Brenda Minton - The Boss's Bride

Talk Of The Town

Leaving her cheating fiancé at the altar made Gracie Wilson famous in tiny Bygones, Kansas. Now the only things she can count on are her job at the Fixer-Upper Hardware store and the store’s handsome owner. Though Bygones’s runaway bride has boosted Patrick Fogerty’s business more than any sale could, his feelings for Gracie are more than professional. But with Gracie’s heart in pieces, he’s afraid to hurt her. Gracie must somehow find the courage to run toward the man of her dreams.

The Heart of Main Street: They’re rebuilding the town one step—and heart—at a time.

“You okay over there?” Patrick’s strong, husky voice slipped through the cab of the truck.

“I’m tired but I’ll be okay.” But as Patrick pulled up to her house, her stomach tensed. Half a dozen cars were parked in the driveway—so much for sneaking home and talking to her dad first.

“Looks like company,” Patrick said, trying to sound cheery.

Gracie wished she could smile. “Looks like a lynching to me.”

She reached for the truck door, but hesitated. One last minute to catch her breath…or maybe one last chance to keep running.

“I’m with you, Gracie.” Patrick’s voice immediately stilled the knots in her stomach. It was odd, knowing that this man—her boss, practically a stranger—would be at her side, made Gracie feel more secure than she’d ever felt with her ex-fiancé.

Then, Patrick stepped out of the truck, and Gracie guessed she had to go, too. Time to stop running.

The Heart of Main Street: They’re rebuilding

the town one step—and heart—at a time.

Love in Bloom by Arlene James,

July 2013

The Bachelor Baker by Carolyne Aarsen,

August 2013

The Boss’s Bride by Brenda Minton,

September 2013

Storybook Romance by Lissa Manley,

October 2013

Tail of Two Hearts by Charlotte Carter,

November 2013

Cozy Christmas by Valerie Hansen,

December 2013

BRENDA MINTON

started creating stories to entertain herself during hour-long rides on the school bus. In high school she wrote romance novels to entertain her friends. The dream grew and so did her aspirations to become an author. She started with notebooks, handwritten manuscripts and characters that refused to go away until their stories were told. Eventually she put away the pen and paper and got down to business with the computer. The journey took a few years, with some encouragement and rejection along the way—as well as a lot of stubbornness on her part. In 2006 her dream to write for Love Inspired Books came true. Brenda lives in the rural Ozarks with her husband, three kids and an abundance of cats and dogs. She enjoys a chaotic life that she wouldn’t trade for anything—except, on occasion, a beach house in Texas. You can stop by and visit at her website, www.brendaminton.net.

The Boss’s Bride

Brenda Minton

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall

give thee the desires of thine heart.

—Psalms 37:4

In memory of my sweet friend Alice.

Friendships can be found in the most amazing ways at the most amazing times. I encourage you all

to take time for older citizens confined to

long-term care facilities. You’ll be blessed.

Contents

Prologue

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

Chapter Seventeen

Prologue

Gracie Wilson stood in the center of a Sunday school classroom at the Bygones Community Church. Her friend Janie Lawson adjusted her veil and again wiped at tears.

“You look beautiful.”

“Do I?” Gracie glanced in the full-length mirror that hung on the door of the supply cabinet and suppressed a shudder. The dress was hideous and she hadn’t picked it.

“Of course you do. You look like a fairy princess.”

Gracie groaned. “Is this another height joke?”

Janie hugged her tight for one second. “Not at all. You look beautiful. And you look miserable. It’s your wedding day. You should be smiling.”

Gracie smiled, but she knew it was a poor attempt at best. The frown on Janie’s face confirmed it. She exhaled and looked again at her reflection in the mirror. Janie was right; a bride shouldn’t look sad.

“Gracie, what’s wrong?” Janie walked up behind her and peeked over her shoulder so that their reflections stared back at them.

“Nothing. I’m good.” She leaned her cheek against Janie’s hand on her shoulder. “Other than the fact that you’ve moved one hundred miles away and I never get to see you.”

What else could she say? Everyone in Bygones, Kansas, and probably for miles around, thought she’d landed the catch of the century. Trent Morgan was handsome, charming and came from money. She should be thrilled to be marrying him. Six months ago she had been thrilled. Five months ago she’d still been happy.

But then she’d started to notice little signs. She should have put the wedding on hold the moment she noticed those signs. She should have slowed down and not worried so much about what everyone else would think. And when she knew for certain, she should have put a stop to the entire thing. But she hadn’t. Because once the wedding wheels had been put in motion, she hadn’t known how to stop it all from happening.

It made her feel weak. And she’d never been a weak person.

“You’re not convincing me.” Janie smiled tenderly, a best-friend smile reflected from the mirror. Gracie turned to face her friend, the skirt of the dress pushing them apart.

“I’m just tired, Janie. I mean, it’s been a long three months of wedding planning, right?” Did she sound convincing?

“And Mrs. Morgan isn’t a dream of a woman to deal with.” Janie gave an exaggerated shudder to prove her point.

“Exactly.” Gracie twirled in the lace creation that had a skirt that made her look like a dinner bell or a Southern belle—she wasn’t sure which. “Do you care if I have a few minutes alone?”

“Of course not,” Janie gave her another hug. “But not too long. You dad is outside, and when I came in to check on you, the seats were filling up out there.”

“I won’t be long. I just need a minute to catch my breath.”

“Of course you do. And just think, after today you’ll be going to Hawaii and you’ll have a week on the beach to catch your breath. And then you’ll move to Manhattan and your new home.”

Gracie smiled and nodded her head, trying to pretend the idea excited her. A week in Hawaii. On the beach. With Trent.

Janie smiled back at her and then the door to the classroom closed. And for the first time in days, Gracie was alone. She looked around the room with the bright yellow walls and posters from the Sunday school curriculum. She stopped at the poster of David and Goliath. Her favorite. She’d love to have that kind of faith, the kind that knocked down giants.

She knew a few Davids. Ann Mars was a faith giant. And Miss Coraline Connolly. They both believed the town of Bygones could be saved. Not with stones and a slingshot but with new businesses and new people.

And of course those new businesses made her think of her boss at The Fixer-Upper. Patrick Fogerty, one of the most genuinely nice people she’d ever met.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Today was her wedding day. Instead of worrying, she had to remember back to when she met Trent and how love had felt then. Not how it felt now—sadly lacking because he’d not only pulled away, he’d betrayed her trust. A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.