Newlywed Dead Read Online Free Page A

Ashley grabbed a bar towel and wiped down the bar. “Samantha Lyn was bored and came over for a cola then and we struck up a conversation—sort of how you and I are talking now. I have a sense for people, and Samantha Lyn has her head on straight. She’s a nice kid.”
    â€œOh,” I said, and sipped my drink. “Funny how you saw them at two weddings in a few months’ span.”
    â€œIt’s a small world,” Ashley said. “With a country club scene this expensive, it’s a little inbred, if you know what I mean.”
    â€œNo,” I said, and shook my head. “I don’t understand.”
    â€œThere are only so many people in the area who canafford the fees. That means that whenever you attend one of these functions you tend to see the same people over and over again. It’s sort of like attending a small college. After a while everyone knows everyone else.”
    â€œHuh,” I said. “Sounds like you attended a small college.”
    â€œI did,” she said, “but before you ask, I didn’t graduate.” She pointed to her head. “Graduating sort of got blown away.” She tried to make light of her injury but she failed and could tell I saw through her. “Really,” Ashley said. “Bartending weddings brings in good money, and the people aren’t all bad. Take Samantha Lyn—” She pointed toward the dance floor where the young girl was dancing with a reluctant Clark. “It’s too bad that she’s mixed up with Clark. He’s trouble—a real momma’s boy. I don’t know what she’s doing with him. If you ask me, she’s out of his league.” Ashley shrugged.
    Ashley took the half-full glass out of my hand and mixed me another drink. “This is called a Moscow Mule. It was created in the 1950s and uses vodka, lime juice, ginger beer, and a few drops of bitters. Try it.”
    I took a sip and it was good. “I like the ginger,” I said. “But there’s no way I can drink all this on top of the last drink you made me.”
    She winked and poured half of my drink into a glass of her own.
    â€œWait, should you be drinking?” I asked.
    â€œDon’t worry. No one here notices. To us,” she said, and raised her glass and clinked hers to mine. “May we both find what we’re looking for.”
    That was something I agreed with, so I lifted my glass and said, “To us.”
    Ashley tossed down the half a drink and then pressed her fingers to her head again and bit her lips. “Ugh. Excuse me for a minute,” she said, and headed toward a nearby door. As if on cue, the second bartender with a name tag that said Tracy came out of the hallway and took her place near the bar.
    â€œHi,” Tracy said. “Do you need anything?”
    â€œNo, I’m fine, thanks,” I said, and turned to watch the dancers. My cousin Bethany, Aunt Sarah’s girl, came up to me.
    â€œCome on, wallflower,” Bethany said, and took my hand. “You won’t get anywhere holding up the wall.”
    â€œI wasn’t holding up the wall,” I protested.
    â€œNo, you were holding up the bar,” Bethany said. “I was being nice. Come on, the maid of honor should spend the night dancing.”
    â€œOh, right,” I said, and let her drag me toward the dance floor. After all, the night was young and my sister had just married one of the richest men in the country. I should dance to that, right?

Chapter 2

    â€œOkay, so I’m really drunk.” A tall blond girl came up to me and dragged her equally soused boyfriend with her. “But you’re like that proposal planner, right?”
    â€œYes,” I said. It was nearly the end of the reception and I sat two tables back from the dance floor where only a few die-hards slow danced.
    â€œCool,” the blonde said, and grabbed a chair to sit extremely close to me. “This is