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  THIS book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  Perfect Contradiction

  Copyright ©2015 Peggy Martinez

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 978-1-63422-107-8

  Cover design by Mae I Design and Photography

  www.maeidesign.com

  Typography by: Courtney Nuckels

  Editing by: Cynthia Shepp

  Life’s a dance you learn as you go.

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Breathe. I knew this was coming. I knew I’d see him today. I’d been preparing myself for this for over a week now, but no amount of inner pep talks could have prepared me for the sharp pain beneath my breastbone when I finally saw him. Just breathe, I thought again. This was Beth’s day, and it was going to be perfect if I had anything to say about it. There was no way I was going to let some jerk-faced, son-of-a-monkey’s-uncle get me flustered because he decided to actually show his face back in Salem after four weeks without a single phone call. Never mind that he looked sexier than ever in a black tux that had been made to fit him, showing off his trim waist and broad chest, or that his dark brown eyes were staring directly at me as if he had only been gone for a day instead of a month. I narrowed my eyes at Hunter, and the bastard had the audacity to grin at me. Clenching my fist, I turned on my heel and stomped back into the house. Hunter’s chuckle followed me inside, which only infuriated me more.

  Beth glanced up from her seat in front of the vanity in my room as I entered, and her brows immediately drew together.

  “What’s wrong, Jen? Is it the flowers? The cake? Oh man, please tell me Matt’s dad is going to be on time.” Beth stood up from the vanity and wrung her hands. I felt like a donkey’s behind for causing her distress on her wedding day.

  “No, don’t worry. It’s nothing like that. Your day is going to be perfect.” I walked over and smiled warmly at her. She looked so beautiful with her cheeks lightly flushed, her hair done up in a pretty, loose, twist, with baby’s breath tucked into her hair.

  “Are you ready to put your dress on?” I asked softly. Beth nodded and moved over to the bed. The dress was the very last thing we bought while shopping for everything for the wedding. Beth had begun to really freak out when we were only a week away from the wedding and still hadn’t found the perfect dress for her. I’d even found my bridesmaid dress three weeks before.

  I’d asked Beth earlier in the week to go with me to check out a little bakery that opened up in a neighboring town, and as a wedding gift, I took her to get a manicure and massage. Just a day to hang out and not stress about the wedding. We were walking around the historic district and laughing about a guy who’d flirted outrageously with Beth until he noticed her diamond ring, when Beth stopped mid-stride on the sidewalk with her mouth hanging open. In the window of a little boutique shop hung a dress that was meant for her. It was a beautiful gown that hung to floor with an overlay of antique lace. It was stunning in its simplicity. The gown had fit her to perfection. There were many tears shed and a whole lot of laughter on the way home.

  Beth slid off her robe, and I smiled. She wore robin’s egg blue lingerie, which suited her skin. I had the garter special made for her as a gift. The perfect touch was the tiny pair of silver cowboy boots added to the ribbon on the garter. Beth was going to wear her boots after all.

  “So, everyone’s starting to show up, huh?” Beth asked as I helped her step into the dress.

  “Uh-huh,” I answered. Beth fidgeted as I made sure her veil wouldn’t get caught in the zipper of the dress as I closed it.

  “Umm, anyone you want to talk about?” Beth asked as she caught my gaze in the mirror. I sighed deeply. She wasn’t going to drop it.

  “Hunter is already here and no, I don’t want to talk about it,” I huffed. Beth looked lost, like she should be trying to repair whatever had gone horribly wrong between Hunter and me, but how could she? How could I when I didn’t have the tiniest clue what had gone wrong?

  “Listen, there’s nothing wrong. I just don’t want to let something so trivial ruin your big day.” Beth turned to face me. “This is yours and Matt’s wedding day, Beth. I couldn’t be happier for you two, and I’m not going to worry about anything… except maybe making a fool of myself when I blubber like a baby later on.” Beth laughed as I put my arms around her.

  “I’m so glad I have you in my life, Jen,” she said softly. I smiled and hugged her tightly.

  “And I’m glad you’re in mine,” I whispered back. Pulling away abruptly, I ran a finger under my eyes. “Now don’t get all mushy on me already; my mascara has to last at least until you walk down the aisle.” Beth laughed and turned back to face the mirror.

  “Looks like I’m ready to get hitched,” she said nervously. Picking up our bouquets of daisies, whose stems had been wrapped in pale yellow ribbon, we walked over to the bedroom door. We could hear the wedding music from the backyard as it drifted up stairs. This is it, I thought. My best friend was about to get married, and then I’d be all alone again in my huge house. I shook my head to clear my thoughts.

  “Well, let’s get this done, I hear there’s some mighty fine cooking waitin’ for us at the end of this shindig,” I said with a wink and an exaggerated drawl. Beth burst out laughing again, breaking through her nervousness. She nodded her head and without hesitation, we walked down the stairs of my family home side by side. I knew as we walked that things would change between us once she was married. At least a little. Maybe a lot. She wasn’t the same person who only had one friend in the whole world. She wasn’t the same little girl who was scared of her parents and of disappointing an all-seeing god. She had found her equal in Matt, though, and that was the only thing that cushioned the blow of losing my dearest friend so soon after she’d come home to me. Matt was a good man. He’d be a good husband and friend to Beth. Their happiness was almost a tangible thing, and you could almost feel the vibrations of their love in the air when they were together.

