April Fool Bride: All Brides Are Beautiful, #1

PREVIEW

APRIL FOOL BRIDE

Is it a marriage of convenience or something more? Something that sizzles like steam heat between Maddie and Jake that neither can resist.

Jake drained his cup and went back to the coffee carafe for more, using the time to mull over her offer.

He didn’t know what was going on in that rich girl brain of hers, but whatever it was, it was definitely intriguing. And so was Maddie. He’d be lying if he said she didn’t make his pulse throb. She wasn’t conventionally pretty, but her face was arresting. Striking. Appealing in its sensuality.

Her lips drew his gaze. Briefly, he allowed himself to think about covering her mouth with his. How would she taste? How would it feel to have her mouth on him? Heat uncurled within him, and he had to fight the Technicolor images his imagination was producing.

He didn’t have anything better to do at the moment, he told himself. So why not string her along? See what she wanted. He turned to face Maddie. Crossing his arms, he leaned back against the black granite counter, aiming for nonchalance. Okay. Tell me more. Who do I have to kill for this great financial opportunity?

Oh, it’s nothing like that, Maddie said in a rush. You just have to marry me.

PRAISE

APRIL FOOL BRIDE

What appealed to me about this story is that it is—technically—a second chance romance and a marriage of convenience, two of my favorite tropes. It was hot, fun, and fast, but most of all, it was a good time. —Dee VINE VOICE Reviewer

I just love this story and can recommend this book with a honest heart. —NetGalley

This an emotional, bitter and sweet story with really good main characters. I enjoyed this...and the H.E.A. and Epilogue even more! I just want to add that the eBook cover was one I liked and it got my attention right away. It also fits well because it has meaning in the story. —Windrider

Not what I expected at all. Thought it would be a funny light chick lit with no substance. This is a very interesting story. Luckily for me I chose the by the cover (and title) then succeeded to picked a winner. Looking forward to reading the full series and then go back and read previous books by Ms. Reeves. —NetGalley

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

APRIL FOOL BRIDE

Copyright  © 2014 Joan Reeves

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be used or reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without prior written permission of Joan Reeves, the copyright owner and publisher of this book, with the exception of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either 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.

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products that may be referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and/or use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person with whom you wish to share it. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should purchase your own copy. Thank you for honoring the copyright laws and for respecting the author’s work and her livelihood.

Cover Art Copyright © 2024 Joan Reeves. Photograph #31060886, Bride holding wedding bouquet © viki2win, BigStockPhoto.com.

Ebook ISBN: 9780991599615

Vita Via Publishing Contact: Joan Reeves.

I LOVE READING

Discover New York Times and USA Today bestselling author JOAN REEVES and her brand of Romance. Joan writes stories about a man and a woman who are made for each other—they just don’t know it. Yet.

If you love to read, join Joan’s Readers Group free newsletter, I Love Reading, and receive exclusive content as well as news about giveaways, bargains, and new releases. (If your device isn’t internet-ready, that URL is: https://www.subscribepage.com/z8x3r9.)

ALSO BY JOAN REEVES

New York Times Bestselling Author

Writing Romance—One Sexy Book at a Time

For other books available from this retailer, visit Joan’s Books2Read webpage.. For a complete list of all books along with a short review blurb, see Sassy, Sexy, Sizzling Romance at the end of this book.

All Brides Are Beautiful

April Fool Bride

Second Chance Bride

A Moment in Time: Short Stories & Novels

LuvU4Ever, Story No. 1

Last Chance New Year, Story No. 2

Blame It On Chocolate, Story No. 3

Liam’s Irish Rose, Story No. 4

April Fool Proposition, Story No. 5

From Holiday to Holiday: A Moment in Time Quartet

Capitola Palace Dance Hall Romance

Stuck on the Naughty List

Outlaw Ridge, Texas

Heat Lightning

Dead Heat

San Antone Two-Step

Nobody’s Cinderella

Cinderella Blue

Single Title Novels

Every Little Lie

Jane (I’m Still Single) Jones

Just One Look

Scents and Sensuality

Still The One

The Key To Kristina

Small Town Texas Romance

Last Christmas

Brianna’s Season For Miracles

Surf, Sand, Secrets

Deceptively Yours

Foolishly Yours

Texas One Night Stands

The Trouble With Love

Romeo and Judy Anne

The Good, The Bad, and The Girly

Old Enough to Know Better

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APRIL FOOL BRIDE

PREVIEW

PRAISE

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

I LOVE READING

ALSO BY JOAN REEVES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

EPILOGUE

INSPIRATION FOR APRIL FOOL BRIDE

NOTE FROM JOAN REEVES

SASSY, SEXY, SIZZLING ROMANCE BY JOAN REEVES

SNEAK PEEK: SECOND CHANCE BRIDE

TINY PEEK AT LAST CHRISTMAS

SEND A NOTE TO JOAN

DEDICATION

April Fool Bride is dedicated to Lauren and Fiona, two smart, beautiful—and totally cool—young women who are dear to me. I’ve known you both since you and Adina played together as children. Surely it’s an April Fool’s Joke that you’re both grown, married, and have children of your own. Right?

