Colleen had known he would be at the wedding. Did he recognize her? She doubted it. How could he recognize someone he had never noticed before?
He saw her now, staring at her so intently that goose bumps rose on the bare skin of her shoulders and arms.
âHi,â he said. âI missed the rehearsal. Any idea which bridesmaid I walk down the aisle?â
She blinked her eyes open and met his gaze. In his expression there was a flirtatious twinkle. All rational thought fled her mind.
Probably used to womenâs tongue-tied reactions, he grinned, and a deep dimple pierced one lean cheek. âIâm the best man.â
âThen youâll walk down the aisle with the maid of honor,â she informed him. The haughty tone of her voice surprised her.
âI hope thatâs you,â he said, flashing the dimpled grin at her.
Dear Reader,
Welcome back to Cloverville, Michigan, for the second book in my THE WEDDING PARTY series for Harlequin American Romance. Even if you didnât read Unexpected Bride, youâll have no problem figuring out whatâs going on now in the small town of Cloverville, because all four books in the series cover the same time frame. Since the stories occur simultaneously, you may recognize some scenes from Unexpected Bride, but from the interesting new perspectives of the best man, Dr. Nick Jameson, and bridesmaid and younger sister of the bride, Colleen McClintock.
Colleen has had a crush on Dr. Jameson forever, but Nick first notices Colleen at the wedding of her sister to his best friend. These two commitment-phobes have no intention of taking a trek down the aisle themselves. But Nick brings out the impulsive nature Colleen has long suppressed, and Colleen turns Nickâs world upside down. I hope you enjoy reading their story!
Happy reading!
Lisa Childs
The Best Manâs Bride
Lisa Childs
Bestselling, award-winning author Lisa Childs writes paranormal and contemporary romance for Harlequin/Silhouette Books. She lives on thirty acres in west Michigan with her husband, two daughters, a talkative Siamese and a long-haired Chihuahua who thinks sheâs a rottweiler. Lisa loves hearing from readers, who can contact her through her Web site, www.lisachilds.com, or snail mail address, P.O. Box 139, Marne, MI 49435.
For my wonderful, supportive, talented friends:
Mary Gardner and Kimberly Duffy, finalists in the Romance Writers of America 2007 Golden Heart writing contestâ ladies, youâre both winners with me!
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Epilogue
With great appreciation to Kathleen Scheibling
and my agent, Jenny Bent, for offering their guidance and sharing their knowledge.
âAre you sure you know what youâre doing?â Nick Jameson asked his best friend.
âI was going to ask you that,â Josh Towers said as he peered into the mirror on the wall of the groomâs dressing room, straightening a bow tie that was already perfectly straight. But then, nearly everything about Josh was perfectâapart from his taste in women.
Nick sighed. âWhat do I need to know? Iâm not getting married.â Not ever.
âYou missed the rehearsal, you know.â
âHey, I was on call last night.â Nick shrugged, testing the seams on his tuxedo jacket. Tuxedos were called monkey suits for a reason, he thought. They were damned near as comfortable as straitjackets.
Not that heâd ever been in a straitjacket, but if for some reason he considered doing what Josh wasâgetting marriedâheâd put himself in one.
âAnd whatâs so hard about what I have to do?â Nick asked his friend. He had stood up with Josh at his other weddingâthe first one. He was such a hypocrite. How could he stand up for something in which he put no faith? âI just walk down the aisle with some girl on my arm.â
âYouâre the best man,â Josh reminded him. âYouâre in charge of the rings, too.â He dug a pair of gold bands out of his pocket and handed them over.
The metal, although warm from Joshâs pocket, chilled Nickâs skin as the rings lay in his palm. The anxiety built in his throat, nearly choking him. He didnât even like to touch the things.
âDaddy,â one of Joshâs twin four-year-old sons said, âweâre the ring bears.â
âFunny, you donât look like bears,â Nick teased, chucking the boy under the chin. Must have been Buzz since his black hair had been kept buzzed short for the past two years after heâd gotten hold of Joshâs electric razor. TJâs hair was a little longer and moussed into half-inch spikes. Both twins had deep blue eyes, and now they stared up at him as if he were trying to make off with one of their Tonka trucks.
âYeah,â said TJ as he tugged on Nickâs pant leg. The twinsâ tuxedos matched his, black with white pleated shirts, black bow ties and red cummerbunds. âWeâre supposed to carry the rings.â