by Kait Nolan
“—remember Athena, and these are her sisters, Maggie, Kennedy, and Pru. And this young lady with the sappy, romantic grin is Pru’s daughter Ari. She likes to matchmake. Consider yourself warned.”
Ari snorted. “Whatever. You’re here, aren’t you? That’s a three-for-three success rate.”
“I’m not sure you can claim credit for all of those,” Kennedy pointed out.
The girl crossed her arms. “Who was it who gave you all a stern talking to when you were being idiots?”
Pru shot her daughter a look of affectionate reproof. “What she means is she’s an incurably nosy and interfering romantic.”
“I regret nothing,” the teenager insisted.
Logan ruffled her hair. “Noted, Nosy. Moving on. This is our wedding planner, Cayla Black; my friend, Porter Ingram; and you remember Xander.”
Did she ever. Her brother’s former college roommate was still hot. He was also very married. To Kennedy, if she wasn’t mistaken. They’d been high school sweethearts, once upon a time, and life had given them a second chance.
“Good to see you again, Xander. Congrats on your own nuptials.”
He wrapped her a quick hug. “Thanks. You grew up.”
“Yeah, that happens. I’m all set to become a productive member of society and everything.”
“So I hear. Never pegged you for law school as a kid.”
Laurel’s face felt stiff as she forced it into a smile. “It takes all kinds.”
Logan continued with the introductions. “And this is Pru’s husband, Flynn.”
Flynn nodded with an expression every bit as impish as his daughter’s. “A pleasure, to be sure.” The greeting fell off his tongue with an unmistakable Irish brogue.
“This here is Master of Carbs, Athena’s pal, Moses Lindsey. Moses is the genius behind our cake.”
“I’m pretty sure that makes you the most popular guy at the wedding,” Laurel told him.
His teeth flashed white against the burnished bronze of his face. “I aim to please.”
“Please tell me there’s chocolate.” She folded her hands in supplication.
Moses jerked his head in Ari’s direction. “Tiny over there already put in her order. There will be chocolate,” he confirmed.
Laurel mimed a small fist pump. “You are a god among men.” Chocolate cake would go a long way toward making up for the stress she’d endured this semester.
“And last but certainly not least, your escort, Sebastian Donnelly.”
Laurel turned to the last groomsman and felt the faux, flirty smile slide right off her face. She froze there, hand partly outstretched as her gaze locked with a pair of deep, brown eyes. Her breath backed up in her lungs, and her heart slowed to a crawl.
His thick, dark hair was nearly black and just a little mussed, as if he’d combed it with his fingers straight from the shower. Broad shoulders tapered to a narrow waist and long, long legs. His button-down shirt clung to his arms in a way that told her he had plenty of muscle under the Oxford cloth, and she’d bet money there was a solid six-pack under there, too.
He stepped forward, taking her hand in his. “Hi.”
As his long, callused fingers closed around hers, she could breathe again. A stillness seemed to flow out of him and into her, and all the running and the stressing and the anxiety that was her constant companion went quiet. Her breath came out on something very close to a sigh, the tension in her shoulders leeching out. In its absence, the pulse that had turned sluggish began to gallop. All the prospective polite banter evaporated from her brain, leaving her with only one thought: Holy shit, you’re gorgeous.
She couldn’t very well say that, though.
Words. I need words. I’m supposed to be good at those. Casting around for something to say, she blurted, “What happened to Nick?” Goofy, bespectacled Nick, who used to give her noogies and didn’t leave her a tongue-tied mess of attraction.
“His dad had a heart attack, so Sebastian is standing-in,” Logan explained.
“Is his dad okay?” The question came automatically. Thank God, she sounded normal at least.
“Yeah, he came through surgery and woke up a few hours ago.”
“Good,” she murmured.
Sebastian still had her hand, still hadn’t looked away. Why hadn’t he moved? Why hadn’t she? It seemed as if heat built between their palms, and Laurel wanted to bask in it.
She wasn’t broken. After the last couple of years, she’d begun to think that Devon had been right. The last guy she’d tried dating, back in her first year of law school, he’d accused her of being a robot. She was driven and focused. In the grand scheme of trying to maintain her position at the top of her class through that brutal, first year of academic hazing, dating and sex hadn’t been a priority. She hadn’t been interested in anyone since. But standing here, palm-to-palm, with Sebastian Donnelly, she felt that interest roar to life like a furnace re-stoked. Heat rolled over her, and she could only pray she wasn’t blushing.
