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  Bland.

  It was the same word he’d used about her restaurant.

  Julie’s hands closed on the tablecloth. “Bland?” she repeated.

  Andrew nodded. “As I said, it’s fine, it’s just…frankly, it’s wedding food.”

  “That’s what this food is for,” Julie had to point out. “A wedding.”

  “Yes, but it’s for my brother’s wedding, and I’m sorry, this menu won’t work. It’s been done. There’s nothing exciting here. There’s no twist on any of the classic dishes, and there isn’t anything innovative, either. This is my wedding gift to my brother and his fiancée. It needs to be special. But nothing about this menu makes it clear that their wedding is a really special occasion.”

  Julie thought the part where there would be a bride and groom saying “I do” in front of a few hundred people might be a clue as to the specialness of the occasion, but, of course, she wasn’t going to say that. Besides, just then, she was too busy remembering the first time Andrew Kyle had made these comments about her food. Remembering how much it had hurt.

  About as much as it hurt right now, come to think of it.

  “So what is it you want?” Julie asked. She very carefully kept her voice level. Completely devoid of emotion.

  “Something special. Something different. Something with a bit of imagination to it. Look,” Andrew said, “I’d like to come back so that we can throw a few ideas around. Between Julie and myself, I suspect we can come up with something that’s perfect for the wedding.”

  He’d just demolished her cooking for the second time in a few short months, and he thinks she would want him around?

  “What a wonderful idea,” Rose said before Julie could flat-out refuse to ever see Andrew Kyle again. “Our aim at the Rose Chalet is to make sure the day goes exactly the way the happy couple wants it. Julie would be happy to brainstorm menus with you, wouldn’t you, Julie?”

  Since the question was obviously rhetorical, Julie mumbled something that could be taken as a yes.

  Rose stood. “Andrew, if you have a few more minutes, I’d like to talk you for a walk around the Chalet to get a feel for the place. My full staff isn’t here at the moment, but we can start to discuss a few options.”

  Julie had never been so grateful for anything as when Andrew agreed. Ordinarily, with a guy like him, she would have watched him go just because she couldn’t not stare. Today, however, it was simply to make sure he was well and truly gone before she let out a sigh and slumped down in her seat.

  What had she gotten herself into?

  …Excerpt from THE WEDDING GIFT by Lucy Kevin © 2014

  Buy The Wedding Gift

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  LUCY KEVIN BOOKLIST

  The Married in Malibu Series

  The Beach Wedding

  The Summer Wedding

  The Barefoot Wedding

  …more books coming soon…

  The Walker Island Series

  Be My Love

  No Other Love

  When It’s Love

  All For Love

  Forever In Love

  The Four Weddings and a Fiasco Series

  The Wedding Gift

  The Wedding Dance

  The Wedding Song

  The Wedding Dress

  The Wedding Kiss

  Stand-alone Lucy Kevin novels

  Falling Fast

  Sparks Fly

  Seattle Girl

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  When New York Times and USA Today bestseller Lucy Kevin released her first novel, SEATTLE GIRL, it became an instant bestseller. All of her subsequent sweet contemporary romances have been hits with readers as well, including WHEN IT’S LOVE (A Walker Island Romance) which debuted at #1. Having been called “One of the top writers in America” by The Washington Post, she recently launched the very romantic Married in Malibu series. Lucy also writes contemporary romances as Bella Andre, and her incredibly popular series about The Sullivans has produced #1 bestsellers around the world, with more than 5 million books sold so far! If not behind her computer, you can find her swimming, hiking, or laughing with her husband and two children. For a complete listing of books, as well as excerpts and contests and to connect with Lucy:

  Sign up for Lucy’s Newsletter

  LucyKevin.com