The Right Groom

by Jen Talty

  The Right Groom

  The First Responders Series

  Jen Talty

  Copyright © 2020 by Jen Talty

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  THE RIGHT GROOM

  Book Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Also by Jen Talty

  THE RIGHT GROOM

  the First Responders Series

  Book 3

  NY Times Bestselling Author

  JEN TALTY

  Praise for Jen Talty

  "Deadly Secrets is the best of romance and suspense in one hot read!" NYT Bestselling Author Jennifer Probst

  "A charming setting and a steamy couple heat up the pages in an suspenseful story I couldn't put down!" NY Times and USA today Bestselling Author Donna Grant

  "Jen Talty's books will grab your attention and pull you into a world of relatable characters, strong personalities, humor, and believable storylines. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll rush to get the next book she releases!" Natalie Ann USA Today Bestselling Author

  "I positively loved In Two Weeks, and highly recommend it. The writing is wonderful, the story is fantastic, and the characters will keep you coming back for more. I can't wait to get my hands on future installments of the NYS Troopers series." Long and Short Reviews

  "In Two Weeks hooks the reader from page one. This is a fast paced story where the development of the romance grabs you emotionally and the suspense keeps you sitting on the edge of your chair. Great characters, great writing, and a believable plot that can be a warning to all of us." Desiree Holt, USA Today Bestseller

  "Dark Water delivers an engaging portrait of wounded hearts as the memorable characters take you on a healing journey of love. A mysterious death brings danger and intrigue into the drama, while sultry passions brew into a believable plot that melts the reader's heart. Jen Talty pens an entertaining romance that grips the heart as the colorful and dangerous story unfolds into a chilling ending." Night Owl Reviews

  "This is not the typical love story, nor is it the typical mystery. The characters are well rounded and interesting." You Gotta Read Reviews

  "Murder in Paradise Bay is a fast-paced romantic thriller with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end. You won't want to miss this one..." USA Today bestselling author Janice Maynard

  Book Description

  When Echo Farren boarded the plane bound for her wedding in her hometown of Lake George, NY she was filled with excitement and joy. That was until she got a text message from her fiancée just as her flight reached cursing altitude that he would not be attending their wedding. To make matters worse, Echo has to find out from a local fireman who used to be her high school sweetheart that her father is up to eyeballs in debt over this wedding.

  With only two weeks to go before the big day, Echo does her best to stall, hoping to get her fiancée to either change his mind, or fork over some cash to help her father. Only neither one is going to happen.

  Spencer Bryant has been in love with Echo Farren his entire life, but when she made him chose between her and his family, he had to let her go. But now that she was back he was going to do whatever it took to show her that he’s always been the only man for her and that he was the right groom.

  To Tammy. You are a rock star! Thanks for all that you do!

  1

  Echo Farren settled into the first-class seat and held up her mimosa. “To me,” she said.

  “To you.” Candy Carrington took a sip of her drink. “I’ve never been pampered like this before. It’s amazing.”

  “I know, right.” Echo didn’t normally splurge on what she thought were frivolous things, but now that she was about to become Mrs. Andrew Ludwig, Attorney at Law, she decided it was high time she spent a little bit of his money. “But Andy insisted. Only the best for his bride and her maid of honor.” The tiny fib caught in Echo’s throat. She’d begged Andy to purchase Candy’s ticket and all she’d gotten as a response was what a waste of time and energy this wedding had become and how they should go back to his plan of eloping.

  He’d even suggested he might call it off all together because of the pressure she’d put him under.

  Too bad. She’d been dreaming of this wedding since she’d been ten years old and Andy agreed to give her this one thing and she was going to hold him to it.

  Candy’s big smile turned into pursed lips. “Where is he?”

  “I don’t know.” Echo checked her phone. “He texted me to tell me to take an Uber to the airport. I didn’t think I’d be getting on the plane without him, but he was in court this morning. I just hope we didn’t cut this too close.” She tapped the screen, sending Andy a quick text. He’d warned her this could happen and told her if he didn’t show, to just get on the plane and go home. He’d catch up, eventually.

  Although, two days ago, he’d made the sarcastic remark about maybe if he didn’t show it would force her hand to do things his way.

  “What if he doesn’t make it?”

  “Then he’ll be on the next plane,” Echo said, holding her cell tight so she could feel it vibrate when Andy texted back. Thankfully, the airline also had that free messaging service, so once they got above ten thousand feet, she’d be able to reach Andy. She already knew what she’d say to him and how she planned on making it up to him for giving her this one thing. Her heart skipped a beat. Quitting her job as an ER nurse wasn’t something she ever thought she’d be doing, but she wanted this marriage to work.

  “Seems like a waste of money,” Candy said. “I know he’s wealthy and all that, but to buy a ticket and then just let it go seems a little extravagant.”

