Read Last Chance Beauty Queen for Free Online Page A

highlights to set. She was reading a much-thumbed copy of
Destiny
, June Morlan’s latest bodice ripper that featured a snotty hero who was much like Hugh deBracy.
    Jane, Caroline’s sister-in-law, had Miriam Randall’s hand in hers as she worked on painting the octogenarian’s nails alternate shades of pink and green. Miriam’s white hair was arranged in crown braids, and she was wearing a bright green pantsuit with a pair of pink Keds slip-ons.
    Momma looked up as Caroline entered. Ruby Rhodes wore her dark hair in a short style that allowed it to curl freely around her head. As usual, she was well put together and looked way younger than her fifty-eightyears. Her dark denim jeans hugged her still-youthful contours. A bright pink blazer over a green scoop-necked shell accentuated her tiny waist. A pair of pink ballet shoes and a tiny diamond pendant completed the ensemble.
    Momma gave Caroline her maternal look—one part sappy smile and another steel magnolia. “Sugar,” she said, “don’t you ever wear anything that has color in it? I declare, you look like you’re going to a meeting of Quakers in that suit.”
    Caroline looked down at her Jones of New York microfiber all-season gray pantsuit and the white August Silk shell. She looked professional and in charge. That was really all that mattered. “Momma, folks aren’t going to take me seriously if I dress in pink and green. Which reminds me, I just heard from Dash that the whole town is expecting me to put on my old Watermelon Queen dress and make a spectacle of myself in front of my boss. But I told you that I wouldn’t do that when we talked last night.”
    “Yes, I know, dear, but I’m afraid there’s been a change in plans.”
    “A change in plans?”
    “Yes. Dale said that he won’t let that Englishman on the reviewing stand unless you ride on the float.”
    Caroline stared at Momma for a full thirty seconds as the implications of this settled in her brain.
    “Shall I call Dale and tell him you refuse?” Momma asked, an unmistakable note of glee in her voice.
    Caroline collapsed, defeated, into the stylist chair next to Lessie. “I can’t ride on that float. The senator is going to be there on the reviewing stand.”
    “What difference does that make?”
    She shrugged. “He’s my boss. And, well, he doesn’t know about my history as a Watermelon Queen. And besides, I’m supposed to be working. And when I work, he’s supposed to be the center of attention, not me.”
    “Well, that’s admirable, sweetie, but if you want to get his Lordship on the reviewing stand, you’re going to have to put on your dress and ride on that float.”
    Caroline groaned. “I am never going to live this down.”
    “I’m sure the senator will understand. I don’t see what’s so embarrassing about being a Watermelon Queen, myself.”
    Caroline rolled her eyes. Momma had no idea about how politics worked. It was best, all the way around, for Caroline to be as plain and vanilla as possible. The more she worked in the background, the better it was for Senator Warren. In fact, that was her job description.
    “Don’t roll your eyes like that, Rocky. It’s annoying.”
    “I’m sorry. But really, this is a disaster. I don’t want to ride that float.”
    “I know. But if you don’t, then the senator is going to be angry. So you’ve got a problem either way. That being the case, my advice is that you just relax and enjoy it. Riding on the float will be a lot of fun. You remember that, don’t you—the fun of the Watermelon Festival?”
    Caroline closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath redolent with the aroma of the almond-scented shampoo that Momma always used. “I never wanted to ever wear that dress again,” she muttered.
    “Aw, sweetie, don’t you remember how excited you were when you were named Watermelon Queen?”
    “I do. But the excitement was replaced by embarrassment. I don’t want to relive the experience.”
    “Honey, maybe putting