Page 54 of The Vineyard Bride

Amanda crossed and uncrossed her arms.“I don’t know.”

“What don’t you know?”

“There’s nothing to tell,” Amanda tried.

Out on the dance floor, Sam spoke to Tommy good-naturedly, wearing a goofy grin.

“Look at him!He looks like he just jumped over the moon,” Audrey said.

“He does not.”

Audrey sighed.“You’re being ridiculous.I would tell you if it happened to me.”

Amanda’s nostrils flared.“Still have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Oh.My.God.”Audrey tossed her head back.“You’re engaged.I know you’re engaged.Just finally—”

But as she spat the words out, Amanda leaped forward and placed her hand over Audrey’s mouth.“Will you shut your big mouth, Audrey!”

At this, Audrey howled knowingly and tossed her arms around Amanda.“I knew it,” she breathed.“The minute you disappeared into the parking lot, I knew you’d come back an engaged woman.But dammit!That means you’re leaving the Sheridan House, isn’t it?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Amanda breathed, her heart surging with sorrow.“Let’s just enjoy the night.Okay?”

Together, she and Audrey turned back to watch as Lola and Tommy kissed beneath the moonlight, their faces youthful and alive and their arms wrapped tenderly around one another.Sam soon joined their table with a fresh slice of cake and kissed Amanda delicately before flashing Audrey a look of disdain.

“You told her, didn’t you?”he muttered to Amanda.

“What?”Amanda and Audrey cried in unison.

“I don’t know anything,” Audrey tried.

“Yeah.Right.”And with that, Sam snapped his lips around another bite of cake, shaking his head with dismay.Only his eyes shone with humor.

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