Ever After (Nantucket Brides 3)

Hallie started to knock. They needed to talk! But she looked at her watch and realized she had only minutes before she had to be downstairs to greet their guests.

She had trouble reaching the long zipper of her dress, but she managed it. When it was on, she was shocked to see that the dress was downright big on her. She could grab a handful of silk at her waist.

Jamie was waiting for her at the landing and he was still wearing that cold look.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” she said. “Are you in some jealous fit because I talked to another man?”

“Talk?! It’s more like you oozed to him. ‘Oh, Braden,’?” he said in falsetto, “?‘you’re so strong and smart and I’m just a helpless little thing.’?”

Hallie tried not to laugh. “You are jealous. For your information, I have known Braden Westbrook my entire life. He gave me piggyback rides when I was a toddler.”

“And how old were you when you started planning your wedding to him?”

“Eight,” she said before she thought.

“My point exactly,” he said smugly.

Hallie’s hands made fists at her sides. “I have a right to talk to anyone I want to in any way I want to and you have no right to—”

“I hate to interrupt here,” said a deep, smooth voice from the bottom of the stairs, “but your guests are on their way.” Ian was looking up at them in curiosity. With a bit of a smile, he walked away.

“We can finish this later,” Jamie said as he motioned for her to go down ahead of him.

“There’s nothing to finish,” Hallie said under her breath. “Braden is—” She stopped when she saw the tea room. The furniture had been rearranged so there was a round table for four in the center, draped with a snowy linen cloth. The dishes on it were Herend, winking in the light of the many candles that were set about the room. The air was fragrant with food, wine, and flowers. “This is truly exquisite,” she said and smiled at Adam, Ian, and Raine, who were beautifully dressed and standing to one side.

“We are here to serve you,” Adam said. His dark eyes were made for candlelight. If a Regency romance novel came to life, Adam Montgomery would be the hero.

“All of you will be here tomorrow to watch the wedding, won’t you?” She took a step toward him.

“Out!” Jamie said. “We can serve the food ourselves.”

“If you need us…” Raine said as he walked toward the doors.

“Go!” Jamie said. “We don’t need any of you.” He shut the doors behind them.

“What is wrong with you?!” Hallie said.

“Where do I begin? I was in a war and the vehicle blew up and—”

“Don’t you even think of blaming your bad mood on a war! This has nothing to do with—”

“Am I interrupting?” Kit asked from the doorway. “I was told to come in.”

“Please do.” Hallie turned away from Jamie.

Kit stepped back to allow a woman to enter before him, and Hallie had her first sight of Jilly, the bride. She was a very pretty woman, her face soft, ethereal even. She was thin and wearing a dress of gauzy fabric that suited her pale skin.

“If you’d rather, we can come back another time,” she said, her voice as soft as her face.

“No, it’s fine,” Hallie said. “Jamie’s just being a jerk.” Immediately, she put her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry! He’s your nephew and—” She wanted the floor to open and swallow her.

Jilly laughed. “He can be.” Smiling, she affectionately ruffled Jamie’s hair. “Todd is worse.”

“Isn’t he!” Hallie said, then rolled her eyes. “I am sorry. I’m really putting my foot in it tonight.”

Kit made formal introductions. He was dressed in a dark suit, no tie, and from the quick way he glanced about the room she thought he was casing it. She wasn’t surprised when his eyes landed on the box she’d slipped onto a dresser shelf.

“Would you mind if I used your facilities?” Jilly asked. “And Hallie, maybe you’d show me the way.”