Bittersweet Surrender Read Online Free Page B

during the ceremony and accidentally dropped it. The ring pinged and ponged its way down to the front of the old church and ultimately dropped down a floor register, while everyone watched in disbelief.
    And now Magnolia would be in the same house. What if she burned down the spa? Carly made a mental note to up her insurance.
    She shuddered and lifted her eyes heavenward. “Haven’t I been through enough?”
    Just then a slight tinkling sound lifted from her teacup terrier’s name tag as she trotted toward Carly. A pink bow captured a tuft of black-and-brown hair. Pinkie stopped at Carly’s feet long enough to lift her muzzle and receive a few strokes on her snout, then off she sauntered to her bed, circling three times, and finally spilling into the soft cushion. As a full-fledged adult, Pinkie weighed three pounds. Sometimes Scott joked that the little dog would one day be sucked into the vacuum.
    Carly eyed Pinkie, who was curled up in a little furry ball. The terrier had been a gift from Scott and Ivy when Carly was sick.
    Why did I accept a dog that makes me look like Gladiator Woman? Taking a walk with a St. Bernard would definitely have given her more of a dainty appearance. She’d have to shrink to the size of a raisin to appear dainty with Pinkie around.
    With a quick glance in the mirror, Carly ran a brush through her long hair. As she stood there, the evening sun squeezed through the window with the strength of a halogen bulb and spotlighted an imposter in the midst of endless strands of brown. The air in Carly’s lungs swirled to a halt as she leaned in for a closer look. Pulling the offensive gray strand upward, she squeezed her eyes into focus while her jaw dangled in disbelief. Outrage roared through her head.
    â€œI do not have gray hair!” She plucked the offensive hair. Then another. And another. Her hands worked through the strands like a monkey on a bug hunt.
    It was useless. There were too many. She gave up and looked at herself in the mirror. How had she not noticed their arrival? Shouldn’t there have been a fanfare of some sort? At the very least a lone bugler announcing the departure of her youth?
    When she glanced at her eyes, she felt sure her vibrant green irises had faded to the shade of a stagnant lily pad. A snow-capped head, colorless eyes, and a missing boob.
    She was every man’s dream.
    Sighing, she set to work. With careful skill, she dabbed on a little more mascara and eyeliner, then rearranged her hair, tucking in first this gray, then that one, and dousing it with so much hair spray she was afraid her forehead wouldn’t move for a week.
    She dared one more glance in the mirror, this time at her body. She was beginning to understand how the wicked witch felt when she looked into the enchanted mirror. This mirror wasn’t saying her name either.
    â€œWell, you can say what you will, but I plan to do something about it,” she said in no uncertain terms. She would get the weight off even if it meant—
    No, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Not yet.
    Still, weight was something she could change about herself. She remembered the brochure outlining the reconstructive surgery options. Obviously, other problems wouldn’t be so easily remedied. She made a mental note to get the brochure from her living room stand after she checked her e-mail. She didn’t want that information getting into the wrong hands. Namely, Magnolia’s.
    Hoping to feel better, she turned to her computer. It was nice being able to leave it on during the day. Then she could sneak away from the office, run up to her bedroom, and see if there was a note from Jake. Oh sure, she could check her computer in the office, but she wasn’t comfortable with that. Scott—or worse, a client—could step in and see what she was reading. She couldn’t risk it. Besides, if she allowed herself to do that, she’d never get any work done. When she