Kerri Carpenter - Bidding On The Bachelor

Another roll of the dice

Big news, fair readers! Bayside High’s favorite It Girl is back. Would you have bet Carissa Blackwell would ever return? Ten years ago, she crushed Jasper Dumont’s heart under her Jimmy Choos and left town for a bigger, better life. Her return raises one question: What is she running from (or is it to) now?

Perhaps Jasper knows? One look at Carissa and he fell in the bay! (Rich, single and devastatingly handsome, Jasper’s our catch of the day. ) That icy plunge should have brought him to his senses, yet “Casper” has been spotted together all over town. Does this mean Bayside’s legendary couple may reunite? The stakes are high, but the Bayside Blogger’s money is riding on love!

“You fell into the bay?” she asked Jasper.

“It was nothing.”

“Not what the Bayside Blogger is saying,” one of the men at the end of the bar offered.

“Bayside Blogger said you saw your high school girlfriend and fell into the bay,” added the other man.

Carissa’s mouth dropped open. She’d thought someone had been around her when she’d stopped to look out over the water. Jasper had been at the dock when she’d pulled up a couple hours ago? He’d fallen into the bay? Because of her?

“Jasp—”

“Don’t say anything.”

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But she decided to give him a break since he looked so uncomfortable. “Who is this Bayside Blogger I keep hearing about?”

He looked relieved at the change in topic. “The Bayside Blogger...” He proceeded to tell her all about the town’s biggest gossip columnist as they enjoyed their drinks.

“So, Carissa Blackwell...” He trailed off sometime later and met her eyes. A shadow fell over his face. “Sorry, I don’t know what your married name is.”

They were just finishing their second round of fried mozzarella sticks. Not to mention they’d kept the drinks flowing. Carissa felt warm and toasty. Her drive, the gossip, the Bayside Blogger, all forgotten.

Ah, she understood. “I never changed my name, actually.”

* * *

Saved by the Blog:This matchmaking gossip columnist won’t stop until true love wins!

Bidding on the Bachelor

Kerri Carpenter

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Award-winning romance author KERRI CARPENTER writes contemporary romances that are sweet, sexy and sparkly. When she’s not writing, Kerri enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, taking Zumba classes, rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams and anything sparkly. Kerri lives in Northern Virginia with her adorable (and mischievous) rescued poodle mix, Harry. Visit Kerri at her website, www.kerricarpenter.com, on Facebook ( Facebook.com/AuthorKerri,) Twitter and Instagram ( @authorkerri), or subscribe to her newsletter.

For my fabulous agent and wonderful friend, Nic.

I seriously could not do this without you.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Another roll of the dice Big news, fair readers! Bayside High’s favorite It Girl is back. Would you have bet Carissa Blackwell would ever return? Ten years ago, she crushed Jasper Dumont’s heart under her Jimmy Choos and left town for a bigger, better life. Her return raises one question: What is she running from (or is it to) now? Perhaps Jasper knows? One look at Carissa and he fell in the bay! (Rich, single and devastatingly handsome, Jasper’s our catch of the day. ) That icy plunge should have brought him to his senses, yet “Casper” has been spotted together all over town. Does this mean Bayside’s legendary couple may reunite? The stakes are high, but the Bayside Blogger’s money is riding on love!

Introduction “You fell into the bay?” she asked Jasper. “It was nothing.” “Not what the Bayside Blogger is saying,” one of the men at the end of the bar offered. “Bayside Blogger said you saw your high school girlfriend and fell into the bay,” added the other man. Carissa’s mouth dropped open. She’d thought someone had been around her when she’d stopped to look out over the water. Jasper had been at the dock when she’d pulled up a couple hours ago? He’d fallen into the bay? Because of her? “Jasp—” “Don’t say anything.” She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But she decided to give him a break since he looked so uncomfortable. “Who is this Bayside Blogger I keep hearing about?” He looked relieved at the change in topic. “The Bayside Blogger...” He proceeded to tell her all about the town’s biggest gossip columnist as they enjoyed their drinks. “So, Carissa Blackwell...” He trailed off sometime later and met her eyes. A shadow fell over his face. “Sorry, I don’t know what your married name is.” They were just finishing their second round of fried mozzarella sticks. Not to mention they’d kept the drinks flowing. Carissa felt warm and toasty. Her drive, the gossip, the Bayside Blogger, all forgotten. Ah, she understood. “I never changed my name, actually.” * * * Saved by the Blog: This matchmaking gossip columnist won’t stop until true love wins!

Title Page Bidding on the Bachelor Kerri Carpenter www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author Award-winning romance author KERRI CARPENTER writes contemporary romances that are sweet, sexy and sparkly. When she’s not writing, Kerri enjoys reading, cooking, watching movies, taking Zumba classes, rooting for Pittsburgh sports teams and anything sparkly. Kerri lives in Northern Virginia with her adorable (and mischievous) rescued poodle mix, Harry. Visit Kerri at her website, www.kerricarpenter.com , on Facebook ( Facebook.com/AuthorKerri ,) Twitter and Instagram ( @authorkerri ), or subscribe to her newsletter.

Dedication For my fabulous agent and wonderful friend, Nic. I seriously could not do this without you.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Carissa could not believe this was her life.

She glanced around the nearly empty apartment—excuse her, the luxury condo that until recently she’d shared with her husband. Now the condo was on the market, her marriage was over, and she was left standing in a deserted room, with stacks of boxes the only thing to keep her company.

Of course, most of those boxes didn’t even belong to her. As she’d packed up almost a decade of her life, she realized that she had very few belongings. Strange, since she’d been surrounded by mountains of items before she and Preston signed on the dotted line.

Even now, she took a moment to peruse the neatly packed and labeled cartons.

China—Preston’s grandmother’s.

Jewelry—Preston’s mother’s.

Antique desk—Preston’s father’s.

Only the kitchen gadgets and appliances, clothes, and some old high school yearbooks belonged to her now. And she didn’t even want the yearbooks. She ran a hand over the maroon cover from her senior year. Good old Bayside, Virginia. Maybe she should move back home.

Carissa snorted. Yeah, right. She’d vowed to never return to Bayside, a promise easily kept after her parents moved away while she was in college. Except for her aunt Val, she hadn’t stayed in touch with anyone from the town where she went to high school. Not her group of girlfriends, not her favorite teachers, not even...

“Jasper Dumont,” she said aloud, and then sighed.