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Bad
Girl Bridesmaids, May 2007 After being bridesmaids in more weddings than they can count, Kelsey, Tara, and Amber are ready to trade in their taffeta dresses and dyed heels for something a little sexier... |
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Wanting to toss her latest bouquet into the garbage, Kelsey Morgan meets a hot millionaire at a wedding in the middle of nowhere. Luckily, he's certainly going somewhere, and he wants to take her with him in "Serial Bridesmaid on the Loose."
Kelsey ran back to the party barn. She stood on her tiptoes and surveyed the crowd before she saw Hannah watching the guys play darts. Kelsey maneuvered her way through the crowd and tapped her friend's shoulder. "Guess what?" Her friend whirled around. "What are you doing here? I thought you snuck out." She tilted her head. "Mimi found you, didn't she?" "No!" she said over the music. "I was sneaking out and I found him." Hannah squinted. "Him who?" "The hot guy I need by my side." Zack is going to be perfect. Okay, normally she wouldn't even attempt to flirt with a man like that, but he was hers for the asking price. Her stomach did an excited flip at the idea. "Already? Who is he?" She looked around the crowded party barn. "Where is he?" "His name is Zack. He just arrived and I'm sure he'll be down here any minute." "You'll have to point him out to me. Now, for the important stuff. How sexy is he?" "Very." She didn't know what made him so attractive. She usually didn't like a crew cut on a man, but it worked for Zack. The aggressively sharp planes of his face countered with his full lips. She could sense his sensuality and strength just as much as she saw the cunning glittering in his dark eyes. "No need to say another word. That look on your face tells me everything." Hannah's smile was wide. "I told you there had to be at least one of them at every wedding." "There's just one itsy-bitsy problem." She gestured with her thumb and forefinger, barely holding them apart. Her friend grimaced. "There always is." "He's with someone." Hannah smacked her forehead with the palm of her hand. "I told you to look for unattached." "But this one is different," Kelsey said as the excitement hitched in her voice. "He's a gigolo." Hannah's chin dipped. "A what?" "A gigolo. What's another word for it? Male escort? Um… uh… Huh." Kelsey put a hand on her hip. "There aren't a lot of words to describe his job. Plenty of words for the women, but—" "Are gigolos still around?" "I guess so. He seems to do very well with this career." It was more than the good quality clothes he wore. The guy had an aura of success about him. "Maybe he doesn't have a lot of competition. Wait a second. Are you sure this wasn't a pickup line? Did he walk up to you and say, 'Hello, I'm Zack and I'm a gigolo'?" "No, nothing like that," Kelsey said with a laugh. "I'm sure that is what he does. He seemed very unhappy that Shirley Harrington let it slip out." "Oh, Shirley Harrington? I've heard about her." Hannah nodded her head. "This Zack is definitely a gigolo. She brings those guys to weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, you name it." "Then other people will know he's a gigolo," she nearly squealed. She grabbed Hannah's fingers and tried not to jump up and down. "This is perfect!" "How is it perfect?" Hannah pulled her hands away. "He's paid to cater to the highest bidder. That would be the woman who brought him." Kelsey knew her friend brought up a major point. "That doesn't mean I can't flirt with him." "In case you didn't notice, Shirley is supposed to be in her late sixties, early seventies. She's not going to let him hang around a young brunette." There had to be a way to get to Zack. "Do you think gigolos have an exclusivity clause?" Hannah held her hands up. "How would I know?" "Maybe I can cut a deal with him," she said, mulling over possibilities as they formed in her head. "Get him on the off-hours. If I don't ask for the sex, he might give me a discount." "Look at me." Hannah grasped Kelsey’s upper arms and pointedly stared in her eyes. "Do you think this Zack gives Shirley a senior citizen discount? No, he does not." Hannah slowly shook her head. "I say pay full price and get the full service." "You're right." The naughty thought tugged deep in her belly. "If I'm going to rebel, I should rebel all the way." She glanced at the door. "There he is!" She watched Zack walk into the party barn. His stride was powerful and almost regal. It made her think of an emperor visiting a coliseum. His chambray shirt stretched along his wide chest and flat stomach. The dark chinos showcased the compact, powerful muscles of his legs. "Whoa," Hannah said, low and long. "He is so hot." Kelsey nodded. "So go after him." She gave Kelsey a little push. "Now?" She hung back as uncertainty exploded inside her. "Don't you think it would be bad form to approach him when he's with a client?" "Yeah, he probably won't be as agreeable in front of his client." Hannah studied Shirley and Zack. "Okay, this is what we'll do. I will distract Shirley and you lure Zack away." Kelsey gave a sharp nod. "Okay." "Then I'll take pictures for your wedding video," Hannah said, "so try to look sultry." "Got it." She snapped her fingers. "I forgot the camera!" She had gone to her room, but had felt so jumbled by Zack, that she didn't even remember why she had gone there in the first place.