  “I’m sure he bought travel insurance, or his status just requires him to pay a small change fee.”

  Candy laughed. “His idea of a small fee and mine are probably light years away. Are you sure he’s really okay with all this small-town wedding stuff?”

  The flight attendants closed the main door and began to prepare the cabin for takeoff.

  Andy wasn’t going to make it.

  She should have known. It wasn’t so much that he had court; it was going back to Lake George and spending ten days with her family that had Andy avoiding the airport.

  If she left all the wedding plans up to him, they would have eloped in Hawaii. It would have been romantic, and he would have pulled out all the stops, but her family wouldn’t have been there. Even if Andy paid for her entire family to attend the wedding in Hawaii, which he probably wouldn’t have, her father was too proud to accept it.

  Just like he demanded to pay for his only daughter’s dream ceremony.

  “He’s thrilled all he has to do is show up.” She wished that were the truth.

  Andy had agreed to the destination wedding while they’d been out with some of his associates. He hadn’t been thrilled with the idea, and he made it clear when he dropped her off at her apartment. Another bone of contention, considering she didn’t understand why he didn’t want her to move in until after the wedding. But, he agreed as long as he didn’t have to plan it or do anything other than show up and say I do. His only requirement was that he got to plan the honeymoon.

  She assumed they’d be going to Hawaii since that’s where he thought they’d be tying the knot to begin with, but the only thing he’d told her
was to pack as if they were going somewhere warm.

  Well, it was the beginning of summer.

  The flight attendant took their glasses, and the aircraft began its taxi down the runway. It was a short two-hour flight to the Albany, New York, airport where one of her brothers was picking her up, and it would be another one-hour drive to her childhood home in Lake George.

  “So, how do you feel about seeing Spencer again?” Candy asked with an arched brow. “I can’t believe you invited him to the wedding.”

  “I didn’t have a choice.” Echo snagged Candy’s hand and squeezed. Echo had never been a big fan of flying. The more she did it, the less it bothered her, but takeoff still gave her a fair amount of anxiety. “His family and my family have been friends for years. He works with two of my brothers at the fire station. That said, I have it on good authority, he’s not coming.”

  “Well, that’s probably for the best. I mean, it took you a long time to get over Spencer, and I’m sure it would be awkward for Andy.”

  Echo dropped her head against the seat and closed her eyes. Spencer had made it clear four years ago when he hadn’t fought for their relationship that she wasn’t enough. He wouldn’t even consider leaving Lake George even for one single summer to see if a different kind of lifestyle tickled his fancy. “It wouldn’t phase Andy in the least.”

  “He does know about Spencer, right?”

  “Why would I tell my future husband about a boy I dated back in high school?” Echo rolled her head and blinked.

  “Are you kidding me? First, you and Spencer dated for almost six years. You lost your virginity to him.”

  “And you lost yours to my brother Noah at our senior prom.” Echo waggled her finger under Candy’s nose. “And I’ve still not gotten over walking in on the two of you.”

  Candy’s cheeks turned bright red. “I’m just so glad you didn’t end up hating me.”

  “The fact that you and Noah dated for a few months after that helped. I’m kind of sad you and him didn’t work out.” Echo batted Candy’s nose. “His new girlfriend is weird.”

  “You said that about my husband.”

  Echo laughed. “Mark is odd, and you know it.”

  “He is, but he’s my whackadoodle.”

  “I’m glad he will be able to make the wedding, but I’m sorry he couldn’t come for the entire two weeks.”

  “Being a resident is both amazingly rewarding and horribly overwhelming, but he’s got Thursday and Friday off before the wedding. Sadly, we will be leaving first thing Sunday morning.”

  “I’m just glad you both are coming, and I know your folks are busting at the seams, especially since you’re carrying their first grandchild.”

  Candy patted her expanding belly. She was only four months pregnant, but she had started to show, and she was proud of it. She pointed to the window. “Look how pretty the sky, sun, and puffy white clouds are.”

  “I hope my wedding day is that pretty.”

  “It’s going to be perfect. I know it,” Candy said. “I know sometimes I’m a bitch to Andy, but it’s only because you and I have been best friends since the fifth grade. I only want you to be happy.”

  Five months ago, Echo would have said she was the happiest woman on the planet. That she had the world in the palm of her hands and everything she ever wanted was materializing.

  But that was a pipe dream, and reality had sunk in.

  Her oldest brother Morgan had warned her that six months in a relationship didn’t make for marriage material. He’d suggested that she take a bit more time before jumping into the wedded pool.

  However, men like Andy generally didn’t do anything spontaneously. So the fact he proposed on the fly and agreed to marry so quickly, she felt the need to run with it.

