A Husband by New Year's Read online

  Two hearts can’t merge until they get their signals straight.

  The McClendon Holiday Series, Book 4

  Love is a gamble.

  Renee McClendon has had enough of pretty boys with fancy cars, pricey shoes, and empty souls. Never mind they’ve all matched her teen-diary version of the perfect man. None of them panned out.

  She’s ready for someone who’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. A regular guy who doesn’t brag about everything he owns and the size of his…portfolio. And if she doesn’t find him by January 1, she’s closing the book on love. For good.

  He’s willing to roll the dice.

  When Patrick Dunlap drives the pretty, polished marketing professional home in his limousine, he figures she’ll be as superficial as all the other women who assume he’s a lowly chauffeur. Until they learn he owns the company, and their eyes light up—with dollar signs.

  To his surprise, they hit it off so well he finds himself withholding that one tiny detail. But when the truth inevitably comes out, he fears the forever girl he’s longed for could disappear faster than a gust of winter wind.

  Warning: Contains one half-serious bet, a whole list of secret longings, and one Cinderella fella who’s Prince Charming in disguise—and who’s never late for the ball.

  Dedication

  Vonda Rochelle Pruitt

  1969–2016

  &

  To Robin Caldwell

  “Her price is far above rubies”

  Acknowledgements

  Oh give thanks unto the Lord for He is good…

  Recently, I lost someone very dear to me unexpectedly. Shocked and devastated are the only words that I can use to describe my initial feelings. I’m going to miss hearing my cousin Vonda’s voice and laughter, but most of all, her presence in my life. I hate that we won’t grow old together, but as Carol Burnett used to say, “I’m so glad we had this time together…”

  Note to the Reader

  Dear Reader,

  I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to bring another McClendon Holiday book to you. Wow, I can’t believe we’re already on Book 4 of the series. I will say that I’ve had a ball writing this family. Your feedback has been invaluable and I’m happy you are enjoying their stories. Now, we’re meeting Renee McClendon.

  The new year is a chance for new beginnings. I think everybody deserves a do-over. I know I’ve had my share and I thank God for them, too.

  Renee McClendon has agreed to a bet with a supposed good friend that she can find a husband by New Year’s using a list of attributes she’s created for the perfect man over the years. She misjudges Patrick Dunlap when she meets him, which is something we have all done at one time or another. A lot of the time, we judge people by their physical appearance, and most of the time, we are dead wrong. The old saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover,” is correct.

  In the next book in the series, A McClendon Reunion, we will see how this clan got its start. Can it be true that Russell and Myra will break up the family after all these years together? When will Laurence McClendon grace us with his appearance? Is he in trouble?

  Stay tuned.

  Happy New Year from me and the McClendons.

  All good things in love and life,

  Sean

  Chapter One

  “Here we go again with that dumb list!” Julia Mitchell exclaimed. “I don’t know why Renee still keeps that book in the first place.”

  Renee McClendon didn’t care what her friend thought about her journal, but she did regret bringing it with her tonight. They were supposed to be celebrating Gina Armstrong’s wedding, not having a bash Renee’s list party.

  Renee started making lists when she was a young girl. The very first list was the attributes of her perfect man, one she’d written at just fifteen years old. She had a crush on Johnny Jones, a popular senior and the quarterback of her high school football team. Using the qualities she liked about Johnny as inspiration, she created a perfect man list in the journal her mother had given her. As the years passed, Renee’s crush on Johnny faded, and her list changed as well.

  She usually kept the book on her bedside table at home, but she’d planned to write later tonight after everyone else was asleep, or get up early in the morning to make her entry, documenting her thoughts about the weekend festivities.

  Renee held up her old, pink, leather-bound book with the cute heart-shaped locket. “What? This?” The pages were discolored where the gold foil used to be from wear. “I don’t think you have a problem with my journal, Julia, you have a problem with the list.”

  “I remember when your mother gave you a journal for your birthday when we were seniors in college,” Cara Mathews added.

  “Yeah, I remember too; that’s the point,” Julia said, shifting in her chair. “What is the purpose of keeping something that old? We’re almost thirty years old, and you’re walking around with a book your momma gave you.”

  Renee understood very well that Julia was ignoring her question about the list. For a woman who always had a comeback, Julia never responded when Renee asked why she had a problem with her list.

  Renee waved the journal in the air. “This isn’t the only book my mother has given me. I’ve been writing down my thoughts since I was twelve. As a matter of fact, all my siblings keep one as well.”

  “They’re just a waste of time if you ask me,” Julia added.

  Nobody asked you, heifer. Renee rolled her eyes as she listened to Julia’s negativity yet again about something that didn’t belong to her or have anything to do with her.

  Journal writing was something everyone in her family started when their mother Myra gave each of them their own little book to write down their dreams and thoughts each day when they got home from school. Every year on her birthday, Renee would go back through the journal and re-read some of the entries, marveling at how her feelings and situations had changed a year later.

  While she was in college, her mother came to visit and brought her the pink, leather-bound book she was holding.

