Secrets of the Playboy's Bride by Leanne Banks Read Free Book Online

asked.
    “Mostly,” Leo said. “The timing is good—no long engagement period.”
    George clicked his shot glass against his again. “I wish you a happy home then, Leo. After all you’ve been through, you deserve something good. I hope Calista will be good for you.”
     
    Calista practiced yoga breathing as the helicopter descended to Leo’s helipad at the lake. In a matter of hours, she would be married.
    “Omigod, this is amazing,” Tami said, lifting her cell phone toward the window and taking a picture. “I have to text my boyfriend a photo. Will there be a photographer at the ceremony?”
    “Yes,” Calista said, taking another deep breath.
    “Are you okay?” Tina asked. “You look whiter than usual.”
    “It’s the helicopter,” Calista insisted and forced a smile. “Did you enjoy the ride?”
    “It was sweet ,” Tina said.
    “What about you, Justin?” she asked her nephew.
    “Cool,” he said, clearly trying to appear unimpressed but not quite succeeding. “I want one of these when I grow up.”
    Sharon laughed. “Keep your grades up and go to college and you may have a shot at it.”
    The helicopter landed and several members of Leo’s staff stood to greet them. A man helped her sisters, cousin, her cousin’s husband and son out of the helicopter. Calista found herself pausing before she accepted the assistance of a man to help her step onto the ground. Every passing second drew her closer to the time when she would become Leo Grant’s wife. Her heart raced in fear at the thought, then she looked at her sisters. So young, yet their childhoods had been stolen from them. The least she could do was to give them some security now and a solid start for their adult lives.
    “Miss French,” the man said, having been schooled in her appearance. She wondered from where Leo orhis assistant had pulled her photograph, then pushed the thought aside.
    “Thank you very much,” she said and smiled.
    “My name is Henry. I’m in charge of Mr. Grant’s lake home. I have a special suite for you to dress for the ceremony. Mr. Grant has ordered rooms and food for the rest of your family,” he said, guiding her down the walk. “I’m told that the second you are sequestered in your suite, I am to call Mr. Grant. He is in a room facing away from the lake.”
    She smiled. So, he had stuck to the agreement not to see her before the wedding. She had to like him for that. Her stomach dipped again. She would need to exhibit far more than like in their wedding bed tonight. She was terrified her true feelings for Leo would show.
    Following Henry toward the suite, she heard her sisters gasp in approval as they walked inside Leo’s home. “Sweet,” Tami said. “More pics.”
    “I can’t remember being in a house this beautiful,” Tina said, looking around.
    Calista felt a twist of regret that she hadn’t been able to provide more for her young sisters after her parents’ deaths.
    Her cousin studied her and broke away from her husband to come to Calista’s side. “You need someone to help you get ready,” Sharon insisted.
    “I’ll be fine. Just a little repair work on my hair and face, pull up my dress and I’m done,” Calista said, the strange sensation of panic and numbness filling her again.
    Sharon frowned. “I’ll hang around anyway. A bride shouldn’t be alone on her wedding day.”
    Perhaps her cousin was right. Calista was feeling theunmistakable surge of fight-or-flight syndrome, and at the moment flight seemed most possible.
    “This way, ladies,” Henry said, guiding them up a curved stairway. “Jamal will take the rest of you to your rooms. Refreshments will be waiting.”
    “Thank goodness, I’m starving,” Justin muttered.
    “See you soon, bridie,” Tami said with a broad smile.
    “See you soon,” Calista replied with much less enthusiasm.
    Sharon helped Calista get dressed and encouraged her to eat. Calista couldn’t swallow a bite. Even though this was the best possible