The Trouble With Temptation (Second Service Book 3) (17 page)

“How’s your brother doing?” she asked.

“Great.”

“And your parents?”

“They’re fine.”

“That’s good.”

There. She knew her manners. She could be polite. Hopefully, that would set the tone between them for the rest of the weekend.

“I saw that you checked into your room alone, Beth. No date for the wedding, eh?” he asked.

Or not.

“Unfortunately, my boyfriend will be out of town on business this weekend.”

And there it was. How easily she caved. It looked like she wouldn’t be killing Charlie off after all.

“Ah, yes. The elusive Charlie,” her mother said. “I was hoping to meet him during this visit.”

“So was I. We’ve been hearing about this boyfriend of yours for six months now,” Spencer said, a wicked smile curling his lips. “Ever since you and I split.”

“Yeah, well, his job keeps him really busy.”

“Too busy to meet his girlfriend’s family?” her mother asked.

“Oh, don’t feel singled out, Mrs. Bradley. Nobody I know seems to have met him either.”

Beth glanced down at her nails. “Isobel has.”

“That’s funny,” he said. “She couldn’t seem to find any pictures of him when I asked her. Not on her phone. Not on your Facebook page.”

Beth’s heart started to race. “He…he doesn’t like to have his picture taken.”

“That sounds believable.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Beth asked, leaning forward, her hands visibly shaking.

“I don’t know, Beth. You tell me.”

Beth drew in a sharp breath. She didn’t have to take Spencer’s crap. Even if it was the truth.

Especially
since it was the truth.

Beth stood up. “I’m going to go get myself a drink.”

“Yeah, why don’t you do that,” Spencer said.

She shot him a glare that only widened his smile. He spread his arms behind him on the sofa.

A little grunt slipped from her lips as she turned. She was only a few steps away when she heard the staccato beat of her mother’s heels behind her.

“Beth, wait,” her mother said.

Beth only stopped once she’d turned the corner and was out Spencer’s line of sight.

“Why did you let him weasel his way onto that couch? You had to know he only wanted to torment me.”

“Now, darling.” For a moment, Beth was drawn in by the look of real compassion in her mother’s eyes. “At least now you know that he still thinks about you.”

The moment quickly died.

“I don’t want Spencer thinking about me.” Impotent rage filled her chest. What was the point of having a mother if she wasn’t going to take your side? “Did you know that he once told me that he wouldn’t have had to break up with me if I had only lost a couple of pounds?”

“Well, it’s just a couple of pounds, dear. I’m sure with a little willpower you can get them off in no time.”

Beth threw her hands up towards the ceiling. “I’m walking away now, Mother.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know,” Beth called out behind her. It didn’t matter where she went. She just had to get away.

She thought for a moment about going back up to Isobel’s room, but quickly discarded the idea. It would be selfish of her to bring down her friend’s happiness with her own petty problems.

And they were petty. Beth knew it. Just like she knew she had brought all of this grief on herself.

She strode past the bar and headed straight for the set of double doors at the end of the hall. If she just got some air, maybe she could think a little clearer.

She had gotten herself into this mess. Now she was going to have to figure a way out.

Continue Reading The Wedding Trap

About The Author

Adrienne Bell has lived her entire life in Northern California. She now resides on the far edge of the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and kids. You can follow the minutia of her life on
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