Free Bad Bride Good Cowboys by Kandi Silvers Page A

midnight.” She held her breath and waited for the aftermath.
    Color returned to her mom’s face , then shifted to pink then a bright red. Volcano Clarissa was about to blow. “No!” The single word came out in a roar.
    Brady and Mickey stepped to the threshold of the kitchen and exchanged a concerned expression. However, both remained uncharacteristically quiet.
    Her mother shook her head as anger contorted her facial features. “This is unacceptable. I have put a lot of effort into ensuring this wedding is perfect and you go and decide to have one of your flighty moments.” She sighed dramatically. “Mrs. Kline brought me her dress and I think it is vintage enough to be stylish.”
    Felicia turned to Betsy. “Thank you so much for the offer, but I don’t need it.”
    Her mother stomped her foot. “Don’t be ridiculous! Of course you will. You and Paul had a mere spat, and for the love God, take off those overpriced sunglasses and stop being rude.”
    Dread filled Felicia; this was getting worse by the minute. She slipped off the designer shades and focused on her mother. “I don’t need the dress ; I’m not marrying Paul; now unless you plan on having coffee with Mickey and Brady and discussing horses, I suggest you leave.”
    She again turned to Mrs. Kline. “Thanks again for the offer of the gown.”
    The older woman nodded and clutched her purse toward her. “It blessed me with eight beautiful children. I wanted the dress to do the same for you.”
    That’s not a blessing , it’s a curse.
    Brady started to cough and Mickey muttered something completely inaudible under his breath. The men were not impressed and her mother speared the two cowboys with a scowl.
    “Anyway, Mom, Mrs. Kline, good seeing you both, I need to get upstairs.” She plastered a smile on her face and stepped toward the stairs. As her bare foot touched the first step her mother gasp.
    “Oh, my God. Please don’t tell me your sin and debauchery is still upstairs. This is unacceptable. I didn’t even see another vehicle in the driveway.”
    “Sin and debauchery, that’s nice mom.” Okay so her sarcasm hit full swing. “No as a matter of fact they are not upstairs and if they were, what the hell would it matter?”
    “Watch your mouth!” Her mother scolded. “I don’t think Paul would appreciate this at all.”
    “Well I didn’t appreciate him screwing half of L.A. and part of Orange County, but what’s done is done. I take full responsibility for my actions last night.” She turned away from her mother and decided now was as good as time as any to make her escape from the lecture, the gossip and the white travesty of a dress.
    “No. I can’t hold you responsible.”
    Now what…or is it why?
    Felicia spun and faced her mother as the woman shook her head. “You’re naïve to the ways of the world.”
    Oh Christ, grant me strength.
    Clarissa Morgan stepped forward, swung her attention to the threshold of the kitchen , then cast Mickey and Brady a lethal glare. “You two. You both knew better, how could you let her lose control?”
    I wish. I would’ve been in their bed and not my own.
    Mickey was the first to respond while Brady wore an unreadable expression. “Now Mrs. M, you know we’d protect her and never allow anything inappropriate to happen.”
    Felicia’s heart s ank at the words and reality crashed in. For a fleeting moment in the kitchen, she had mistaken their words—and thought maybe they felt the same way as her. However, with the ticking minutes and seconds, it became more apparent—she was nothing more than Collin’s sister. Resentment toward her brother grew.
    God, why can he do whatever and I have to be good—the perfect one?
    Her mother’s temper kicked up. “Then explain to me how you two let her bring a man or two home to bed. Collin counts on you to watch out for her.”
    Mickey pursed his lips and inhaled through his teeth creating a whistle sound. Brady blinked at her mom, but not