The Last Groom on Earth by Kristin James Read Free Book Online Page B

And Kelly had given me her spare set of keys.”
    It irritated Angela that Bryce seemed to view her business’s problem as something to do in his spare time, not his real “business.”
    “I take it you don’t believe in taking time off?” she asked tartly.
    Bryce cocked an eyebrow and asked pointedly, “And what are you doing here?”
    Angela flushed, but said, “It’s easier to work now when it’s quiet.”
    “I rest my case.”
    “I’m not a workaholic,” Angela went on defensively. “I simply set different hours from some people. I come to work late.”
    Bryce grinned unexpectedly and said, “It’s okay for you to work late. I’m not accusing you of anything.”
    Angela glared back at him, annoyed. She was the one who had been acting unreasonably, sniping at him for working after hours as if it were some kind of crime, yet she couldn’t help feeling that for some reason she needed to defend herself. Bryce Richards had that effect on her. She always felt guilty and in the wrong around him. Grimacing, she turned on her heel and started back toward her office.
    “Wait.”
    Angela turned. Bryce was standing in the doorway of the office, frowning after her. “What?”
    “Would you tell me something?”
    She shrugged. “I suppose.”
    “What is it exactly that you have against me? You asked me to work on this for you, if you’ll remember. I didn’t force you.”
    “Of course not.” Angela squirmed mentally. “I didn’t mean to be…well, I’m just a little irritable this evening. I’ve probably been working too long today.”
    “It isn’t just today. It’s been the same since I met you when you were twelve years old. You took an instant dislike to me, and you’ve never changed your opinion.”
    Angela was at a loss for words. She simply stared at him, guilt washing over her. Bryce was right. She had been terrible to him when she was younger. Even if he had been stiff and rather priggish, he hadn’t deserved all her childish pranks. And her own unhappiness wasn’t a sufficient excuse for the way she had acted.
    “I—I’m sorry,” she said finally, her gaze dropping.
    “You needn’t apologize. I simply wondered.”
    “Yes, I do need to apologize.” Angela raised her eyes to him. “I was a perfect rat to you back when I was a kid. I’m sure you must have hated me.”
    A smile quirked up the corner of his mouth. “I was not overly fond of you, no.” He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb and crossed his arms. “But I suppose most adolescents are pests.”
    “Not like I was. You probably won’t believe this, but nowadays I’m generally considered a nice person. Back then I was—I don’t know—unhappy, bitter. And I took it out on you. I shouldn’t have.” She smiled faintly. “That’s probably why I’ve been less than pleasant to you this time, too. The minute I saw you, all those old, bad feelings rose in me. As well as guilt for the way I’d treated you. I’m sorry, both for then and now.”
    “Apology accepted.”
    “Well…” Angela took a deep breath. “I feel better now. Got the monkey off my back. I tell you what. I’m starving. Why don’t I take you out for some food—an olive branch, so to speak.”
    Surprise flitted across his face, but he said only, “Sure. That sounds good.”
    “Great.” Angela grinned impishly. “Just let me take my rock back to my office and get my keys, and we’ll go.”
    She returned a few moments later to find Bryce waiting, the suit jacket, which he had taken off earlier was once again in place, along with his tie.
    Angela smothered a grin. Bryce obviously was not in tune with the casual life-style of their office. “We aren’t going anywhere fancy,” she said, reaching over and tugging the lapel of his jacket.
    He shrugged. “I’ve worn a suit so many years I guess I feel uncomfortable without it.”
    Angela bit back the instinctive biting remark that rose to her lips, reminding herself that she had decided to