“That’s what I wanted to make sure. You’re good? This is really what you want?”
“Of course it is! Why would you even ask?”
She shrugged. “I guess I just needed to make sure one last time. You spent so many years while we were in college looking after me that I feel it’s time for me to return the favor.”
“This is exactly where I want to be, and I can’t wait to finally be Kyle’s wife.”
“Have you told him your news yet?”
“Not yet. Tonight. Once we get to the hotel and get settled, I’m going to tell him.”
“You’re going to be an amazing mother,” Mia said, taking both of Sydney’s hands in hers. Then she shook her head. “What am I saying…you already are. Seeing you with Haley and how much you love her…I know this baby is going to be very lucky.”
Pulling her hands free, she hugged Mia. “Thank you for saying that.”
There was another knock at the door and they immediately separated, and Mia handed her the massive bouquet.
“You ready?”
Sydney smiled and had to fight the urge to rip the door off the hinges in her rush to get to the altar. “I’ve waited more than a dozen years for this. I’m more than ready.”
“Okay. Then let’s get you up the aisle!”
Go back and see where Dean and Courtney began
* * *
Courtney Baker is ready to put small town life—and the man she can’t have—behind her. Years of secretly crushing on her best friend’s older brother have led nowhere and she’s finally ready to move on. It would have been a great plan had she not drunkenly blurted out all her feelings and kissed him. At least she’ll be able to forget all about it when she leaves town in less than 48 hours.
* * *
It takes a lot to surprise Dean Jones, but a kiss from the girl he’s been secretly attracted to for years does just that. All it takes it one kiss for him to realize he doesn’t want to let her go. But she’s his sister’s best friend and that’s a line he knows he should never cross. Never mind that she seems determined to leave their small town—and him—behind.
* * *
When a storm and a broken car stop Courtney from leaving town, Dean sees perfect opportunity to get her out of his system. But can one night ever be enough?
And Then One Day
Chapter 1
“You know it’s not going to be so bad.”
“Yes, it is and you’re the worst best friend ever.”
Rolling her eyes, Courtney Baker leaned over and rested her head on her best friend Scarlett’s shoulder. “I think the pregnancy hormones are making you more and more ridiculous every day. When is this baby coming?”
Sighing, Scarlett replied, “Not soon enough. We’ve got another ten weeks.”
“Ugh, poor Mason.”
Shoving her away, Scarlett cried, “Poor Mason? How about poor me? I’m the one whose emotions are all over the damn place! I swear, I cry at the drop of a hat!”
“You’ve been doing that practically since this baby was conceived. We’re all used it by now.”
“Well I’m not and the fact that you’re moving so far away isn’t helping.”
Yeah, she knew this was going to be an issue–particularly the timing–but Courtney knew if she didn’t do this now, she never would.
“Scar, we’ve been talking about this for months now. You know it’s something I have to do.”
“Oh, please. You’ve been threatening to move for years! Why did you wait until I was about to have a baby to do it? And you know you don’t have to move right now. You don’t have a job waiting for you, so what’s the rush? Can’t you wait until after my little peanut is born?”
“I thought we were calling him a bean?”
“And I thought I told you that no one knows the sex of the baby yet so ixnay-on-the-him-ay.”
“We’ve got to get this baby out of you,” Courtney said blandly. “It’s like I don’t even know who you are anymore. No one says ixnay at our age so…stop that.”
And then the worst thing happened.
Scarlett started to cry.
Like…ugly cry.
“Oh, God…oh, no…just…I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to upset you!” She muttered a curse and reached across the table for a napkin and quickly began wiping her friend’s face. “Dammit, you have got to stop being so sensitive!”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Mason, Scarlett’s fiancé, was right there beside them, his attention fully on Scarlett. “Hey,” he said softly, “What’s going on? There’s no crying tonight. It’s our wedding rehearsal party and only smiling is allowed.” He kissed the tip of her nose before looking over at Courtney. “Everything okay here?”
“She’s upset over the move again.”
“Ah. Well, you have to admit, the timing’s not the greatest,” he replied.
“I know, but…for me, this is the way it has to be and she’s going to have to understand. It’s not my fault that Dr. Curtis had to retire abruptly and there are no other dental practices local who are hiring. I need to work, Mason.”
He gave her a patient smile. “I know, but you have to understand how hard this is on Scarlett. The wedding’s tomorrow, the house we’re building is behind schedule, and the pregnancy’s really kicking her butt…”
“I am right here,” Scarlett interrupted, looking first at Mason and then to Courtney. “You know you don’t have to move so far away to find a job, Court, and it’s not like you have to find something right this second. Why not take a couple of weeks and look some more?”
With a weary sigh, she looked at Mason and said, “Can you…give us a minute?”
Nodding, he kissed Scarlett before standing and walking away.
“What’s so secretive that you can’t say it in front of Mason? You know I’m just going to tell him whatever it is later, right?”
“And that’s fine, but…” She groaned. “Okay, here it is. You know how my folks have always been into paranormal hunting?”
“Yeah…”
Another sigh. “Well…they’ve both taken some extended vacation time to go on some sort of cross-country trip with a group they belong to.”
“O-kay. I still don’t see what this has to do with you moving away though.”
“When I lost my job and realized the best thing for me to do was move, they decided to list the house as an Airbnb for the time they’re away as a source of income.”
“What? But…”
“That means I don’t have a place to live for the next three months. They leave on Monday which is when I need to be out as well.”
“Is that all?” Scarlett said, suddenly all smiles.
“Uh, yeah. It’s kind of a big deal. I’m going to be homeless on top of already being jobless, sooo…”