  They completed one another, and I… I envied them.

  “Let’s have a hug now that you’re my sister,” Hunter teased as he pulled Beth into a bear hug. She laughed loudly, and I could feel her happiness lifting my own spirits. Hunter had yet to speak to me beyond the expected, polite pleasantries since the wedding. He was most definitely avoiding me. Well, two could play at that game.

  “How about it?” Matt asked. I turned away from my best friend as Hunter made her laugh again and faced Matt. “I think a hug from my bride’s best friend is in order,” he said as he pulled me roughly into his arms. Laughing, I hugged him back. I had gained a brother in this match and for that, I was grateful. He just better never hurt her or I’d make sure there’
d be hell to pay.

  “You better take care of her,” I whispered fiercely into his ear.

  Matt pulled back and tipped his imaginary hat at me with a twinkle in his eye. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I smiled broadly and stepped back as more hugs and a whole lot more laughing ensued. Matt’s momma tried to keep her tears in check, but it was a fruitless endeavor for both of us.

  The wedding had been an intimate affair, just the wedding party, which had consisted of the bride, the groom, myself as the maid of honor, Hunter as the best man, and Matt’s cousin’s little girl as the flower girl. Maybe forty other guests filled my backyard and garden to watch. It had been a simple ceremony, but it was so beautifully touching that I doubt there were many dry eyes by the time they kissed as husband and wife. Only a fool would’ve doubted how much love Matt and Beth had for each other.

  I hurried off to the kitchen to see if everything was in order for reception. I wanted everything to be perfect for Beth and Matt.

  My small kitchen was bustling and filled with several volunteers who’d agreed to help me serve the wedding guests. I slipped off my heels, glad to let my feet catch a break. I grabbed my apron off the hook on the wall and began micromanaging everyone, getting them ready to take the first wave of food out and set up the picnic-style luncheon before the guests headed to the huge tent. I was struggling with my apron strings as I ushered the helpers out the back door with their trays. Hands reached around and gently took the strings from my hands. I stilled immediately, my body thrumming from his nearness. There was no doubt about who was standing behind me, his body heat enveloping my own.

  “Let me help you with that,” Hunter murmured near my ear. I stiffened as he tied my apron for me and stepped back. I turned slowly, my eyes traveling from the fine cut of his tuxedo up to find his eyes on me. He was soaking me in, for once not guarding his emotions as he devoured the sight of me standing there in my kitchen, barefoot with my momma’s old apron covering my pretty dress.

  “What are you doing, Hunter?” I asked wearily. The shutters came down once again, and he took another step back and loosened his stance into nonchalance. He shrugged.

  “Just came to help you out. I’m not big on crowds.” I raised a brow. So, he wanted to help me in the kitchen. That, I could deal with that. I could pretend like nothing had ever happened between us, that we hadn’t spent the two most wonderful nights of my life in each other’s arms. Pretend I hadn’t suffered a broken heart because I thought we had something special between us. Yeah, I could do that. Absolutely.

  “Alright,” I said as I marched over to the overflowing counters and table. “Please make sure everyone sets everything up real nice out in the tent. The different assortments of finger sandwiches need to be arranged together, the potato salad, macaroni salad, and the marinated vegetable salad also need to be together,” I snapped, my eyes on all the mini-cobblers I made for desert. I’d used my momma’s recipe and baked them in individual, serving-sized, ceramic casserole dishes. They’d turned out so cute. I took out my shaker of confectioner’s sugar and began dusting the top of each of the cherry cobblers liberally with the white powder.

  “Look, Jen….” I held my hand up. He couldn’t have it both ways. I waited for weeks for him to call me and let me know what happened. I was devastated when he didn’t show up at my house the day I waited to hear from my doctor… the day I waited to find out if I had cancer or not. He hadn’t even cared enough to call to ask me what the doctor said. I had to assume that Matt had told him I was cancer free.

  “Don’t worry about it, Hunter. I was naïve to think that what we shared meant as much to you as it did to me.” I glanced up and held his gaze. “I’m done wracking my brain for a reason that would have made you leave me like that, waiting to see if you’d ever call me. I don’t have it in me anymore to worry about having done something wrong,” I finished softly as I dusted the next two cobblers.

  “You didn’t do anything, Jen.” Hunter ran his hand roughly though his hair. “You could never….” The back door swung open, and the volunteers came in with smiles and laughter.

  “Take all of those on the far counter this time and remember to keep everything together,” I reminded them with a smile and thanks. They were gone as quickly as they’d arrived.

