. “Honey, she has a request.”
    The woman clasped her hands together. “Would you just back up and carry her across our threshold?”
    â€œBut…” Colton began.
    â€œSure he can,” Andi cut him off again. “Can’t you, darling?”
    His hand tightened where it still rested on her waist. “No problem, honey bunny.”
    They backed out of the door. The moment it closed behind them, he looked down at her. “Andi, I’m just curious. Is there some particular reason we’re pretending to be happy newlyweds?”
    She thought it best not to tell him she wanted him to embrace the notion of the two of them as an item through the power of suggestion. She rolled with the other reason. It was called saving face. “It just seems easier. First off, she was so happy for us, they all were.”
    â€œBut there is no us. ”
    â€œI know that and you know that.” And she was going to do her damnedest to change that starting right now. “But if they know that they’ll be disappointed. Plus, if we tell them I buggered out on the wedding—well, I already look like a flake in front of half of Savannah.” That was certainly no lie. “I just don’t want to look like a flake again.”
    For a second she thought he might balk but he simply sighed. “Then let’s do this thing.”
    Wrapping one arm behind her back, he swept the other arm beneath her knees and scooped her up. Instinctively, she linked her hands behind his neck, her fingers grazing against the short hair on the back of his head. He grinned down at her. “Hope I don’t get some kind of back strain.”
    â€œYou’ll pay for that crack, Major,” she managedto quip, but her heart was thumping in her chest like nobody’s business at being held so close.
    He pushed through the door and once again, the smattering of customers and the staff all broke into applause. Colton set her back on her feet and she reluctantly unlinked her hands from around his neck.
    The waitress who’d orchestrated the threshold deal, Rochelle according to her name tag, swiped at her eyes again. “I just can’t help the waterworks. Y’all sit anywhere you want to but if you choose one of those booths,” she said, waving her hand to the right, “that’s my section.”
    â€œHow about that one?” Andi said, nodding toward one in Rochelle’s area because she obviously wanted to serve them.
    â€œWorks for me,” Colton said, ushering her that way with a light hand to the small of her back. She had to wonder if he didn’t want to touch her just as much as she wanted to touch him. She was thinking that might be the case.
    Andi had so much dress going on they had to settle into a booth for four and it was still something of a squeeze getting in there.
    Rochelle came over as soon as Colton settled opposite her. Mercifully, everyone else went back to doing what they’d been doing before. It was a little disconcerting being the center of that kind of attention.
    â€œDo y’all know what you want or do you need a few minutes?”
    Colton grinned. “Oh, she knows exactly what she wants.”
    Her newly claimed heart recognized she could happily look at that grin every day for the rest of her life. But back to the matter at hand, namely food… Andi repeated the same rundown she’d given Colton in the car. “Oh, yeah, and a side of sliced tomatoes. And sweet tea.” She’d been hungry before but she was suddenly so ravenous she couldn’t think straight.
    â€œHoney, are you already eating for two?” Rochelle said. She turned to Colton and