The Bouquet List (17 page)
Authors: Barbara Deleo
Tags: #Fiction, #Romance, #Contemporary, #General, #seduction, #fling, #small town romance, #Weddings, #greek, #Catherine Bybee, #older brother's best friend, #category romance
“What kind of idiot are you?” Genie called back. “Can’t you see how much these two love each other? When a woman declares her love for a man in public and then he kisses her like that, there’s your real happy ending.”
“I knew it!” Leo shouted. “Those kids never had me fooled. I saw they loved each other from the start.”
“You’re sure,” Lane asked when Yasmin laughed and turned back to him. “Is this really what you want?”
She touched his cheek and the look on her face gave him the answer he wanted. “Lane Griffiths, I want a whole lot more than this. I want a wedding and babies and a honeymoon in Gibraltar. Where’s a piece of paper? I need to write another list.”
…
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Acknowledgments
Not only was I lucky enough to have been born into a wonderfully supportive family where dreams are championed and crazy little quirks celebrated, I’ve been welcomed into a second family too. Since I met my New Zealand Greek boyfriend, now husband, twenty-five years ago, I’ve been immersed in a culture, a language, and a way of celebrating life that I love. I’d like to thank both families for giving me love, laughter, and inspiration for the story of the Katsalos family in my Weddings in Westchester series.
My heartfelt thanks also goes to:
My editor Lewis Pollak, who teaches me something new with every book and makes me laugh out loud on a regular basis.
My agent, Nalini Akolekar, who always has my back and wonderful advice to share.
My incredible crit partner, Rachel Bailey, who writes wonderful books and saves my patootie time and time again.
My Marlborough girls who meet me for emergency coffee, let me wallow in my cave for weeks on end, then welcome me out with margaritas and good times.
The “Twin Mums,” Heather, Leona, Helen, Pam, and Lisa, who can turn a girls’ weekend into something legendary.
And to George and my four amazing children, thank you for helping me to keep on living this dream. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.
About the Author
Barbara DeLeo’s first book, cowritten with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.
After completing degrees in psychology and English, then traveling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins.
She still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.
Also by
Barbara DeLeo
Cy Hathaway needs a wife to win custody of his son. He returns home to discover his childhood sweetheart has become a vibrant, beautiful woman. Even though wanting to sweep her off her feet wasn’t part of the plan… For Ellie, Cy’s reappearance awakens a flood of memories—and resentments for the way he’d abandoned her years ago. But she has a life now, a career. She can’t simply get hitched, even if the sight of him still makes her heart race.
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Artist Sienna Sacchi is about to have everything she’s ever dreamed of, when sexy playboy Jack Montgomery comes strolling back into her life as the owner of her gallery. Her plan to buy it ruined, she refuses to let him interfere with the most important thing—her debut exhibition. But Jack’s not just taking over her workplace, he’s also intruding on her art studio and her home. Jack Montgomery has few rules for his carefree life, but never mixing business with pleasure is one he is determined to keep. Unfortunately, being forced to share a tiny apartment with the gorgeous, tempting sculptor is pushing Jack to his limits.
Sadie Hart has a plan: return to her small town of Hope Springs so she can regain her confidence—and bank account—before giving one more shot to her country music dream. The dream she chose over her high school sweetheart, the brooding and sinfully handsome Royce Dixon. Royce has moved on from his memories of the beautiful Sadie. Now he’s focused solely on running Second Chance Ranch, where he rehabilitates troubled teens through ranch work. But when he needs a new employee and Sadie’s the only one to volunteer, he has no choice but to offer his old flame a job.
Feisty mechanic Betty Smith should have only one thing on her mind—catching the conman who swindled her mother. Undercover FBI agent Joe Carter needs to focus on the bad guy who got away, not the gorgeous headstrong brunette who watches too many cop shows and keeps interfering in his case. Unfortunately, catching their prey before he skips town means working together. But while entering the vintage car rally as a couple
seemed
like a good idea at the time, faking feelings for each other turns out to be the easiest part.
Brainy, organized Sophie Birch is no beach bunny, but when a surf lesson introduces her to Zane Hollander, suddenly she’s up close and personal with the world’s sexiest surf star. But what can a great-looking, experienced athlete possibly see in a klutzy out-of-towner who’s never set foot in the ocean? Zane sees Sophie as the perfect girl to help him reform his image and he can’t resist her as she blooms under the beachy sun. But Zane knows he’ll just break her heart, because nothing’s more important to him than following the tide.
An audit during his crew’s most important expedition yet is a complication marine biologist Jeff Cruz doesn’t need—especially when the auditor is the gorgeous, fascinating woman from the night before who spilled her drink on him, kissed him, then ran out without another word. Out at sea with nowhere to run, he’s forced to admit Sharona draws him in like a shark to blood. But Jeff’s one passion is his job, and nothing is going to make him let down his guard.
Accidentally Married on Purpose
Sherry Robicheaux loves an adventure. Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity. When they come together backstage at a concert in Vegas, and then wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers, they know that what happens in Vegas has to stay there. And while their time as husband and wife is better than either imagined, Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl. Is it?
Cass Stone has more success than her family ever thought she’d achieve. Not even an incredible and mysterious one night stand that leaves her a single mom can trip her up. Logan Alexander hasn’t forgotten the night he spent with Cass two years ago, but he never expects to end up undercover as her assistant. His job saves lives and it’s difficult enough to maintain his cover as a carefree wanderer. But his attraction to Cass hasn’t faded…and then he meets Cass’s daughter…
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Shane Sullivan has no intention of settling down—in fact, his job depends on it, and nothing’s more important than his work. Still, he can’t help but agree to Kagan Owen’s pretend boyfriend scheme, if only to find out more about the mysterious beauty. But when every touch from her sets his heart and body on fire, he realizes playing an accidental boyfriend may be more than he bargained for—and more than he can give.
Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning Cane at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.
Sabrina Cassidy believes in fate. So when her fiancé breaks off their engagement, she’s convinced they’ll get back together eventually. But fate was not on her side when it brought Jack Brenner into her life—and work. Frustrating, gorgeous, and cocky, Jack has an offer that Sabrina can’t refuse. Not if it means getting the life she’s always imagined. Sabrina’s still hung up on her ex, and Jack will never settle down. But fate has other ideas…
Liza Sutherland isn’t looking for love. Not from a charity-auction date she didn’t even bid on and especially not with Nationals first baseman Cole Collins, the guy she obsessed over as an awkward teenager. She won’t get involved with a notorious player, no matter how attractive Cole is. When Frank makes Liza a deal she can’t refuse—a bet she will fall in love with Cole or a cool half mil goes to charity—the game is on. But neither bet on the real feelings that surface. Could a fake fling turn into an official forever?
Danielle and Wes have been best friends since college, so when Wes needs a date for his sister’s wedding and Dani needs a partner for her company’s retreat, they devise the perfect plan: a fake engagement to get through both events unscathed. But amid the fake swoons, fake kisses, and forced proximity, neither expects the very real feelings that develop. There’s nothing more dangerous than falling for your best friend…but what if the landing is worth the fall?