Man of Honor

By Lori Wilde

Love at first touch . . .
 
Air Force pilot Shane Freemont will do anything for his foster sister, including taking a role as Man of Honor in her wedding. He has his misgivings about the hasty marriage, and so does the groom’s “best woman,” Meg Stoddard. It’s about the only thing Shane and Meg, manager of a local dude ranch, do agree on. Until a tornado forces them to shelter in a cramped storm cellar together, and mutual attraction explodes.
 
Love takes time—lots of it. Meg has always believed that. But something happened between her and Shane over the space of a few intimate, incredible hours. Her head says it’s just spectacular chemistry. The rest of her is ready to take a chance on the deepest connection she’s ever known. But if she does, will she be flying solo, or will her man of honor be by her side?
 
 
Originally appeared in Happy is the Bride

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zebra Books
• Release date: Jan 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781420150599

Lori Wilde

Lori Wilde is the New York Times, USA Today and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 87 works of romantic fiction. She’s a three-time Romance Writers’ of America RITA finalist and has four times been nominated for Romantic Times Readers’ Choice Award. She has won numerous other awards as well. Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie. Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics and is also a certified yoga instructor. A fifth-generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.

Book preview

Wilde

Chapter One

I’m getting married. Say you’ll be my man of honor.

Air Force Major pilot Shane Freemont stared at his foster sister and best friend in the whole world, Ellie Carson, feeling a band of hot tension knot up his shoulder blades the same way it did at the end of a dangerous mission.

During the heat of the battle, he was fine. Cucumber cool. Ice in his veins. It was the aftermath that got him. The moment when everything fell silent. The sapping ebb of adrenaline and testosterone catching up to his muscles and bones.

They were standing in line at an Austin, Texas, vegan bakery at ten a.m. on a Sunday morning in late May. Ellie wore a lacy white maxi dress, her long curly blond hair braided at the temples and held back with daisy clips. With the powder-blue wall behind her and a radiant glow spilling from her pores, she looked like an angel.

Married? To whom?

Why, Brady, of course. I told you all about him.

That’s impossible. Shane grunted. You’ve only known the guy two months. You can’t be serious.

Don’t give me that look.

What look?

The I’m-the-big-brother-and-I-know-best look. Just be my friend, okay?

Can I be the rational friend who points out when you’re about to make a big mistake?

No, she said solidly. You must be the supportive, nonjudgmental friend today.

I was afraid of that.

Please listen. I knew from the first date that Brady was The One. Ellie folded her delicate palms over her heart, a honker of a diamond ring glittering on the third finger of her left hand.

The happiness shining from her dear face scared the crap out of him. He didn’t trust it. Feared she was leaping right off a cliff without looking down to see if there was a net.

Shane clenched and unclenched his hands. What if it falls apart?

Supportive friend, Ellie chirped.

Um . . . Shane cast around for something supportive to say. No judgment. I just want to know if you’ve fully thought this through. Marriage is a big deal.

I have faith. She said it as if that made perfect sense. That faith would solve everything. You have to take risks to reap rewards.

Shane believed in taking risks. Calculated ones. Risks based on analysis and experience and preparation. Risks that left nothing to chance or affairs of the heart. That belief had kept him alive for thirty years and nothing was going to change his mind.

But is the risk worth the reward? he persisted.

Without a doubt. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. This is happening. Get used to it.

When is the wedding? he asked, hoping for a date three years in the future.

June eighteenth.

Of next year?

"This June eighteenth."

As in three weeks from now?

As in. Ellie did a little happy dance right there in the bakery. I wanted to do it while you were on leave. I can’t get married without my best friend.

Shane felt like a shit heel for what he was going to say next, but supportive friend or not, it had to be said. He took her small hand in his, ran his thumb over the back of her knuckles. You don’t have to go through with this wedding. Even if you’re pregnant. I’ll help you. You won’t have to go it alone. I’ll be there for you, Ell. Always.

Ellie’s dark eyes dimmed and her sweet smile evaporated. She tugged her hand from his, blinking at him as if he’d reached out and slapped her. She sucked in an audible breath. "I’m not pregnant."

He cocked his head, confused. Then why the rush? You don’t have to marry the guy, Ellie, just because you said yes. Think it through. You got caught up in the moment. A shiny ring. A declaration of love. Understandable. It’s not too late to change your mind.

Her chin trembled slightly, and for a moment he thought she was going to cry, but she hardened her jaw and said, What you’re failing to understand is that I love him with all my heart and soul.

But how can you love him? He wanted to yell some sense into her, but instead he said in the softest voice he could muster, You don’t even know him.

