The Southern Bride

by Leonra Worth

  The Southern Bride

  A Driftwood Bay Romance

  Lenora Worth

  The Southern Bride

  Copyright © 2016 Lenora Worth

  The Tule Publishing Group, LLC

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  ISBN: 978-1-944925-82-6

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Keep Up with your Favorite Authors and their New Releases

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Undercover Princess

  The Driftwood Bay Series

  An Exclusive Excerpt from The Southern Cowboy

  Keep Up with your Favorite Authors and their New Releases

  About the Author

  Keep Up with your Favorite Authors and their New Releases

  For the latest news from Tule Publishing authors, sign up for our newsletter here or check out our website at TulePublishing.com

  Chapter One

  Melissa Sonnier heard the “Wedding March” and closed her eyes to the pain that crashed against her heart with the same beautiful ferocity as the waves slapping at the shore behind her.

  She wanted to be married. She wanted to have a house and babies and a husband who came home every night and grabbed her around the waist and kissed her on the neck.

  But today wasn’t about her. Today was all about her older sister, Maddie. Madeline Sonnier Parker would soon be Madeline Sonnier Hinson. After a rocky first marriage, Maddie was marrying the true love of her life, Sam Hinson, here at beautiful Driftwood Bay, Florida, on a lovely late-summer Saturday with what promised to be an extraordinary sunset to showcase the whole event.

  Maddie and Sam met in February at their middle sister Michelle’s wedding to Brodie Stevens. Brodie had asked Sam to be his best man and Madeline, or Maddie as everyone called her, was the maid of honor. After some fireworks, they fell in love.

  Happy for her sister, Melissa ignored the sadness that pushed at her. Maybe because she’d been engaged three times, two of those to the same man, and each time something had gone wrong and she’d called off the wedding.

  No more. The surf crashed in sprays of glistening white foam that curled close to the flower-covered archway set up on the sand as the wedding altar. She could feel the moisture off the big bay’s cool waters. And she refused to add to that moisture by crying over canceled weddings.

  So Melissa held on to the sweet-smelling Casablanca lilies in her bridesmaid bouquet and turned to watch as her sister walked barefoot through the white sand, their daddy proud and teary-eyed as he escorted her. Maddie’s little black and white mutt, Spike, pranced right along beside her, his black bow tie slightly askew.

  Melissa knew that feeling.

  Maddie looked ethereal in her white linen, flowing dress with the lacy bodice. She wore her hair caught back in an intricate art deco filigree-and-pearls comb but the wind lifted the long, burnished brown strands away from her neck. She carried a lush cluster of the same wonderful-smelling white lilies that also decorated the lattice archway where Sam and Maddie would take their vows.

  Her other sister Michelle, now living here in Driftwood Bay in a new beach house, smiled at Melissa and then grinned at Maddie. Then Michelle gazed across the way at her husband, love shining brightly in her misty eyes. Brodie was the best man this time. He returned that same misty, smitten gaze to his wife. Their Uncle Jaybo, who owned the Sonnier cottage here on Driftwood Bay where the sisters had gathered to get Maddie ready, also stood across from Melissa and Michelle. He had happily agreed to serve as one of the groomsmen.

  Judson should be standing there.

  No, she and Judson should have been married by now.

  But instead of finding their happily-ever-after earlier this year when Judson had come home to Spirit, Louisiana, where the Sonnier clan lived and where he’d grown up with Melissa, they’d had another horrible fight and now they were done. Forever.

  A seasoned bull rider on one of the top regional circuits throughout Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, Judson had been thrown from a champion bull during what should have been a winning ride in Ft. Worth. The bull had stomped on Judson’s leg and broken it in two places. He’d come home to recuperate and, of course, Melissa had worried about him and tried to nurse him back to health.

  But in spite of her concerns and the hope he’d finally give up the rodeo, he’d insisted he was going back to the rodeo. Until the doctor told him he might not be able to return to riding bulls at all. Judson had gone into a deep depression and had taken out all his frustrations, mostly on Melissa.

  Judson Duvall would always love the rodeo more than anything else. Or anyone else. Including Melissa. Even if he couldn’t be a championship bull rider anymore, he still wanted to be a part of the rodeo, which meant he couldn’t be a part of a normal, settled life with her.

  The one thing she’d been chasing, to be settled and happy like her older sisters, was still eluding Melissa. Even if she told herself that both of her sisters had been divorced and remarried, it still stung that she couldn’t follow in their footsteps the way she’d done with everything else in her life.

  It was over. Finally. Marriage and babies weren’t in her future.

  So Melissa lifted her spine, bit back her tears, and let the balmy, ocean breeze calm her frazzled nerves so she could enjoy watching Maddie marry Sam. She’d never seen her sister more beautiful. Maddie looked so radiant and happy Melissa couldn’t be sad or bitter. Not today. Not with the tropical wind lifting her hair and the golden-orange sunset washed in shades of salmon and soft pink making the perfect backdrop for the perfect beach wedding.

  After the vows were exchanged and Maddie kissed her groom, everyone cheered and wiped at their tears.