As always, this book is dedicated to my hero, my husband Larry. You have my heart.

CHAPTER 1

The first day of spring in New York featured the kind of weather Madeline Quinn most hated. Cold, gray, wet, and miserable—which made it perfect because that’s exactly the way she felt. Especially the miserable part since she had only from now until April first to accomplish a daunting task, and she was uncertain she could do it.

Maddie gave a quick snort of laughter. April Fool’s Day, how appropriate. The icy wind cut through her gray all-weather coat. She wished she were home. In Texas, March had brought golden sunshine, skies the color of a robin’s egg, and bluebonnets dancing along the roadways. Back home in Houston, azaleas from white to every shade of pink and red enticed thousands of visitors to tour the Azalea Trail in her River Oaks neighborhood.

Maddie glanced at the dirty snow against the curb. No wildflowers or blooming shrubs lined these city streets. Nothing grew in New York unless you counted the mounds of gray snow.

Another blast of frigid wind hit her. Maddie shivered. Even Mother Nature conspired against her—pummeling the city with a late winter storm that kept her from fleeing home.

Even though home with her stepmother was about as cold as New York and lonely too, at least she was used to that. She’d realized years ago that Constance Quinn had no love to give her sad little stepdaughter. When she was younger, Maddie had wondered if her austere stepmother had love to give anyone or anything. She’d since concluded that the woman didn’t.

For the most part, the woman her dad had married when Maddie was eight years old was pleasant to her. Civil. There was a certain comfort in knowing what to expect from the elegant blonde who had jumped from an accounting office in Edward Quinn’s energy company to Edward’s master bedroom. All within a year of the death of Maddie’s mother. Constance simply had no interest—then or now—in her stepdaughter. Apparently, she hadn’t had much interest in Edward either because, once married, her father had moved them to a mansion in River Oaks where there were two master bedrooms. One for each of them.

Another gust of wind grabbed the ends of the turquoise wool scarf wrapped around Maddie’s head. Hastily, she captured the finely-woven fabric and tucked the loose ends back beneath her coat collar. She should have stayed in the cab until the driver pulled up to the address she’d given him. But, as they’d neared her destination, anxiety had gained the upper hand. She’d panicked and impulsively decided to walk the final block so she’d have time to calm her nerves. She just hadn’t expected it to be so darn cold.

Maddie knew procrastination only delayed the inevitable. Procrastination, as Constance had often pointed out, was one of her many faults. But she’d needed the grace of these few minutes before she faced the man she’d flown to New York to see. Even Sister Theresa had scolded her about procrastination, but Maddie hadn’t resented her favorite teacher’s gentle admonitions. She’d worked to overcome her tendency to avoid the unpleasant. She knew if Sister Theresa were here, the elderly nun would be disappointed in her reversion to that bad habit.

What the woman would say about Maddie’s plan that had brought her to the Big Apple didn’t bear contemplation. Delaying the meeting was foolish. Her anxiety would only continue to grow. She should just get it over with. She could do this. It wasn’t as if she had a choice. Not if she wanted to make good on her promises. And she’d rather die than break those promises. Even her best friend Amy, who was also her attorney, had agreed that Maddie’s plan was her last resort.

Minutes later, Maddie stared up at a lovely old brownstone, surprised he lived in such an expensive neighborhood. Graciella had said her son had made good money before he lost his job. He must have because he’d bought his mother a house and told her to retire if she wanted.

Looking around the upscale area, Maddie decided it must have been very good money indeed. She’d never doubted that he would be successful. He had the intelligence and the ambition to conquer anything. Even Wall Street apparently.

She was proud of his achievements even though the only reason she was standing outside his building was because he’d lost his job in the economic downturn. She frowned. She didn’t know exactly what that job had been. Graciella had been rather vague about details, but Maddie had taken his sudden unemployment as her golden opportunity.

Still, her heart was in her throat—when it wasn’t thudding like a drum in her chest. If she could just focus on the present and avoid thinking of that horrible night when she’d been fifteen, she could get through this. A sigh escaped her, and she saw her breath in the cold air. Was any cliché more appropriate than young and stupid?

The front door of the old brownstone opened. Maddie seized the chance and hurried up the steps, smiling at the elderly man who saw her and waited, holding the door for her. Who said New Yorkers were rude?

She stepped into an