One Night with a Star (Second Chances Book 2) by Merry Farmer Read Free Book Online Page A

for you too. I know it.”
    Jenny laughed. “Yeah, that really is the stupidest thing anyone can say.” But the two of them laughed together anyhow.
    They left the room, heading down the stairs and out the front door, where the rest of the wedding party and guests were waiting with tiny bottles of bubbles. Spence met Tasha in the downstairs hall, kissed her soundly, then the two of them burst out of the house and ran the gauntlet of bubbles to the waiting limo. Jenny watched, tears welling. Their whole lives, she had always been the lucky one and Tasha had been the “nice friend.” Well, those tables had turned, hadn’t they?
    “Come on, sweetie, let’s go.” Neil came marching up behind her, sliding his arm around her waist and plopping a kiss on her cheek.
    She should have been comforted by the gesture, but it came off as creepy.
    “I’ve got stuff to do before I go,” she told Neil, peeling away without looking at him.
    “What stuff?” he balked, following her as she marched around the porch and back to the lawn.
    “Clean up, organizing,” she said. “You know, the stuff I’m good at.”
    “That’s bullshit,” he huffed. “You said that when Tasha and Spence left we could go too.”
    He caught up to her as she reached the table that had held the flowers earlier and was now littered with wedding gifts. She leaned over to check the tag on one of the bigger ones, and Neil pressed against her. He brushed her hair aside and kissed her neck.
    “I have a couple ideas of what we can do once we get back to my place,” he murmured, nipping at her earlobe.
    A chill shot down Jenny’s spine. She edged away from the bulge in Neil’s pants as he pressed it into her backside. Ugh. Usually she liked sex, no matter who was offering it. Neil wasn’t half bad in that regard, but for some reason, his blatant overture made her feel like she wanted to take a shower.
    “Neil, I’m tired,” she said with a sigh. “It’s been a long day.”
    “So? Let me make you feel better.” He reached for her. It would have been nice if he’d intended to hug her, but he clamped a hand over her breast instead.
    She winced with the jolt of pain and pushed him away. “I told you not to do that while I’m breastfeeding,” she said.
    “I can’t resist it,” he excused himself. “You’re too beautiful.”
    “What I am is too tired,” she told him, a little stronger. “I’ve got to get these gifts inside.”
    Before she could say more, Simon stepped in from her other side and said, “I’ll help with that. They’re going in the green bedroom, right?”
    He grabbed a handful of gifts and turned away, heading into the house, before any sort of conversation could start, but the interruption was enough to prompt Neil to back away and keep his hands to himself.
    “Why don’t you leave that celebrity douche to take care of the presents and you come home with me,” Neil tried again.
    “No.” Jenny put her foot down. “I’m not leaving my responsibilities. And besides, once I leave here, I have to go home and check on Daniel.”
    “Daniel,” Neil sniffed. “He’s with your mom. Just leave him there.”
    Jenny turned to him, eyes wide. “He’s my son. I’m not ‘just leaving’ him anywhere with anyone.”
    Neil huffed and crossed his arms, frowning out over the nighttime ocean. “I’m beginning to think that kid was a bad idea,” he said. “He’s got your priorities all messed up.”
    “My priorities?” Jenny barked. “Daniel is my son. That is my first and most important priority, no matter what you think.”
    The screen door opened behind her and Simon reappeared on the porch. He stepped to the table and began piling gifts to take inside. Jenny ignored him.
    “Why don’t you just go home,” she told Neil.
    “Without you?” he barked.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Do you need someone to show you how to use a toothbrush or something? Yes, without me.”
    “We never spend any quality time together