The Best Man's Bride

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.

“Hi,” he said. “I missed the rehearsal. Any idea which bridesmaid I walk down the aisle?”

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 women’s tongue-tied reactions, he grinned, and a deep dimple pierced one lean cheek. “I’m the best man.”

“Then you’ll walk down the aisle with the maid of honor,” she informed him. The haughty tone of her voice surprised her.

“I hope that’s you,” 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 didn’t read Unexpected Bride, you’ll have no problem figuring out what’s 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 Nick’s world upside down. I hope you enjoy reading their story!

Happy reading!

Lisa Childs

The Best Man’s Bride

Lisa Childs

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 she’s 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 contest—

ladies, you’re both winners with me!

Contents

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

Acknowledgments:

With great appreciation to Kathleen Scheibling

and my agent, Jenny Bent, for offering their

guidance and sharing their knowledge.

Chapter One

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Nick Jameson asked his best friend.

“I was going to ask you that,” Josh Towers said as he peered into the mirror on the wall of the groom’s dressing room, straightening a bow tie that was already perfectly straight. But then, nearly everything about Josh was perfect—apart from his taste in women.

Nick sighed. “What do I need to know? I’m not getting married.” Not ever.

“You missed the rehearsal, you know.”

“Hey, I was on call last night.” 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 he’d ever been in a straitjacket, but if for some reason he considered doing what Josh was—getting married—he’d put himself in one.

“And what’s so hard about what I have to do?” Nick asked his friend. He had stood up with Josh at his other wedding—the first one. He was such a hypocrite. How could he stand up for something in which he put no faith? “I just walk down the aisle with some girl on my arm.”

“You’re the best man,” Josh reminded him. “You’re in charge of the rings, too.” He dug a pair of gold bands out of his pocket and handed them over.

The metal, although warm from Josh’s pocket, chilled Nick’s skin as the rings lay in his palm. The anxiety built in his throat, nearly choking him. He didn’t even like to touch the things.

“Daddy,” one of Josh’s twin four-year-old sons said, “we’re the ring bears.”

“Funny, you don’t look like bears,” 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 he’d gotten hold of Josh’s electric razor. TJ’s 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.

“Yeah,” said TJ as he tugged on Nick’s pant leg. The twins’ tuxedos matched his, black with white pleated shirts, black bow ties and red cummerbunds. “We’re supposed to carry the rings.”

Nick would gladly have handed over the gold bands, but he doubted Josh would trust them to the devilish duo. The boys had a well-known penchant for “flushing” things, including their dad’s pager and cell phone.

“Hey, buddy,” Nick said to his best friend, “I’ll let you handle this one.” With a grin, he ducked out of the groom’s room, leaving Josh alone with his unruly twin sons.

No wonder the guy had decided to marry a woman he barely knew. The boys had him outnumbered and he needed help fast—he needed a mother for his sons. Although Nick understood Josh’s reasons, he didn’t agree with his friend’s decision. After the boys’ mom had taken off when the twins were just babies, why would Josh ever trust another woman?

Nick would never make that mistake, not that he didn’t think some women were worthy of trust. His dad swore his mother had been a paragon of virtue. Nick, himself, had never known her. He’d been younger than the twins when she died. It wasn’t that he mistrusted all women, so much as that he really didn’t trust himself. If a guy as smart as Josh hadn’t had the sense to fall for the right woman, a guy like Nick didn’t stand a chance.

Hearing the outraged howl that signaled a major temper tantrum in the groom’s room, Nick walked farther away from the door. Sure, he could have gone inside and tried to help out—he was the best man, after all. But Nick was going to have the boys all to himself during Josh’s honeymoon. If he hadn’t already sworn off marriage and fatherhood, he was damned sure he would after two weeks with the twins.

Another door opened farther down the hall and a group of women spilled out. A young girl dressed like a miniature bride, a blonde, a redhead and a brunette, all dressed in shiny red strapless gowns. Which one of them was he supposed to walk down the aisle?

Maybe he should have come to the rehearsal, but Cloverville, Michigan, was more than an hour from where he worked in Grand Rapids. He sighed. Now he wouldn’t be working only in Grand Rapids; he and Josh would have a practice in Cloverville as soon as their new offices were finished. Personally, he hoped the contractors took their damn sweet time. If Josh wasn’t his best friend, Nick wouldn’t have let the other man talk him into opening their office here. He had no interest in Cloverville.

Then the brunette turned, her rich brown hair moving like a silk curtain around her bare shoulders. His fingers itched with the need to touch it, to see if her hair could possibly be as soft as those chocolate-colored strands appeared. Her gaze met his then, and he realized that her eyes were as deep a brown as her hair.

