Chapter 21

That was understandable, of course, it was. She simply smiled and nodded as she watched him drive the tank of a car onto the freeway and out of the parking lot. She shakily said, "So, Nathan, what did you have to talk to me about?" Oh, okay, I almost forgot, he said. He gave her a fleeting glance. "I have a big favor to ask of you." She said, "Oh, sure," feeling let down that it wasn't the proclamation of love she had anticipated. "Anything." He said, "One of Ainsley's bridesmaids pulled out." "I don't recall the specifics, but she got sick or fractured her leg or whatever. Anyhow, we require a replacement for her. If she weren't my stepbrother's girlfriend and I couldn't simply ask him to resign as a groomsman since my stepmother would throw a rage, I wouldn't ask. She answered, "Ooh, the mysterious stepbrother," hiding the crushing sadness she was experiencing as a result of being invited to be one of his bridesmaids. "You mean I get to actually meet him?" He laughed. "Don't get your