Copyright © 2020 Jaci Burton, Inc.
Cover images © Michele Paccione (couple), VectorShow (cake), Fresh_Studio (horseshoes) and Napoleonka (confetti), all @ Shutterstock
Author photograph © Steve Ervin
The right of Jaci Burton to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Published by arrangement with Berkley,
an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group,
A division of Penguin Random House LLC.
First published in the United States in 2020
First published in this Ebook edition in 2020
by HEADLINE ETERNAL
An imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library
eISBN 978 1 4722 7083 2
HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
An Hachette UK Company
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.headlineeternal.com
www.headline.co.uk
www.hachette.co.uk
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Author
Praise for Jaci Burton
Also by Jaci Burton
About the Book
Dedication
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
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Acknowledgments
Have you followed Jaci Burton’s Play-By-Play?
Visit a special town called Hope
Find out more about Headline Eternal
About the Author
Jaci Burton is a New York Times bestselling author who lives in Oklahoma with her husband and dogs. She has three grown children, who are all scattered around the country having lives of their own. A lover of sports, Jaci can often tell what season it is by what sport is being played. She watches entirely too much television, including an unhealthy amount of reality TV. When she isn’t on deadline, Jaci can be found at her local casino, trying to become a millionaire (so far, no luck). She’s a total romantic and loves a story with a happily ever after, which you’ll find in all her books.
Find the latest news on Jaci’s books at www.jaciburton.com, and connect with her online at www.facebook.com/AuthorJaciBurton or via Twitter @jaciburton.
Praise for Jaci Burton:
‘Jaci Burton’s books are always sexy, romantic and charming! A hot hero, a lovable heroine and an adorable dog – prepare to fall in love with Jaci Burton’s amazing new small-town romance series’ Jill Shalvis, New York Times bestselling author
‘Full of heat and heart’ Maya Banks, New York Times bestselling author
‘One to pick up and savor’ Publishers Weekly
‘A heartwarming second-love contemporary romance enhanced by engaging characters and Jaci Burton’s signature dry wit’ USA Today
‘Captures everything I love about a small-town romance’ Fresh Fiction
‘The perfect combination of heat and romance’ Heroes and Heartbreakers
‘An extraordinary novel – a definite home run!’ Joyfully Reviewed
‘Lively and funny . . . intense and loving’ The Road to Romance
‘The characters are incredible. They are human and complex and real and perfect’ Night Owl Reviews
By Jaci Burton
Boots and Bouquets Series
The Matchmaker’s Mistletoe Mission (e-novella)
The Best Man Plan
Brotherhood by Fire Series
Hot to the Touch
Ignite on Contact
Hope Series
Hope Smoulders (e-novella)
Hope Flames
Hope Ignites
Hope Burns
Love After All
Make Me Stay
Don’t Let Go
Love Me Again
One Perfect Kiss
Play-by-Play Series
The Perfect Play
Changing The Game
Taking A Shot
Playing To Win
Thrown By A Curve
One Sweet Ride
Holiday Games (e-novella)
Melting The Ice
Straddling The Line
Holiday On Ice (e-novella)
Quarterback Draw
All Wound Up
Hot Holiday Nights (e-novella)
Unexpected Rush
Rules Of Contact
The Final Score
Shot On Gold
About the Book
Three days before Erin Bellini’s wedding, her fiancé breaks up with her . . . in an email.
Hurt and embarrassed, she turns to veterinarian Jason Callum, who’s both the best man and the hottest guy she knows. But Jason wants a lot more than just a one-night stand with the woman he’s cared about for years. He’s intent on taking things slow, determined to show Erin what real love can look like.
Suddenly Erin finds herself with feelings she never planned on having again – she just isn’t sure she can trust her instincts. After all, she made a terrible choice with her ex-fiancé.
But Jason intends to convince her that he’s the best man for her, and that what they have together is a true love that will last forever . . .
This one’s for my sister. Because sisters are
secret-keepers, shoulders to cry on and sometimes pains
in your butt, but they always have your back.
They are your forever lifeline in a crisis.
Thanks, Sissy, for everything.
CHAPTER
one
ERIN BELLINI SHOUTED out from her office at Red Moss Vineyards.
“Mom. Have you talked to the caterers?”
Her mother didn’t respond right away. It was her most annoying quality. While she waited, Erin jotted down several things she needed to remind her bridesmaids about. Her two sisters were onsite so she had them covered, but she made a note in her planner for the rest of the bridesmaids.
Erin’s mother, Maureen, made an appearance in Erin’s office. “You don’t need to yell at me, Erin. You could have just sent me a text. And yes, caterers are confirmed. Which I already told you this morning.”
“Right. You did. For some reason I hadn’t checked it off the list. Sorry.” She typed an X in the spreadsheet on her laptop as well as marking it off on the page in her planner. She looked up at her mother. “And my dress is back from alterations, right?”
“It’s in your closet.” Her mom made that face, the one where her lips went straight and her eyes narrowed and you knew you were being scrutinized. “You’re not getting nervous, are you?”
Erin smiled and took in a deep breath to center herself. “I never get nervous. Because I have everything organized. In my planner. In my spreadsheet. In the notes on my phone.”
Her mother smiled. “Right. Yes, well, that’s you, honey. I’m going out
