The Desperate Bride’s Diet Club Read Online Free

hardly gave a great first impression.
    Violet knew she would have to face Sebastian tonight. Wear something nice, he had said. Knowing the trauma that lay ahead, she lay down on the sofa, grabbing an Easter egg box from the top of a nearby pile. She had bought a few in the post-holiday sales. Plus she needed somethingsweet after all those crisps.
    She broke off a piece of chocolate with one hand, using the other to flick between channels. Bored senseless by daytime television, she briefly contemplated doing some housework, but what was the point?
    Her mobile suddenly rang. But this time it wasn’t Sebastian. It was an unknown number.
    ‘Hello?’
    ‘Violet? It’s Patricia from Job Searchers.’
    She remembered. Apatronising cow who couldn’t disguise the horror in her eyes as she beheld Violet’s appearance.
    ‘Great news. We’ve got an interview for you.’
    Violet sat bolt upright, scattering chocolate everywhere.
    ‘Really?’
    ‘We’ve had a bit of bother with this particular chap,’ she carried on. ‘He doesn’t seem to like any of our girls. So we thought we’d try you out. See how you get on. I think you’ll beperfect.’
    To her horror, the interview had been arranged for the following Wednesday. Only four days to prepare herself for the hideous trauma of meeting new people. Violet began to panic.
    She was still pacing the lounge nervously when the doorbell rang at seven o’clock that evening. But this time she knew who was outside. She took a deep breath and opened the front door.
    ‘Hello,’ said Sebastian,with a soft smile.
    ‘Hello,’ Violet stammered back, her heart leaping as it always had, right from the first time they met.
    Two years earlier, Violet had been standing at the counter at a popular wine bar in the centre of town, trying to catch the bartender’s eye. The office Christmas party was in full swing back at the table. Violet allowed herself a small shudder. Whilst she had been merelyenduring the innuendo and continuous laughter, her colleagues were letting their hair down and having the most marvellous time.
    Especially the new girl in human resources, just returned from a lengthy absence with one of the directors, now surreptitiously doing up his flies as he drunkenly lurched back towards the table.
    Violet sighed.
    ‘A pretty face like yours shouldn’t be so sad,’ said amale voice next to her.
    Violet glanced over her shoulder, knowing that the man couldn’t possibly be speaking about her. But she was nosy enough to want to see whom he was talking to.
    To her amazement, she saw a blond man smiling at her. She glanced around but it was just the two of them.
    ‘How about I buy you a drink to cheer you up?’
    Without waiting for a reply, he ordered two champagnes fromthe barman, who had suddenly materialised in front of them. Violet watched him order their drinks. He was slim with spiky, fair hair and had an air of self-confidence, as if he could take on the world and win.
    The man handed Violet a glass of champagne and clinked her glass with his.
    ‘Cheers,’ he said. ‘Here’s to my idiot friend who stood me up. And thank God, otherwise I wouldn’t have had thechance to meet you.’
    Violet stared in wonder as he carried on smiling at her.
    ‘The name’s Sebastian,’ he told her.
    ‘I’m Violet,’ she stammered, before sneaking a quick glance at her colleagues.
    ‘They’re too drunk to notice you’re missing,’ said Sebastian, following her gaze. ‘Besides, they don’t deserve you. And I want you all to myself.’
    Later, he had kissed her under the mistletoe as theyleft the bar. Violet couldn’t believe that someone was interested in her, could even want to be seen in public with her.
    She still felt that way after two years of dating.
    And here he was, the love of her life, standing in front of her.
    ‘Forgive me,’ he asked. ‘I beg of you.’
    Violet stepped forward into the rain and let him sweep her into his arms.
    ‘I’m an idiot,’ he