  Cara reached over and took the book from Renee, flipping the pages. “Do you still use these traits for finding your perfect man, Renee?” Cara asked.

  Renee snatched the book from her. She’d only shared her perfect man list with her friends in hopes that it would prompt them to think about what kind of man they’d want for themselves. It wasn’t done to be ridiculed or to show anyone up.

  “They’ve changed over time, but yes, for the most part I do,” Renee responded.

  “I think the list is worthless and silly. Are you still in third grade, Renee?”

  Renee rolled her eyes because by this time Julia had gotten on her last nerve. Usually she could ignore the curly-haired woman who’d always had something smart to say since they’d met, but tonight Renee just wanted Julia to shut up.

  Out of the three women in the room, she would classify Julia as being more of a frenemy than friend. She usually had to listen carefully to anything that Julia had to say in order to make sure that she wasn’t trying to be malicious. Actually, Julia’s sharp tongue reminded Renee of her older sister Patrice, but Patrice would always apologize if she felt she’d hurt a person’s feelings. Julia left Renee wondering.

  Since they were teens, Julia always had some negative comment, or pointed out a flaw when it came to anything concerning Renee. If it was about her, Julia constantly wanted everyone to rally around her and support her endeavors, but she never really wholeheartedly repaid the kindness. But because Gina Armstrong was her half-sister, and was one of the sweetest people Renee had ever met, they kept Julia i
n their tightly knit group.

  “I thought the list was cute,” Gina said, holding up her champagne glass.

  Renee held up her glass as well. “Thank you, Gina. It worked for you, didn’t it, girl? You’re getting married tomorrow.”

  Renee and her friends Cara and Julia were throwing Gina a private bridal shower in a suite at the Ritz Carlton for just the four of them. The college roommates had thrown an extravagant co-ed shower the month before for Gina and her sexy, supper-club-owner fiancé Preston. Renee had promised Gina that the fantastic four, which is what they’d called themselves back in the day, would have their own special time.

  Tomorrow the nuptials would be held in the grand ballroom of the hotel. The reception afterward promised to be one for the record books, as Preston was known to throw a great party.

  Gina lowered her glass. “I didn’t make a list.”

  Cara and Julia laughed out loud.

  Renee didn’t see the humor. “Okay, since you guys want to laugh, have you even thought about making a list?” She wanted to know. “All right, let’s talk about what you’d put on your list. And I’m not talking about him being tall, sexy, and having a big—” Renee said before Cara cut her off by clearing her throat.

  “I’ll have you know that those are very important features,” Julia said, laughing.

  When none of the other women laughed at her remark, Julia turned up her lips, looked up at the ceiling, then back at Renee. “It’s not like I don’t go out on dates; I just haven’t found the right guy,” she said.

  “See, that’s why you should make a list, then you wouldn’t have to worry about going out with the wrong guy,” Renee said.

  “I still don’t see the point,” Julia said.

  “I’ve never done a list,” Cara replied.

  “I know what I want and I’m not compromising on it,” Renee said with finality.

  Julia shook her head. “You would do better checking your daily horoscope.”

  Renee gave Julia a sidelong glance and shook her head.

  “Why does this book bother you so much, Julia?” Gina asked.

  Renee was glad that Julia’s sister asked that question, because she wanted to know as well.

  Julia was a beautiful, brown-skinned woman with curly auburn hair, a heart-shaped face, and slim figure. She was a very ambitious marketing account supervisor at Vine Public Relations, a marketing firm where Renee worked using her master’s degree in public relations.

  Recently, Julia had been diligent in obtaining her accreditation in public relations. She hadn’t ever been much on dating and always ended her relationships on impulse. Renee never could see why, but it was becoming clear that her friend’s argumentative ways might be the reason.

  Julia sat up straight on the sofa. “Because there is no such thing as a perfect man.”

  Gina scooted to the end of her seat. “Well, why don’t we just call the list Renee’s Fantasy Man?”

  Renee didn’t care what they called it, since it didn’t concern them in the first place. Her preferences had changed as she grew older. When she was fifteen, she wanted her husband to be like Will Smith from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Now, as a twenty-something-year-old, she preferred the much more mature version of the popular actor. The older she got, the more looks didn’t mean as much—she wanted a man of substance who was doing something with his life.

  Somehow, she needed to prove to Julia that she could find a man that possessed all the attributes she had written on the pages of her notebook.

  Renee looked at her friend. “What about you, Cara? Can you think of one trait your perfect man should possess?”

  Renee caught the flash of pain on her friend’s face. Julia had gotten Renee so fired up, that she’d forgotten the pain Cara endured in her last relationship. Renee didn’t intend to hurt Cara with this banter. Now, all she wanted was to see Cara’s deep-brown eyes devoid of sadness, and the dimple in her right cheek when she smiled. Cara was thoughtful, smart, and out of the three women, Renee felt closest to her.

  Outside of her sisters, Renee trusted Cara with anything she told her and it had been that way since the first day they met at freshman orientation in college. Many people thought they were siblings because they had similar body types and skin color. Cara was slightly taller and wore her hair in a short hairstyle versus Renee’s asymmetrical cut.