  “Don’t worry about it, Hunter. It’s over and done with,” I said quietly. He didn’t look like he wanted to drop it. I pulled a huge tray of fruit off the table, pushed it into his arms, and gave him a shove toward the back door. “Make sure that gets to the tent, please,” I said without waiting for an answer. The screen door shut behind him and I went back to work on my cobblers, making sure they were just right. By the time everyone was finished setting up the reception area, Hunter and I hadn’t had a spare moment to ourselves. I was glad for it. Pulling my apron off, I dusted off my hands and slipped my heels back on. Time to eat and make sure the afternoon went as planned.

  “I’d like to make a toast.” Hunter’s voice rose above the guests as he stood. Everyone quieted down, ready to hear what the best man, the groom’s brother, had to say. “I’m no good at stuff like this, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to give my brother a hard time in front of so many people,” he said with a charming grin. Everyone laughed, and Matt just shook his head.

  “I’ve made several promises to myself as I’ve grown older. For one thing, I promised myself not to worry about how charming my brothers got, because everyone in the Wright household knows that I got all the good looks.” I smiled as the crowd busted out in laughter and jeers.

  “I also promised myself a few serious things. To always remember how important family is. To remember how much I look up to my father, my mother, and my brothers. To always strive to be the best man I can be and try to become even half the man that Matt is.” Matt shook his head as Beth wound her fingers through his with misty eyes.

  “I also promised myself to live my life never being envious of what anyone else has or has accomplished. I’ve stuck by that vow… until today.” Hunter’s voice lowered, and his eyes met mine as he continued his speech. “Today, I can see how finding that one person in life that you can’t live without changes a person. They are good changes, changes that complement each other so perfectly that you realize the two people—the two souls—have in essence, become one. I envy what my brother has found with Beth, and I hope that one day, I’ll have that. That one day, the person who completes me will give me a chance to make them as happy as Beth has made Matt.” My eyes were wide; my heart thumping so hard I was sure it’d leap out of my chest. Hunter looked at Matt and put a hand on his shoulder. He raised his glass.

  “To Beth and Matt and the hope they give us all,” he said sincerely.

  Beth wiped a tear away as everyone raised their glasses and chanted, “To Beth and Matt.”

  The rest of the reception flew by in a flurry of dancing, laughing, and tons of well wishes for the new couple. The next thing I knew, we were all lined up in front of my house and throwing lavender buds at the couple as they headed to their truck to go to the airport. Hunter stood close by, and I made sure I kept my tears in check. Things were changing so quickly. Beth turned and waved over her shoulder at me. I smiled widely at her and waved back enthusiastically.

  “Lord, I’m going to miss her,” I said softly.

  “She’ll be back soon, and you two will be joined at the hip again before you know it,” Hunter said from behind me. I kept smiling and waving.

  “Everything will change now. She has Matt.”

  “Jennifer Collins, you seriously can’t think you’re being replaced,” Hunter said, closer to me this time. I shrugged lightly, but he was right. I’d only had Beth to myself for two months, and now she was going to be gone again. Hunter bumped my shoulder with his. “You know a husband can never replace a best girlfriend, right?” I laughed out loud and turned my head to look at Hunter.

  “What?” he asked with a little shrug. “It’s a truth universally acknowledged,” h
e said seriously. I nearly choked on my laughter. Hunter never ceased to surprise me.

  I turned back around just in time to see something flying through the air straight at my face. Putting a hand out, I snatched Beth’s bouquet out of the air just in the nick of time. Everyone was cheering around me, and Beth even winked at me before jumping up in the truck and taking off with a line of dented soda cans following in their wake.

  It figures I’d end up with the doggone bouquet.

  The next day came too early. I mumbled beneath my breath the entire time I was in the shower and all the way down the stairs. I looked longingly over at my coffee pot, but I had to resist. I needed to get some blood work done and check in with my doctor. I’d been putting it off too long already. I hadn’t even told Beth I was going in today. I didn’t need her worrying about me going by myself when she was on her honeymoon in the Bahamas. Sighing, I sat down at my kitchen table and sorted through the shoe box of bills. They were really beginning to pile up. I’d used a good portion of my momma’s life insurance on the funeral and paying off medical bills. I wasn’t exactly hurting for cash, but I didn’t want to get to that point either. My momma had floated most of the bills when she was healthy by working two jobs when I was growing up. I was going to have to figure out what I wanted to do for income. I’d taken care of my momma for so long that I hadn’t really put much thought into what I would do when she was gone.

  I glanced around my kitchen and smiled to myself. My momma had been toying around with an idea several months before she got really bad. She’d thought about getting a small loan, then putting a bit of money into the house and renting out rooms. Turning our family home into a small, country bed-and-breakfast was one of her dreams. I thought about it as I stared out of the kitchen window with my chin in my hand. It would be a lot of work. It’d take some money. I did have five extra bedrooms and a ton of extra square footage. I could even do the baking, which I loved, for the boarders. Maybe even set up a small room in the house to sell baked goods. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea. Glancing up at the clock, I sighed. I’d have to think about it later; I didn’t want to run late for my appointment.