“All right, ladies. Enough mush.” Fontaine hustled her mother from the room, then Roxanne and Melody followed. Melody turned and winked before disappearing into the hallway.
Delaney’s father held out his arm, his face full of pride. “Are you ready for this?” he murmured. “You could make a break for it, you know.”
Delaney smiled and shook her head. “No running away for me, Pop. I’m happy. And I’m finally heading in just the right direction.”
“Good, because I think I hear them playing our song.”
The headline read, RUNAWAY BRIDE?
Former Pop Rocks wild child Delaney Masterson may have snuck down the aisle with hunky boyfriend cinematographer Grant Connelly in a supersecret surprise wedding attended only by their families and a handful of their closest pals, but it looks as if there’s no settling down on the horizon for these two lovebirds. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo are off to places unknown to begin filming their new series, Sweet Charity, a show featuring international organizations doing charitable works all around the globe. Produced, directed, and filmed by Connelly and hosted by Masterson, each week a different charity will be featured and viewers can go online to make donations or volunteer to get involved. Word has it we can expect a lot of guest celebrities to stop by and hawk their favorite charities, and we’re certain that onetime Beverly Hills stylist and fashionista expert Masterson can show them how to make khaki look sexy!
“Hey, Finch!” shouted Reggie from the boogie-woogie room of the Paradise Brothers’ tour bus, “You’re not going to believe this! Honeybun went and got herself married.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I’d like to thank the staff at the Heartbreak Hotel for their gracious hospitality and note that any errors or variations in describing the hotel are mine alone. I spent time in the Burning Love Suite and the Graceland Suite, and both rooms were pure Elvisy goodness. The Graceland Suite even has a doorbell. How fun is that? I did take a few liberties with the description of the Jungle Room Lounge because it has no stage. I made that part up, but I get to do that because it’s my job. I’d also like to note that, while weather in the South is often moderate, I wrote this book during the winter of the polar vortex when even things in Memphis were cold. Still, I took a few liberties with the weather as well.
On a final note, the main characters of this book are motivated by a desire to contribute to the greater good. If you are similarly motivated, here are some of my favorite charities. Thank you for considering them.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, thanks to my wonderful and tireless team at Montlake Publishing. Your support is surpassed only by your generosity and zeal, and I am grateful. To Hai-Yen, Helen, Melody, Susan, Thom, Jessica, and Kelli, you guys are the best. Beyond the best. You are the superbestest. Ginormous thanks to Nalini Akolekar for your confidence, guidance, unwavering support, and an extraspecial thanks for loving Carl as much as I do.
Thanks to Kimberly Kincaid, Alyssa Alexander, and Jennifer McQuiston. You guys know why!
Thanks to Darcy Woods for your impeccable and enviable mastery of snark, and for sending me a celebratory red balloon when I really needed one. Thanks to Kieran Kramer for those early reads and your fabulous insight.
Thanks to Jane Pierangeli and Samhita Rhodes for reading, reading, reading (sometimes from halfway around the world—or wherever Switzerland is) and for offering up such fabulous suggestions. Can’t wait to collaborate again!
Thanks to Shelley and Stacy Smith for inventing an imaginary product that should seriously become a real product.
Thanks to the Eskimo Brothers for their sassy lyrics and honky-tonk style, because when I said, “I’m a romance writer and you guys have totally given me an idea for a book,” I wasn’t kidding. Thanks to Molly Mesnick who graciously agreed to answer my questions about life as a TV reality star. I’m glad you got your “real life” happily ever after.
And finally, thanks to my husband, who has always supported me, but who truly went above and beyond this time to make sure life didn’t fall apart for the rest of the household while I was otherwise occupied, and to my wonderful children, who cheer me up and cheer me on. I’m so proud of you. Without you, none of the rest would matter.