Whose Bride Is She Anyway by Dakota Cassidy Read Free Book Online

of a steel chair provided for airport patrons and dug in her purse for her bottle of water. Although a cold shower might be more appropriate due to the heat and the hunk. Who was he and what was he doing in Hawaii? This was too much of a coincidence.
    A thunderbolt of brilliance hit her just then. Was he a contestant? Oh, that would so suck if he hooked up with Kelsey and she had to watch.
    One of the male jury members she recognized from the plane sidled up beside her and said cheerfully, “Hi, I’m Andy Jacobs.”
    “Nice to meet you, ” she smiled weakly, still distracted by June, er, August. “I’m Tara Douglas. I wonder where we go from here?” Jury members were gathering around with their luggage and anxiously awaiting the next step. She’d spent much of her time on the flight alone while the others chatted excitedly, nursing her guilt and her fear of the Barbie plane crashing at any moment.
    “I think over there.” Andy pointed in the direction of the rows of vans. “C’mon, you don’t look so good. I’ll help you. ” He put his hand under her elbow, dragging some of her luggage behind him and guided her toward a van where a chubby island man, dressed in a typical Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts stood with a sign that said, “Whose Bride Is She Anyway? ” on it. She followed Andy, dragging the rest of her month’s worth of luggage. Her silk shirt clung to her damp skin and her mouth was dry.
    Beads of perspiration gathered on her upper lip. Lord, it was hot here.
    “Welcome to ‘Whose Bride Is She Anyway?’! I’m Konani, and I’ll be taking you to the island.” He bowed majestically before them. His thick black hair gleamed in the sun, casting an almost blue tint to it. His accent might have been charming if she wasn’t ready to hurl.
    After checking their IDs and marking them off as “arrived,” they all piled into the cool interior of the van and sped off to destinations unknown.
    Ko-whatshisface chattered excitedly about the sights they passed, keeping his banter friendly and light.
    Much vegetation, lush surroundings, bright sun, was the most she could gather from his rambling. Yada, yada, yada.
    Yay Hawaii! Tara made a face.
Thanks, Julie the Cruise Director
.
Now could we get to where we’re going so I can sit in one place without moving?
she wanted to scream at him. Her stomach lurched violently as the van took a sharp turn. “Will we be there soon? ” she squeaked, gulping to fend off nausea.
    Andy leaned forward from the seat behind her and whispered reassuringly, “We’ll be there soon. ”
    She really wanted to enjoy the scenery but she couldn’t stop the roller coaster ride her stomach was on.
    Konani looked in the rear view mirror, his brow wrinkled in concern as he glanced at Tara. “Whatsamatter with the pretty lady? ”
    She clenched the seat in front of her in the grip of death with one ha nd, and motioned for Andy to do the talking with the other.
    “She’s not feeling so good,” Andy said. “I think it was the flight. She’ll be just fine now that we’re on land.”
    “We not done yet, lady. ” Konani’s tone was cheerful.
    “Done what?” Tara croaked through parched lips.
    “Done flying…” He trailed off as they approached yet another landing field.
    Groaning, she wondered where the hell this damn place was. Remote was remote, but c’mon already, even Gilligan’s island wasn’t
this
secluded. They’d only lost him for a couple of prime-time seasons.
    Andy thumped her on the back. “Don’t worry, you can hold my hand.”
    * * *
    Tara bit her lip and tried to focus on what Henry Abernathy was saying, but she couldn’t stop the room from spinning. Man, they weren’t kidding when they said a remote island. Another van had picked them up and deposited the group at the first of many rows of large huts, where they all joined in an informal gathering room. Tara was still recuperating from her flight on the aircraft that Lego built when Henry Abernathy