This bridesmaid’s been blacklisted...
So why is he risking everything for her?
It was the perfect wedding—until the groom spontaneously announces he’s in love with bridesmaid Bonnie Windsor! Now Bonnie’s being ostracized by the entire town. The only person willing to stand up for her? The bride’s superhandsome brother, Aaron Cole. And he’ll risk everything—including his family—to prove that this pretty woman deserves a happily-ever-after of her own.
As Aaron made his way to the bridal suite, he found the other devastated member of this wedding party.
Bonnie sat on the floor, her knees pulled up to her chest and her face hidden behind her hands as she cried. Her long sandy-blond hair fell like a curtain, shielding her face from view, as well.
“Hey,” he said, taking a seat next to her. “You’re going to get mascara all over your pretty pink dress. And I heard that’s not easy to get out.”
Bonnie lifted her head and wiped her cheeks. “I hope you believe me when I say I have never done anything with Mitch. Nothing is going on between us. I don’t know why he thinks he’s in love with me when he was about to marry Lauren.”
Typical Bonnie. She was the most humble person in all of Blue Springs.
“I believe you. Mitch told me he hadn’t said anything to anyone about how he felt until today. Bad timing, huh?” he asked, trying desperately to get her to smile just a bit.
Dear Reader,
Who doesn’t love a wedding? I know I am a huge sucker for weddings. It doesn’t matter if my best friend is getting married or a distant cousin, I get choked up every time the bride comes down the aisle, her eyes locked on her soon-to-be husband. It’s such a magical moment in time. So what in the world made me write about weddings that get called off? The drama of it all!
A Bridesmaid to Remember came to be when my former editor mentioned it would be fun to read about a wedding that gets called off in the beginning of the story instead of the end. What would the fallout be? How would relationships be tested? Who would end up together in the end?
I fell in love with those questions and set out to answer them all. I hope you enjoy seeing where my romantic imagination took me.
You can find out more about me and my books at amyvastine.com or on my Facebook page Facebook.com/amyvastineauthor. Hope to see you all there.
xoxo,
Amy Vastine
A Bridesmaid to Remember
Amy Vastine
Amy Vastine has been plotting stories in her head for as long as she can remember. An eternal optimist, she studied social work, hoping to teach others how to find their silver lining. Now she enjoys creating happily-ever-afters for all to read. Amy lives outside Chicago with her high school sweetheart husband, three teenagers who keep her on her toes and their two sweet but mischievous pups. Visit her at amyvastine.com.
Books by Amy Vastine
Harlequin Heartwarming
Grace Note Records
The Girl He Used to Love
Catch a Fallen Star
Love Songs and Lullabies
Falling for Her Bodyguard
Chicago Sisters
The Better Man
The Best Laid Plans
The Hardest Fight
The Weather Girl
“Snow Day Baby” in A Heartwarming Thanksgiving
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
To my awesome bridesmaids, none of whom tried to steal my husband away. Tricia, Cheryl, Jennifer and Leslie—love you, ladies!
Contents
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
EXCERPT FROM HEALING THE DOCTOR’S HEART BY SHIRLEY HAILSTOCK
CHAPTER ONE
IT WAS INCREDIBLE the kind of wedding that could be thrown when money was no object. This wasn’t something Bonnie Windsor would have ever discovered by planning her own wedding, but since her best friend was Lauren Cole, she got a front-row seat to the most lavish wedding Blue Springs, California, had ever seen. The Cole family was like royalty around these parts, and Lauren loved the idea of being a princess. With dark hair styled exactly like Kate Middleton’s was on her wedding day, she sported a sparkling tiara that rivaled the one worn by the duchess.
“We are gathered here this lovely afternoon to celebrate with Mitchell and Lauren as they proclaim their love and commitment. We are gathered to rejoice, with and for them, in the new life they will begin together today,” the minister proclaimed.
Dressed in a custom-made Elie Saab that she had flown back and forth to France to be fitted for, Lauren was absolutely stunning. The strapless satin princess ball gown was cinched at the waist by a thin belt and had tulle and gemstone embroidery on the bodice as well as floral appliqués. Bonnie didn’t know for sure how much it had cost, but Lauren had hinted that it was over ten thousand dollars. Ten grand was more than Bonnie’s dad could afford for an entire wedding someday.
Mitch tugged on his shirt collar. He had some sweat beading on his forehead. It was warm outside for late May in California, and there were more people in the church than showed up on major religious holidays. He had to be overheating in his tuxedo. He fidgeted with a handkerchief in his hands. Mitch was a big guy. He had played football at Stanford and spent more time in the gym than he did at the office. He “worked” for his father and hopefully would be as good at spoiling Lauren as her parents were.
“Marriage is not about putting on a fancy dress or a tuxedo. Nor is it about having a lavish party with friends and family,” the minister continued. He obviously didn’t know Lauren very well. This wedding was all about the spectacle. She loved the limelight. Lived for it. “That might be what we think of when someone says there’s a wedding, but marriage is about living your lives as one. Finding a
