Helen Lacey - Once Upon a Bride

She hoped he wouldn’t come closer …

Prayed he wouldn’t kiss her. “We need to forget what happened tonight,” she said in a rattled voice. “We agreed it’d be crazy to—”

“Nothing really happened,” he said, cutting her off.

“Well, what almost happened. I’ve made a vow to myself … and it’s a promise I intend to keep. I’m never going to find what I want if I get drawn deeper into this attraction. It won’t go anywhere other than your bed, and I’m not prepared to settle for just sex.”

Gabe stared at her. So deeply, so intensely, she couldn’t breathe. The small porch created extreme intimacy. If she took one step she’d be pressed against him.

“You’re right.” He moved back. “You shouldn’t settle for sex. You should find that middle road you want, Lauren, with someone who can give you the quiet relationship you deserve.”

Then he was gone.

Her chest was pounding. Her stomach was churning. Her head was spinning.

And her heart was in serious danger.

Once Upon a Bride

Helen Lacey

www.millsandboon.co.uk

HELEN LACEYgrew up reading Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven years old, a story about a girl and her horse. She continued to write, with the dream of one day being a published author, and writing for Mills & Boon ®Cherish™ is the realization of that dream. She loves creating stories about strong heroes with a soft heart and heroines who get their happily-ever-after. For more about Helen, visit her website, www.helenlacey.com.

For Robert

Because you get me …

Contents

Cover

Introduction She hoped he wouldn’t come closer … Prayed he wouldn’t kiss her. “We need to forget what happened tonight,” she said in a rattled voice. “We agreed it’d be crazy to—” “Nothing really happened,” he said, cutting her off. “Well, what almost happened. I’ve made a vow to myself … and it’s a promise I intend to keep. I’m never going to find what I want if I get drawn deeper into this attraction. It won’t go anywhere other than your bed, and I’m not prepared to settle for just sex.” Gabe stared at her. So deeply, so intensely, she couldn’t breathe. The small porch created extreme intimacy. If she took one step she’d be pressed against him. “You’re right.” He moved back. “You shouldn’t settle for sex. You should find that middle road you want, Lauren, with someone who can give you the quiet relationship you deserve.” Then he was gone. Her chest was pounding. Her stomach was churning. Her head was spinning. And her heart was in serious danger.

Title Page Once Upon a Bride Helen Lacey www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author HELEN LACEY grew up reading Black Beauty, Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie. These childhood classics inspired her to write her first book when she was seven years old, a story about a girl and her horse. She continued to write, with the dream of one day being a published author, and writing for Mills & Boon ® Cherish™ is the realization of that dream. She loves creating stories about strong heroes with a soft heart and heroines who get their happily-ever-after. For more about Helen, visit her website, www.helenlacey.com .

Dedication For Robert Because you get me …

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

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

“You made a what?”

Lauren Jakowski shrugged her shoulders and bit down on her lower lip, musing whether she should repeat her words. But her two best friends’ imploring looks won over.

“I made a vow,” she said, and glanced at both Cassie and Mary-Jayne. “Of celibacy.”

The other women snorted through the drinks they were sipping, sending liquid flying across the small poolside table. It was her brother’s wedding, and once the bride and groom had cut the cake and shared their first dance, her bridesmaid’s duties were officially over for the night. So she’d left the hotel ballroom and met her friends by the pool.

“Yeah, sure you did,” Cassie said with a laugh, wiping her face.

“I did,” Lauren insisted. “When my marriage ended.”

“So you, like—” Mary-Jayne mused slowly as her dark hair swayed in the breeze “—made a commitment to never have sex again?”

“Exactly,” she replied. “Not until I’m certain he’s the right one.”

“He being this dull and passionless individual you think you’ll find so you can have your mediocre happily ever after?” Cassie asked, watching Lauren over the rim of her glass of soda.

She ignored how absurd it sounded. “Yes.”

Cassie’s brows came up. “And where are you going to find this Mr. Average?” she asked. “ReliableBores.com?”

“Maybe,” Lauren said, and pretended to drink some champagne.

“So no sex?” Mary-Jayne asked again. “Even though you caught the bouquet, look sensational in that dress and there are at least half a dozen single men at this wedding who would happily throw you over their shoulder, carry you off and give you the night of your life?”

“I’m not interested in anything casual,” she reiterated.

Mary-Jayne’s eyes widened. “Not even with—”

“Not with anyone,” she said firmly.

“But he’s—”

The original tall, dark and handsome...

“I know what he is. And he’s not on my radar.”

Which was a great big lie. However, she wasn’t about to admit that to her friends. Lauren stared at the flowers sitting in the center of the small table. She had caught the bouquet. But she didn’t want some meaningless romp at her brother’s wedding.

And she certainly didn’t want it with Gabe Vitali.

In the past six months, she’d been within touching distance of the ridiculously good-looking American several times. And avoided him on every single occasion. He was exactly what she didn’t want. But since he was her brother’s friend—and Crystal Point was a small town—Lauren accepted that she would be forced to see him every now and then.

“I like Gabe,” Mary-Jayne said, and grinned. “He’s kind of mysterious and...sexy.”

Lauren wrinkled her nose. “Trouble.”

“But still sexy?” Cassie laughed gently. “Come on, admit it.”

Lauren let out an exasperated sigh. “Okay, he’s sexy. He’s weak-at-the-knees sexy.... He’s handsome and hot and every time I see him I wonder what he looks like out of his clothes. I said I was celibate...not comatose.”

The two women laughed, and Lauren pushed aside the idea of Gabe Vitali naked.

“Still, you haven’t had sex in over two years,” Mary-Jayne, the more candid of the two women, reminded her. “That’s a long time. Just because you got divorced doesn’t mean you can’t have sex.”

Lauren shrugged. “Isn’t there an old saying about not missing what you don’t have?”

Mary-Jayne shook her head. “Please tell me you’ve at least kissed a guy since then?”

“No,” she replied. “Nor do I intend to until I know he’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”

“You mean, planning for,” Cassie said, ever gentle. “You know, there’s no neat order to falling in love.”