Clover Park Bride Read online

  Smart-ass. It was a plain dark gray, the least hideous in the bunch, but if he said he wanted that one he risked sounding boring.

  The greater risk—looking like a complete dork with a bird, reindeer, or snowman emblazoned on his chest—had him narrowing his eyes. “Is there even a question?” He reached for the plain gray sweater and she shoved the bird sweater in his hand instead.

  “I knew it,” she said with a sly grin. “You’re a bluebird of happiness kind of…” She trailed off, stiffening, the color draining from her face.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Su-sure.” She swallowed visibly and met his eyes with a pinched expression. “Great.”

  “Then why’re you as white as communion wafer?”

  His first Catholic joke fell flat. She regarded him gravely before leaning close and whispering, “Pretend you’re my boyfriend.”

  He looked around. “Is there some guy—oh, hey.” She was next to him, closer than she’d ever been, her head level with his chest, her scent floral and fresh. She grabbed his arm and pulled him back behind the table with her.

  Before he had a chance to put an arm around her like the possessive boyfriend he never was, she was pressed up against his front, her fingers running through his hair, smiling at him like he was the only man in the room. And it worked. Hell yeah, it worked. He slipped his arms around her waist, keeping her close.

  “Hello, gorgeous,” he said, his voice rough with lust.

  Her eyes widened for a moment before she cupped the back of his neck, drawing him down to whisper in his ear, “We’ve been together for a year. Serious.”

  He slid a hand into her hair, momentarily distracted by its silky softness, then he whispered near her ear. “Two months is my longest relationship. This must be fate.”

  “Ha-ha.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and shifted them so his back was to the room. She peered around him.

  “All clear?” he asked.

  “Fuck.” She shifted him again so they were sideways to the room.

  “Okay.” He rested his hands lightly on her waist. It was almost like slow dancing.

  “Pretend we’re talking.” She gave him a tight smile, dropping one arm from him. Her other hand went back to playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.

  He let go of her waist and lifted a hand, stroking one finger along her soft cheek. “Come here often?”

  She focused fully on him, giving him a sexy smile, her voice husky. “Not often enough, sugar.”

  Holy pretend girlfriend he was turned on.

  He played with a lock of her hair, studying the silky strands. “Why did you dye your pretty red hair dark brown?”

  “Because I hate it.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Then you can dye your light brown hair pretty red.”

  He snorted. “Seriously, though, why do you hate it?”

  Her hand on the back of his neck tightened as she looked out to the room.

  “Missy—” Her lips met his suddenly, hot and sweet. The sights and sounds of a crafty Christmas wonderland faded as his hand came up to hold her jaw, deepening the kiss, electric heat surging through his veins. She tasted of peppermint and sin, and he couldn’t get enough. He feasted on that luscious mouth like a starving man.

  She tore her mouth away, breathless, eyes wide.

  His heart beat in his ears, pulse thrumming. He stared at her pink lips, full and soft.

  She met him halfway for a second kiss.

  He didn’t care that it was pretend because it felt so right. Then her tongue darted out to touch his, instinct took over, and he dove in for more.

  Preorder Resisting Fate now!

  The books in the Clover Park series are The Opposite of Wild (Ryan & Liz), Daisy Does It All (Trav & Daisy), Bad Taste in Men (Shane & Rachel), Kissing Santa (Rico & Samantha), Restless Harmony (Gabe & Zoe), Not My Romeo (Vince & Sophia), Rev Me Up (Nico & Lily), An Ambitious Engagement (Luke & Kennedy), Clutch Player (Jared & Emily), and A Tempting Friendship (Angel & Julia). I hope you enjoy them all!

  Join the Gilmore Goddesses Readers Group on Facebook to chat about Clover Park books in a non-spoilerly way. Also, man candy. Click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GilmoreGoddesses/

  Help other readers find this book by writing a review. I would truly appreciate it.

  Other Books by Kylie Gilmore

  The Clover Park Series

  The Opposite of Wild (Book 1)

  Daisy Does It All (Book 2)

  Bad Taste in Men (Book 3)

  Kissing Santa (Book 4)

  Restless Harmony (Book 5)

  Not My Romeo (Book 6)

  Rev Me Up (Book 7)

  An Ambitious Engagement (Book 8)

  Clutch Player (Book 9)

  A Tempting Friendship (Book 10)

  The Clover Park STUDS Series

  Almost in Love (Book 1)

  Almost Married (Book 2)

  Almost Over It (Book 3)

  Almost Romance (Book 4)

  Almost Hitched (Book 5)

  Happy Endings Book Club Series

  Hidden Hollywood (Book 1)

  Inviting Trouble (Book 2)

  So Revealing (Book 3)

  Formal Arrangement (Book 4)

  Bad Boy Done Wrong (Book 5)

  Mess With Me (Book 6)

  Resisting Fate (Book 7)

  Copyright

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks are not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Clover Park Bride © 2018 by Kylie Gilmore

  Excerpt from Resisting Fate © 2018 by Kylie Gilmore

  Digital Edition 1.0

  Cover design by The Killion Group

  Published by: Extra Fancy Books

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the writer, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  ISBN-10: 1-942238-60-6

  ISBN-13: 978-1-942238-60-7

  About the Author

  Kylie Gilmore is the USA Today bestselling author of the Happy Endings Book Club series, the Clover Park series, and the Clover Park STUDS series. She writes humorous romance that makes you laugh, cry, and reach for a cold glass of water.

  Kylie lives in New York with her family, two cats, and a nutso dog. When she’s not writing, wrangling kids, or dutifully taking notes at writing conferences, you can find her flexing her muscles all the way to the high cabinet for her secret chocolate stash.

  Click here to sign up for Kylie’s Newsletter and get a FREE book. You’ll also get new release info, exclusive excerpts, and lots of subscriber-only giveaways. For more fun stuff check out Kylie’s website http://www.kyliegilmore.com.

  Kylie can be found on Twitter @KylieGilmoreToo and on Facebook.com/KylieGilmoreToo. Contact Kylie at [email protected]