  Renee reached over and squeezed Cara’s knee. “I’m sorry, Cee. I didn’t mean to go there.”

  Julia leaned forward. “Sorry for what? Are you saying your little list wouldn’t help Cara?”

  Cara waved her hand. “Now you know I’m not trying to do that again. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt, and burned it up.”

  “I’m not thinking of getting married either, but I have an idea,” Julia said in a sarcastic tone.

  Renee leaned forward with her elbows on her thighs, eager to hear what magnificent idea Julia had now. “I’m waiting for your big idea,” Renee said, knowing that it was probably going to be something outrageous.

  “I bet you can’t find a man that fits your list. I’m so certain of it, I’ll even give you a year to do it. But whoever this guy is, he has to meet all the essential characteristics you’ve put down in this book.”

  “And if I don’t?” Renee asked.

  “You have to burn that book of yours,” Julia said before she gave everyone a smile, showing all of her pearly white teeth.

  Renee had no intention of destroying her book, so that was out of the question. She was sure that it wasn’t the book that Julia had the problem with, but the list. She would, however, go along with Julia’s crazy bet just to challenge her cocky attitude. And Renee had to confess to herself that she hadn’t been having much luck in the romance department. Most of the guys she’d dated over the past few months looked really good on paper, but once she went out with them, she was no longer interested.

  She stared at the smirk on Julia’s face and thought about the fact that she would never hear the end of it if Julia were to win the bet. Always wanting to one-up her, Renee had to find a way to wipe the smug smile off Julia’s face, once and for all.

  Renee extended her hand to Julia. “Okay, Ms. Smarty, let’s see who gets the last laugh.”

  Julia accepted her hand as the other two friends watched. “Be careful, girlfriend, you might be the one crying over the loss of your precious book.” She leaned over to her sister. “I can’t wait to see this.”

  Renee looked between Cara and Gina, then finally at Julia. “I can’t wait either, Julia,” Renee said in response before getting up from her seat.

  Renee needed to steer the conversation back to Gina, who looked so cute with her rhinestone tiara and veil perched on top of her auburn hair. She had even purchased a custom royal-blue sash with Bride-to-Be written in silver glitter for the occasion. They were supposed to be having fun, and if Renee didn’t get away from Julia, she would say something she’d regret. One day she would find out what her so-called friend’s real problem was with her.

  Standing at the table, Renee had to gather her thoughts, because they’d gotten way off the real reason for them being there together. It was for Gina and not arguing about her list.

  Renee wanted Gina to be treated like a princess on her last night of being single. She’d even hired a male stripper to come dressed as a police officer. It would probably scare the crap out of Gina at first, but Renee was sure they all would get a kick out of a tall, chocolate man gyrating his hips in front of them. She had everything planned to the last detail and now with Julia and her antics, she was about to spoil the whole thing.

  Gina Armstrong was just as beautiful as her sister Julia, with the same auburn, curly hair. She was of average height with a much thicker build than her half-sister. They’d just finished the wedding rehearsal and dinner. The four of them had planned to stay up late talking and watching th
eir favorite movies like Sex and the City and also the movie Bridesmaids, which Renee thought was hilarious and very fitting for the occasion.

  “Ladies, let’s really get this party started,” Renee said as she admired the beautifully set table that the concierge assisted her with. They had potato, chicken, pasta and tuna salads, hot and spicy wings, double-loaded potato skins, mozzarella sticks, double fudge brownies with walnuts, tiramisu, a variety of cake pops, and banana pudding in little plastic champagne flutes. The table looked lovely.

  Renee picked up the silver serving spoon and added some pasta salad to her plate along with a spoonful of the rest of the dishes, and placed a Hawaiian dinner roll on the side. She re-took her seat next to Cara, sitting the plate in her lap. After everyone had prepared their plates, she picked up her champagne glass and waited for them to do the same.

  Raising it in the air, she said, “Congratulations, Gina. I hope that you have a wonderful life.”

  “I think this is going to be an interesting year,” Cara added, lifting her glass a bit higher.

  After sipping from her own glass, Julia raised hers. “I’d like to propose a toast to the perfect man.”

  Renee didn’t allow Julia’s sarcastic remark to bother her, so she raised her glass with the rest of them. “Here, here,” she said.

  Julia lowered hers. “Remember, you can’t add anything to the list and you can’t take anything from it.”

  “I don’t think I’ll have any problems at all,” Renee said confidently, but on the inside, she didn’t know if she’d allowed her temper to get the best of her. Had she gone a bit too far with the bet?

  Julia raised her forefinger. “Wait, I want to make this a little more interesting. I want you to find your perfect man by New Year’s.”

  Cara gave Julia a sidelong glance. “Why New Year’s?”

  Julia hunched her shoulders. “Hell, it sounded good and I’m trying to help my girl out.”

  Gina pushed at Julia’s knee. “This broad has had too much to drink, so I wouldn’t pay any attention to her.”