The Substitute Bride

By Victoria M. Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Quinn request the honor of your presence to read... Three intertwined short stories that are connected by one surprising wedding. The characters and their stories are sure to captivate your heart. This ebook contains the lead story, The Substitute Bride, as well as The Best Man’s Secret and The Wedding Planner’s Apprentice. You're invited to... be delightfully entertained!

1 "The Substitute Bride"
Hosting a glitzy wedding is nerve-racking enough, but when glamorous Megan Quinn cons her twin sister Kellie into carrying out an awkward plan, it’s anyone’s guess who will end up in the groom’s arms on his wedding night.

2 "The Best Man’s Secret"
Jeff Tanner’s back in town for his cousin’s wedding to his childhood friend, Megan Quinn. But things just don’t seem right, and Jeff wants to get to the bottom of it. The only problem is—the wedding ceremony has already started!

3 "The Wedding Planner’s Apprentice"
Babysitting a wedding cake should be a simple task for Emma Moore, skilled apprentice at Ana’s Fantasy Weddings, to complete and get on to her special date. But nothing at this wedding goes as planned and the assignment—and Emma—abruptly spiral out of control.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victoria M. Johnson
• Release date: Feb 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465759870

Victoria M. Johnson

Whether I'm writing a World War II drama, a romantic comedy, or a thriller, my goal is to entertain, enlighten and surprise my readers. I write non-fiction, too. I write non-fiction to inspire, inform and help others.The Substitute Bride is my debut on Smashwords. I've always loved attending weddings and I know many of you do, too. Don't you love a festive celebration with a romantic ambiance and lots of bling? In addition to that, I was caught up in the excitement of the royal wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton and I decided to write these intertwined wedding stories. I hope you enjoy reading them.

Book preview

The Substitute Bride

By

Victoria M. Johnson

Copyright 2012 Victoria M. Johnson

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Special Thanks To

Judy Bullard

Book Cover Designer

Parthenia M. Hicks

Tribewriter Editorial Services

I especially appreciate my husband Michael for his encouragement and humor. Because of him I can confidently imagine romance novel heroes.

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Table Of Contents

The Substitute Bride

The Best Man’s Secret

The Wedding Planner’s Apprentice

About the Author

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The Substitute Bride

It’s the cat. Look what she did to me! Megan said.

Uh-oh, Kellie Quinn said, staring at her twin sister’s puffy face and red eyes.

Megan sneezed. How did Barbarella get in my room?

Calm down, dear. It’s your wedding day. Mom tried to soothe her.

"How am I supposed to get married like this? Megan’s nose was non-stop runny and had turned red from the way she’d roughly wiped it. I knew I shouldn’t have spent the night here. I should have stayed at my apartment, Megan wailed. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and moaned. The photographers from Bride Charisma Magazine will run the other way!"

I’ll call Doctor Gonzalez. Mom darted out of the room.

Kellie hugged her sister and tried to distract her from her symptoms. I bet you get the front cover. Once those Charisma photographers see you in your gown, they’ll be scrambling to get the best shots.

You think so? Megan sneezed, twice.

Absolutely. They’ll say they’ve never seen a more beautiful bride.

You think I’ll start a new trend with the tiara?

The magazine likes to see brides give a twist to their ensemble.

Megan wiped her nose. Ouch!

Mom ran back into the room carrying two medicine bottles and a glass of water. "Doctor Gonzalez says to give you a sedative so you can relax and an antihistamine. Thank goodness I have both on hand."

I don’t need to relax. I need to stop looking like death warmed over.

Take them, Mom and Kellie said together.

Megan popped one pill from each container into her mouth.

Let’s have breakfast, Mom said.

I need to shower and prep my face for the makeup woman first, Megan said.

Kellie and her mom left to eat and get busy with the final wedding preparations.

When Kellie entered her sister’s bedroom an hour and a half later, Megan was fast asleep. She wore a creamy mint-green facial mask.

Meg?

Megan stirred but didn’t waken. Kellie gently shook her.

What? Meg was groggy.

You fell asleep.

Huh? Megan glanced at the clock. She sat up too fast and brought her hand up to her head. Whoa, why am I dizzy? She felt her cheek. What’s on my face? It feels tight.

It’s a facial mask.

Megan screamed and ran to the sink. She splashed water on her face. It’s hardened! It won’t wash off!

Kellie watched her sister frantically scrub her face. Hey, take it easy. Don’t claw your face off.

It’s really stuck to my skin! Megan sounded hysterical.

Use warm water. It’ll soften and wash off.

"How did I fall asleep? What was in