Have Bride, Need Groom by Maureen Child

Author:Maureen Child
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-06-11T00:00:00+00:00

“‘Darling Jenny stop Got your wire stop Congratulations and all my love to you and your Nick stop Coming to meet my new grandson stop Love, Tess”’

Tears rushed into Jenny’s eyes and she blinked frantically. Grandma Tess was fine. And thanks to Jenny, she would remain fine. Best of all, though, she was coming for a visit.

Nick seemed to know just what that wire meant to her. He squeezed her shoulders gently and handed her a handkerchief when she began to rub at her overflowing eyes with the tips of her fingers.

“No black streaks tonight,” he whispered, and Jenny chuckled. She really must remember to buy some waterproof mascara.

“And just guess where Jenny’s grandma is?” Mama asked of no one in particular. “Switzerland!”

She looked down at the telegram again as if she couldn’t quite believe the words had come from so far away, then she folded it neatly. Stepping up to Jenny, Mama handed her the paper then leaned in to kiss the younger woman’s cheek.

“The curse is broken,” she whispered, and Jenny nodded mutely.

“There’s something else, too,” Mama announced. “The family, we got the newlyweds a wedding present.” She paused. “Well, my Dino. He got it. But Gina and me, we told him to do it.” She shrugged broadly.

Knowing chuckles lifted from the crowd as Dino stepped into the circle of light to stand beside his mother. He bent over, planted a kiss on top of her head and ducked as Mama waved both hands at him to shoo him away. Then he walked up to Nick and Jenny and handed them a long, sealed envelope.

“What’s this?” Nick asked, his gaze wary as he looked from the envelope to his brother and back again.

“It’s a honeymoon.” Dino grinned, both eyebrows arched high on his forehead.

“Dino...” Nick muttered, and Jenny felt the sudden tension in him.

“It was Ma’s idea,” Dino shouted for the benefit of the crowd. “Then Gina joined in and...hell.” He ducked again as Mama took a swat at him and missed. “Against the two of them, I didn’t stand a chance. Happy marriage, you two.”

“Open it,” someone yelled.

“Come on!” another voice shouted. “What is it?”

Grumbling under his breath, Nick handed Jenny the envelope and she slowly tore it open. She looked inside, gasped, then looked again. Her gaze shot to Dino.

He grinned at her and winked.

“Hey, you two, you gonna tell the rest of us?”

Nick leaned over Jenny’s shoulder, glanced into the envelope and straightened again. Clearing his throat, he told the crowd, “It’s a room at the Taj. Three days and two nights.”

“Not just any room,” Dino corrected, clearly enjoying himself. “Next weekend, my big brother and his brand-new wife will be staying in the Presidential Suite.” He gave them a half bow. “Compliments of yours truly.” Dino shrugged slightly. “And of course, my employers.”

A thunderous round of applause rose up like a roar and settled down over Nick and Jenny. Under the cover of noise, Dino leaned in close to her, kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “Call it a pretend honeymoon for a pretend marriage.

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