Love's Battle (True Blue Trilogy) by Angela Hayes Read Free Book Online

replayed how he looked as we pulled away. Idly I wondering how he’d look when he smiled and wished I could see it. “I don’t think so.” I muttered, already burying what I had seen with my own eyes.
    Too busy keeping the heartache from wrapping itself around me like a blanket I missed Faith’s quiet, “Think again.”

Chapter 4
    Danton
    Shielding my eyes I squelched the kick of male desire for the U.S. made sports car as it tore down the highway, glowering after the one who literally got away.
    “Damn!”
    “Is she gone?” Antonio, Melanie’s father asked, skidding to a stop by my side.
    “Yeah!”
    “Damn!”
    “My thoughts exactly. Where’s Melanie?”
    “Your mother and hers have taken control. They’ve hidden her in a back room until everybody leaves.”
    “Is it true?” I demanded. There was no need to elaborate since the candid announcement was a question currently on a lot of people’s minds.
    My stomach sank when Antonio nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
    “Son of a bitch.”
    “My thoughts exactly.”
    “Where’s Stephen?” I wanted to know, feeling the animalistic urge to release all of this pent up frustration on his pretty boy face. I scanned the crowd of departing guests looking for the man who had betrayed my cousin.
    “Gone. Left after the woman did, along with your cousin.”
    “Shit.” I cursed, “Who was she?”
    “I haven’t the foggiest. Devil ? Or angel? The jury’s still out on that one.”
    “Someone here is bound to know her.” Everybody in the upper echelons of society knew everybody else. “I’ll ask around.” I assured my uncle who was looking confused.
    “What do we do now?” Oldest son of the oldest son, I was the one family turned to if my father wasn’t immediately present. “All has been paid for. There is food that will go uneaten waiting in the reception hall. Thousands of dollars’ worth of wine, champagne, beer. I don’t think the caterers will take it back. Money is not an issue Danton, but…”
    I slapped Antonio on the back, an idea blooming in my mind. “Waste not, want not Uncle, let’s go get drunk.”
    Liking the idea Antonio chuckled. “I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m sure my baby girl could use a few bottles herself.”
    “We’ll save her some. Let’s get out of these monkey suits, gather up the rest of the family and toast to Melanie’s narrow escape.”
    “Best idea I’ve heard all day.”
    Kicking off my shoes I flopped onto my bed, the bottles of wine I’d shared with the belated bride sloshing in my head.
    “Uh,” I moaned. I wasn’t looking forward to morning, or to sleep for that matter. Visions of the blonde wedding crasher kept replaying in my head; like a DVD with a scratch, her image flashed over and over again.
    I can see her standing up, pity written on her face, as she ended what should have been a good day. I can see her turning to run from me. Here the image went grainy. I closed my eyes to bring it into better focus. Her blonde hair, pulled back in a twist. The turquoise tube dress revealing the expanse of shoulder. There was something else, what was it. I concentrated harder. There, there, was something on her back. A drawing, a tattoo. A bird of some sort on her right shoulder. Not a big help, but it was a start. Since no one I’d talked to after the ill-fated event could tell me, the woman was an enigma, her identity a brain teaser. Now that I had a lead, it was a mystery I looked forward to solving.
    If only I could get all of the blonde, mismatched eyed women in Ellicott City to take off their shirts, I might actually get somewhere.

Chapter 5
    Ignorance Is Bliss
    Love
    “So…” I drawled, swiping a trio of French fries through the small pond of ketchup on my otherwise empty plate. Juicy cheeseburgers with a side of salty fries and a cold milkshake in my opinion were the only way to eat.
    It’s been a day since I ended the would be wedding and I refused to hide. Since Faith and I hadn’t seen