Jilt Trip
The organed played softly. Gardenias scented the air. The sunlight of a warm Galveston June day filtered through the stained-glass windows. Bridesmaids gath- ered in the vestibule of the church. Guests murmured in anticipation.
And the groom's pager beeped. Again.
"Damn!" Carter Belden slapped the button in annoy- ance, then remembered the somber presence of the Reverend Royer waiting to lead him toward the altar. "I beg your pardon ."
Reverend Royer's eyebrows knit together. "Perhaps you could, er, turn off the sound for the duration of the ceremony?"
"Of course," Carter murmured. Glancing at the num- ber on the pager's display, he exhaled. "It's my office. I'll have to call in ."
"Mr. Belden!"
"My best man isn't here yet," he reminded the open- mouthed minister. "This could be from him ."
Reverend Royer shook back the sleeve of his robe and checked his watch. "he'd better hurry or he'll miss the ceremony!"
"We've got a few more minutes, don't we?"
"Y-yes, but—"
"Stall, if you have to." Carter was already striding through the groom's anteroom toward the church's ad- ministration area.
Ro ... read full excerpt from Jilt Trip ebook