  “Reception at our house,” Brodie called out after picture time was over. Michelle clicked away, taking her official photographer role seriously. Grabbing Michelle and her camera against him, he added, “We’ve got a lot to celebrate.”

  Melissa couldn’t help but be happy so she hugged both her sisters. “That was amazing,” she said. “So beautiful.”

  “And you both look so pretty,” Maddie replied, her proud gaze sweeping over the pastel maxi-length sundresses they’d picked for her wedding. “Whew! I can’t believe how this wedding has gone off without a hitch.”

  But even as her sister said the words, a hush fell over the small crowd gathered on the beach. Spike barked a snappy little warning. Melissa looked up, wondering why all eyes were suddenly on her. And then she followed Maddie’s gaze back toward the steps leading up to the house.

  Judson Duvall stood up on the first tier of the deck, his hands tucked in the waistband of his jeans, his cowboy hat secure over his dark, thick, too-long hair, his feet braced apart, battered boots solid on the weathered wood.

  And his eyes clearly centered on Melissa.

  Judson took in the scene.

>   He’d dreamed about seeing Melissa walking up the aisle toward him one day. But they couldn’t seem to get past their old hurts enough to trust each other. To love each other.

  Seeing her now, he wished he hadn’t jumped in his old pickup in the middle of the night to drive across four states to find her. Wished he hadn’t. Glad he did.

  He aimed to win her back.

  Again.

  For forever this time.

  God help him.

  And from the steam-driven frown on her pretty oval face, he’d need to do a whole lot of praying for that help. His bum leg hurt with all the force of a stampede but he gritted his teeth against the pain and tried to take a step down.

  But before Judson could make it to the beach to congratulate the happy couple, he was immediately surrounded by Melissa’s daddy, Roscoe, Uncle Jaybo, Brodie Stevens, and the groom, Sam Hinson. They advanced like mad bulls, ready to knock him right off his high horse.

  “Tough crowd,” he said to hide the tremor that moved through him.

  He wasn’t scared. He’d do the same thing in their place. But he was mad. And mad usually got him a black eye or a crying-angry woman. Or both.

  He wouldn’t get angry today. He’d show Melissa he’d changed.

  “I don’t think you were invited,” Uncle Jaybo said with just a hint of regret in his tone.

  “Nope, I guess my invitation got lost in the mail,” Judson replied with a grin. “Happens.”

  “Judson, we don’t need you making a scene,” Mr. Roscoe said on a fatherly plea. “I don’t want to have to escort you off the property, son.”

  Judson took off his hat and hit it against his knee. “This is a big beach, sir. But relax, I’m not gonna ruin the happy occasion. I just need to speak to Melissa.”

  Sam Hinson crossed his massive arms over his white button-up shirt. “What if she doesn’t want to speak to you?”

  Brodie stood beside Sam, understanding and pity glistening in his eyes, his hands on his hips, an amused smile tipping his lips. “Look, kid, you’re not getting through.”

  Judson grinned again. “Then I guess I’ll head to the bar.”

  He tried to brush past Brodie. “But why don’t we ask the lady first.”

  Brodie held Judson’s arm. “Turn around, Judson. ’Cause if you think we’re tough, you just try tangling with Melissa’s sisters and their mama. Especially on a day when they’ve all had mani-pedi stuff done and they don’t want to mess up their hair. It won’t be pretty.”

  Judson shook his head and turned to leave, determination keeping his bad leg from buckling underneath him.

  “Stop.”

  Judson twisted around to find Melissa standing in the sand, her sandals in one hand and her bouquet in the other. And her long golden blonde hair lifting out behind her in a way that made Judson blink and wonder if she was a mermaid.

  Her greenish-blue gaze flounced over her defenders and then fell back on Judson with a wariness caught up in a web of seduction. “I’ll talk to him.”

  “Honey, are you sure?” Mr. Roscoe called.

  “Yes,” Melissa said. “Y’all go on up to the house and we’ll be there soon.”

  After a lot of mumbling and a couple of direct threats about breaking limbs and knocking heads, the wedding party, minus one, headed up to the two-story beach house that he figured belonged to Brodie and Michelle. Judson knew this because Melissa had gone on and on about having their wedding here not far from the old Sonnier cottage. But then she’d gone on and on about a lot of things until he’d made a mess of everything.

  Life had been pretty good, until they’d broken up. Again.

  Chapter Two

  Melissa waited until the others had topped the lower part of the boardwalk leading to the first tier of the deck. Her heart was beating so fast, dizziness left colorful spots in front of her eyes. When she reached Judson, she asked, “Why did you come?”

  Judson stood staring at her in that way that always made her go soft with longing. His white tee shirt shined too bright in the last rays of the sun and his dark blue eyes held a challenge she’d rarely been able to resist. But she had to resist. Melissa didn’t have the energy to go another round with Judson Duvall.

  “You know why I’m here,” he said. “Baby, we can’t keep doing this.”

