Virtual Tour excerpt TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH by Lauren Layne

Monday, October 24, 2016


After 8 years of waiting...he's got 1 month to make her his.

TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH
The Wedding Belles #3
Lauren Layne
Releasing Oct 18th, 2016
Pocket Books






Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in The Wedding Belles, a contemporary and witty romance series about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any weddingbut their own.

Alexis Morgan has spent the past six years devoted to turning her tiny start-up into Manhattans premiere wedding planning company, The Wedding Belles. Now that her business is thriving, its time to turn towards her much neglected personal life, and Alexis approaches her relationships like she does everything else: with a plan. Not a part of that plan is Logan Harris, the silent partner in the Belles, and the one person whos been there for her since the very beginning. But Alexis needs someone fun, and Logans all business, all the timeexcept when a late night at the office ends with an unexpected kiss that leaves the usually cool and together Alexis reeling.


Logan has lusted after Alexis since the day he walked into the tiny Harlem apartment that used to double as her office. But the ambitious wedding planner has always been untouchable...until now. Alexis has made it clear that shes on the dating marketand equally clear that hes not in the running. But when Alexis finds herself in need of a date for her sisters last minute wedding in Florida, Logan knows its the perfect time to show Alexis that theres more to him than numbers and spreadsheetsand beneath the pinstripes and glasses lies a hot-blooded heartthrob. As Floridas sultry days turn into even hotter nights, Logans out to convince Alexis that the fling of a lifetime could just maybe turn into forever...


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Excerpt
Hello.
The sexy British accented startled Alexis out of her thoughts, and she glanced up, both alarmed and intrigued to find that the face that awaited her was every bit as appealing as the voice.
The man was about her ageearly, maybe midtwentiesand ridiculously cute. His hair was dark and maybe just a touch too long, as though he intended to get a haircut but kept forgetting. The eyes were brown and friendly, accented by trendy black-framed glasses.
The chunky cable-knit sweater with elbow patchesfor realbordered on dorky, but then, Alexis had always had a soft spot for dorky. He had a bit of the Clark Kent thing going on, which had always been far more her type than the overrated Superman.
Hi, she replied quickly, realizing that shed been staring.
His smile grew wider as he extended a hand. Logan Harris.
Darn. Even the name was good.
Alexis, she said.
Does that come with a last name? he teased, lowering himself to the vacant barstool beside her.
Not to strange men, she retorted.
I could buy you a drink. Get rid of the strange part.
Alexiss smile slipped as she remembered that romance, even flirting, wasnt part of her plan. Shed learned the hard way that she could have one or the otherher own business or a boyfriendnot both. And even if she wanted the latter, the latter didnt want her back.
No thanks; Im fine, she said, letting the slightest amount of chill enter her voice. The ice-princess treatment, Roxanne called it.
Logan shrugged, undeterred. All right then. May I borrow your menu?
She nodded, and he picked it up, perusing it for several moments and paying her no attention.
It was both a relief and also a bit of an insult, if she was being entirely honest, to be given up on so easily.
Alexis tried to turn her attention back to her laptop but watched out of the corner of her eye as he finally shut the menu, waiting patiently to catch the bartenders eye.
Hi there, he said, when the bartender ambled back over. Id like a Stella, and a maybe bite to eat?
Alexis didnt miss the once-over that the bartender gave Logan before the curvy redhead leaned over the bar, displaying perky boobs as she clicked her pen and pulled a notepad out of her back pocket.
Shoot, the bartender said flirtatiously, looking a good deal friendlier than she had when shed spoken to Alexis.
Not that Alexis blamed her. A cute Brit could do that to a girl.
All right then, Logan said. Id like the burger, medium, with Swiss. Fish and chips, extra tartar, and . . . hows your chicken club?
The bartender blinked. Its good. But you want all that?
I do. Thank you.
Suit yourself, she said, scribbling Logans order on the pad.
Hungry? Alexis couldnt resist asking after the bartender moved away.
Logan gave a sheepish smile. Im a recovering student. I sometimes get so wrapped up in my day that I forget to eat.
A recovering student. What does that mean?
He turned slightly toward her. Someones showing plenty of interest in a strange man.
She bit her lip. Im sorry if I was rude before. Im just not really in the market for . . . you know.
He gave her an easy smile. Everyones in the market for a friend, Alexis.
She opened her mouth and then shut it as she realized he was right. She could use a friend. Shed spent her entire life in Boston and knew almost nobody in New York. This guy seemed nice and nonthreatening enoughwhat would be the harm in a little conversation over dinner? It had been too long since shed had somebody to share a meal with.
Logan seemed to know the moment she capitulated, because he turned more fully toward her. A recovering student, Alexis, is a recent graduate. One who hasnt quite absorbed that there will be no more finals, no more requisite all-nighters, and no more dorm sex.
Alexis laughed. Undergrad, then?
He gave her a wry look. How young do I look, darling? MBA from Columbia. Just finished up end of last year.
She felt a little stab of relief that he wasnt twenty-two.
He leaned toward her slightly. Twenty-five next month, just in case you were wondering. As a friend.
She tried to hide her smile and failed. Columbia, huh? Youre a long way from home.
Noticed that, did ya? He winked. I came out here for undergrad, also Columbia. Always figured Id go back to London and maybe someday I will, but . . . He shrugged. Seems I have stuff to do here first.
Such as? She took a sip of her wine, dismayed to see that it was half-empty.
Well, this will probably shock you, given my vast amount of brawn, but Im an accountant. Or at least I will be, once I get my business up and running.
Alexis was impressed. Your own business?
Most twentysomethings, even those with an entrepreneurial bent, opted to get a few years of work under their belts for someone else before branching out on their own.
He nodded. Im working out of my flat for now, but Im hoping to lease some office space soon, get some legitimacy. If nothing else to get my father off my back.
Hes not a fan of your plan? Alexis asked.
Logans shoulder lifted, and for the first time he seemed a little sad. Both parents have had it in their head that Id come home. Run the family business in London.
Which is . . . ?
He spun his beer glass idly. Financial consulting firm. My fathers the CEO, Mums the COO.
Wow, thats . . .
Scary? Logan supplied.
I was going to say impressive. That they work togetherwithout killing each other, I mean.
Theyre in love. Its atrocious, he said with a wink. What about your folks?
Alexis laughed. Not in love. They divorced when I was in high school. Dads remarried and happy now, I think. Mom not so much.
And you? he said. Are you happy, Alexis?
She pursed her lips, surprised and yet not entirely unsettled by the personal question. Its been a while since anyone asked me that. Since I even thought about it, really.
Think it out. Ill wait, he said with a wink.
She didnt have to think that long. Im almost happy.
You sound quite confident on that.
She shrugged. Lets just say that I need a few things to fall into place in my professional life, but once that happens . . . yeah. Ill be happy.

Shed make sure of it.

Don't Miss Any of the Wedding Belles Novels



Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back.

In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

For a list of all her works, please be sure to check out her official website!





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