"I'll go get it now." Kelsey backed away. "And avoid Mimi," she said. "If she spots you before you hook this guy, she'll put you to work." Kelsey turned and made her way to the exit. "Why couldn't this be a simple 'Hi, how much?'"
End of excerpt from Serial Bridesmaid on the Loose. Like it? Order it.
Two years ago, Tara Watkins started a blog called "The Bridesmaid Diaries." Now she's about to see the best man with whom she had the best sex ever. He's been reading up on her life-and is determined to relive that wild night all over again.
Yesterday was the worst day of my life. It was worse than the day I failed my driver's test. Worse than when I got fired from my first job and came home to find my student loan payments kicked in. Worse than the day the Novocain wore off while I was getting my wisdom teeth removed. I could have sworn nothing would top that. Guess I was wrong. The day started out normally. I was getting ready for the wedding I organized. (I'm the events coordinator for my family's winery. Might sound glamorous, but trust me, there's nothing oo-la-la about counting broken wineglasses and mediating between parking valets.) Anyway, I was heading for my office at the winery when Brad showed up. Brad and I have been dating for a while. Actually, it seemed like forever, but I guess it would feel that way since my parents and his parents are neighbors who set us up. They had dreams of connecting our struggling wineries and creating a, well, struggling dynasty. Brad didn't even have the courtesy to greet me, now that I think about it. Rather, he dropped the bombshell and got it over with. "This isn't working. I'm breaking up with you." This was a complete surprise since three months ago he made strong hints about wanting to get married. I had even turned down a job offer across the country because our life together meant staying here. Couldn't he have made this announcement last week, before our last boring attempt at sex? At this rate I was perfecting the art of faking an orgasm. But it seems like Brad has been faking it, too. In a manner of speaking. He thought he could eventually love me – but it turned out he didn't want me after all. Didn't want to marry me, sleep with me, or have anything to do with me. This time I got the point. I also noticed that he didn't care what I wanted. (Big surprise there.) I sure didn't want to get stuck telling our parents that we're through. But before I could watch my parents' hopes shatter into a million pieces, I had a wedding to take care of. Weddings are the most stressful events, but this bride was a real pain in the butt. She always had been. Believe me, I know because I went to school with her for twelve years. She didn't grow on you. Ever. It goes without saying that she didn't have a lot of bridesmaids. Sure, she had the money for a large wedding that could support an army of attendants, but she knew only two women who would put up with her. (And I bet one of them was getting bribed to play nice.) So when the maid of honor came down with the flu the day of the wedding guess who is the same size as that absent bridesmaid? Yep. Yours truly. At this point, I'd suggested taking away one groomsman but the bride wanted the party to look symmetrical. The truth was that she needed to make it look like she had friends. So there I was, dumped by my boyfriend on that day and dressed in this burgundy monstrosity that was not meant for me. I tried to look happy for the bride – because the video recorder was on – but I was dying inside. As in wilted, curled up, shriveled and blown away dying. It didn't help that I was surrounded by people celebrating love and marriage, cheering on two people who want each other and couldn't imagine life apart. All I could think of was that no one wanted me. Not as a bride. Or as a bridesmaid. Or as a wedding guest. Or as a woman. It was that last thought that got me into big trouble. That and several glasses of our award-winning champagne. The next thing I knew, I was hitting on the best man. This guy was hot. As in drool-worthy, knee-melting sexy. And fascinating. And attentive. He had those crinkly laugh lines fanning around his blue eyes. I'm a sucker for crinkly lines. He was so gorgeous so I…slept with him. Though no sleeping occurred. How could I when I had the wildest, most imaginative sex ever. That night I learned that I had been faking it ALL WRONG!! I still can't believe some of the stuff I did with him. To him. I'm suffering from a full-body blush, tingling and achy and… I can't believe I slept with a guy I barely knew, which is not like me. So what if I had the worst day of my life? Finishing it with the ultimate mistake is not the way to go!
