Some Like It Hot by Lori Wilde Read Free Book Online Page B

shook off the thought.
    “So, Char,” she said, after the waiter had brought them all chicory coffee and taken their breakfast orders. Her sister didn’t like having her name shortened, but Melanie did it just to tease her. She was the only one who could get away with it. “What’s this tête-à-tête about?”
    Charlotte fingered the strand of pearls at her neck. “The Charboneaux-Long wedding is next Saturday and I’m circling the wagons. Considering the problems we’ve had lately, I’m planning to bring in additional security.
    “This wedding is the event of the social season, and the last thing we want is for anything to mar Carly Charboneaux’s big day. I need all of you to make sure the event runs flawlessly. After that incident with Ella Emerson, we have to make sure we keep the press at bay. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, let me know no matter how inconsequential it seems.”
    Melanie thought of Robert and the reporter. Should she say something or keep quiet?
    Restlessly, her mind wandered, recalling what hadhappened in the kitchen yesterday afternoon and in the market this morning. She thought of Robert’s long muscular frame. The way he carried himself, slightly aloof, but with the confidence of a man accustomed to being in tight control of his feelings. She imagined running her fingers through his thatch of thick, wavy, wheat colored hair and rumpling it sexily across his forehead.
    Whenever she thought about him, her body throbbed, and suddenly she felt hot and edgy.
    “Botching the Carboneaux wedding would be a PR nightmare.” Renee’s words pulled Melanie from her reverie. “I’m not sure how I could get us out of that one.”
    The waiter delivered their breakfast, and Melanie waited to speak until he was out of earshot.
    “Is there anything I can do to take some of the burden off your shoulders? I want to help. Put me to work.”
    Charlotte raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Is this a serious offer?”
    “Of course.”
    “Well, if you really mean it, then yes, there’s something you can do.”
    “Name it.”
    “Could you take my place at Grand-mère’s charity auction on Thursday night? I’m completely swamped and I honestly didn’t know how I was going to manage to fit it in. It’d be a godsend if you could step in.”
    Melanie clamped her teeth tightly together to keep from groaning aloud. This wasn’t what she’d had in mind when she’d offered to help. Getting involved with their grandmother Celeste’s pet projects was never her idea of a good time, and being the youngest, she rarely got tapped to pitch in. But therewas no backing out now. Not when she was trying to prove to her family that she could be depended upon.
    “Um…is this the bachelorette auction?”
    “Yes.”
    Great. She couldn’t think of anything more humiliating than being put up for auction so that well-heeled, middle-aged fat cats could drool over her. “Er…I suppose so.”
    “No supposing,” Charlotte said. “This event is very important to Grand-mère. It’s either yes or no.”
    “Yes, okay. I’ll do it.”
    “You won’t back out at the last minute?”
    “What do you take me for? A quitter?”
    Charlotte, Renee and Sylvie exchanged looks.
    “I never said you were a quitter,” Charlotte protested.
    “Then why did you even ask the question?” Here she was, back at home, cast in the unreliable-baby-sister role again.
    “Well,” Charlotte said, “I know you’re professional when it comes to your work at the restaurant, but you do have trouble keeping other commitments, and if you don’t show up, Grand-mère will blame me. Like she did when you were supposed to drive her to her doctor’s appointment, but took off to go to a keg party with your boyfriend.”
    “That was ten years ago!”
    “I’m just saying…”
    “I’ll be there.” Melanie gritted her teeth.
    “All right then. I’ll bring the dress over to your apartment on Monday. It might have to be