Nick’s chest clenched and his breath caught, as if he’d slammed on the brakes and his seat belt had pulled too tight. Heat flushed his face and dampened his palms. So that he wouldn’t lose the rings before the ceremony, he wrapped his fingers tightly around them and shoved them deep into his pocket. Even his hand shook. What the hell had just happened to him?

DR. NICK JAMESON. Colleen McClintock had known, of course, that he would be at the wedding. He was, after all, the best man. Did he recognize her? Colleen doubted it. How could he recognize someone he had never even noticed before?

And yet he saw her now, staring at her so intently that goose bumps rose on the bare skin of her shoulders and arms. She regretted talking Brenna out of matching wraps—the maid of honor had been right. Colleen should have risked fumbling the flowers or tripping on the shawl for a little more cover-up.

But between her bad luck and her innate clumsiness, she hadn’t wanted to risk embarrassing herself or her sister. That was probably why Molly had chosen her longtime friend Brenna Kelly as maid of honor instead of Colleen. She’d worried that her little sister would mess up her important day. Or maybe she’d never considered Colleen at all. Kind of like Dr. Nick Jameson hadn’t noticed she existed until today.

Was it the red dress Brenna had chosen? The strapless sheath of satin had somehow produced curves Colleen hadn’t been aware she possessed. And the color was so vibrant—for the first time in a long while she didn’t feel invisible.

“We need to get lined up,” Brenna ordered the others. The wedding party immediately responded to her command. Even Colleen’s headstrong teenage brother, Rory, who never paid attention to anyone, now meekly joined the group outside the bride’s dressing room. Maybe that was why Molly had chosen the redhead as maid of honor. People listened to Brenna Kelly, whereas they rarely heard Colleen.

Of course that was her fault. She’d always been quiet so that her older sister and her friends wouldn’t notice her tagging along. But Molly had never made her feel unwelcome, and over the years her friends had become Colleen’s, as well. Brenna Kelly with her gorgeous red hair and generous curves, and Abby Hamilton, the petite, vivacious blonde, were the best friends Colleen had ever known. Eric South, the lone male member of their group of friends, had backed out of the wedding party just before the rehearsal dinner the previous evening.

So Colleen’s older brother, Clayton, had been left with an additional responsibility. As well as filling in for their dad, who’d died eight years ago, and giving away the bride, he also had to walk Abby down the aisle in Eric’s place. Clayton probably would have preferred walking Abby out the door. He’d always blamed her, unjustly, for any trouble his sisters had gotten into. He had already pulled Abby aside for a private conversation, no doubt warning her not to start anything.

But Colleen hoped that Abby would start something—with Clayton. He needed someone like Abby to loosen him up, to teach him how to play. He’d had to grow up far too fast when their father died—they’d all had to grow up. But Abby, who’d lived away from Cloverville for the past eight years, swore she and her daughter had only come home for the wedding. Abby edged closer to the rest of the wedding party, but early guests had gathered around her and her four-year-old daughter, the miniature bride, clad in a gorgeous white dress.

What about Molly? Had she managed to get into her wedding gown? She’d shooed everyone out of the dressing room before anyone could help her. Colleen turned back toward the closed door. Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Poor Molly.

Even though she hadn’t admitted it out loud, Molly clearly had been having doubts about getting married. Despite being three years younger, Colleen was close to her sister. Actually, Molly had always been more friend than sister. She’d never resented Colleen shadowing her. Why now, when Molly should have been leaning on her friends for support, had she begged them to leave her all alone?

“Hello,” a deep voice murmured, pulling Colleen’s attention back to him.

Dr. Nick Jameson had crossed the hall and now stood in front of her. Even in heels she had to tip her head back a bit to focus on his face and stop thinking about how his broad shoulders filled out his black tux. While he looked handsome enough in scrubs, he was completely devastating in a tuxedo. Sun streaked through the church doors at the end of the hall and glinted off his golden-blond hair so that Colleen had to close her eyes for a moment.

Dizziness rushed over her, but instead of seeing spots behind her closed lids she saw his face, his pale green eyes staring down at her.

“Hi,” he said, his voice a bit hoarse. “I missed the rehearsal. Any idea which bridesmaid I walk down the aisle?”

Colleen blinked her eyes open again and met his gaze. In his eyes there was a flirtatious twinkle. All rational thought fled her mind.

Probably used to women’s tongue-tied reactions, he grinned, and a deep dimple pierced one lean cheek. “I’m the best man.”

