Free A Weekend Temptation by Krista Caley

gentleman. She’d dated him every night since the night she’d arrived back, and it wasn’t fair—she still compared him to the louse who’d taken her to his island, set her ablaze, and then dumped her.
    But she knew, given enough time, she could fall in love with Alexander. He could make her forget the icy mega-male Joel Stanfield. Her sister was good at what she did, match-making was in her blood. This time Bethany had gotten it right.
    Ava watched a French waiter uncork a bottle of champagne, then fill two flutes before he dashed away.
    “Ava, since the moment I met you, I felt something I’ve never felt before. You are intelligent, you are strong, you are it. You’re the woman I want lying in my bed and sitting at my breakfast table. Ava Carson, will you do me the honor of being my wife?” Alexander’s strong baritone broke with emotion.
    This was it. This was what she wanted. For thirty days they’d been inseparable. He’d taken her to museums, they’d watched movies on his couch, and had dinner dates. All because they wanted to see if they were right for each other. She’d learned she could talk to him and they were compatible. Their views were the same on politics and religion, and they both wanted to marry and have a big family.
    Now Ava knew the man was the answer to her prayers. All she had to do was reach across the table, snap up the proverbial ring and answer with a resounding, “I will marry you.”
    So why was her stomach revolting? Why had dizziness flung her out of balance?
    “It’s beautiful. Just what I would have picked for myself,” she said. Now it was time for her yes. A threatening wave of queasiness grew until she covered her mouth and tried hard to swallow it down.
    “We can get married in the summer. I know it’s only three months away, or we can wait and have a fall wedding—”
    She swallowed. Her eyes stung with the effort of delaying her nausea. “Excuse me.”
    Without saying yes and without looking back, Ava raced to the ladies’ room in a blur, praying to God she’d get there in time.
    She was lucky. The sickness waited until she reached the first open stall. There she emptied the contents of her five-star, gourmet meal. Afterward she rested her throbbing head on the cool plastic seat of the toilet. She stayed there, unable to do anything else, feeling the world rock.
    The nausea passed as soon as the food was out of her stomach. Ava washed her pale face and brushed her hair before returning to the table.
    “You all right?” Alexander asked standing for her. He sat when she sat.
    “Fine, I feel much better. Maybe something I ate didn’t agree with me.”
    “You think it’s from here? I’ll call the head chef and complain.”
    “No, it’s probably from breakfast or lunch. This place is too nice.”
    “Are you sure it’s the food? If this proposal is too sudden, we can take it slower,” he said. He was such a good guy.
    “No.” She reached across the table and took his hand. “I want to marry you. You can give me the life I want.”
    “Yes, we’re perfect for each other.” Alexander said as he handed her the ring. She slid it over her knuckle and found it was too big. No problem, she’d take it back to the jeweler and get it sized this week.
    “Let’s start planning our summer wedding.”
    ****
    Ava pounded her alarm clock to stop its blaring for a third time. Then she felt guilt stab into her. She pried open a heavy eyelid and read it was already eight-thirty. She groaned.
    If she didn’t pull her sleepy butt from bed, she’d be late, again.! She kicked the covers off.
    The moment her feet hit the carpet, her head tilted and spun, but she forced her legs forward, toward the bathroom.
    She’d been late for every dinner she’d had with Alexander. That wasn’t fair to him. He was such a great guy, she should be excited to see him. She should be early, waiting at the door, purse in hand and sweater on.
    Each night before bed, she vowed to be on