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Category: Romance
Description: It's bad enough losing the wedding rings, let alone your heart? A Come Rain or Come Shine Story Josh Hamnett is best man at his mate's wedding, and he's determined that nothing's going to go wrong on the big day. That's before ex-girlfriend Kate Summerton appears in the church, looking mouthwateringly good in her tight red satin dress. Her maid of honor's dress. Ceremony, reception, speeches, the first dance?he's got to go through them all by the side of the woman who still haunts his dreams. And to top it off, she's not wearing any underwear. Their break-up three years ago was explosive, and Kate was sure she'd never forgive how he behaved. But now all the memories are coming back--the good as well as the bad. As their wedding duties keep throwing them into each other's company, Kate can't ignore the resurging chemistry between them--or the nagging thought that maybe, this could be the start of a second chance. Warning: Contains sexual chemistry hot enough to turn sand to glass--best read while wearing oven gloves and dark shades.
eBook Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd., 2011 2011
eBookwise Release Date: June 2011

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [115 KB]
Words: 24882
Reading time: 71-99 min.

So far, everything was going smoothly. Josh was uncharacteristically nervous. In his life he'd spoken at conferences in front of several hundred people, parachuted from a plane for charity and bungee jumped into a ravine just for the hell of it, and none of those had terrified him as much as his role as best man.

He glanced across at Alex, whose gaze was fixed on the altar in a concerted effort to stop himself throwing up. Josh hid a wry smile. He had insisted on holding the stag night the week before to try and avoid this very problem, but Alex had been so stressed the previous night that only a steady stream of alcohol had been able to stop him getting into the car and heading for Invercargill. Josh hoped Alex didn't heave all over the floor. He was sure cleaning vomit off the altar steps before the bride arrived would be in his job description and the very thought made his own stomach roil, even though he had only been on Coke the night before.

He checked his watch. There were only minutes to go before two o'clock. The guests were all seated, talking quietly as the organ music filled the church. It looked nice in the nave, he had to admit. White flowers on stands along the central aisle brought the spring freshness from outside into the building and the sun shone through the stained-glass windows, casting fragments of light like jewels onto the flagstones. The weather he had booked had arrived, he thought with amusement. It looked as if it was going to be the perfect New Zealand day--which was only what Alex and Becca deserved.

On cue, one of the ushers at the front of the church waved to him. He nodded and signaled the vicar that the bride had arrived. The music changed to Wagner's Bridal Chorus and at the entrance to the church he saw Becca walk forward then pause in the doorway, one of the bridesmaids titivating with her veil, another with her train.

He nudged the groom. "She's here."

Alex turned. Josh smiled as his best mate's face lit up. All Alex's nerves seemed to dissipate as he realized his wife-to-be had not abandoned him at the altar but was actually going to go through with it. Josh watched Alex release a big sigh he'd been holding for several weeks. Josh wanted to cuff him round the head. As if Becca was ever going to stand him up on the big day. He'd never seen two people more in love and in his own mind there was no question that the two of them were destined to spend the rest of their lives together.

As Becca moved toward the aisle, Josh touched his breast pocket, checking for the gazillionth time the rings were in there.

"Will you stop?" Alex said with exasperation, fidgeting with his own tie beside him.

"Hey, you'd be the first to complain if they had fallen out."

Alex grinned at him. "Don't worry, mate. You'll be able to get your own back when our roles are switched."

"Like that's going to happen," said Josh wryly.

"You'll meet the right girl one day."

"No, I meant there's no way you'd be my best man."

Alex pushed him, then stuck his tongue out as his mother in the front row of seats glared at him. "One day you'll find someone who'll tear your heart out," he whispered. "It happens to the best of us and it'll happen to you one day, Mr. Heart of Stone."

Josh said nothing, watching Becca as she started to walk toward them. He couldn't picture ever being in Alex's position himself. He'd never met a woman with whom he could imagine spending the rest of his life. Well, almost never. Briefly his mind drifted back to his university days. Now there had been a woman worth considering monogamy for. He and Kate had been inseparable that final year. But it hadn't ended well. Actually that was probably an understatement. It had culminated in a nuclear explosion that still rang in his ears on a quiet day. And since then, nobody had come close to replacing her.

He wasn't going to think about it now, he told himself, determined nothing was going to sour his mood on his best mate's wedding day. He checked his waistcoat and jacket were straight. Best check the pocket again. Yep, rings still there.

Becca was nearly at the altar now, on the arm of her father. She had been looking at Alex all the way down the aisle. Now she glanced across at Josh and he winked at her. She beamed and whispered, "Thank you." He rolled his eyes. She'd made him promise he would get Alex there come hell or tidal wave and he had taken the oath in spite of protesting that Alex didn't need convincing. What was it with these two? Why didn't they just trust each other?

His gaze slid to the bridesmaids--four of them, coming up the aisle behind Becca and her father. He had seen some monstrous bridesmaids' dresses in his time but for once these were stylish: sleek red satin, the dresses down to the calf, low cut with shoestring straps. He could see from the closest bridesmaid that the dress had a split up the side that went halfway up her thigh. A slim thigh tapering to a very shapely ankle and a slender foot encased in an extremely sexy, red, high-heeled sandal. Josh's eyebrows rose and his gaze followed the close-fitting dress where it clung to a flat stomach, narrow waist and a heaven-help-me generous bust swelling above the tight bodice line. Long brown hair tumbled around tanned shoulders and he registered the red rose in her hair before his gaze lingered on her face.

Josh felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He stared at the bridesmaid, only just managing to stop himself swearing in front of all the elderly relatives in the front row. What the hell? He saw Becca glance at him, noticing the astounded look on his face, but he couldn't do anything but stare at the beautiful woman in red.

Kate?