He said it as if he was claiming more than his title in the wedding party. Although his arrogance came as no surprise, Colleen lifted a brow.

“Then you’ll walk down the aisle with the maid of honor,” she said. The haughty tone of her own voice surprised her, and she swallowed a shocked gasp. Usually she spoke so soft and quietly that people asked her to repeat herself, if they even realized she’d said something in the first place.

“I hope that’s you,” he said, flashing the dimpled grin at her.

The volunteers and nurses at the hospital in Grand Rapids—where Nick was on staff and Colleen volunteered—would have been envious of Colleen receiving one of “Dr. Yummy’s” rare grins. Her knees, and other parts of her, quivered in reaction. But when she opened her mouth, the haughty voice said, “No, I’m not the maid of honor.”

He pressed a hand against his heart as if she’d hurt him, but then he flashed the grin again and teased, “So you’re not a maid of honor?”

Honor? An honorable person wouldn’t have let a friend take the blame for something she’d done, no matter what the circumstances. While Colleen fumbled for a response to his flirty question, Brenna bustled up.

“Places, everyone,” she barked.

NICK KICKED HIMSELF FOR whatever he’d said that had drained all the color from the brunette’s face and left her eyes dark, wide and haunted. She was so young, probably only in her early twenties. What could she possibly know of dishonor?

“You’re Dr. Jameson,” said the redheaded bridesmaid who’d just joined them. She didn’t even give him a chance to respond before nudging him toward the front of the line.

“We can switch, if he wants,” muttered the teenage boy Nick had met briefly before the kid, Rory McClintock, had skipped outside for air. The curly-haired kid took Nick’s place at the brunette’s side. “It’s lame to walk my sister down the aisle.”

The boy was the bride’s brother, Nick knew. So the brown-haired bridesmaid must be her younger sister. All the McClintocks had the same basic coloring—dark hair, dark eyes. Nick could barely remember the bride’s name, let alone the names of all of her relatives. Of course Josh hadn’t known the girl, Mandy…Mindy…Molly—that was it. Josh hadn’t known Molly very long before he’d proposed. Not nearly long enough to decide to spend the rest of his life with her. But then, given Josh’s history, maybe he’d resigned himself to take however long he could get.

Nick shook his head. He’d rather live alone than trust someone to love him forever. But Josh didn’t have the option of living alone—he had twin boys to raise. Buzz and TJ exploded into the hallway in a tangle of arms, legs and raised voices. With one word from the redhead, however, they fell into line.

As the first notes of the wedding march pealed out, the maid of honor grabbed Nick’s arm and started down the aisle. Nick quickened his pace, to keep from being dragged. He glanced toward her and saw that no smile brightened her face or eyes. Her attitude matched his. Let’s get this over with.

In a minute they’d reached the altar and she released his arm. Before stepping to the bride’s side, she stopped in front of Josh, who was waiting next to the minister. She drew an audible, shaky breath and then moved aside as Nick took his position behind Josh.

Since they’d been kids, they’d watched each other’s backs: teaming up to conquer playground bullies in elementary school, studying together to pass physics in college, then supporting each other through med school. Now, in their venture into private practice, they remained best friends. Nick patted Josh’s shoulder, which was tense beneath his palm. Maybe he’d finally realized what a mistake he was making.

“You can stop this,” Nick murmured, under the swell of organ music.

Josh’s head swiveled toward him. He’d heard Nick’s comment and from his glare he didn’t think much of it. Of course Josh was too nice a guy to back out at the altar and humiliate the bride. The groom turned to face the aisle and so did Nick.

The older brother of the bride, whom Nick had also met in the groom’s room, walked toward them with the blonde. When he left her, almost reluctantly, at the altar, he walked past Josh and then Nick before continuing around the side of the pews and heading for the back. To get the bride. Josh had explained that the bride’s dad had died eight years ago. So apparently Clayton McClintock pulled double duty as a groomsman and stand-in for father of the bride.

Nick turned and focused on the brunette who walked down the aisle now, holding her younger brother’s arm. She wouldn’t have been that old when her dad died, probably not much older than her teenage brother was now. Nick winced in commiseration—not over his mother, whom he really didn’t remember. He’d lost someone else close to him when he’d been a teenager, however. If not for Josh and his friendship, Nick probably wouldn’t have survived that dark period. He owed Josh, and opening an office in Cloverville was small repayment.

Who had she had to lean on when her dad died—her family, friends? Was she like him, in that she had never completely recovered from her loss? Maybe that was why, despite her haughty tone, he’d picked up on vulnerability—even a fragility—in her expressive eyes and delicate face.

