The Unforgettable Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)
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Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1
The Unforgettable Bride
When Lacey Donelles moves back to Pleasure Valley, Wyoming after nineteen years, she and Hunter Garrison are reintroduced. They’d been buddies when they were younger. Hunter has grown up handsome and sexy. There’s an immediate attraction between them. But then she finds out Hunter wants to be a politician, and she tries to turn off her feelings.
Her deceased husband, who was a congressman in Washington, had made her wary of trusting her heart to any man involved in politics. In spite of their determination to not see each other, she and Hunter are drawn together.
Then Lacey is told the father who left her and her sisters many years ago,= lives in the next town. Lacey realizes to truly love again, she must see her father, confront the anger she still has for her deceased husband, and trust Hunter, who’s stood by her side on the difficult road they are taking to find happiness.
Genre: Contemporary, Western/Cowboys
Length: 49,891 words
THE UNFORGETTABLE BRIDE
Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1
Paige Cameron
EVERLASTING CLASSIC
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic
THE UNFORGETTABLE BRIDE
Copyright © 2014 by Paige Cameron
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62741-967-3
First E-book Publication: June 2014
Cover design by Harris Channing
All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
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DEDICATION
To my granddaughter, Gianina. I’m so proud of you. Life tumbles us around and sometimes bruises our spirit, but with the help of family and friends who love you, you’ll find the way that’s right for you. Keep up the good work. Love you, Grandma.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
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
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
About the Author
THE UNFORGETTABLE BRIDE
Brides for the Garrison Brothers 1
PAIGE CAMERON
Copyright © 2014
Chapter One
“Hi.” Lacey Donelles’s friend, Doreen Morris, answered the phone. “When are you heading our way?”
“Tuesday. I can’t wait to get on the road.”
“How is your family taking the news of your move?”
“I haven’t told them yet. I’ll tell Mom. She’ll spread the word. I didn’t want days of nagging at me to change my mind.”
“Are you sure this is the right move for you? You’ve changed and so has Pleasure Valley.”
“If it doesn’t work out, I can find somewhere else to live. But I think it’s just what I need.”
“I’m looking forward to having you nearby.”
“Same here. I have to hang up. I’m telling Mom today at Sunday dinner. Wish me luck.”
“I do. Drive carefully, and we’ll see you around Friday.”
Lacey clicked off and glanced at her watch. She didn’t want to be late and get her mother in a bad mood before she told her about going to Wyoming. She dreaded the upcoming dinner with Mom and her stepfather. But even though she’d given herself a year to be positive she was making the right decision, her mother and stepfather would not agree.
Sunday traffic was light. Before long she turned into the circular drive in front of her parents’ large, Georgian-style home. Manicured lawns surrounded the house. Lacey’s mom greeted her at the door.
“It’s about time you came to Sunday dinner. We haven’t seen you in at least a month,” her mother said as she led Lacey into the formal living room.
Lacey wanted to groan when she saw an unknown man holding a drink, probably bourbon, since that would be Alex’s choice. Both men turned when she and her mother entered the room.
Alex, a tall, white-haired man, strode across the room and greeted her with a kiss on her cheek. “How are you?” He gave her a long look. “You are still losing weight,” he said in a low tone.
“I’m fine.” Lacey forced a smile.
Her mother had put her arm through the stranger’s and walked him across to them. “Lacey, Kevin is a new lawyer in Alex’s firm. He doesn’t know many people yet, so we invited him to join us. Kevin Winters, my daughter, Lacey Donelles.”
Kevin smiled and shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Your parents have been telling me
a lot about you and your sisters.”
“I’ll bet.”
“I’m sorry my other two daughters couldn’t be here today. They had previous engagements,” her mother explained to Kevin. “I am glad you are getting to meet Lacey.”
Sensing Lacey’s mood, her mother urged them into the dining room. While they ate, her mother and Alex kept up an ongoing dialogue, while Kevin and Lacey nodded or smiled but seldom added to the conversation.
