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That grin was back, 100 percent male and looking self-satisfied.
“No, a friend’s. I would never hit on another woman if I was getting married.”
She could tell her cheeks were still burning, but she tried to play it through. “Good to know. Well, it was nice to meet you. I’m sorry about the—”
“Hang on now. How about that lunch?” he asked.
Marley hesitated, considering. She didn’t get involved with tourists, usually, but it would be nice to go on an actual date.
“How long are you in town?”
“This week, then every weekend until the second weekend in August.”
Weekends were usually booked solid for her. “How about Monday? I should be able to meet you around one.”
“That sounds good, but can I get your number at least?”
His teasing made her laugh at her own eagerness.
“Absolutely.”
After the number exchange, Luke took his phone back, his fingers brushing over hers lightly. That simple touch made her skin light up with tiny tingles, like the bubbles at the top of a glass of champagne.
“I’ll see you Monday. It was good bumping into you, Marley.”
He walked back down the aisle, and the minute he was out of sight, she picked up the box of Trix again with a smile. She suddenly had a craving.
Chapter 2
Luke Jessup had grown up in a small town a lot like Sweetheart with one major exception…
There was wedding shit everywhere here. Every store had something to do with the big day. His best friend, Brent Harwood had warned him that Sweetheart’s main attraction was the wedding destination for the Hollywood elite, and the place was like Santa’s Workshop for brides.
Brent’s fiancée e, Sonora Star, didn’t seem to be that thrilled though, if her high pitched complaining was any indication.
“I just can’t believe that Belinda flaked! How am I supposed to find another MOH at the last minute?”
“MOH?” Luke didn’t know why in the hell he’d asked, considering how her icy blue eyes lanced through him in disgust. That seemed to be the only emotion Sonora could muster for him, and the feeling was completely mutual. Luke couldn’t understand how a guy like Brent, who was smart, driven, and above all, a great guy, would take things so far with a has been pop princess with a shady past.
Luke knew enough from the tabloid fodder and from Brent that Sonora had been struggli
ng the last leg of her career. After several singles that flopped, she’d spiraled down to the point where TMZ was calling her the next “Britney 2007.” She’d gotten into a Twitter war with Miley Cyrus, and posted a series of Snapchat videos where she was crying, tears and mascara rolling down her face as she’d rambled about how the music industry ruins young artists.
It wasn’t until after she’d taken a nose dive while performing at the MTV Video Music Awards and calling Kanye West a no talent hack that her agent had stepped in and gotten her into rehab. When she’d gotten out, she’d been photographed at an SPCA fundraiser, building sack lunches for the homeless and doing several meet and greets for Make a Wish. Even with the good PR, her career hadn’t recovered.
A year after she’d gotten clean though, she met Brent at a Feed America charity dinner and the next thing Luke knew, the two of them were engaged. Luke still couldn’t figure out how in the hell that had happened.
Fine, so even Luke could admit she was hot. With long, strawberry blonde hair, big blue-green eyes, full pouty lips and a banging body to boot, Sonora could get any guy’s motor running.
Until she opened her mouth and made most men want to run screaming in the other direction.
Sonora spun around, giving him an exaggerated eye roll. “Maid of honor! It is a huge responsibility!”
The three of them were heading into breakfast at the Sweetheart Café, and passed by an elderly couple holding hands like a couple of teenagers. Luke and Brent mumbled a “good morning,” but Sonora just sniffed like they smelled. It was funny how someone who had pretty much tanked their life and career could still act all high and mighty.
“What about your sister?” Brent asked as he held the door.
“Are you kidding me? Kendall will only sabotage everything! You know she hates me.”
