Hitched (Promise Harbor Wedding) - By Erin Nicholas Page 0,2

of this wedding, he wasn’t sure. But the fact that she was obviously taking care of everyone but herself made him feel like snarling.

Someone had to take care of her. And he was the best one.

He reached the side door and the pianist rushed to open it for him.

The door banged shut behind them, and he’d taken three strides when he heard the inevitable sound of the door swinging open again.

“Wait!” Josh yelled.

Gavin stopped.

“What the fuck, Allie?” Josh demanded. “Are you leaving with him?”

Gavin knew she’d be pissed, but he had to get her away from the church. He could, and would, take Josh on if needed, but if all the groomsmen decided to stop him, he wasn’t sure how he’d do. He sighed, then turned to face Josh. “Allie called me last night.”

Josh’s eyes went to Allie again and he frowned. “You did?”

Allie made a squeaky little noise. Her mouth was wide open, but she said nothing.

“She called and told me that she’d always love me.” That wasn’t entirely true. She’d sung it in a terrible rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”. But the message had been clear. On the night before her wedding to another man, she was thinking of Gavin.

If he hadn’t already been on his way, that would have gotten him on a plane. As it was, that was what drove him up the steps of the church to crash a wedding.

He wasn’t truly the caveman type. But when the woman he loved told him she felt the same way, he felt inclined to keep her out of another man’s bed by whatever means necessary.

“Allie?” Josh asked, eyebrows drawn tightly over his eyes. “Is this true?”

She swallowed hard. Gavin could feel her rib cage moving rapidly as she breathed. Finally she said softly, “Well…”

Josh shook his head. “Jesus Christ.” He fixed a glare on her. “Were you drunk?”

“Maybe a little.”

“You called Gavin the night before our wedding and told him you’d always love him?” Josh asked, his voice rising.

“Not exactly,” Allie hedged. “I didn’t tell him to come or anything. I didn’t say that I loved him.”

“Allie. We’re getting married. You don’t just change your mind at the last second about something like this.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

And that was good enough for Gavin. “That’s all I needed to hear.” He turned and headed for the car.

He might feel bad about Josh later, but right now Allie was his only concern.

Chapter One

Fourteen hours before the wedding

Promise Harbor, Massachusetts

She really liked tequila.

Allison Ralston signaled the bartender, who obediently put another shot glass and lime wedge in front of her. Normally, Matt might try to cut her off at this point, but she was getting married tomorrow, so everyone was doing what she wanted.

Allie tipped the shot glass back, swallowing quickly and shuddering as she put the lime between her teeth and bit down.

This was only her third shot. Or fifth. Something like that.

She just needed to keep going until after she managed I do. Just two little words.

Maybe the minister would let her say I should. That was much more accurate. Ministers and churches were big on truth. She should pledge to love and honor Josh Brewster. Josh was the best. Everyone thought so. He was handsome, funny, smart, and always did the right thing.

Like marrying his mom’s best friend’s daughter to make everyone—especially his mom—happy, regardless of his own feelings.

Allie signaled for another shot.

“Come on, Allie, dance with us.” Bernice, her annoying cousin and one of her bridesmaids, tugged on her arm. “We’re making requests. You have to dance with us to this one.”

It was Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies”. Great. The perfect prewedding song, Allie thought sarcastically. If you like it…

Josh definitely liked her. He had since he was ten and she was seven. Liking wasn’t the problem. Common goals, plans for the future, family dynamics, sharing a general life philosophy—none of those were problems either.

Allie looked longingly at the empty shot glass on the bar. Matt hadn’t refilled it yet, but that bar stool was a lot closer to the bottle than the dance floor was.

She made herself turn away from Matt and face the women who would be standing next to her tomorrow. Bernice, Crystal, Joanna and even Greta were already dancing. Actually, Greta was standing in the middle of the dance floor looking like she wanted to be anywhere else. But that made sense. Not only were the other girls being obnoxiously happy and annoyingly fun, but Greta was Josh’s younger sister