Lacey was seething. She’d specifically told her mother she had something important to discuss with them. She knew her siblings weren’t coming so she had looked forward to revealing her plans in private.
Yet they insisted on having another man here for her to meet. She suspected her mother had guessed it was something she didn’t want to hear, or Lacey’s sister, Renee, had told her.
“What do you do?” Kevin asked while the dessert was being served.
“Nothing. I was fortunate that when my husband died he left me quite wealthy.”
“Lacey, that sounds so crude. You ought to appreciate that Ray thought ahead to take care of you. And you do charity work.”
“I’m sorry if I brought up a sensitive subject,” Kevin said. “Mr. Bernheart said your husband died a year ago.”
“He did, and his girlfriend was badly injured. She happened to be the unlucky one of the month. Another few weeks and some other woman would have been in her seat.”
“Lacey.” Her stepfather frowned at her. “You do not have to repeat the ugliness of that time. It does no good for any of us.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” She stood and threw down her napkin. “Since you didn’t respect my request for a quiet family meeting, I will tell you my news now. Tuesday, I’m leaving. I’ll be driving to Pleasure Valley, Wyoming, and I am going to live there.”
“Whatever will you do in such a cow town?” her mother asked.
“Hopefully find myself again.”
“This is ridiculous. We’ll have lunch tomorrow and discuss this further,” her mother said.
“We can have lunch, but you won’t change my mind. Good night. It was nice meeting you, Kevin. Mom, Alex, I thank you for the dinner.” She turned on her heels and walked briskly to the front door.
In her car, she drove out of the drive and down the street a short distance before parking. Then she allowed herself to cry and pound on her steering wheel.
She couldn’t wait to put miles between her and the rest of her family. Nineteen years ago, she’d been brought to DC when her mother married Alex. She hadn’t returned to Pleasure Valley since. She’d missed the small, peaceful town she remembered, especially this past year after the notoriety of her husband’s death.
But I was twelve when we moved here. Pleasure Valley has probably changed a lot since then, although Doreen denies it. As an adult, will I feel the same way about living there? I might be in for another disappointment.
At least she had one friend she’d kept in touch with. Doreen’s looking forward to me arriving and staying with her and Billy, her husband, until I find a place of my own.
Lacey wiped her eyes and started the car. Two more days and she’d start another stage in her life.
* * * *
Hunter Garrison leaned back on the barstool and took a swallow of beer from his bottle. He smiled, watching his twin brothers play pool. They were highly competitive.
His brother, Fletcher, sat down beside him. “Who’s winning?”
“It goes back and forth, but Joel’s ahead right now.”
“What are you doing slumming? I thought since you’d decided to run for state senator you wouldn’t be coming to Charlie’s Bar,” Fletch said.
“The townspeople have to take me as I am. I’ve lived here all my thirty-two years except for college. Any changes at this point would be seen as false. Charlie, give Fletch a beer.”
“There’s Cort and Devin. We’ll have a grand old time tonight. I like it when we all manage to get together on Saturday night. I wish Heath was home from New York,” Fletch said.
“Mom said he’d be home next week for a visit,” Hunter added. The bar and lounge was getting crowded.
A band was setting up their equipment at one end of the room. Dancing started at eight o’clock. Hunter placed his beer bottle on the counter. “I’m heading out before they start playing.”
“A lot of pretty women are already arriving,” Fletch teased.
“Cornelia will show up and try to get all my attention. I’m sorry I dated her a few months ago. It’s hard to tell her ‘no’ nicely. I feel like I’m being stalked.”
Fletch put his bottle on the counter and laughed. “I warned you.”
“I know. Don’t rub it in. She’s a nice lady, but…”
“She’s not the right one. We’ll all probably get a lecture from Mom tomorrow about settling down and giving her grandkids. She says we’re all too picky.”
“I guess she’s right.”
“You haven’t been interested in anyone since you broke off with that fancy lady lawyer from Cheyenne.”
