Daring Brides

~ Dare Valley ~

Meredith & Tanner

Jill & Brian

Peggy & Mac

Abbie & Rhett

© 2015 Ava Miles

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Your favorite Dare Valley characters have survived betrayal, secrets, and tragedy to find true love. Now, watch each of these daring brides walk down the aisle to their happily ever after with the man of their dreams. You know, the hero who fires up all their engines. And, of course, the town of Dare Valley comes out to throw these fabulous couples quite a party.

From NORA ROBERTS LAND, Meredith Hale and her own hero, Tanner McBride, embark upon the journey into their new life, Marriage Land. See what makes Meredith's wedding day so daring, and meet Tanner's best man, international news correspondent Asher Harrington. Then, there's Grandpa Hale's priceless advice about what makes a long-lasting marriage.

Jill Hale from FRENCH ROAST has wanted to marry Brian McConnell since she wore pig tails in grade school. Brian has come around-finally. Sure, she got pregnant before they tied the knot, but it doesn't matter because they're going to live happily ever after. Find out what makes Jill a daring bride besides her wish to rent a pink circus tent for the wedding reception.

Peggy McBride from THE GRAND OPENING never imagined getting married again, especially to hotel magnate and poker champion, Mac Maven. See what Mac gives her to make their wedding day daring, and watch as her cute-as-a-button son binds their new family together in the most adorable way ever.

Abbie Maven from THE HOLIDAY SERENADE resisted her love for bad-boy Rhett Butler Blaylock, not only because he's a poker player, but also because that Southerner knows how to start a ruckus wherever he goes. Now, it's their wedding day, and Rhett's friends from Dare River show up as well as his mama, Eugenia Lynn, and his cousin, Charleston. Of course, a ruckus breaks out, making Abbie feel more than a little daring, but it's all in good fun and makes this couple's wedding the most memorable one in Dare Valley for some time.

To my sister, Michelle Khamis, wedding planner extraordinaire—here's to following our dreams, being successful entrepreneurs, living a joyful and abundant life, and supporting each other throughout the journey.

And to my divine entourage, who helps me see the joy and beauty of marriage all over again.

Acknowledgements

Team Ava is the absolute best: Sienna, Angela, Louisa, Em, Hilary, Leigh, Beth, and my Angels. They support me in all the ways I need with absolute efficiency and joy. Yeah!

As I said, my sister, Michelle Khamis, helped me envision all these weddings so they'd be top notch and true-to-life. She went from being my inspiration in NORA ROBERTS LAND to starting her own business and being named Best Wedding Planner of the Year. Thanks for the vision boards for each wedding and for adding to the Daring Brides Pinterest board to give a canvas to this story.

T.F. My favorite mental image right now is of you standing at the end of the aisle.

And finally, to all my readers, who wanted to see the weddings of our favorite Dare Valley couples-so far. This one is for you.

Meredith & Tanner

Meredith Hale’s first wedding had been packed with so much pomp and circumstance that it wouldn’t have seemed out of place if the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey had joined the melee with elephants. Of course, her then-groom was the one who’d insisted on the spectacle. She should have seen Rick-the-Dick’s wedding egomania for what it was—another indication they weren’t truly suited, that they wouldn’t truly last. Five hundred people had packed into St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Their reception had been sumptuously hosted by The Plaza on Fifth Avenue. She hadn’t known over half of the guests.

When she and her own Nora-Roberts-hero fiancé, Tanner McBride, had sat down to plan their wedding—her second and his first—they had been in complete accord. A small gathering. Only family and friends. Not super dressy, but with a great band and awesome food.

As she stood in front of the full-length mirror in the church’s bridal area, watching her mother fluff her veil, she realized how different she felt from the last time she’d worn a wedding dress. Before, her chest had been tight with pressure. Today, she felt all gooey inside. The kind of gooey that could only come from true love.

She’d returned to Dare Valley to prove that heroes like the men in Nora Roberts novels really existed—despite what her ex-husband, Rick-the-Dick, had said to the contrary.

She’d more than proved it. She’d found one for herself. And all because of that quality her grandpa called daring.

“Mom,” she said softly. “I think my veil is fluffy enough, don’t you?” It was lace trim, matching her dress, and trailed to mid-back. There was no way she was covering her face.

“Any more fluff, and it would be cotton candy,” her sister said from her perch on the small sofa, smoothing a hand over her red silk dress.

Jill was her only bridesmaid today, whereas last time she’d had seven.
Seven.
What had she been thinking?

“I’ll fluff it all I want, thank you very much,” their mom, Linda, responded with an exaggerated eye roll.

