Trouble in a White Dress

By Alice Sharpe

Runaway Bride Alert! Cameron Nance finds out at the last possible minute that the man she is about to marry is a cheating louse. All she wants to do is disappear, but options are limited for a woman standing in front of a church wearing a wedding gown. Then she sees an open car and a chance for escape.

David Cutter is a friend of the groom driving a rented convertible. All he's doing is looking for a parking space when a vision in white jumps into his car. He tries to say no to her, but then she whips back her veil and somewhere deep within his confirmed bachelor heart he senses things are about to change--forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alice Sharpe
• Release date: Dec 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465708755

Alice Sharpe

I was born in Sacramento, California where I launched my writing career by “publishing” a family newspaper. Circulation was dismal. After school, I married the love of my life. We spent years juggling children and pets while living on sailboats. All the while, I read like a crazy woman (devoured Agatha Christie) and wrote stories of my own, eventually selling to magazines and then book publishers. Now, 45 novels later, I’m concentrating on romantic suspense where my true interest lies.

Book preview

TROUBLE IN A WHITE DRESS

Alice Sharpe

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 by Alice Sharpe

Cover art and design by Patricia Schmitt/Pickyme

All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in encouraging piracy of copyrighted materials in violation with the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

CHAPTER ONE

CAMERON NANCE stood outside the huge church doors, eyes shut, bridal bouquet clutched in a white-knuckled hand. Shallow gulps of air never seemed to make their way past trembling lips. Her thoughts were a maelstrom. She knew her father was waiting on the other side of the doors, confused as to just why she’d insisted on needing fresh air a moment before her bridesmaids were to begin walking down the aisle. She knew that at any second, he would tire of indulging her and bodily drag her inside. Then he’d loop his arm through hers, and together, the two of them would march forward to Cameron’s destiny.

After all, he really liked her fiancé, Benjamin Rinaldi.

He already called him son. They even played golf. One of the huge doors inched open and her father peeked out. Cameron?

Oh, Dad. Just a second, please.

But, honey—

Just give me a second, she pleaded.

He closed the door again, and Cameron realized she was out of time. What are my options? she asked herself as she turned to stare at the cars speeding across the busy intersection at the corner of Tenth and Vine.

Think. Now!

What was there to think about? She either entered the church and told her dad what she herself had just learned—which would mean an end to the wedding, a scene, tears, heartache, accusations—or she went ahead with the ceremony and married Ben, pretending she knew nothing, attempting to build a life on a lie.

The first choice would be devastating. The second choice was out of the question.

The traffic light changed and cars ground to a stop, a sleek gray convertible first in line. A man sat behind the wheel, his only passenger a Dalmatian dog who took up half the back seat. The driver wasn’t looking at the bride only four steps up and twelve feet away from his car, but she sure was looking at him.

This man was free. When the light turned, he could go as far away as he wanted.

The huge door opened again and church music spilled out. Her father wore his stern banker’s look. Cameron, for heaven’s sake, they’re playing the processional. Come on in. Now.

The words tumbled out of Cameron’s mouth. I…I can’t go through with it.

His brow furrowed. What?

I’m sorry You’re going to have to handle this for me…please.

Don’t be absurd. You wait here. I’ll go get Ben—

No, she snapped, and with an apologetic shake of her head, pushed her flowers into his hands.

He said, What in blazes—

But Cameron had just thought of a third option. She could run.

She shoved the church door closed against a father so stunned by her behavior it apparently didn’t even occur to him to try to block it. The next thing she knew, she was dashing down the stairs. She ran to the corner where the light was turning yellow, trapping her on the sidewalk between cars slowing down and those revving their engines. Behind her, she heard a commotion and her father yelled her name. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see her fiancé emerge into the sunlight, pause at her father’s side, and focus on her.

Cameron! Ben yelled.

An incredulous male voice came from behind her. What the—

She whirled around to face the driver of the convertible. Through her veil, she saw a good-looking guy in his late twenties. He was pointing and his mouth was open. That’s Ben Rinaldi, he said.

Shocked, she mumbled, Do you know him?

I’m going to his wedding.

Not anymore you’re not.

A pair of perplexed brown eyes looked at her from over the top of lowered sunglasses. What’s going on?

Cameron! This from Ben again.

The light changed color and horns began to blare. Cameron put manners, hesitations, even logic into a tiny mental drawer and slammed it shut. Then she opened the door of the convertible, which earned her a startled gasp from the driver.

Mind giving me a lift?

I—

But she didn’t wait for him to answer. She flung herself into the front seat, dragging miles of lace behind her.

He said, Now, just a second!

Horns were honking. Ben was advancing.

Go! she screeched as she slammed the door, and bless his heart, after a second-long pause that seemed to last a month, the driver did.

Cameron brushed aside her veil and looked back. Ben and her father were standing on the sidewalk, mouths agape as the gray convertible whisked away daughter and wife-to-be.

Ben knew, or could guess, why she was leaving.

Her father was clueless.

She closed her eyes. The dog licked her cheek.

* * *

David Cutter scolded his dog, Domino, as he managed to look now and then at the bundle of virginal white lace beside him. The woman inside the lace struggled with her skirts and veil, finally pulling the latter from her hair and stuffing it down onto the floor by her feet.

