Jillian Hart - Montana Cowboy

“Hey, Luke.” Cousin Spence McKaslin ambled up and clapped him on the shoulder. “We’re glad this day has come for Brooke. No one deserves happiness more.”

“That’s the general consensus. Glad you could make it. Hi, Lucy,” he greeted Spence’s blond-haired, sunny wife. “It’s good to see you again.”

“We wouldn’t miss this wedding for the world. I didn’t see a table set up for gifts anywhere.” She held up a beautifully wrapped box. “Where can I put this?”

“That was on my to-do list. Sorry.” He dug in his pocket for the paper Lil had written out for him. Best get to it. “I’ll take that for you.”

“I’ll seat them.” Mac, Bree’s fiancé, ambled up in his suit and tie. “Spence, I was just in your bookstore the other day…”

As the trio headed up the aisle, Luke’s thoughts turned to Honor. How was she faring being stuck in a room with his sisters? And what exactly were they talking about?

He thought of Lil, dear Lil, and hoped his name didn’t come up because he knew what the subject would be.

Chapter Three

“Poor Luke. He has been single for so long.” Lil held out the gossamer bridal veil. “Ever since Sonya.”

“Sonya.” Brooke shook her head, obviously disapproving of this former girlfriend. “She led him on and then let him down.”

“That’s too bad,” Honor said sympathetically, trying not to sound too interested. It would only prolong the discussion, the one that would extol all of Luke’s virtues as a possible future boyfriend.

A boyfriend she didn’t want. No way, no sir. She was a happily single woman these days and that’s the way it was going to stay. She grabbed the comb off the built-in dresser.

“He’s the sweetest guy.” Brooke ducked, awaiting her veil.

“The sweetest,” Cousin Katherine agreed as she took the veil carefully from Lil.

Brooke nodded. “I never thought he would get over what that woman did to him.”

“Neither did I,” Colbie agreed.

“Us, too,” the twins chimed in.

What did that woman do? Honor wanted to ask, but she was afraid to. The women surrounding her might see it as a sign of interest. Romantic interest. She doubted they understood the friend thing she and Luke had going on. Maybe a change of subject was in order.

“Aren’t you nervous, Brooke?” she said the first thing that popped into her head. “Do you have cold feet? A jittery stomach?”

“No, not a bit. Everything is calm and my feet are warm.” Brooke stopped to check her reflection in the mirror. “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life, and stop trying to change the subject.”

“Hey, a girl’s gotta try.” She held up her hands in a what-can-I-do gesture. “You look stunning.”

“It’s the dress. Colbie and Lil made it for me.” Brooke brushed at the delicate satin of the princess-cut gown, which showed off her willowy figure adorably. “I never thought I would be the one to marry before you, Bree.”

“You know I want a spring wedding,” the twin in blue answered dreamily. “Now that I’m engaged and Brooke is getting married, I wonder who will be next?”

“Not me,” Colbie announced as she stepped back to check the drape of the wedding dress and gave a single, satisfied nod. “It’s the single life for me.”

“Me, too!” Finally, a comrade in arms! A like-minded ally.

“Oh, you two.” Lil shook her head. “I’m disappointed in you. Love can be the greatest adventure. You have to keep your heart open for it.”

“I’ll keep mine closed, thank you very much.” Colbie’s violet eyes sparkled with humor. “I prefer to be closed-up. It keeps the troublemakers away.”

“And men tend to be troublemakers,” Honor agreed.

“I can’t argue there.” Katherine finished pinning the veil and stepped back to admire her work. “When I first met Jack, disaster. Trouble of the highest magnitude. His teenage daughter had shoplifted from the bookstore and I had to march out into the parking lot and tell him so while he was in his uniform sitting in his cruiser.”

“I mistook Brice for a burglar,” a voice added cheerfully as a door swung open. A blond beauty stood in the doorway. “Hysterical. I’ve never lived it down. I’ve been sent in to tell you everything is ready out there. The guests are seated. The minister is ready to go. The quartet is playing.”

“Wonderful. We’ll bring the bride right out, Ava dear.”

“Okay! Don’t worry, Brooke. No need to be nervous.” Ava propped the door open before she left. “Getting married is the most amazing feeling. I’m so happy for you.”

“She’s our boss at the bakery,” the twin in the lavender explained.

“She’s also our cousin,” the blue twin added. “Are you ready, Brooke?”

“Absolutely.” Brooke looked ethereal with bliss as she took one final look in the mirror. “I’m breathless.”

“You’re a princess, my dear,” Lil enthused. “Just perfect.”

“Flawless.”

“Beautiful.”

The McKaslin sisters chimed their compliments, gathered around the bride, clearly about to line up for the procession. Time to find Jerrod in the church and settle in for the ceremony. Honor slipped out the door, unable to look away as the sisters embraced the bride, their happy voices echoing down the hallway.

That never would have been me, she thought as she tripped into the vestibule. She never would have felt joyful marrying Kip. Just the proof she’d needed to know she made the right decision.

“Honor.” Luke offered her his arm, the consummate groomsman. “May I escort you to your seat?”

“I would love that.” As she slipped her arm through his, emotion fluttered in her heart. Light, sweet and full of peace, that feeling stayed with her as she stumbled forward at his side, her feet barely touching the ground.

This is what I get for skipping breakfast, she thought as she seemed to float down the aisle. Light-headed, shivery, quick, swooping pulse. Those were definitely signs of low blood sugar and not romantic interest, and they were easily remedied. Big relief there.

“Don’t believe a single word they said about me,” he advised.

“You mean you’re not nice? You’re not a good guy?”

“Okay, I sure try to be.” A grin carved into his features, softening the rugged planes of his face and bringing out those swoon-worthy dimples. “But I’m sure that wasn’t the gist of the conversation.”

“How did you know you were even mentioned?”

“Uh, cuz my sisters meddle. Lil is the worst.”

“They did happen to mention you were single and available, but don’t worry, I thwarted them at every turn by changing the subject.”

“Did it work?”

“Eventually. I’m persistent. Others see it as stubborn, but that’s not entirely a bad thing.” A little breathless, she was glad when Luke stopped at the end of a row. “I finally steered the conversation back to the bride. She looks beautiful, by the way, so prepare yourself.”

“I have no doubt.”

Luke’s eyes had little flecks of gold in them, stunning against the violet-blue, so stunning she couldn’t seem to look away. Definitely strange, too, she thought, more light-headed, still. Perhaps she’d break into the candy she kept in the bottom of her purse. That ought to chase away her symptoms. She slipped her arm from his. “Thank you for escorting me.”

“My pleasure.”

Oh, but those dimples could dazzle any woman. Good thing they didn’t have an effect on her. No way, no how. Her shoes tapped against the floor as she scooted into the row. “I’ll see you after?”

“I’ll hang back so you can follow me,” Luke said as he pivoted, talking over his shoulder. “I drive a white truck. Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out for you in the parking lot.”