Once Upon a Prince (Silhouette Romance) by Holly Jacobs

Author:Holly Jacobs [Jacobs, Holly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459291706
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2015-12-14T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIVE

“Hi, Shey,” rang out from the small group as they approached.

Tanner glanced at the woman at his side, surprised that she seemed uncomfortable to be the focus of everyone’s attention.

“I found Shey hiding out down the way and brought them along,” Pearly announced. “This is her beau, Tanner.”

“He’s not my—” she started to protest, but Pearly just ramrodded on.

“Tanner, you know Mabel, and that’s her date, Elmer. The one over there popping her gum is Josie and her beau, Hoffman. Let’s see, Libby, Josh and their two rugrats, Meg and J.T. And that’s Mac, Mia and their daughters, Katie and Merry. And—”

Pearly’s introductions continued.

Tanner had been trained since birth to remember people and their names, but he was well and truly lost before she said, “And I think that’s it for tonight. Normally Joe and Louisa would be here with their Aaron, but their newest addition, Ella, is a bit too young for outdoor concerts.”

“Nice to meet you all,” he said, sinking onto the blanket Shey had spread out.

“Now, about you and Shey—” the gray-haired woman started.

“Sorry, Pearly, but it looks as if the band’s returning,” Shey said, giving Tanner a look that said, “Don’t say a word.”

“Wait a minute,” Josie blurted. “I recognize his name. Isn’t Parker’s fiancé-wannabe named Tanner?”

“And now he’s dating Shey?” Hoffman asked, shooting Tanner a look that didn’t bode well for his physical well-being.

“No, he’s not Parker’s anything,” Shey assured the big-haired, bubble-blowing manicurist and her boyfriend.

“As to my relationship with Parker, that’s a matter that would require a longer answer than I think we have time for,” Tanner said in his most diplomatic tone. “But suffice to say, I don’t feel that whatever Parker and I have will place any undue strain on my relationship with Shey.”

Pearly gave him a hard look and then uttered a little harrumph. “I once knew a man who thought he could string two women along.”

“What happened to him?” Tanner asked, surprised when the rest of the group groaned.

“Now he’s done it,” Mabel said to no one in particular.

“Done what?” Tanner asked Shey.

“Started her on a story.” She shook her head. “You just couldn’t be quiet, could you?”

“Well,” Pearly continued, unfazed by the groaning and grumbling, “this man, Burkle Martellini, he was married to the banker’s daughter, Ann. He worked in sales and was gone about half the week. Things seemed to go on well enough until we had a big county fair and Burkle took Ann. While they were there they bumped into…his other wife, Selina, from the next town over. Seems he was in sales—this Selina’s father owned a brokerage firm. But the only traveling he did was about twenty-five miles down the road to this Selina’s bed.”

“What happened when the two women met?” Tanner asked.

“They had him arrested for bigamy, split his considerable bankroll and found they liked each other far more than they liked Burkle. Last time I was home they were still livin’ together.” Pearly paused. “And Burkle, he was sent upstate for a year.

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