Free In the Arms of a Stranger by Kimberley Reeves

do to stop her.”
    Jake reached for the carafe and poured himself a cup of coffee.  “If you don’t mind me saying so, I don’t think you’re giving your daughter enough credit.”  At the hopeful look on Juliette’s face he continued.  “Brianne is a smart woman and I think she’s already having doubts about the wedding.”
    Juliette’s shoulders slumped.   “If that was true she wouldn’t have worn those awful clothes just for him.”
    Jake just smiled.   “I think her determination to please Chad will prove to Bri how wrong they are for each other.  I realize I haven’t known your daughter long but we…we’ve become friends and I think I know her well enough to say she won’t allow her wings to remain clipped for long.”
    Phillip chuckled.   “You’re right son, you do seem to have Brianne pegged.”
    “But there are only two months left before the wedding,” Juliette reminded them. 
    “A lot can happen in two months,” Jake said pointedly.   “Brianne might meet someone else, someone who doesn’t feel threatened by her unconventional nature and wouldn’t want to change a hair on that pretty head of hers.”
    Juliette smiled conspiratorially.   “I don’t suppose you know a young man like that?”
    He shrugged.   “I might have someone in mind.”
    Leaning back in his chair, Phillip looked a little dubious.   “If she finds out we schemed to break her and Chad up we’ll all be in the dog house.  And what if she does fall for…this young man you have in mind, Jake?  I don’t want to see her get hurt when she discovers he doesn’t really care for her.”
    Before Jake could respond, Juliette jumped in.   “I don’t think we have to worry about that, darling.”
    “What makes you so sure?”  her husband asked. 
    A brilliant smile lit her face, but this time she let Jake answer for himself.  
    “Because I’m crazy about Brianne,” he confessed, “and I think she feels the same way about me.”
    Juliette turned to her husband with an accusatory look on her face.  “It’s your stubborn streak she inherited, that’s why she won’t admit she made a mistake with Chad.  So tell me just how do you intend to fix this?”
    Phillip blinked, looking very much like a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car .  Jake had to choke back his laughter when Bri’s father fumbled for an answer, and realized just how wrong he’d been about Juliette Carrington.  His first impression was that of a docile woman who was content to walk in her husband’s shadow and let him call the shots, but his opinion of her was quickly swinging in the other direction. 
    Phillip may have a reputation for being ruthless in his business dealings but he was totally helpless when it came to his wife.   If Juliette wanted something, Jake had no doubt her husband would move Heaven and Hell to get it for her.  He imagined life with Brianne wouldn’t be much different and had already resigned himself to the fact that she’d had him wrapped around her finger from the moment he first kissed her.
    Juliette arched an elegant brow, glancing expectantly at Phillip before turning those jade green eyes on Jake.   “Oh, you two are hopeless,” she chided.  “Now pay attention, gentlemen, and I’ll tell you what we’re going to do.”
                                                                       ***
    Chad held her against his chest, stroking her back in an effort to comfort her.   “Why are you letting yourself get so upset over something Malone said?  He’s nobody.  Don’t waste your time worrying it.”
    “It’s not just that,” Bri sniffed, “it was the way my parents were looking at me too.”
    “Listen, honey, they were just surprised because it was such a change from what you usually wear.   I think you look beautiful.”
    “Really?”
    “Really.”  Cupping her chin, he tilted her head back and kissed