Bride by Design

C H A P T E R 15

I LOVED HER FIRST

Karyssa

Was it possible to snow on a hot day?

Maybe.

In a tropical country?

No.

A chance for a rain of hail instead of the white fluffy snow, sure.

Snow was better than experiencing hailstones of surprises in the form of an unexpected face to face with Helena's wife. With Lauren. In a public comfort room. Them alone. Me graciously nowhere in the middle.

I may have stumbled upon something I wasn't meant to witness; however, Catherine continued as if I was not there.

Lauren's eyes red with unshed tears and Catherine holding on to her hand. Alarmed at the embarrassing discovery, my friend, tried to shake her hold but the other wouldn't release her, intent at not letting her leave.

My ears were ringing at hearing denials from Lauren and the other woman's plea to for me to go and not interfere. Noticing my inaction while processing everything, Catherine walked past me and tugged my crying friend with her along.

Before I knew it, I was racing after them.

The afternoon of unwinding wound me up for instead of catching up with them I was thrown off balance as I bumped into someone. Hands ready, I tried to grab at anything or anyone to stop my fall but came up clutching at the air. Just when I thought it useless, a hand shot out of nowhere to grab my forearm. My momentum still had me aiming for the floor but an arm secured my waist and won against gravity.

Her scent filled my senses before her face registered and I knew I was done for-the warmth of the afternoon game and run cooled. And when our gazes met, though it was summer, winter crept in.

"Helena? I thought I told you to wait in the car," Catherine broke through the fog in my head and electrified the arms that held me for they swiftly disappeared-our contact lost.

Not sparing me a word of awkward 'hello' and my existence completely ignored thereafter, Helena left and approached the two. Catherine immediately let go of Lauren as her wife took over.

"We have to talk," Helena's voice sounded strained.

"Karyssa's coming with us," Lauren begged me with her eyes and I nodded though I was not sure what good would come out of it and why I was needed.

"Suit yourself," Helena let her go and headed for the coffee shop, without waiting to see if anyone moved to follow her lead.

After mouthing an apology to me and a thank you for agreeing to accompany her, Lauren trailed behind Helena.

My head warred against my heart-I allowed myself to be invited into someone else's battle with my old armor barely holding and, as usual, unarmed.

But I said I would.

Now, I could only pray I could still walk.

When I crossed the shop's threshold, I didn't know what to do.

"Let's not disturb them," Catherine had us take a table far from the others.

Seated, I remembered having been confined to a separate corner while Helena had meetings coming between our dates. Dates that I had scheduled ahead, fingers crossed that the day was cleared, but those damned business peeps kept third-wheeling.

"Never leave your valuables unattended. Sometimes, you lose them," Catherine handed me the phone I dropped and have forgotten about and, then turned to eye Lauren and Helena, who were talking at a distance, "or a thief takes interest."