Page 25 of Don't Call Me Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 1)

“Shit. Shit. Shit. I have to go.”

“Marley, what is going on?”

“You need to get out.”

His expression darkened. “I thought we had a deal about you treating me like a maggot?”

“It was fungus, and this has nothing to do with how I feel about you! This is about me possibly losing my job.”

“I don’t see how us kissing—”

“I know you don’t but you still need to get out!”

She hadn’t meant to scream. Hell, she never screamed, even the time that one of her brides had thrown a glass of champagne in her face and told her she was an idiot. But without Something Borrowed, she’d never get out of here.

“Got it.” His tone was cold as he opened the door and stepped out. “I won’t push you anymore. Despite recent events, I don’t normally have to beg women to go out with me.”

“Luke, I—”

He shut her door without waiting for her to finish and she didn’t have time to melt down, to chase him down and apologize. Besides, how would she explain anyway? Sorry I can’t get involved with you because I’m a fake bridesmaid and I signed a confidentiality agreement that will not only screw me, but my boss if I violate it?

There was nothing she could do to fix things with Luke now. She had to see Kelly.

She made it across town to the little white ranch house Kelly owned, and pulled right up to the garage like a bat out of hell. By the time she stood on the porch, she was sucking in wind as though she couldn’t get enough and knocked hard.

Kelly opened the door, staring out at Marley with wide eyes. “Marley, what’s wrong?”

“I have to tell you something?”

“Something that couldn’t wait until the morning?”

“No, it can’t.”

Kelly nodded and stepped back to let her walk inside. The walls were painted a pristine white, with a pine wood floor that shined as if it had just been waxed. Colorful throws covered the back of plain brown couches, and the only wall decoration was one painting of a little girl running through the woods.

“Do you want something to drink? Coffee?”

“Can I just have a glass of water?” Marley’s throat was so dry, she was afraid she was going to have a coughing fit.

“Sure, you sit. Relax a spell and just take a breath.”

Marley sat on the soft couch, trying to slow her breathing. Without warning, Kelly’s black and white cat, Pepper, popped over the back of the couch and slid down. He placed his feet on her lap and demanded pets by bumping her shoulder with his head.

“Hey, Peps. How did you know I needed a little support?”

“He’s intuitive that way,” Kelly said as she reentered the room. Marley blushed, wishing she hadn’t overheard that.

Kelly set the water down on the coffee table and tucked her feet up as she climbed onto the other couch. “Okay, spill. What’s got you all in a tither?”

There was nothing for Marley to do but dive head first into the issue. “I met someone a few days ago, and it’s been awhile since I had a date, so I went out with him.”

Kelly’s expression lit up happily and it twisted Marley’s stomach up more. “Well, that’s great, Marley.”

“Yeah, it was, until I found out he was the best man for Sonora’s wedding.”

Kelly’s face fell. “Oh, dear.”

“Yeah. And I tried to tell him that we had to pull the plug, but…Dustin Kent saw us kissing. And he said he would see me at the office tomorrow, and I didn’t want you thinking that this was deliberate or that it is ever going to happen again, but it was the only way he would stop pursuing me and—”