"But that’s the thing. I do know him. From our very first date when we saw into each other, soul to soul. Brady and I are soul mates."

Soul mates? Oh Lord. Shane jammed his fingers through his hair in frustration. Ellie, I’m trying here, but that sounds wacky.

Just because you’ve never experienced love at first sight doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

Okay, he wasn’t getting through to her. Time to try another tactic. Why can’t you wait? What’s the harm in waiting? It would give you time to plan the wedding of your dreams.

I’ve been waiting for twenty-eight years for my Prince Charming. I don’t want to wait a second longer. I want my life to start now. I don’t have parents to pay for the wedding and I can’t expect Brady to foot the bill for an elaborate shindig. A small, intimate wedding on a budget works fine.

But if you waited until your friend Kelly’s tour in Afghanistan is over, she could be here. And you would have a proper maid of honor.

"You’re my best friend."

Kelly’s a woman.

Ellie straightened, ironed her mouth flat. Her bottom lip trembled again and this time she was unable to fortify it. If you don’t want to be my man of honor, just say so. I understand. You’re a traditionalist. A macho pilot. Maid of honor duties are too girlie for you even with the name change.

Shane’s heart stumbled. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her feelings. When he looked at her, he saw that scared, defenseless eight-year-old with thick glasses and a severe overbite who the other kids picked on. He’d come to her defense, punching out the bullies and getting in trouble for it. He felt that same surge of protectiveness for her now.

Whoa there, Ell. Don’t misunderstand. I’m humbled to be your man of honor if that’s what you want.

All right, maybe not thrilled. That would be overstating. And yes, the thought of leading the bridal party and helping Ellie shop for a dress and planning the bachelorette party made him twitchy, but he was an Air Force pilot. He thumbed his nose at death every week. He could handle that froufrou, estrogen stuff without feeling like he had to surrender his man card.

If it’s not the maid of honor thing, why are you so against me marrying Brady?

You really want to know?

I do.

The two of you don’t have anything in common. He’s from old Texas ranching money and you and I are from the way wrong side of the tracks. He’s country and you’re city. He’s a cattleman and you’re a vegan.

Big deal. He’s handsome and kind and he loves me as much as I love him. We can work through anything else.

Just because you’re in love with someone doesn’t mean they’re right for you.

Ellie hitched in a stuttering breath and whispered, You’ve never been in love, have you, Shane?

"I love you," he said staunchly.

It’s not the same thing. She folded her arms and shook her head, and he couldn’t help feeling he’d disappointed her in a hundred different ways. And if you can’t be happy for me, I don’t know if you should come to the wedding at all.

A flood of heat flushed his body. You don’t mean that.

She tilted her head and studied him, her eyes soft and sad. I’ve known you since I was eight years old, and you’re the only family I have. No biological brother could have been better to me than you. But Brady is about to become my husband and— Her eyes rounded and her jaw dropped.

Ell? Alarm raised the hair on the back

Reviews for Man of Honor

[pam50627 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a great collection of stories. From story 1, Man of Honor, to the last, the scene is being set for Ellie & Brady's wedding. Their friends think they are nuts & getting married too quickly but they are there to support them. Each story flows seamlessly into the next. The characters interact realistically & you can see them as a group of friends. This is a great collection for the price & introduces you to some wonderful writers!

[cathygeha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Happy is the BrideBride Quartet #4 With four great writers contributing to one anthology I knew I would be in for a treat – and I was. This collection of four novellas all surround one wedding and include romances for the bride and groom, the best woman & man of honor, the wedding planner and a cowboy, a wedding guest and wedding crasher and finally a second chance at love for a cousin of the groom and the woman he let get away. The stories didn’t interweave but were wonderful standalone quick reads that made my evening a pleasure. MAN OF HONOR by Lori Wilde: In which the bride and groom are introduced and the people they have chosen to stand up with get a glimpse one another for the first time. Two couples find their HEA in this sweet story.GETTING SADDLED by Cat Johnson: The wedding planner needs a date to her sister’s wedding so asks the cowboy at hand – and he accepts – a romance is begun that might lead to a HEA. TAMING THE SHERRIFF by Kate Pearce: Okay…this was definitely a treat and perhaps my favorite since it is an offshoot of a series by the author that I have been reading and enjoying. It was so much fun to read the story of the friend of the groom finding “the one” just as he said he would in the Morgan Ranch series. This one also made me wonder if Austin, a supporting character, might show up in a future book. THE WEDDING BET by Janet Dailey: I have read and enjoyed this author’s books for decades. In this second chance at love a couple that deserves to be happy together may finally get the chance to do so…in spite of the bet that nearly does them in. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Zebra for the ARC. This is my honest review. 4.5 Stars