Veranda Wedding (ePub)

Cate woke to the smell of burnt eggs and coffee, which wafted under her bedroom door. The dull ache in her head reminded her of the previous night's drinking. She steadied herself on her bed and leaned over to pick up a pistol that she kept next to the big lamp table, one she rarely used because the bulb frequently burned out, leaving the room dark. With it drawn and held in front of her, she took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door, slinging it open.She gasped, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the strange scene before her. A partially naked man with an American flag tattooed on his arm stood at her stove. His shorts hung low on hiships. He was wearing a prosthetic leg decorated with stars and stripes. She had no idea who this person was or why he was cooking in her kitchen, let alone where he had come from and how he had gotten into her home. As if sensing her confusion, he slowly turned to face her. "I am Cate," she said. "What are you doing in my house?""I'm Jack," he said, his voice low and even. "You were singing your heart out at the karaoke bar last night. You had too much to drink, got sick on stage. Your friends tried to help you - one of them even cleaned you up - but they eventually left without you."Cate told him that she never meant to get drunk. She said she and her friends were simply out celebrating her upcoming nuptials; her bridesmaid was supposed to be her chaperone for the night. When Jack mentioned Allie's name, Cate realized it was Allie, a maid of honor, who she vomited on. She thought, "Why would my best friend leave me with a stranger?" She had more questions than answers after talking to the strange man, who rescued her.