Getting Lei'd

By Melissa Schroeder

Maribelle has always been unlucky in love. Bad relationships, bad men, just nothing good. The latest guy is her fiancé, who she found cheating on her at the chapel with her cousin. After dumping him at the altar, Maribelle swears off love. To mend her broken heart she goes to Hawaii to visit her friends Eddie and Sophia. She never expected Damon and Alex to follow her with seduction on their minds, and she never expected them to want forever.

Damon and Alex have been in love with Maribelle for years. When Damon’s stupid brother loses her because of his cheating ways, the best friends decide it’s time to let Maribelle know just how they feel. Seducing her is easy, but convincing her to stay with them is going to be a challenge—one thing neither man has ever backed down from.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094466804

Melissa Schroeder

From an early age, USA Today Bestselling author Melissa loved to read. First, it was the books her mother read to her including her two favorites, Winnie the Pooh and the Beatrix Potter books. She cut her preteen teeth on Trixie Belden and read and reviewed To Kill a Mockingbird in middle school. It wasn’t until she was in college that she tried to write her first stories, which were full of angst and pain, and really not that fun to read or write. After trying several different genres, she found romance in a Linda Howard book. Since her first published book, Grace Under Pressure, Mel has had over 60 short stories, novellas, and novels published. She has written in genres ranging from historical to contemporary to futuristic and has worked with 8 publishers although she handles most of her publishing herself. She is best known for her Harmless and Santini series. After years of following her military husband around the country and world, Mel happily lives with her family in horse and wine country in Northern Virginia.

Book preview

1

Two-time, cheating, no good bastard.

Maribelle Sawyer looked up at her groom. Aaron smiled down at her, that trademark smile that had never failed to make her whole body light up like the fourth of July on the National Mall.

He turned back to the minister, and she continued to study him. He was gorgeous. Not just ‘plain old good looking guy’ gorgeous, but movie star gorgeous. The type of man Brad Pitt would be jealous of. And she had been lucky enough to be picked by him to marry. She had always thought herself fortunate until she found him screwing her skanky cousin Denise. In the church they were to be married in.

The minister kept droning on about love and commitment and Maribelle’s head pounded. What the hell was she doing there? Why was she standing next to the bastard as if she wanted to marry him? She didn’t. Not now.

Maribelle glanced at her two friends, Eddie and Sophia. They looked fabulous, both in deep, dark purple dresses, their perfect bodies showed off to the best advantage. Maribelle had always been jealous of the fact that both of them could eat anything and it didn’t mar their figure. They were watching her with concern as if they knew something was wrong. No one else detected it. Not her mother or father. Not even her dumbass groom.

She peeked up at him again. He was watching the minister as if he really cared about the vows, about the whole ceremony. It was as if he hadn’t been getting it on with her cousin in the supply closet just thirty minutes ago.

She went to look back at the minister, but Damon caught her eye. He might be Aaron’s brother and best man, but he had always been one of her best friends growing up. They were the same age, just six months separated them. He had been her confidant when she had been teased at school. He’d stood up to her skanky cousin Denise whenever she had been mean to her. He was watching her with a solemn expression in his eyes.

She turned back to the minister. Why was she doing this? Why did she feel the need to marry a man who couldn’t even be faithful the day of the wedding? How pathetic. She was willing to marry a man who didn’t love her enough to keep his dick in his pants in the church. Why? Lord only knew. But when her father had shown up to walk her down the aisle, she’d still been in some sort of shock.

It was starting to wear off.

If anyone has a reason, these two people should not marry, speak now or forever hold your peace.

She glanced up at the groom, his stupid smiling face, and her blood started to heat. How dare he stand there and pretend he hadn’t been fucking someone else as if it was no big deal? As if he had the right to get his rocks off.

The minister started to say something, but before Maribelle could stop herself, she raised her hand.

The minister looked confused, his gaze looking between her and Aaron.

Maribelle, is there something wrong?

The entire congregation was looking at her. She could feel their gazes burning in her back.

I object.

Maribelle? Aaron’s concerned voice filtered through the air.

She thought she heard someone laugh and she would bet money on Eddie. She had never liked Aaron.

I object to this marriage.

Aaron tugged on her hand until she looked at him. There was a flash of anger in the depth of his blue gaze, and she took a step back. His fingers bit into her wrist.

Apparently realizing she was backing away from him, he schooled his features and smiled at her. Leaning down, he asked, What’s the matter, sweet?

She twisted her arm until he released her wrist. I’m not marrying you.

Oh, God.

That was her mother. She had always been worried that Maribelle would mess something up, especially this wedding. It was being touted as one of the weddings of the DC wedding season. And she was messing it up. But she refused to feel guilty about it. Well, she did a little, but she would deal with that later.

What do you mean you aren’t marrying me?

I mean, I refuse to marry you.

Another flash of anger moved over his face, and this time, he didn’t even try to hide it.

What the hell are you talking about?

I won’t marry you. Don’t want to. Refuse to. Her voice rose with each statement.

The irritation on his face dissolved into a look of concern. I think your nerves might be overset.

You’re right, they are.

He smiled, and she wanted to punch him. In fact, she curled her fingers into her palm, making a fist.

See, so we can resume--

I don’t think so.

She turned to Eddie and handed her the bouquet. She was smiling as was Sophia, but Maribelle didn’t miss the concern in their gazes. Before she could say anything, a hand clamped down hard on her shoulder. She was turned around so fast, she almost lost her footing. Several people shouted at that. She recognized the voices of her friends’ boyfriends as she tried to gain her balance.

Just what the fuck, Maribelle?

She shook her head, trying to clear it. I think you should be careful what you say in church. You probably have some bad marks in that column today with your behavior.

My behavior? I’m not the one making an ass out of herself in front of some of the biggest names in DC. You are.

He shouted it, and it echoed throughout the cathedral.

Really? I think I’m actually keeping myself from looking like more of an ass further down the line. So, I call off the wedding.

She turned toward her parents. They were looking at her with mixed expressions. Her mother looked horrified. Well, that made sense. Her mother never expected her to marry, and well, her mother never raised her