Epilogue
Liz Palmer watched Andrea enter the ballroom with the very attractive Alex Donovan at her side. Andrea's cheeks were bright red, her blue eyes sparkling as she pulled her hand out of Alex's grip and walked to the center of the dancer floor where the single women were getting ready for the bouquet toss.
"Where have you been?" Liz asked.
"Kissing Alex," Andrea said with a mischievous grin.
Liz laughed. "At least you're honest. Did you know he was coming? You didn't say anything earlier."
"I had no idea. He surprised me—in a lot of ways."
"Good ways?"
"Very good."
"Andrea?" Kate came forward with a question in her eyes. "Laurel said you have news and that I might have another wedding to plan soon. It's Alex, isn't it? I knew you two were going to fall in love. Didn't I say that the first time you went to meet him?"
"You did," Andrea said with a laugh. "But no wedding plans yet. Alex and I are just beginning."
"But you already love him," Liz said, feeling incredibly moved by the joyful glow in Andrea's eyes. She hadn't seen her friend this happy ever.
"I do," Andrea confessed. "I know it's fast, but I feel so sure that he's the one." She gave a helpless shrug. "I never really believed there was one perfect person for me, but now I know there is. Alex isn't perfect, and neither am I, but together we seem to make each other better."
"That's so beautiful," Kate said, giving Andrea a hug. "You're going to make me cry."
Liz felt moisture gathering in her own eyes, and she had never thought of herself as an emotional person. Andrea had never been all that sentimental either. In fact, up until about two minutes ago, she'd always considered Andrea to be her cynical counterpart when it came to love and romance. They had both been more focused on work and career than men and romance.
"No crying, this is a happy day," Andrea said, but her eyes were suspiciously wet.
Laurel stepped up to the microphone, drawing their attention to the bandstand. "Are you ready, ladies?" she asked.
The crowd of twenty or so single women cheered in response.
"Let's see who's going to be the next bride."
"I'm standing next to you, Andrea," Kate said. "I know who Laurel is going to be aiming for."
Liz moved off to the side as Julie and Maggie also closed in on Andrea, obviously sensing where the toss was headed. She wasn't interested in catching the bouquet. She had more important things to worry about than falling in love. She wouldn't even be out here if it wasn't required as part of her bridesmaid duties.
A drum roll began, and Laurel turned her back to the crowd. One, two, three—the bouquet of gorgeous white roses went flying through the air. A dozen women leapt for it, but Laurel's throw was remarkably strong and sailed over the crowd.
Liz was shocked when the bouquet literally hit her in the chest. She was three feet away from everyone else. She couldn't help but wrap her arms around the beautiful stems.
"Liz," Laurel squealed with delight as she rushed across the dance floor.
"You know what this means," Kate said with a gleam in her eyes.
"No," she said. "This is for you, Andrea." She tried to hand the bouquet to Andrea, who had obviously been Laurel's intended recipient.
"No way," Andrea said with a shake of her head. "You caught it. It's yours."
"You're going to be the next bride," Laurel said with a smile.
"I don't even have a boyfriend," she replied in bemusement.
"That could change at any second," Andrea said. "Look what happened to me."
"Let's get one more photo with all the bridesmaids," Kate said, gathering them together.
They stood in a half circle, their arms around each other, as the photographer took their picture. And right in the front was Liz and the wedding bouquet she'd never expected to catch.
It didn't mean anything, did it?
The End
* * * * *
Coming November 20, 2014
STEAL MY HEART
Bachelors & Bridesmaids (#2)
Was there no escaping her high school nemesis, Michael Stafford? Liz Palmer had had her first run-in with the football hero when he’d tried to kiss her in high school, and she’d broken his nose. Now ten years later Michael is back in her life, vying for the same business account, and she is determined to win.
Liz’s career is her life, but something has been missing all these years, and in her heart she knows it’s Michael. With her friends falling in love, and yet another stint as a bridesmaid in her future, Liz wonders if there’s a way to mix business and love…