‘Well that was pretty damn ridiculous, wouldn’t you say?’ Ben said.
‘I know,’ Bridie agreed. ‘I mean, was that ring bit vom or what?’
‘Yeah, and what’s with all the olde-worlde English in the vows? Are we in the sixteenth century here with all that “thee” and “thou” crap?’
‘Exactly, what’s that all about? And that stupid business of getting given away pisses me off every time.’
‘I know, sexist much? I always said you must be mad to want a wedding.’
‘Well, you know my views on the subject.’ Bridie glanced up at him. ‘How are your allergies?’
‘Not great.’ He turned away a moment to wipe his eyes. ‘Bloody spores. How are yours?’
She let out a damp laugh. ‘Worse than I expected.’
‘I know what you mean.’ He lifted her left hand and smiled at the mood ring he’d won for her in Blackpool, which had turned canary yellow for today. ‘Can’t believe you’re still wearing this. What’s yellow supposed to be for then?’
‘Dunno. Wedding irritation, maybe.’
‘I’m surprised that cheap thing hasn’t turned your finger green.’ He reached into his waistcoat pocket. ‘Here. Put this one on instead: it’ll be safer. Sorry it doesn’t change colour.’
She frowned as he slid off the tacky fairground ring and replaced it with something gold and sparkly. ‘Bloody hell. Is that a diamond?’
‘That’s what the man at the jeweller’s told me. I hope he was telling the truth, because he seriously ripped me off if not.’ He pulled her into his arms. ‘You know, Bride, weddings aren’t all bad really. There are some nice bits.’
‘Such as what?’
‘Well, celebrating having met your soulmate with all your friends and family. I can see why that might appeal to some people. And getting to spend the rest of your life with the person you love isn’t too horrendous, as a concept.’
‘Yeah. I suppose those bits are all right.’
‘And really, you can do it however you want nowadays, can’t you? I mean, you can probably say your vows hanging naked by your ankles in a sex dungeon if that’s your idea of a good time.’
‘I suppose you can. I wouldn’t though, just to be clear.’
He smiled, burying his face in her hair.
‘So is that a yes then?’ he whispered. ‘It sounded like a yes.’
‘It’s a yes to the wedding, but I’m afraid it’s a no to the sex dungeon. Sorry, love.’
‘Well, there’s always the honeymoon.’ He kissed her softly. ‘Bridie Morgan, you little witch. Whatever did you do to me?’
‘The impossible,’ she said, laughing. ‘I somehow managed to turn you respectable. I’m sorry, I didn’t do it on purpose.’
‘Respectable? The nerve. You know, of all the insults you’ve ever flung at me, I think that one might’ve wounded the most.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘Better go in and do our jobs, since we’re going to be asking the bride and groom to return the favour for us pretty soon. I love you, OK?’
‘Definitely OK. I love you too, Ben.’
Cal and Hattie stood inside by the large arched window, watching the scene. Cal’s arm was curled lovingly around his new wife’s waist, his hand resting on her discreetly pregnant stomach. They smiled as their best man and maid of honour absorbed each other in a tender embrace.
‘I love it when a plan comes together, don’t you?’ Hattie whispered.
If you enjoyed LOVE AT FIRST FIGHT then you will love THE NEVER HAVE I EVER CLUB, another fantastic comedy from Mary Jayne Baker!
Also by Mary Jayne Baker
Meet Me at the Lighthouse
The Never Have I Ever Club
A Question of Us
The Runaway Bride
Acknowledgments
Huge thanks have to go to my agent, Laura Longrigg at MBA Literary Agents, and to Hannah Todd, my fabulous editor at Aria, for all their hard work and skillfulness in helping my story become the best it can be.
Big thanks too to all of my talented, supportive writer pals: Rachel Burton, Victoria Cooke, Rachel Dove, Sophie Claire, Jacqui Cooper, Kiley Dunbar, Helena Fairfax, Kate Field, Melinda Hammond, Marie Laval, Katey Lovell, Helen Pollard, Debbie Rayner, Rachael Stewart, Victoria Walters, Angela Wren, and many others. Thanks as well to the Romantic Novelists’ Association for being such a wonderful and supportive organisation and its members.
As ever, thanks to my supportive family and friends – my partner and long-term beta reader Mark Anslow; friends Robert Fletcher and Nigel and Lynette Emsley; Firths, Brahams and Anslows everywhere.
I chose to open this book with a quote from the play that inspired the story rather than a dedication, but I wanted to say a special thank you to all the fantastic English teachers (like my heroine Bridie) who foster a love of words in their pupils. It’s thanks to the teachers who encouraged and nurtured my early interest in stories and words that I’m now able to call myself an author, so thank you, Mrs Whitehead, Mrs Hales, Mr Birbeck, Miss Walker, Ms Thompson and all the others who helped me along the way. I also owe a massive debt to the teacher who first introduced me to Shakespeare and created a lifelong love of his work, although I sadly can’t remember now which teacher that was!
And while I’m on the subject, a big thanks to Will for the plot. I hope he’d approve of Bridie and Ben, Beatrice and Benedick’s modern-day counterparts, and their banter-filled journey to a happily-ever-after.
About the Author
Mary Jayne Baker is a romance author from Yorkshire, UK. She is represented by Laura Longrigg at MBA Literary Agents.
Mary Jayne Baker grew up in rural West Yorkshire, right in the heart of Brontë country… and she’s still there. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in English Literature, she dallied with living in cities including London, Nottingham and Cambridge, but eventually came back with her own romantic hero in tow to her beloved Dales, where she first started telling stories about heroines with flaws and the men who love them.
Mary Jayne Baker is a pen name for an international woman of mystery…
Mary Jayne Baker’s Website
Love at First Fight Page 32