The sunshine streaming through the stained-glass windows highlighted the deep brown of her shimmering hair. His heart shifted, pressing against his ribs. Damn, she was beautiful.

What was her name? Had he ever heard it? Probably. But he hadn’t cared. Then.

Now he cared too much. As she released her brother’s arm, she peered briefly at Nick through her thick black lashes. Blood rushed through his veins, and he felt light-headed.

No, he didn’t care. He just hadn’t had enough sleep or food in the past week—damn crazy shifts at the hospital. Maybe Josh was right; maybe the lighter hours of a private practice would be better for them both. Opening their own office wasn’t a new idea. They’d planned it since medical school. But Nick hadn’t thought they’d make the move quite so soon.

The twins headed down the aisle next, having a tug-of-war over the ring bearer’s pillow; once white, it was now smudged with small, chocolate fingerprints. Josh needed more time with his kids. But what would Nick do with extra free time besides sleep? With an effort, he kept his focus on the aisle, refusing to give in to the urge to glance across the altar at the lissome brunette.

Behind the boys, the flower girl walked at a much slower pace, carefully dropping red rose petals onto the white runner. Laughter at her diligence rippled over the wedding guests like the wave at a football game. The organ music intensified dramatically. Nick shuddered at what he’d always considered the ominous tone of the wedding march. The guests rose and turned toward the back of the church.

Nick sure hoped he was wrong about Josh rushing to the altar. He wished a long, happy marriage for his best friend with a woman who would always love him and his sons. He hoped Molly McClintock was that woman.

Like the guests, Nick turned toward the bride’s entrance. But the only person he saw was Clayton McClintock, standing alone on the rose-strewn white runner.

Where the hell is the bride? The thought chased through Nick’s mind as the organ music halted abruptly. Shocked murmurs rose from the guests, quieting to hushed whispers.

Offering reassurance, Nick grabbed Josh’s shoulder, which wasn’t nearly as tense as it had been moments ago. “God, man, I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice hoarse with emotion. He couldn’t imagine the emotions pummeling Josh but worried over the toll they’d take on his friend.

Nick glanced toward the other side of the altar, toward the bride’s sister. Despite his attraction to her, he would never put himself in Josh’s vulnerable position. He would never be anyone’s groom.

“The wedding is going to be slightly delayed,” Clayton said. “The bride is not quite ready yet, so we appreciate your patience. Thank you.”

Nick snorted, recognizing a load of bull when he heard it. Apparently, the blond bridesmaid thought so, too, as she took off at a run toward the back of the church. Clayton McClintock caught her, slowing her down, and the music began—again. The twins, probably thinking a game of tag was afoot, chased each other down the aisle.

The young flower girl, much better behaved than the twins, took the arm of the teenage boy who’d accompanied his sister, leaving the brunette to walk alone as the rest of the wedding party filed out. Nick fell into step beside her, his shoulder nearly brushing hers as they shared the narrow white runner. Sunlight painted her bare skin gold. His fingers ached to touch, to caress her delicate shoulders and arms. To be a proper escort, he crooked his elbow, extending his forearm to her.

She hesitated a moment before extending her hand. Her fingers clutched the sleeve of his jacket, the warmth of her touch penetrating the material. Nick tensed, his body reacting to her closeness. His lungs hurt from the pressure of holding his breath. He’d never been so instantly attracted to a woman. Why her? They’d barely spoken to each other. He didn’t even know her name.

And how could he think about anything but what Josh was going through? He was a terrible friend. He pulled his attention away from the bridesmaid to glance back over his shoulder. Poor Josh.

The redheaded maid of honor had the groom now, clutching his arm and just about dragging him down the aisle as she had Nick. Except now it was over and done with. No matter what the bride’s brother had told the guests, Nick doubted the wedding was just delayed.

What a mess. Anger surged, heating his blood. How dare the bride change her mind now and humiliate such a fine man. Despite Nick being the best man, Josh was the better man. He always treated people with kindness and respect. He didn’t deserve to be hurt like this. Again.

Just like Josh’s first wife, Molly McClintock had sought him out while she was volunteering at the hospital. Yeah, right. Setting a mantrap. That’s what she’d done. And she’d caught him, manipulating him into a marriage proposal after just a few short months of dating. She’d accepted Josh’s proposal and taken his ring. Then she’d stood him up? Her betrayal proved what Nick had known for a long time. Women were not to be trusted.

Sure, there were some honest ones—like his mother, for example—but how was a man to know which ones were after his heart and which ones his wallet?