Death by Temptation Read Free Page A

smiling, surprised to be introduced as Mattheus’s
fiancée.
    “Hi,”
Kara offered brightly as Rowley smiled and extended his hand. “It looks like
congratulations are in order for the two of you, as well,” Kara added.
    “Thank
you,” Mattheus responded proudly before Cindy could say a word. “Would you like
to join us for breakfast?” Mattheus asked then. “Of course there’s absolutely
no pressure about it at all. I totally realize that you’re honeymooners.”
    “We’d
love to.” Kara took the lead. “We’ve been here a few days already and my dad
will be thrilled when he hears that we ran into you. He really wanted you to
come to the wedding.”
    Mattheus
seemed to feel bad. “So sorry I couldn’t,” he said.
    “Of
course,” said Kara. “It’s great to run into you now, though. I’ll tell my dad
and he’ll be thrilled.”
     “Well,
thank you for that,” said Mattheus. “I’m thrilled to have run into you too.”
Then he motioned for the waiter to find a larger table for four.
     
    *
     
    Cindy
thoroughly enjoyed their breakfast, finding Kara and Rowley to be a delightful
couple. They’d known each other for years and said their marriage was the next
natural step. In his thirties, Rowley was already a successful plastic surgeon
and Kara worked as a counselor at a job that meant a lot to her. Cindy was
surprised to hear that. It didn’t exactly fit the picture Cindy had of Kara,
who was perfectly put together, dressed in expensive designer’s clothes from
head to toe.
    “It’s
wonderful to love what you do,” Cindy commented to her. “Where do you work?”
    Kara
paused a moment. “I love what I do,” Kara declared, “although Rowley’s not
totally thrilled with my job and neither is my family. But it means a lot to
me.”
    “Your
job is fine, it’s okay,” Rowley defended himself, smiling first at her and then
at Cindy. “Once we have children, though, things may be different. Kara may
decide that our family’s enough to occupy her then.”
    “It’s
not one or the other.” Kara gave him a long glance. “I can do both. We’ve
discussed it, Rowley.”
    “Yes,
of course, we have,” Rowley conceded. “It’s fine with me, whatever you want,
truly.”
    Kara
smiled, looking relieved. “That’s what I love so much about our relationship,”
she went on cheerily. “Rowley and I work things out in a minute or two.
Whatever I want, he’s happy about.”
    Amazing,”
said Cindy, impressed, wishing she could say the same for herself and Mattheus.
    “Yes,
I know it’s amazing.” Kara beamed at Rowley with love. “Everything about
Rowley’s amazing when you get to know him. How did I get so lucky?”
    Rowley
loved that. “How did I get so lucky?” he shot right back.
    Mattheus
laughed. “How did we get so lucky to meet the two of you and find a
couple who knows how to work things out?”
    They
all laughed together then as Cindy winked at Kara in encouragement. Cindy was
taken aback by Kara’s free spirit, liked her immensely. Other than that little
difference between them, Kara’s and Rowley’s lives seemed entirely harmonious.
Rowley said he’d just bought a condo a few blocks away from their families, and
they were surrounded by many friends. It was heartwarming to watch the
newlyweds hold hands as they talked about the life that spread out in front of
them with seemingly endless possibilities.
    They
all chatted easily throughout breakfast, as though they’d known each other for
years. Kara told Cindy and Mattheus about the Love Conference that went on
routinely in St. Lucia. Wedding planners gathered from all over to discover the
incredible wedding venues here and plan dream weddings for their clients.
     “We’ve
just been through that ourselves,” said Mattheus.
     “Really?
You’re planning a wedding?” Kara looked surprised.
    “We
were,” Cindy chimed in lightly.
    “Just
haven’t found the right spot yet,” Mattheus quickly added.
    “Take
your