I have to admit, it was really difficult to say no, especially when he kissed me good-bye. It was so sweet and gentle that it made me tear up. But it didn't make me change my mind. I don't care if the Best Man made me feel desirable or cherished for the first time. What I did was wrong, unprofessional, and stupid. I hope no one will find out, but most of all, I hope, wish, and beg to the gods that I will never see him again. End of excerpt fromThe Bridesmaid’s Diaries. Like it? Order it.
Joshua Griffin hooked the rented tuxedo with his fingers and held it over his shoulders. He had heard Amber's voice from the other room and had to investigate. He'd probably regret following the impulse, but for now he was glad he took the time to look in. The sight of Amber Hughes in a tight dress was worth it. Josh walked leisurely toward her, the sound of his boots echoing with each step against the scarred wooden floor. He watched her posture go rigid as he got closer. Her jaw jutted out defiantly by the time he stood in front of her. He couldn't take his eyes off of Amber. She was like a riot of color splashed on a white wall. A disruptive force in a sea of calm. She looked just as out of place in Tilly's Wedding Shoppe as he felt. She'd changed, and the pastel gown wasn't going to hide that fact. Amber's sweet feminine look was long gone, replaced with an edge. Her brown eyes were no longer wide with innocence, but had a sexy slant as she watched him cautiously approach. He wasn't sure if the changes were a good thing, because his gut instinct said it was only skin deep. Her black hair was long, the waves wild and free. It was the kind of style any man would want to see fanned across his pillow or caressing a path down his stomach. Josh flinched as his diaphragm tightened at the image. Dragging his gaze down, he noticed that she was still voluptuous the way a woman should be. Her hips had enough curve for a man to hold on to. Her breasts, high and rounded, were ready to break free from their taffeta prison. He stared at the neckline that plunged dangerously low. The sight gave a kick of heat to his bloodstream. "You've grown." Amber's glare sizzled. "You haven't changed a bit." She turned her back on him and tapped her foot impatiently. He looked at the back of gown. The zipper was slowly making its descent, unable to hold the shiny fabric together. "You're kind of stuck in there, huh?" She whirled around, keeping an eye on where his hands were. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." Josh held his free hand up in mock surrender. She didn't have anything to worry about. He always kept his distance, which hadn't been easy since they had the same circle of friends and once shared the small world of Acorn Grove. "It was good seeing you again, Josh," she said, taking another step back. Okay, there had been that one time he touched her. The only time his restraint slipped was on the day that she had left town. Something close to fear and loss had gripped his chest. He knew it was his last chance with Amber and he had taken it without a second thought. He had been at the gas station when she stopped by to fill up her car. Amber had paid and waved good-bye to him without a pause in her step. The tight binds that had held him back suddenly broke free, and he had followed her to the car. She had opened the driver's door and stopped when she'd seen him. Amber had backed up against the car as he leaned into her. She hadn't said anything, which made him wonder if it was all a dream, but the feel of her finally against him had The moment his mouth had brushed against hers, all those years of restraint evaporated in a puff of smoke. Josh knew the kiss had been hard and rough, but Amber hadn't complained. She had grabbed the back of his head and pulled him closer, her nails digging into his hair. The kiss hadn't lasted long, but it had packed a punch that knocked his world sideways. Years of wanting had fueled the moment, and he couldn't keep up.
Amber had parted her legs for him and before he knew it he had held her wrists against the car. And then she had bit his bottom lip. Not a nip. Not a love bite. She had sunk her teeth so hard that he reared his head and jumped back. Josh had pressed his hand to his mouth to check for blood when she had jumped into her car. He had stood there, stunned, as she drove off. He absently swiped his tongue along his bottom lip as he recalled the sting. Amber's eyes darkened as she watched his movement. Satisfaction filled him. He knew then that she remembered, too. End of excerpt from Wedding Wrecker. Like it? Order it.
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In "Serial
Bridesmaid
on the Loose," Kelsey
and Zack
take part
of a shivaree.
The custom
is when
friends
and relatives
of the newlyweds
make a nuisance
on the wedding
night, usually
by banging
pots and
singing
loudly,
preferably
off-key.
This is
a long-forgotten
tradition
in parts
of the American
Midwest.
It probably
originated
with the
French settlers,
but I've
seen something
similar
to shivarees
at weddings
in other
parts of
the world. 
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