“You’re a lot more chill this time,” Jill commented, unscrewing the perfume bottle Meredith had brought and taking a sniff. “Of course, that’s mostly because you’re marrying the best man in the world this time and not an asshole.”

Leave it to Jill to put it out there. “I couldn’t agree more. What’s the time?”

Jill dabbed some perfume behind her ears and then reached into her bold purple purse for her phone. “We have a bit of time yet. How about a mimosa? I smuggled the fixings into one of my bags. I brought enough to fuel an army, and there are even special wedding straws so we won’t mess up our lipstick.”

She held up a bunch of straws decorated with red hearts on a white background. Where did her sister find such things?

“The church doesn’t allow alcohol inside, Jill,” their mother said, looking toward the door as if they were doing something naughty. “But I won’t tell if you won’t.”

Jill stuck her free hand out, and they shook on it. “Deal.”

Wonderful. The party was going to start early. “Okay, why not? I am duly made up and everything.”

“Tanner looks pretty hot,” Jill said, waggling her reddish-brown eyebrows. “I peeked earlier when I went to confer with the vocalist. She and the piano player seem cool.”

“They are,” she told her sister.

Her cousin, Caroline Hale, had helped her find the vocalist in Denver. “Where are Natalie, Caroline, and Moira, by the way?” Even though it was a small wedding, she was still trying to keep track of everyone and be a wonderful hostess. Her cousins had arrived early this morning with her aunt and uncle from Denver, but had disappeared after Meredith changed into her wedding dress. Tanner’s sister, Peggy McBride, was off with the guys since such a profusion of dresses and makeup and tears would give her hives.

“Grandpa Hale is holding court in the vestibule,” Jill told her. “He was showing Danny his disappearing-coin-behind-the-ear trick. Do you remember when he taught that one to Andy and Matt when we were kids?”

Her uncle and aunt had five kids, two boys and three girls. They were about the same age as Meredith and Jill, but they’d moved to Denver fifteen years ago so her uncle could take a more prestigious position at one of the hospitals there.

“Matt pretended to swallow the coin,” she said, touching up her pink nude lipstick at the corners. “Aunt April was halfway to the emergency room by the time Matt confessed it was a gag.”

“April was mad enough to see red that day,” her mom said, shaking her head. “I never envied her for raising boys. Now, it seems like your grandfather is passing on his tricks to the next generation. We’ll all need to watch out.”

“Danny is only four, mom,” Meredith said. “And it’s good to see him learning something as silly as one of grandpa’s magic tricks after losing his mom.”

Andy’s wife had passed away from breast cancer just last year, at the tender age of thirty, and the whole family had been devastated. This was the first family event since Kim’s funeral, and she wanted everyone to have a good time.

“Andy still looks gaunt to me,” her mom said, clucking her tongue. “And Natalie worries me too. She’s looked so unhappy ever since things fell apart with Blake.”

Jill heaved a deep sigh. “I know. It’s still a bit of a shock. I loved that guy.”

“We all did,” Meredith said, thinking about her own divorce. Blake Cunningham, the quarterback for the Denver Raiders, was nothing like Rick-the-Dick. Sure, they were both powerful and famous men in their own right, but Blake had a huge heart and Richard Sommerville… Well, he’d captured her by being at once mesmerizing and aggressive. Thank God her taste in men had changed.

“All right,” her mom said. “Enough of the past. Today’s about new beginnings. Your father and I couldn’t be happier for you, honey. Tanner
is
the best man in the world, just like your sister said. For you.”

“I know it,” she said, feeling that warm glow in her heart expand at the mere thought of him.

The door to the room opened, and her three cousins and Aunt April bustled inside.

“We told the men it was girls only,” Moira said with a small smile. “Your grandpa huffed and puffed like the big bad wolf, but he looked mostly relieved.”

“He’s a big faker,” Caroline said, setting down her clutch purse on the sofa’s arm. “Earlier, he kept teasing us about dolling up our faces with sparkles and saying women in his day never bothered with such nonsense.”

“What a load of crap. Grandma Harriet wore makeup all her life,” Meredith said with a slight pinch to her heart. “I wish she were here today.”

“She is, honey,” her mom said, taking her hands. “Now, let’s do one last inspection now that the rest of the girls are here and then have those mimosas Jill is making for everyone.”

Moira gave a cat-call whistle, and a few of them joined in with squeals, which made Meredith laugh.

She stepped in front of the full-length mirror again. Her gown was made of lace and pearl beads, which were stitched into a coronet pattern at her waist. The dress had the most delicate straps imaginable, and the bodice was an understated sweetheart. It fell to her feet, snugly fitting her body, and didn’t have a train. She’d decided to let her veil convey that touch of whimsy.