He said, Look here—

But then she turned to face him and he found that without the veil, her features came into sharp focus. Straight black brows framed amazing blue eyes as clear and vibrant as a mountain lake. Her glossy black hair was swept up away from her face, but wayward tendrils fluttered against ivory skin flushed petal pink on cheekbones and throat. The soft bodice of her dress was snug enough to show the delicious round curves of her breasts, then it tapered down to a tiny waist and out again into a billowy mass.

Yes? she said, her voice soft but determined.

David was going to admonish her. He was going to tell her she couldn’t commandeer his car. He was going to protest the way she’d just deserted Ben. Hell, he was going to say a lot of things, but his tongue was suddenly as tied up as a rush-hour freeway and he heard himself mumble, What’s going on?

The woman threw up her hands. Isn’t it obvious? You rescued me.

What exactly did I rescue you from?

From having to marry that…that jerk. Thank you.

He slowed down a little and glanced at her. One problem…that jerk is a friend of mine.

You need to pick your friends more carefully.

You’re a fine one to talk, he said, looking back at the road. I just play racquetball with Ben—you were about to marry him.

Don’t rub it in, she said. He could feel her staring at his profile. Finally, she added, Who are you?

David Cutter—

Funny. He never mentioned your name.

Ben mentioned yours, though. You’ve got to be Cameron Nance.

She glanced behind them. Was she expecting a posse?

What in the world had he just done?

He’d carted off the bride, that’s what he’d done, and there was going to be hell to pay for it, wait and see.

Trouble. That’s what she was. Trouble in a white dress.

He pulled over to the curb, which earned him another glance from lovely eyes that seemed to become a deeper shade of blue each time he looked into them. With a conscious effort, David steeled himself against her gaze and said, Much as I hate to admit it, I’m not a knight in shining armor, I don’t go around rescuing maidens, no matter how fair they are, and besides, you’re Ben’s bride.

Just keep driving.

What’s the point? In a few seconds, you’re going to have second thoughts about what you did and want me to take you back to the church.

What makes you say that? she snapped.

I have three sisters.

So?

Three sisters who each got married. David decided to edit out the part about the subsequent divorces. In his family, one followed the other as surely as an angry red rash followed a tumble into a bank of poison ivy. Women were fickle, changeable, flighty. At one time, he’d thought it was just the women in his family who were this way, but lately, he’d seen a lot of similar behavior in the women he dated and the women his friends married. Or—as in the case at hand—almost married. What I’m trying to say is that getting a little crazy before the big event is actually normal. Nothing to worry about. I’ll turn around—

Cameron interrupted him with a gusty, No!

Ignoring her, he added, And drive back to the church—

No! Never!

So that you and Ben—

Don’t even say his name.

Then where do you want to go? he asked reasonably. As they were close to the freeway on-ramp he needed to take and she didn’t seem to have an answer, he turned off the engine and faced her.

Mistake. She batted her eyelashes, bit her lip. He looked down at his hands.

Everyone I know is at the wedding, she said at last.

Then your house—

First place they’ll look.

Domino must have decided that the atmosphere needed lightening up, for the dog chose that second to renew his efforts to get to know Cameron better. David made a grab for the sleek Dalmatian who slipped past his hands and wormed his way close to their passenger, his eager tongue washing everything in its path. But Cameron suffered the impromptu bath with a smile that made David’s heart tighten a little. He sat back, momentarily stunned by her beauty as she rubbed the silly mutt’s head and gently pushed him into the back seat where he belonged.

She apparently noticed his incredulous expression. I work with animals, she explained.

Listen, David said, glancing at the steering wheel, the windshield, anywhere but at her. I don’t know what happened between you and Ben. He raised a hand when she began to interrupt him, adding, No, don’t tell me, please, it’s none of my business. Ben and I aren’t real close friends—

Then why were you coming to our wedding?

Because he asked me to.

Do you work at the bank with him and Dad?

No, I’m a contractor, I build houses. Ben and I belong to the same sports club. Anyway, that’s not the point. I feel like an accomplice here. Surely, whatever Ben did or whatever you think he did—

Do you have to keep saying his name?

He sighed, ran a hand through his hair. What exactly do you want, Cameron Nance?

I don’t know, she said, biting her bottom lip. Give me a second, she added. This has all happened kind of suddenly. I’ve never done anything like this before.

No kidding, he thought, but didn’t say. It wouldn’t have happened at all if Anna had made her flight as planned. Anna Garret was his current girlfriend, overseas at the moment, working as a computer consultant. She was supposed to be in this car. She was supposed to have walked off the plane in time for both of them to make Ben Rinaldi’s wedding, but she hadn’t. If she’d taken the trouble to call him, he wouldn’t have wasted time calling her London apartment. Airhead Anna had made him late again—so late that he’d arrived at the church at the exact time the crazy woman beside him decided to walk out on her own wedding.

Take your time, he said.

To himself he wondered what Ben had done to make her so angry. Well, it wasn’t any of his business. As far as he was concerned, Ben had probably escaped with his life.

Cameron was taking way too long to answer him. He said, I hate to dwell on this one big problem, but where exactly do you want me to take you?

She raised her chin and faced him squarely. He’d never in his entire life seen a face like hers, so exquisite and yet so resolute. Her skin looked soft and satiny and touchable.

I suppose that since the wedding was…called off, you’re on your way home, she said.

I don’t have a home right now. Because her gaze grew inquisitive, he added, I’ve been out of town building a house over on the coast. Right now, I’m headed to my mom’s place, about forty miles from here. There’s a family reunion today. I was going to skip your reception.

Her expressive eyes flew open. Oh, my gosh, the reception.

He knew right away he