“Don’t remind me. It was quite embarrassing to find out my finest quality was my rich family.” Hunter grinned. “It was a big blow to my ego.” Hunter started to get off his barstool when Fletch grabbed his arm.
“Wait, look at the door.”
Hunter glanced in that direction. Doreen and Billy Morris came inside along with a stranger. She was slender, with long, raven-black hair. The sparkling light of the ball rotating over the dance floor made it shine like satin. She was dressed like the other women in snug jeans, a shiny blue blouse, and boots.
“Who is she?” Hunter asked.
“I haven’t seen her around, but I heard Doreen had a friend moving here. That must be her.”
“I’m still going to go. I’ll see you at Sunday dinner.”
When Hunter walked closer something about the stranger bugged him. She looked vaguely familiar.
Doreen saw him and called out his name. Damn, I should have waited until they were lost in the crowd. He forced a smile. “Hi Doreen, Billy, how are you?”
“We wanted to reintroduce you to an old friend. Do you remember Lacey Donelles?”
Suddenly, when he looked into her sky-blue eyes, his memory sent him tumbling back to the past. She’d been one of his best friends when they were ten and eleven. Then, right after her twelfth birthday, her mother married and they moved to Washington, DC.
“Hi, it’s been a long time,” Hunter said.
“Yes, too long. I’ve missed this place.”
“I never wrote.”
Lacey grinned. “I know. You were thirteen. Boys that age don’t write.”
“Are you visiting? I heard Doreen’s friend was moving here.”
“I’m staying. Do you know of a place I might buy?”
“My brother, Devin, can help you. He’s in here somewhere. He works in real estate when he’s not riding in the rodeo. But if you miss him tonight, I’ll mention it to him tomorrow when I see him at my parents’ house.”
“Ask him to call me at Doreen’s. And thanks. I guess we’d better go on and let you leave.”
Hunter nodded and went out the door. He strolled to his truck and got in. He had mixed emotions about leaving, but there’d be plenty of time to get to know Lacey again. He started the truck and headed to the ranch and his house.
He drove past his parents’ home, what they all called “the home place,” and turned right in the direction of where he’d built his own house. All of them had their own places. His brothers and he were independent, and yet they wanted to be close enough to visit and be there for each other.
Turning into the long drive, he smiled when he saw the glow in his window. His mom had always left a light on for them, and in some silly way it comforted him to see his own lamp shining in the darkness to welcome him back.
He parked the truck in the garage and went inside. Then he started the coffeepot to perking and lit a fire in the family room fireplace.
>
Sitting there with his coffee, he looked around at the large room. Why the hell did I need all this space? Because Mom insisted we’d regret not building a large enough home when we married.
He smiled, thinking about how they’d all done as she said except Justyn. He’d insisted a small cabin would suit him until he met the right one.
Restless, Hunter strolled out to his barn and saddled his horse, Firefly. Riding always helped settle him down.
* * * *
“What’d you think?” Doreen asked. She watched Hunter go out the door. “He’s grown into a handsome man just like the rest of the Garrison brothers. It drives the local women crazy that none of them appear interested in getting married.”
“He is handsome, but I’m off men for a while.”
“You’ll be able to forget here. You’ll meet new and old friends and have a different life,” Doreen assured her.
“I hope so.” They’d found a table and sat. “You and Billy dance. I’ll be fine.” The band started to play and a number of couples filled the small dance floor.
Lacey had come tonight after much encouragement from Doreen. She hadn’t felt ready to get out in a crowd, but perhaps this was the best way. Word would get around that she was back, and others wouldn’t be so surprised to see her.
Hunter had been startled after he remembered her. Lacey grinned, thinking about when he said he hadn’t written. His lack of correspondence had hurt at first, but after she made new friends she’d put him out of her mind. He hadn’t mentioned the dozen or so letters she’d written him, thank goodness.
Her heart had skipped a beat when he’d looked into her eyes. She’d had the beginning of a crush on him when they moved. If she wasn’t careful that might happen again, and she wasn’t ready for romance.