The Groom

By Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

After being abandoned at the altar, Oliver seeks refuge on a park bench. On her morning jog, Ava is surprised to discover a man asleep wearing a shirt that reads, “The Groom.”

In an effort to help him out, she takes Oliver for coffee. Their conversation flows easily, and they find themselves bonding. Then Oliver offers an unusual proposition, will Ava join him on his honeymoon?

Ava accepts, but when they arrive at the resort, they find Oliver’s former fiancée already occupying the honeymoon suite...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evernight
• Release date: Apr 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9780369507891

Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

Stephanie Bedwell-Grime is the author of more than twenty novels and novellas and over fifty short stories. She has been nominated for the Aurora Award five times and has also been an EPIC eBook Award finalist.

Book preview

Published by EVERNIGHT PUBLISHING ® at Smashwords

www.evernightpublishing.com

Copyright© 2023 Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

ISBN: 978-0-3695-0789-1

Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Editor: CA Clauson

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

DEDICATION

To a happy ending for every story.

THE GROOM

Romance on the Go ®

Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

Copyright © 2023

Chapter One

Running wasn’t Ava’s favorite sport. And mornings were an unfortunate part of the day. It was the whole morning-ness of it. Sure, sunrises were pretty. The dew on the grass held a fresh promise for the coming day. It was the whole getting up early part she didn’t like. If morning arrived later in the day, she’d be fine with it.

That’s why it’s called morning, her friend Lily said. The whole early bird catches the worm thing.

More like mourning. She laughed at her own joke. And don’t get me started on birds. That robin outside my window was making a racket at three in the morning. I kept telling him it was a full moon, but he wouldn’t be quiet.

Her friend’s expression told her she should take her own advice. And she really should have taken her own advice on Lil’s offer to go running in the park at dawn and stayed home. Because running, it turned out, required a certain level of physical fitness.

Instead she found herself in the middle of the park hands on her knees trying to suck a breath into her burning lungs. Lil was a dwindling speck in the distance. Ava had run all of fifty feet.

Should have stayed in bed.

At the sound of her voice someone groaned. She looked over at a nearby park bench where a man sprawled face-up heedless of the glare of the rising sun. She was about to turn away when she noticed the black t-shirt he wore read The Groom.

Guess that relationship didn’t work out.

She hadn’t realized she’d spoken out loud. So she was surprised when the man lying on the bench answered. And you’d be right about that.

Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry.

He sat up. Go ahead, laugh. I would if it wasn’t so painfully personal.

She took a closer look at him. At first glance she’d thought he was a vagrant. On closer inspection his hair was freshly cut. He had only a small amount of stubble, evidence that he had shaved recently. He was also wearing an expensive-looking watch, miraculously still on his wrist after spending the night on a park bench.

Wow, I am really sorry. What happened?

Got stood up at the altar. My almost-wife is holed up in our condo with the best man. He glanced down at his wrinkled t-shirt. This was supposed to be my going away outfit. I had no idea I’d be the only one going.

Where were you going to go?

For a romantic honeymoon on a tropical island. We weren’t supposed to leave for a couple of days. My ex-fiancée has a lot of family in town for the wedding. We were going to spend time with them while they were here. He glanced down at his shirt again. She’s probably wearing her t-shirt to the post wedding brunch.

Really? Don’t you think they’d be upset about the wedding being called off?

Nah, they never really liked me much.

And what about you? Don’t you have anyone you can stay with?

I don’t have family in town. Just one close friend.

I’m sure your friend would be happy to help you out.

Oh, he helped me out all right. He helped himself to my wife.

Wow, that’s harsh.

It sure is that. He ran a hand through his hair and brushed off his clothes. Thank you for listening, but I shouldn’t be bothering you with my problems. He stood and stretched. I’m going to see if I can cash in that honeymoon and find a place to stay instead.

At least let me buy you a coffee. The words sprang from her lips before she could think about the reality of spending time in a coffee shop with a total stranger.

For a moment she thought he might refuse. Instead he said, Thank you. That’s very kind. He patted his pockets. "Especially seeing as I left