  Although she wondered if perhaps her brother might have had a point. Andy had been charming and swept her off her feet. Their romance had been a series of wild getaways and passionate weekends. Getting married seemed like the icing on the cake.

  Until the reality of it settled in—they really didn’t know each other, and their worlds couldn’t be farther apart.

  He was a high-priced corporate lawyer, and she was nurse. She’d settled in Atlanta only because she’d been a travel nurse doing her best to get Spencer Bryant out of her system and out of her heart by staying as far away from New York and Lake George as she could. She’d met Andy in a coffee shop, and sparks flew from the beginning.

  But was that enough to make a lasting marriage?

  “Where’d you go?” Candy asked.

  “I’m just daydreaming about the wedding,” Echo said. It wasn’t a total lie. As the flight attendants made their way up and down the aisle, taking drink orders, Echo glanced at her cell.

  Nothing from Andy.

  But three texts came in from her family. One of which stated that Troy would be picking them up at the airport. Echo let out a sigh of relief. She was only slightly worried that Noah would show up. Not that it would matter. He and Candy survived Candy’s wedding and were on good terms. Their fling back in the day had been just that. One could even call them friends, and Noah had managed to make nicey-nice with Candy’s husband, Mark, and they’d become friendly at every social gathering both families had been at.

  Echo wished she could say the same for her and Spencer. But every time their paths had crossed, either fighting words had been tossed about, or they completely ignored each other as if the other had some new crazy novel virus where no new vaccine or treatment had been created yet.

  She wasn’t sure what created the conflict. He chose his world, and she had chosen hers.

  They weren’t made for each other, plain and simple.

  “I am really glad you decided to get married in Lake George. Remember sleeping out on the dock and fantasying about the perfect wedding?” Candy said.

  “Yours was exactly that, although I don’t think your mom appreciated you and Mark taking off parasailing in your tux and gown.”

  Candy laughed. “Nope. And you wait. She’s going to wave her hand in front of her face and let out a long breath and tell everyone how exhausting that was and how my dress is now ruined for my baby, which I should have never told her it was a girl.”

  “Well, remind your mother that if that little girl in there is anything like you, she wouldn’t be caught dead in your wedding dress.”

  “I’m in for a world of trouble.”

  Echo’s phone buzzed. Her heart hammered in her chest. A few people in Andy’s office had been surprised by the announcement of their wedding, especially after they’d only been together less than half a year. According to the few people she’d met, Andy didn’t do relationships. He was married to his work, and all he cared about was becoming partner.

  Well, that happened the same day they had a chance meeting at a coffee shop where he offered her a steak dinner if he was offered the position, and the rest is history.

  It shocked her that her parents had been able to put together her dream wedding in less than ten days. She just wished her fiancé hadn’t been so quick to let her father pay for it, without pushing to help.

  Quickly, she glanced at the screen.

  Finally.

  She tapped the message icon, and her heart dropped to the pit of her stomach.

  Andy: I’m not coming. Not at all. I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you. I don’t know what I was thinking. This is too soon. Too fast. And honestly, I’m not in love with you. I was in love with the idea of you, and we had a good time, and it was fun while it lasted. I should have ended this before it got out of hand, but it became increasingly difficult to break it off. But I couldn’t bring myself to get on that plane today, or ever. I really am sorry. I wish you all the best.

  Tears burned the corners of her eyes. She turned the cell over and rested it on her thigh. Did her fiancé just dump her at thirty-two thousand feet in a text message twelve days before their wedding?

  She lifted her phone and read the text again.

&n
bsp; “Is that Andy? What did he say?” Candy asked.

  “Just that he got stuck in court and that he’s not going to be able to make it until next week.” She sucked in a slow breath, keeping herself from crying. This had to be some kind of cruel joke. Andy did have a bizarre sense of humor.

  “Next week? That sucks.”

  Echo shrugged. “You married a doctor; you know how it is sometimes.”

  “Yeah, but when he takes time off, he gets it.” Candy took her hand. “This is your wedding. He shouldn’t be showing up a few days before.”

  “He’ll get here as soon as he can.” As soon as she found herself alone, she’d call him and find out what was really going on because no way would she be a jilted bride.

  Spencer Bryant leaned against the fence and sipped his beer, wondering why the hell he’d come to a welcome home party for his ex-girlfriend. He groaned as Noah Farren, fellow firefighter and Echo’s brother, approached. He contemplated taking off for his docked boat and heading to his newly rented cabin on the lake. He’d come late so he didn’t have to bring anyone in his family so he could leave whenever he wanted.

  He’d been there for about forty minutes, and thus far, he’d managed to stay the hell away from the bride. He hoped to keep it that way.

  “You’ve been standing on the sidelines for close to twenty minutes,” Noah said, slapping him on the back. “If I can face Candy, you can face my sister.”

  “You are comparing apples to oranges, my friend.”