Free Bride by Design 3: Manchala Nights by Alicia Roberts Page B

towards Colin.
     
    In that split second, t he frost chilling my veins told me what I needed to know. When Celine glanced back at me, she smiled knowingly and I hated her for having slept with Colin.
     
    "How did you two meet?" Her smile was polite, and her voice was deep and relaxed.
     
    Diane chimed in, "Oh yes, I'd love to know too!"
     
    I smiled , grateful that Colin and I had rehearsed our stories , and accepted a glass of wine from the waiter who appeared just in time . I told Diane and Celine how Colin and I had lunch in the park together and then wound up going out in secret - a version of events which was close to the truth, while being so ridiculously different from what was really going on .
     
    "I never thought Colin would settle down." Celine's voice was wary, her eyes watching me for signs of some secret hold I had over Colin.
     
    I shrugged, happy that I could snub Celine politely , even while I want ed to rip out her perfect hair. "I guess he just needed to meet the right girl."
     
    Celine stretched out her fingers to admire her massive engagement ring. I would've felt bad for being so catty, but she had the real thing - the wealth, the beauty, the marriage into one of America 's oldest families. "Where's your engagement ring?"
     
    "Oh, I forgot to wear it. I've gotten so used to pretending not to be married to Colin! You know, to get away from the press and all."
     
    "Of course," she drawled, flipping her hair over one shoulder. "The paparazzi are soo rude."
     
    I tried not to gulp as I remembered why she looked so familiar - her photos were always splashed over the tabloids and glossies.
     
    Diane oohed over how cute Colin and I were for a minute, before excusing herself to tend to the other guests.
     
    As soon as we were alone, Celine turned to me frostily. "You do know that I slept with Colin, right?"
     
    "Of course." I smiled sweetly. "Colin and I don't care about each other's past."
     
    Celine scoffed, "Yeah well, Roger seems to care about Colin's past a lot. He hates Colin so much, even more now that he knows we got together again after my wedding."
     
    I couldn't help my look of surprise - I'd known Colin was a womanizer, but I'd never thought he'd chase after a married woman. Knowing he didn't care at all about marriage, even if it was someone else's, made me think less of him.
     
    Celine laughed at my expression. "So, I guess Colin hasn't told you everything about his past."
     
    I replaced my look of surprise with one of disapproval and tried to shift the focus off Colin - a guy whom I clearly knew nothing about. "I can't believe you cheated on Roger."
     
    "Oh don't be so shocked, honey." Celine raised an eyebrow and fell for my bait . "Roger might be old-money but alcohol doesn't help things in the sack. And you know how Colin is…"
     
    I laughed drily. Considering that we'd never actually been in bed together, I had only my imagination to help me out. I really didn't want to let my imagination drift that way - not here, not now . I excused myself and went to refill my drink , where I ran into Rani.
     
    Rani was the polar opposite of Celine. While Celine was slim, blonde and frosty, Rani was dusky, slightly chubby and bubbling with exuberance. We laughed as we both got more drinks and introduced ourselves to each other. She had a British accent, and told me she'd gone to Cambridge to get her law degree, where she'd met Rahul. A nanny was standing further away from us, holding a tiny, sleeping baby, and Rani pointed him out proudly - "I love him, but I don't love this baby weight!"
     
    We laughed and I told her honestly that she looked great. Rahul came over to join us, and he was tall and handsome in a rugged way. He clasped Rani's waist possessively, and I envied them their happiness and comfortable joy. They were clearly in love and had what Colin and I were only pretending to have.
     
    If Rani and I had met in different circumstance, I felt sure we'd be best friends. We both