The Best Man’s Wedding Secret (Wedding Season #9)

Chapter 1

AVA

“We’re almost there, sweetie.”

From the backseat, Maisie strained against her booster seat, her nose practically pressed to the glass. She’d tossed her tablet aside miles ago; apparently, the endless stretch of pine and granite was far more interesting than cartoons.

I gripped the steering wheel, wincing as the engine stuttered on the incline. Please, not now. My old sedan had seen me through Maisie’s entire life, but four hours of mountain roads were pushing its limits. I couldn't afford a breakdown. I barely afforded the gas to get here.

We crested the ridge, and Cedar Hollow Inn sprawled out below us. The massive, log cabin-style building felt a million miles from my tiny apartment, and I had to admit the location my sister and her fiancé chose for their wedding was gorgeous.

“Time to stretch our legs.”

Maisie had already unbuckled herself from her booster seat and was scrambling from the back of the car. “Mommy, run.”

“Okay, sweetie. Let’s go.” I followed my daughter as she raced across the lawn, pacing myself behind her and pretending to chase. She zigged and zagged as her giggles floated on the air. Finally, I swept her up in my arms, raining kisses on her face as she giggled and twisted in my hold.

I put her down, and she shot past me. “Auntie Becky.”

“There’s my little flower girl.”

I turned to see my sister’s big grin as she hugged my daughter. Her fiancé, Luke, stood behind her, hands in his pockets. He gave me a nod of greeting as I walked over. “How was the drive?”

“Long, but good. Maisie’s already in love with the area.” I shook my head as Maisie started telling her aunt all about the trip and every tree we saw. “Your family is from Cedar Hollow, right?”

“They are. My parents talk about moving to the city when Becky and I have kids, but I doubt it will happen. They love the town too much.” Luke held his hand out. “Give me your keys and I’ll start unloading for you.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

He raised a brow. “You’re in the country now. My momma would smack me if I didn’t help.”

“Well, if it will prevent violence, I guess it’s okay.” I chuckled and handed him my keys. “I should warn you, Maisie helped me pack. Which means I brought way too much.”

“Noted.” He pulled the bags out of my trunk, loading up with more than I expected him to carry and leaving me the two smallest bags. “We’ve got lunch reservations in an hour. Just the four of us, plus my best man, Cole. He lives on the mountain.”

Cole.

The name hit me like a physical blow. The air left my lungs, leaving me staring dumbly at my future brother-in-law.

It’s a common name, I told myself, gripping my purse strap until my knuckles turned white. There are thousands of Coles.

But my body didn't care about statistics. My body remembered flash and fire. It remembered the weight of a man who’d made me crave more.

“Ava? You okay?” Luke asked.

I forced a nod, shoving the memory down. The Cole I knew was a city boy, and would never live on a mountain in the middle of nowhere. He was a playboy who loved the nightlife.

A playboy I’d never been able to track down. With nothing but a first name, my out-of-character spring break adventure remained firmly in the past.

Except for Maisie. But she was worth it. She was my entire world, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

We settled into our room, washing up and changing quickly. Maisie wanted to wear her flower girl’s dress, but I convinced her it would be more special to only wear it at the wedding. Instead, she wore a frilly pink tutu-style skirt with her favorite superhero T-shirt.

She skipped into the private dining room Becky had reserved and immediately showed off her outfit, spinning in circles for her aunt and uncle. Then she climbed into a chair and rested her elbow on the table. She dropped her chin into her hand and tilted her head to the side to study the room.

My breath hitched. That tilt of the head. The contemplative stare. It was a ghost of a memory I’d tried to bury for five years. Except for my brown eyes, she was the spitting image of her father.

I wanted to find a love like Becky and Luke, but every time I looked at Maisie, I remembered I’d had it once with a man who walked away the next morning.

“There’s his truck now,” Luke said.

I followed his gaze. A beat-up pickup, caked in mountain dust, crunched over the gravel lot.

Luke flashed me a grin. “Cole’s one of a kind. A great guy.”

“He’s good-looking, too.” Becky wiggled her eyebrows. “The total package.”

I stiffened. A setup. Great. Just what I needed—an awkward weekend fending off a stranger while my heart was still stuck on a ghost. I shot a warning glare at my sister, but my pulse was already rabbiting in my throat.

It’s not him, I told myself. It’s a common name.

But my palms were damp. I reached for my water glass, my hand trembling just enough to make the ice clink.

It’s not him.

The door handle turned.

Heavy boots hit the floorboards. I looked up, and the world stopped.