His Love Match. Shirley Hailstock

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ Jeremy saw how close to falling apart she was. And worse, having to face Scott so soon after she’d had her hands on him and her body melded to his. Gathering her purse, she air-kissed Jeremy and left by the connecting door, escaping into the bridal shop and out of Scott’s sight. Diana didn’t think she exhaled until she had finished with Jennifer’s needs and returned to her car, all without seeing Scott a second time.

      But there would be other times. Now that she knew he was the replacement groomsman, the two would meet at the rehearsal and the wedding. Thankfully, she did not have to attend any wedding activities with him. When the rehearsal and wedding ceremony were done, so would she be. Then she could return to her normal life. Whatever normal was. Or had been. Would it be the same ever again? Diana didn’t really think so. She and Scott both lived in Princeton. The township was small even though the borough covered a larger space. They both lived in the township, and according to the card she’d recorded his information on, he lived within a good walk of her residence. Diana’s business was there. She’d called it home for years not realizing she could run into Scott at any point in the day.

      And for the next few days, it was inevitable.

      * * *

      The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., might be larger than this one, Scott thought, but only by an inch or two. Scott should have known Jennifer would plan something this elaborate. Bill was a lot more laid-back. Or was it Diana, the wedding planner, who’d suggested this mammoth structure? Scott scanned the height of the ceiling, then brought his gaze back to the door. Where was Diana? Most of the wedding party had arrived, but Diana had yet to appear. She’d been on his mind for the last three days. Since the incident in the dressing room she’d plagued him day and night. He’d thought of her all the time. Questions arose for which he had no answers, and every question led to another. He wanted to know where it would lead, if it would lead anywhere. He wasn’t even sure he wanted it to lead somewhere.

      A few days ago he’d been a relatively happy man. Now a woman was driving him crazy. He wasn’t even sure she knew it.

      And there she was.

      Diana opened the cathedral door and slipped inside. She walked fast down the aisle, and she looked as if she’d been running. She wore jeans and a bright pink short-sleeved sweater that accentuated her breasts. Scott remembered her pressed against him. Immediately his body began to harden. He stepped aside, forcing himself to relax.

      “Sorry,” she said to Jennifer when she reached her. “The flight was late and traffic delayed me.”

      “We’re still on schedule,” Jennifer said, taking a look at her watch.

      “Well, let’s get started.” Diana put her jacket and purse on one of the pews along with a large bouquet of flowers. When she turned around, her eyes met his. Quickly she looked away, giving her attention to the rest of the party.

      “Father Ryan is here,” Jennifer stated. The priest came through the back of the church. He wasn’t dressed in robes but wore all black, pants and shirt, no collar.

      “Ladies, gentlemen, could we line up in the back of the church.”

      “Where’s Bill?” Scott asked. “Shouldn’t the groom be here?”

      “He won’t make the rehearsal,” Jennifer explained. “His trial went to the jury yesterday. They’re waiting for the verdict.”

      Scott thought she should be prepared for these events to interrupt other occasions in their future, but he kept his words silent.

      “He’ll meet us later at dinner.”

      Diana took over then, putting people in order by height. She explained what the church would look like in the morning after the flowers and candles were delivered and lit. She cautioned the party to be careful with the candles with their headpieces, since the netting burned easily. Couples were paired together. As the music played, they practiced their walks down the aisle.

      “It’s time for the bride and groom,” Father Ryan said.

      “The groom isn’t here,” Jennifer told him. “He won’t make the rehearsal.”

      “We’ll need one of the groomsmen to stand in for him.” Father Ryan looked over the small assembly.

      The guys looked from one to the other. “Several of us are already married,” one of them said. “We’ve done this before. Scott, you need the practice. Why don’t you stand in for Bill?”

      “I’ll do it,” Scott agreed. He knew if he didn’t it would start a back and forth banter about the state of his bachelorhood. He’s been on the end of that conversation more than once and had no intention of allowing it to happen in front of a dozen women, most of whom did not know the circumstances that had led to the needling.

      Scott remembered a time when they were all single and had no intention of marrying. Then one by one, they fell off the wagon. He was the last unmarried soul on that wagon, and while the guys often complained about their wives, they loved them and wouldn’t trade their new lives to return to the old ones. Of course, now that they were in their thirties, their days of drinking and bar hopping all night had morphed into attending nursery school plays and walks in the playground. Occasionally they’d get together for the male bonding ritual in front of a big-screen television as their favorite teams vied for dominance on a Sunday afternoon, but at night they returned to the woman they loved.

      Scott’s transformation had been to the sky. Although he’d learn to fly as a child, accompanying his father on trips, Scott had made a career of flying. While piloting wasn’t a sport, pilots were like athletes. They aged out early and needed a second career. He’d decided on his, but one woman stood in his way. And that woman stood at the back of the cathedral.

      “Stand over here,” Father Ryan said, indicating a space inside the gated nave. “The best man should stand next to you.”

      One of the groomsmen separated himself and followed Scott.

      “Clark?” Diana called. “Remember to let Bill know the two of you will enter from that door in the back. She pointed to the door on the right side of the nave. “Father Ryan will lead you out.”

      Clark nodded and the two men assumed their positions.

      “Now, the bride.” Diana turned to the bridesmaids, who were fanned out in front of the bar separating the nave and sanctuary. “Who’ll stand in for the bride? She can’t do it. Bad luck, so the story goes.”

      As the woman looked from one to the other, they each refused to step forward.

      “Ladies, there is no legend related to standing in for the bride.”

      “Diana, you can do it?” Jennifer said. She checked the time, and Scott understood she was keeping everyone on schedule. Not only was Jennifer a numbers fanatic, but watches could be set by her plans.

      “I can’t,” Diana protested.

      Scott stared directly at her. She wasn’t looking at him, but he wondered if his agreement to stand in for Bill had anything to do with her not wanting to be Jennifer’s surrogate.

      “Someone do it,” Jennifer ordered. “We don’t want an overcooked dinner.” Jennifer lifted the bouquet of flowers Diana came in with and stared at the group. Slowly they each shook their head. Eventually, she came СКАЧАТЬ