Chapter 1:

Melinda Korklan parked her car and smoothed the fabric of her dress as she hurried into the restaurant putting on her heels. She was late again. Nothing unusual. She was always late for something these days. But this dinner was important to her brother and she had promised him she would be there.

Matt sat there looking at his watch smiling and shaking his head. Their mother had always told Melinda that she'd be late for her own funeral. And he was beginning to think that it was true. He looked over to his left and saw his girlfriend of the last nine months and smiled. Tonight was going to be an important night for them and one he hoped she would remember for the rest of their lives together. He heard the clank of her heels against the marble floor and turned around.

"Took you long enough to get here." He smiled walking over and giving her a hug.

"Sorry, I got caught up with work and lost track of time." She said as she took a seat next to her brother's friend Ted. He smiled over at her and nodded. She loved her brother's friends. Even though she didn't know them all that well. She looked around the table and smiled. Everyone who meant anything to him was there. Her smile quickly faded as her eyes fell on the girl who sat next to her brother. His girlfriend Camilla Runnels.

She and Camilla had been friends in college. For a time. As she sat there and studied her now, she wasn't really sure how they'd become friends at all. Melinda had been a cheerleader although she was considered somewhat of a nerd. She was friendly and outspoken while Camilla was more quiet and reserved. She was the classic overachieving bookworm. A perfect fit for her geeky brother. But that didn't mean that she had to like it. She briefly looked at the man that was sitting next to Camilla. He looked at her for a moment, his ocean eyes boring a hole right through her. It would have made anyone else feel uncomfortable. But this hadn't been the first time she'd seen that look from those eyes. She smirked softly at him and then turned her full attention to her brother who was clanking a fork against his water glass.

"I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I wanted you all to share this moment with me." He said as he reached in his pocket and pulled out a small ring box. He looked over at Camilla and her hand flew to her mouth. Melinda rolled her eyes. She should have known that Matt was dragging her away from work to make her sit and watch as he proposed to her. But she was his sister. The only family he had left. And she would support his decisions. Even if she thought he was making a huge mistake.

"Cam, we've been together for a little while now. I have never been so happy in my life. I love you and I was wondering….would you marry me?"

Everyone sitting at the table waited with baited breath as Camilla shook her head, tears streaming down her face. Matt slid the ring on her finger-their mother's ring- and wrapped her in a hug kissing her. Everyone clapped and Melinda faked a smile and excused herself to head to the bar. If she was going to fake excitement for her brother, she was going to need the help of her good friend Jack Daniels. She looked at the bartender and gave him her order. She heard someone laugh beside her and turned to see those same ocean eyes that had been looking at her before.

"Hitting the hard stuff early I see. You'll be putty in my hands later." He whispered in her ear as his hand ghosted the small of her back. She shivered a little and smiled her thanks to the bartender as he gave her the drink.

"Who says I'm spending the night with you?" she smirked as she looked at him. "You know if Matt sees us talking how we have to play this right?" He nodded.

"That's a risk I am willing to take." He said as he ordered himself a beer. "SO it would appear that we will be in laws soon." She nodded. "You are going to have to get along with her you know. For Matt's sake." She looked at him and smiled.

"That may be true. But I don't have to like it." She said as she pushed some of her dark brown hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry Cody. I know she's your sister and that you and Matt both love her. But I still can't get over it. She betrayed me."

"Have you ever stopped to hear what she had to say about it?"

"No and I don't want to." She said as she drank the alcohol down. She heard Matt call her name and turned to see him walking toward them.

"You okay?" he asked as he walked up to the bar. She nodded and smiled at him. "Listen, Linney I know you and Cam have your differences but please, for my sake try and get along with her?"

"For you big brother, anything." She said as she ordered another drink. Matt glanced past her and saw the now three empty glasses in front of her.

"Have you met Cody?" he asked. Melinda looked over at Cody and smiled. She nodded.

"We were just talking about how great it is that you and Cam are getting married." She said. He looked over at Cody and smiled. His sister was a horrible liar.

"Do me a favor Codes and drive my sister home. I think she's in no condition to drive. She's a little tipsy if she thinks that my marrying Cam is a good thing." Matt laughed. He hugged his sister. "I love you sis and you being here for me tonight means a lot to me."

"I told you on the phone, I wouldn't miss it for the world.