  “Doing what?” she asked, wishing for something better to say. She wanted to ask him how he was doing and if his leg had finally healed. Instead she went on with other questions. “Fighting? Screaming? Destroying each other? We’re done, Judson. If you stay for the reception, you have to behave or you’ll regret coming here.”

  “I want to behave,” he said, holding his hat in his hands in a classic repentant cowboy way. “I haven’t had a drink since... since we broke up.”

  “You expect me to believe that?”

  He nodded, the wind whipping at his silky dark chocolate hair. “Okay, maybe I went on a bender after you left me but... it’s been four months since you’ve seen me and now I’m clean, Missy. I am.”

  “But you just told my daddy you were heading to the bar.”

  “I will. The Surf Shack serves mineral water, right?”

  She couldn’t argue with that but she couldn’t see him nursing a glass of water in a bar either. “You don’t like mineral water.”

  “I’m learning,” he said, his body listing to the right. “I’m learning a lot of stuff.”

  “How did you get here?” she asked, glancing around to see if anyone was with him. She was pretty sure his leg hadn’t had time to heal completely.

  “I...uh... drove.”

  “Was that wise?” she asked, sounding redundant. Knowing he shouldn’t have done it. “I mean, your doctor warned you about overdoing.” The bull had injured him back in December and he’d come back to their hometown, Spirit, Louisiana, in February. She wondered with an open break in two places, if he’d had time to really heal.

  “On hindsight, no, it wasn’t too wise,” he admitted. “But I’ll be okay. I just want to sit and talk to you a while.”

  He looked tired, his beautiful eyes pinched with pain and shadowed with dark circles that indicated he hadn’t slept very much lately. Well, neither had she.

  Should she let him stay?

  Melissa couldn’t stand here on the beach with him all day. Obviously, he was in a lot of pain even if he looked as if he could walk okay. Stalling anyway, she turned and watched the sun setting off to the west. “It was a beautiful wedding.”

  Judson’s breath hit her hair, his eyes locking with hers. “You were a beautiful bridesmaid.”

  She couldn’t speak. Finally, she pivoted and stared up at him but he was so close, her heart did a flip and betrayed her. “You can stay and have dinner and cake. We’re grilling steaks and seafood and we’ve got lots of side dishes. All your favorites.”

  “Thank you,” he said, touching a hand to her hair. “I’ve sure missed those Sonnier family gatherings. I’ve missed you so much.”

  Melissa pushed his hand away but the heat from his touch had already branded her. A brand that couldn’t be washed away or ignored. “This doesn’t mean we’re back together, Judson.”

  “I know,” he said. “But... I quit the circuit, baby. That’s what I really came to tell you. I thought I could get this leg back in shape and go back but... I don’t want to go back.”

  She wouldn’t let him see the surprise and hope that crashed against her heart. He’d never quite worded things in that way before. He’d never once considered quitting before, no matter how much she worried and demanded he do just that. “You could have called with that news.”

  “You’re not taking my calls.”

  She had blocked him. “Okay, well, you’re here now and I’m sure you’re exhausted. So, c’mon, I don’t want to miss all the fun and I told Michelle I’d get some candid photos at the reception. You deserve a good meal at least for driving all this way.”

  Melissa noticed how he winced with each lift of his boots against
the wooden deck steps. But she knew better than to patronize him. Judson was too proud to admit he was in pain.

  She moved ahead of him so he’d think she hadn’t noticed anything. Judson’s pride was a big factor between them.

  “Maddie looked pretty,” he said on a breath of what sounded like relief.

  Good subject. She’d rather talk about her sister’s wedding than Judson and her broken heart. “She’s so happy. Michelle and Brodie are happy, too. Both of my sisters will be living here permanently from now on. I’ll be all alone.”

  “No, you’re not alone,” Judson said in an uplifting observation from behind her. “I’m gonna prove to you that you aren’t alone anymore. I’m gonna win you back, Missy.” He caught up with her and held her arm. “I won’t quit until I do.”

  She’d heard that promise before, so many times. “Judson...”

  But this time, she noticed a distinct difference. For one, he wasn’t drunk. Judson seemed subdued and calm now, almost as if he really had finally given up on the rodeo. Maybe he was on heavy medication and it had made him mellow.

  Melissa should be excited about him leaving the rodeo since it was what she’d always wanted. But... she also didn’t want him to resent her because she’d forced him to give up his dreams.

  Maybe being thrown and battered by that old bull had been a blessing in disguise. But she hated it for him. Having to retire when he was still young and on a winning streak.

  “We can talk about all that later,” she finally said. “I don’t want to ruin Maddie’s big day.”

  “I mean it, Missy,” he said while they walked up toward the high, white-planked beach house with the sky blue shutters. “I mean it, with all my heart.” Stopping her before they reached the crowd gathered on the wide porch of the house, raised up on wooden-covered pilings centered with cement and steel, Judson looked into her eyes. “The next wedding will be our own. Finally.”

  Melissa held tightly to the tears forming in her eyes and decided she’d have to be as strong as those hurricane-resistant pilings. Because she would not let Judson Duvall’s sweet promises and pretty words crash against her heart again.