Society Bride. Elizabeth Bevarly

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      “What’s that?” she asked.

      “The key to happiness,” Kate said cryptically.

      Renee smiled nervously. “I don’t understand.”

      “You need some time to think,” the other woman reiterated, “and you need a quiet place to do it. I just happen to have such a place at my disposal. I’ve used it myself on a number of occasions when I’ve needed to get away to gather my thoughts and make big decisions. And I frequently loan it to friends who find themselves in a similar position.”

      “And where would this place be?” Renee asked warily.

      Kate smiled. “Wyoming.”

      “Wyoming?” Renee echoed incredulously. “I can’t go to Wyoming. I’m getting married in a week.”

      Kate arched one elegant brow inquisitively. “Are you, dear?”

      Renee swallowed hard and somehow forced herself to nod.

      “Then consider this my wedding present to you,” Kate said. “Some time away before the big event, to rest and relax and prepare yourself for the lifelong journey that awaits you upon your return.”

      Oh, God, Renee thought. She didn’t like the sound of that at all. A lifelong journey.

      “Mrs. Fortune, I appreciate the offer, but—”

      “But what, dear?”

      Renee sighed fitfully. “I can’t go. I have too many things to do here.”

      “Such as?”

      “Well, there’s…um…”

      Actually, even though the wedding was only a week away, there really wasn’t that much for her to do. Lyle had insisted on a small wedding, because a large one would be too time-consuming and his work hours would prohibit him from participating. Renee hadn’t disagreed. Their guest list barely numbered two dozen. They were planning to marry at his mother’s house, and Mrs. Norton was taking care of all the arrangements. The caterer, musicians, photographer, florist, everyone was lined up and ready to go. All that was left was for everyone to show up on time, Renee included.

      Now why had she thought that? she wondered. Of course she would be showing up on time. All Mrs. Fortune was saying was that she should get away from the stress of wedding planning for a little while, to relax and enjoy her final days as a single woman. And why did the phrase “final days” have such a fatal ring to it, as if she’d been bound over for execution?

      Renee knew she could use a small rest—even a short one. She did feel more exhausted lately than she should, and entering a marriage fatigued wasn’t a good idea. And what better way to rest than by traveling to a place where she didn’t know anyone, where no one knew her, where she would have no obligations, no responsibilities, no requirements save taking it easy?

      She didn’t have to stay long, she told herself. Only a few days, long enough to reassure herself that she was making the right decision. Because marrying Lyle, she was sure, was indeed the right decision.

      The timing of Kate’s offer was actually very good. Lyle was out of town again—on business, naturally—and wouldn’t be returning until the day before the wedding. The rest would do Renee good. She hadn’t been sleeping well at all, thanks to all those dreams about Garrett.

      Without realizing she had agreed to take Kate up on the offer, Renee found herself reaching slowly for the key the woman held out to her. But before she could grasp it, Kate released it, and the key fell easily right into the palm of Renee’s hand.

      “You’ll be going to the Final Destination Ranch in Last Resort, Wyoming,” Kate said with a smile.

      Gee, could there possibly be anything more symbolic than that? Renee wondered.

      “There’s a little guest cabin on the property that’s removed from the main house,” Kate continued. “It’s private and quiet, and perfect for your needs. I’ll call the manager this afternoon and tell him to expect you this evening.”

      “This evening?” Renee echoed. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly leave today. I have to go home and pack, tell my father and Lyle where I’m going and—”

      “I’ll tell your father,” Kate volunteered. “It’s been ages since I spoke to him, and this will give me the perfect excuse to call. Then he can tell your fiancé.”

      Renee opened her mouth to object, but Kate hurried on before she had a chance.

      “And you need pack only the barest essentials. Everything you could ever need or want in life is on that ranch. Trust me.”

      “But I have to make travel arrangements and—”

      “You can take the Fortune jet,” Kate interrupted breezily, as if she were offering the use of a bicycle and nothing more. She rose from her chair, evidently forgetting that she had come to the spa for some reason other than taking charge of Renee’s life. “I’ll call and take care of all the arrangements for you. Just be at the Fortune hangar at the airport in two hours—I’ll write down the directions for you—and you can be at the ranch in time for dinner.”

      She withdrew a pad and pen from her handbag, quickly jotted some instructions, then tore the slip of paper off and handed to Renee. “And, Renee,” she added with a sweet smile, “do enjoy yourself, dear.”

      Three

      “Reggie? Kate Fortune calling. It’s been ages since we spoke—how are you?”

      “Kate! It has been a long time. How nice to hear from you. I’m doing well. You?”

      “Couldn’t be better. Listen, I have to talk to you about Renee.”

      “What about Renee?”

      “I ran into her this morning, and we had a very interesting conversation.”

      “Did she tell you she’s getting married this month? To Lyle Norton, no less?”

      “Oh, I can just hear the pride and joy in your voice when you say that, Reggie. Yes, we did discuss the fact that she’s getting married soon.”

      “I couldn’t be happier about the arrangement.”

      “Oh, I’ll just bet you couldn’t. That Lyle Norton is something, all right. But listen, here’s the thing. Renee looked awfully tired to me so I offered her a place to retreat to for a few days, so she could get a little rest.”

      “Retreat to? What do you mean, ‘retreat to?’”

      “Just that. A small retreat I have at my disposal, a place where I go for a little while when I need to rest or sort things out.”

      “Sort things out?”

      “You know…make big decisions, think about the repercussions of my actions, that kind of thing.”

      “Think about the reper—”

      “And СКАЧАТЬ