Bad Boyâ¦Best Man.
Natalie Campbell - super-organized, dutiful daughter, and manager of the family event planning business â is organizing her brotherâs wedding. No matter how long her to-do list (and at the moment it seems never-ending!) sheâs grateful for the distraction. Because if sheâs fiddling with the table plans and arranging flower centerpieces sheâs not thinking about last summer. When she fell into bed with Chase Maloneâher brotherâs best man. Now this is going to get awkward!
Chase is all wrong for Natalie â sheâs sure even the word commitment would send him running for the hills! He never promised her a future, and he doesnât want anyone to know about their past. But with the wedding coming up, their little secret is getting harder and harder to keepâ¦and almost impossible not to repeat!
Copyright
HQ
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2014
Copyright © Sandra Panting 2014
Sandra Panting asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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E-book Edition © January 2014 ISBN: 9781472074980
Version date: 2018-09-19
As a child SANDRA PANTING used to tell people that when she grew up she wanted to write Nancy Drew books, although in reality what she really wanted to be was Nancy Drew. She eventually gave up on the dream of imitating her favorite teenaged crime fighter, but her desire to become a writer never waned. Currently Sandra lives in Illinois with her husband and four children. Most days she can be found writing, spending way too much time on Twitter, and anxiously awaiting the next Dancing With The Stars elimination.
Chapter One
The last time Chase Malone had seen Natalie Campbell she had been naked in his bed, and when he awoke she was gone. That was over a year ago. Heâd never asked why she left and, given the statute of limitations had no doubt expired on such a question, it was unlikely he ever would. Besides, asking those kinds of questions wasnât his style.
From his secluded position, he watched as she stood on a small wooden pier, while an expanse of the Mississippi River held her gaze. Somewhere in the distance guests had gathered to celebrate her brotherâs birthday, and it wasnât like Natalie to not join in. But Chase hadnât followed her to discuss her brotherâs birthday. Actually, he wasnât certain why he had followed her, but for some reason he couldnât stay away.
Deciding heâd had enough of loitering in the shadows, he pushed away from the tree heâd been lounging against. The soles of his shoes clumped slightly as he strode across the wooden planking.
âYou know thatâs not allowed.â He crossed his arms on top of the railing, the polished plank adequately wide enough to rest his arms.
âWhatâs not allowed?â Natalieâs eyes remained focused on the dark surface of the river. If she was surprised to see him, she hid her reaction well.
âA long face at a party.â His gaze followed hers across the river to the houses dotting the shore. The view was the same as he remembered, the little of it he could see in the muted moonlight. âCare to talk about it?â
Instead of answering, she asked, âAre you sure you want to risk being seen talking to me?â
Chase didnât need a road map to follow that remark, although he couldnât tell whether she was asking out of spite or curiosity.
Going out on a limb, he chose the latter. âWell, considering your brother is wrapped up in his fiancée, I think I can risk it.â With a subtle shrug, he added, âBesides, Patrick knows weâre friends. Your parents may have an issue with us talking, but I doubt Patrick will have a problem with it.â
A soft June breeze carrying the scent of the river tousled Natalieâs shoulder-length hair. Sheâd cut it since the last time heâd seen her, although he hadnât decided if he liked it or not.