Stroke of Fortune
Page 17
She whispered back, “That maybe I’m not so naive, after all.”
Flynt laughed and kissed her and all the guests applauded and Josie blushed. For a moment there, she’d actually forgotten that she and Flynt weren’t alone.
They stayed on that floor until the band took its first break. Then they sat for a while with Ford and Grace and Alva. Eventually Josie excused herself for a visit to the special powder room reserved just for the bride.
It was a lovely little space, with a wide, well-lighted mirror and a dressing table. Josie used the stall and was washing her hands in the marble sink when the door opened.
She gasped. “Rose.” She dried her hands quickly and rushed to her secret friend. The two women embraced.
Rose whispered, “I heard you and Flynt were getting married. Wainwrights aren’t welcome, of course, but I couldn’t resist sneaking in to wish you…everything. Love and happiness. Lots of laughter. Joy. All the wonderful things you so richly deserve.”
“Oh, I’m so glad that you did.” Josie took her friend by the shoulders and held her away enough that their eyes could meet. She didn’t like what she saw. “Rose, are you all right?”
“Fine, really. Just a little tired.” She looked away, then back. “I broke it off with Matt.”
Josie just ached for her. “Don’t give up. I know it will work out. Hey, it worked out for me, didn’t it?”
Rose forced a smile. “One more hug. A big one, for luck.”
They embraced once more, and then Rose slipped out.
Josie sank to the cushioned chair at the dressing table, shaking her head and cursing that stupid, decades-old feud. Then she put on fresh lipstick and went back out to join her bridegroom.
Three hours later, she stood at the top of the wide staircase that led down to the clubhouse lobby, her groom at her side, her bouquet of lilies and roses in her hand. Below on the lobby floor, all the single women looked up at her, their dreams in their eyes.
Josie gazed down over the sea of hopeful faces and spotted a certain one on the edge of the crowd. She lifted a brow in question and got a quick nod in response.
Raising her bouquet, she sent it soaring out. Down below, all the single ladies held up eager hands to catch it. But it sailed right past them and dropped into the waiting arms of the slim, black-haired woman at the edge of the crowd.
“My God,” someone cried. “Did you see that? That was Rose Wainwright.”
The name spread through the crowd. “Rose Wainwright.”
“Rose Wainwright. Did you see her?”
“Rose Wainwright has caught the Carson bride’s bouquet.”
“Over there. She was over there.”
But the slender, dark-haired woman had already slipped away.
Flynt whispered into Josie’s ear, “Tell me that didn’t happen.”
“Well, I can’t tell you that.” She turned and put her hands on his broad chest. “Because it did.”
He frowned down at her. “Was that Rose Wainwright?”
“Maybe.”
“Is that all you’re going to say?”
“’Fraid so, for right now.” She twined her arms around his neck.
“What?” he muttered darkly.
“I’m kind of hoping you’ll kiss me.”
Slowly he smiled. “Josie Carson, that’s a request I can’t refuse.”
And then, oh so tenderly, he lowered his mouth to hers.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Christine Rimmer for her contribution to the LONE STAR COUNTRY CLUB series.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7217-4
STROKE OF FORTUNE
Copyright © 2002 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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