The Marriage Charm (Bliss County 2) by Linda Lael Miller Page A

ship of fools.”
    The mind-reading must have kicked in because Bex said, “Spence looked like a million bucks. What is it about a tux, especially on a hot guy? Then he strolled into the bar in those jeans and looked even better. I think I was standing right there when you noticed the same thing.”
    He looked better yet wearing nothing at all. “I noticed,” Melody admitted, weighing her words carefully. Her friend could sense a lie the way a shark scents a single drop of blood in a million gallons of sea water. “But my first experience with Spencer Hogan didn’t turn out all that great. I’m gun-shy.”
    And he asked me out to dinner tonight. I declined . Probably because of those ready condoms. He does have a really cute dog, though ...
    “I know you are.” Bex regarded her from across the table, spoon in hand. “But what about the pact? Would you ever give him a second chance? I don’t know if I should mention this, but I saw him watching you the entire time these past few days. During the rehearsal, the dinner afterward and even during the ceremony when he was supposed to be playing best man.”
    “We sat next to each other at the rehearsal dinner. He had no choice but to talk to me. He’s not perfect, but he’s polite.”
    Bex asked through a spoonful of ice cream, “You sure it’s over?”
    She wasn’t sure of anything, particularly at the moment. “That was nine years ago.”
    “So? Chemistry is chemistry. Tripp and Hadleigh had their differences and look how that turned out. I’m going to venture a guess at what they’re doing right now.” Bex glanced pointedly at the black cat clock on the wall, its tail moving in a steady rhythm. “Never mind that it’s just afternoon.”
    An echo of her own thoughts. Damn. And she herself hadn’t held out until noon. One kiss, the feel of Spence’s teasing mouth at the juncture of her shoulder and neck, and she’d caved.
    Twice. No, let’s be honest. Three times.
    “Spence Hogan has a lot of baggage. His past, not to mention our past. I’m not positive I’m interested, even if he is.”
    Now she’d ventured into the realm of Sort-of-Lies. She was interested, but she was skittish. A person could survive one broken heart, she was proof of that, but could she get through it twice?
    Doubtful.
    Hadleigh could easily be the exception in their secret pact. Relationships didn’t come with an instruction manual. If Melody wrote a book on the subject, and she was the last person on this green earth who’d qualify, she suspected it would be panned by the critics.
    Bex finished her ice cream and pushed the container to the side. “Don’t be hasty.”
    She was far too insightful for comfort.
    “What?”
    “He’s never slept with Junie. I think most of his reputation is based on the fact that he looks like someone who could have any woman he wants. Spence and Junie are childhood friends. They work together. End of story.”
    Her bizarre day had just gotten more off-kilter. Melody stared at one of her two best friends and tried to dredge up a reasonable response. She settled on, “Can you explain how you came to that conclusion?”
    “No.” Bex got up to dump her empty container in the trash. When she turned around, she looked determined in a familiar way as she leaned back against the counter. “Mel, one of the reasons we’re such good friends is that you know I keep secrets right next to my heart. I don’t reveal sources, but the rumor about Spence and Junie isn’t true. I’d say most of the rumors about him are just plain fabrication. He’s easy on the eyes, but that isn’t his fault.”
    To a certain extent it might be, because a man didn’t get to be thirty-six and have those flat abs without exercising, and he had to lift weights—and Bex was the one who owned the local gym.
    He’s definitely easy on the eyes. You should see him naked .
    Okay, she really shouldn’t say that or her intuitive friend might assume she’d seen him sans