For You I Do by Angie Daniels Page B

her glass of club soda, hoping to wash it down, then took a deep breath. All she could do was pray that her mother didn’t have a fit.

    Chapter 11
    Jessica Beaumont waited until the table had been clear and coffee had been served to ask the question that she had been anxious to ask all evening. “When are we going to meet your fiancé?”
    The conversations at the table ceased. All eyes were again on Bianca. She closed her eyes and gave a silent groan before looking at her mother again.
    She brought her cup to her lips, sipped and sipped again.
    Stalling. The look on her mother’s face said she’d had enough.
    “Maybe next week.”
    “You said that last week.”
    “He’s been out of town.”
    Her mother’s lips formed a disapproving line. “He can’t possibly be out of town every week. What kind of life will the two of you have if he’s never around?”
    Bianca lowered her gaze to the slim gold watch on her wrist.
    “He’s in the military, Mother. I’ll bring him next week.”
    “Really?” Her tone said she didn’t believe Bianca for a minute.
    Jaden rose from the table. “I’m starting to think that your fiancé is make-believe.”

    Angie Daniels
    73
    Bianca rolled her eyes over in his direction. “If you thought that, then you wouldn’t have paid London to spy on me,” she spat.
    She saw the surprise register in his eyes.
    After a long, tense moment, he finally replied, “I only did that because I care about you.”
    “Whatever. I’m tired of everyone trying to run my life,”
    Bianca said angrily.
    Luckily, Danica changed the subject when she announced the results of her second ultrasound. It was confirmed. They were having a little girl. The table exploded with excitement and, to Bianca’s relief, she was out from under the microscope…for now.
    After coffee, the family moved into the great room. Bianca edged her way to the door, hoping to make a quick escape. She had kissed her niece, rushed down the wide marble hallway, turned the knob on the door and was almost safely on the other side—
    “Bianca.”
    Stopping dead in her tracks, she swore under her breath at the sound of a cultured voice coming from the living room. Bianca turned with a practiced smile. “Yes, Mother?”
    Jessica shot her daughter a withering look. “Are you trying to sneak out while I’m not looking?”
    Her shoulders sagged. There was really no point in lying.
    “Yes, Mother. I’m tired of your butting into my personal life.”
    Dramatically, Jessica brought a hand to her chest and gasped.
    “That’s what mothers do…we worry about our children and want only the best for them. For Pete’s sake! Can you at least tell me your fiancé’s name?”
    Bianca looked at her. Her eyes were steady. The grim determination of her mother’s mouth said she wasn’t backing down until she had answers.
    “Okay,” Bianca began and before she realized what she was doing, she took a deep breath and said, “His name is…London.
    London Brown.”
    Bianca parked her car in the driveway, slammed the door and headed up the drive. With each passing hour, she was sinking deeper and deeper into hot water. What in the world had she been thinking, telling her mother that she was engaged to London? She 74
    For You I Do
    was almost certain her mother was already on the phone telling all her friends.
    “Great, Bianca. Just great.” Now she needed to do some damage control quickly before word got back to London.
    Wearily, she stuck her key into the lock. She was tired and needed to lie down for a few minutes, then she would change into jeans and a T-shirt and go see London, and tell him what happened before her mother told Jaden and then…all hell would break lose.
    She unlocked the front door, stepped inside and went completely still when she spotted Collin reclining on her sofa. Her exhaustion was replaced with anger. “What are you doing here?” she said.
    He rose and gave her his dimpled smile, while leaning his weight on one