No Reservations by Lauren Dane Read Free Book Online Page B

grateful she hadn't had to say it aloud, nodded, though Kate couldn't see her. 'Yes.'
    'Let me guess. Not a pair of earrings.'
    'No.'
    'Wel ... I'd tel you I was surprised, but that would make me a liar,' Kate said. 'But were you surprised?'
    She hadn't been, exactly. They'd talked about marriage, in that roundabout, vague way that included the future, as in someday we'l name our first kid after Marlon Brando' sort of talk. But it had always seemed so far away. Six months hadn't been such a very long time, not when Leah considered the rest of her life. Yet coming here, seeing Brandon's parents, his brothers and his entire family, Leah had no doubt that Brandon had been thinking about it.
    'I was,' she admitted. 'Not by the idea he might be thinking about it. But by the ring? Yes. Hel , yes. Shit, Kate.
    Shitdamnpissfucktits.'
    The curse, a favourite since high school, leaked out under her breath and she rubbed at the sudden pain in the centre of her forehead. Downstairs, the door opened. The dog barked. She heard the low, familiar rumble of male laughter and Caroline's fond scolding.
    'He hasn't asked you yet, though, right? I mean, you just came across the ring. He hasn't actual y gone down . . .' Kate giggled. On one knee, I mean.'
    'I'm glad you can make crude sexual innuendos.'
    'Sorry.' Kate didn't sound the least bit sorry, but she did sound sympathetic when she spoke again. 'If it's any consolation to you, I'm about ready to wring Pickles' neck for being a total douchetwat.'
    Leah, guilty at not having even asked her friend how that was going, snorted lightly. 'Ah, good old Pickles. She figure out how to open a jar yet?'
    Are you kidding me? She'l be lucky to have a hand left to open anything with if she doesn't keep them off Dix.' 'But to answer your question, no. He hasn't asked. God. I don't want him to. I need time to figure this out. . .' Leah trailed off as Brandon cal ed her name from downstairs. 'Kate. I need to get out of here, seriously. I just. . .'
    'So get out of there,' Kate said. 'To tel you the truth, I think I might need to get the hel out of here, myself. How's Vegas sound?'
    'Are you serious?'
    'Would I lie to you about Vegas?'
    Brandon cal ed her name again. Leah stood. 'Yes. I mean no, you wouldn't lie. Yes. Let's go.'
    There were details to be discussed, tickets to book. A hotel room to reserve. But for now, this minute, just knowing they were real y going to do it lifted Leah's spirits. The knowledge of escape made everything else seem bearable.
    Wel .
    Maybe not another plate of Caroline's homemade broccoli and processed cheese casserole, or another BeDazzled basebal cap. She disconnected the cal and thumbed the controls on her phone to bring up the airline website. In moments she'd checked out the flights. One left tonight, just after eleven. She sent Kate a quick text message to let her know. Then she went downstairs.
    'There you are.' Caroline beamed as Leah came down the back stairs into the cosy, homey kitchen where Brandon and his dad were digging into the huge plate of chocolate cake Caroline must've just finished icing. 'I thought maybe you decided to take a little nap up there.'
    'Oh, no ... I was just looking at al of Brandon's memorabilia.' That wasn't an outright lie. She had looked.
    Caroline chuckled and poured Brandon a glass of milk, which he took without a second glance from her. 'Nobody would blame you if you took a little nap, Leah. I know you can't be getting much of a good night's sleep.'
    Leah, who'd been easing towards the lure of chocolate cake, looked up. Oh, no. Oh, gross. Caroline didn't mean what Leah thought she meant, did she? Brandons mom did not just reference their sex life . . . did she?
    'I keep tel ing Caroline we need a better bed down there for guests, rather than that old pul -out. Or heck, final y get rid of al Bingo's junk up there and make that room a real guest room. Now that it looks like we'l need it,' Bil said with a grin that locked Leah's smile