One corner of his mouth quirked, as if he knew her brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Christ, how was it legal for a man to have lips that sensual? The contrast to the neat, close-cropped beard did something to her long-dormant lady parts, and she couldn’t help wondering what that beard would feel like on the sensitive skin of her inner thighs.
“—done with introductions, how about we do one last run through, so Laurel is up-to-speed, then we’ll break for the rehearsal dinner. Okay?”
Jerking her attention to Cayla, Laurel pulled her hand free, resisting the urge to tuck it under her arm to savor the tingles from where he’d touched it. Her cheeks bloomed with warmth.
Good God, when was the last time she’d felt an attraction like this?
Pretty sure that would be never, she thought as she followed the other bridesmaids to the vestibule.
With half an ear, Laurel listened to the wedding planner reel off instructions. The rest of her was still back in the sanctuary, reliving the touch of Sebastian’s hand. It wasn’t the heat that drew her—though that had rocked her back plenty—it was the stillness. The same kind of calmness her brother had always exuded but…more, somehow. Rare and precious, that feeling called her more effectively than any siren. Taking her place in the line-up to walk down the aisle, she wondered what she had to do to get another hit.
Grab your copy of What I Like About You today!
When You Got A Good Thing
The Misfit Inn, Book #1
In the mood for more Eden’s Ridge? Check out Sheriff Xander Kincaid’s story!
Charming, poignant, and sexy, When You Got a Good Thing pulled me in with its sweet charm and deft storytelling, and didn't let go until the very last page. It has everything I love in a small-town romance! ~USA Today Best-Selling Author Tawna Fenske
* * *
She thought she could never go home again. Kennedy Reynolds has spent the past decade traveling the world as a free spirit. She never looks back at the past, the place, or the love she left behind—until her adopted mother’s unexpected death forces her home to Eden’s Ridge, Tennessee.
* * *
Deputy Xander Kincaid has never forgotten his first love. He’s spent ten long years waiting for the chance to make up for one bone-headed mistake that sent her running. Now that she’s finally home, he wants to give her so much more than just an apology.
* * *
Kennedy finds an unexpected ally in Xander, as she struggles to mend fences with her sisters and to care for the foster child her mother left behind. Falling back into his arms is beyond tempting, but accepting his support is dangerous. He can never know the truth about why she really left. Will Kennedy be able to bury the past and carve out her place in the Ridge, or will her secret destroy her second chance?
* * *
Get your copy of When You Got A Good Thing today!
Other Books By Kait Nolan
A complete and up-to-date list of all my books can be found at https://kaitnolan.com.
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The Misfit Inn Series
When You Got A Good Thing (Kennedy and Xander)
Once Upon A Wedding (Misty and Denver)
Those Sweet Words (Pru and Flynn)
Stay A Little Longer (Athena and Logan)
Rescue My Heart Series
Baby It’s Cold Outside (Ivy and Harrison)
What I Like About You (Laurel and Sebastian)
Wishful Series
Once Upon A Coffee (Avery and Dillon): Available for FREE!
To Get Me To You (Cam and Norah): Available for FREE!
Know Me Well (Liam and Riley)
Be Careful, It’s My Heart (Brody and Tyler)
Just For This Moment (Myles and Piper)
Wish I Might (Reed and Cecily)
Turn My World Around (Tucker and Corinne)
Dance Me A Dream (Jace and Tara)
See You Again (Trey and Sandy)
The Christmas Fountain (Chad and Mary Alice)
You Were Meant For Me (Mitch and Tess)
A Lot Like Christmas (Ryan and Hannah)
Dancing Away With My Heart (Zach and Lexi)
Wishing For a Hero Series (A Wishful Spinoff Series)
If I Didn’t Care (Judd and Autumn)
Watch Over Me (Nash and Rowan)
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Ethan and Miranda)
Can’t Stand The Rain (Sean and Delaney)
Meet Cute Romance
Once Upon A Snow Day
Once Upon A New Year’s Eve
Once Upon An Heirloom
Once Upon A Coffee: Available for FREE!
Once Upon A Campfire: Available for FREE!
Once Upon A Wedding
Once Upon A Rescue
Summer Camp
Once Upon A Campfire: Available for FREE!
Second Chance Summer
About Kait
Kait is a Mississippi native, who often swears like a sailor, calls everyone sugar, honey, or darlin', and can wield a bless your heart like a saber or a Snuggie, depending on requirements.
You can find more information on this RITA ® Award-winning author and her books on her website http://kaitnolan.com. While you’re there, sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on news about new releases!
