Luck of the Draw (A Betting on Romance Novel Book 1) (48 page)

I
N THE END, SHE WORE PALE BLUE—a long, simple sundress she’d discovered at Lydia’s shop. It skimmed her toes as she walked toward him, the flowing fabric conforming to her legs as the breeze blew in off the lake. She’d insisted she didn’t want to wear white—she’d done the fancy-gown/church-wedding before. She wanted this wedding to be different—to be simpler and less fussy.

He’d never seen her more beautiful.

His chest felt full, as if the joy inside him would burst the confines of his body at any moment. It had been less than a month since he’d proposed, and Grams and Nana had pitched a fit about not being given enough time to pull together a proper wedding, but he hadn’t wanted to wait another minute to start life with his new family—and the woman he loved.

Thank goodness Kate was as impatient as he was; although, now that she was nearly three months along, that might have something to do with wanting to be married sooner than later.

Kate held a bouquet of wildflowers tied with a long satin ribbon and smiled that soft, sweet, hopeful smile he knew he’d never grow tired of. Liam, looking smart in his baby blue suit, held her hand as they made their way down the dock to where he stood, waiting, with the Justice of the Peace.

He’d been skeptical of getting married on the dock, but Kate had pointed out the futility of finding any other venue on such short notice. Besides, she’d said, the lake was where their love story began. He wasn’t sure if she meant chicken raft, the photo shoot… or the skinny dipping… but it didn’t matter. She was right.

Kate passed her bouquet to Grace who stood to one side with Liam and Rachel. Doug and Carter and Ian stood opposite. Kate met Jim near the end of the dock, and he took her hands in his. Her hands trembled slightly, or maybe that was him, but they felt warm and soft and
right
in his own. He ran his thumb over her fingers and smiled at the sparkling pale blue polish she wore.

“I love you,” he said, just for her, although it felt easy and natural
now after a month of practice.

“I love you, too.”

“What do you say we do this?”

She smiled and nodded, overcome with emotion, and by the end of the ceremony, he couldn’t have told you what they’d said even though he’d agonized over the vows for
days. All he remembered was Kate’s smile, Liam solemnly handing over the rings, the elation of hearing the words
husband and wife
and being given permission to kiss his bride.

He’d done so with gusto, hoisting Kate into a high hug and twirling her in a sweeping exuberant
circle.

He’d never mean
t to knock Carter in. Honestly.

Carter landed with an inelegant splash in the cooling
late-September lake water and no one laughed as hard as Grace as she generously leaned down to give him a hand back up… until he pulled her—wedding attire, bouquet and all—into the lake beside him.

Jim felt laughter bubble up inside him as Grace sputtered to the surface.

They hadn’t meant for it to happen. They hadn’t planned for things to end up the way they had, but sometimes, he figured, you have to accept the hand life deals you. True, maybe it’s the luck of the draw whether you win or lose, but he was more than happy to play this hand out.

He looked Kate in the eye and knew she felt the same way.

He turned to the side and winked at Liam. “What do you say we get this party started?”

Liam nodded and took his hand, his blue suit already splattered with lake water. He didn’t seem to mind. Over the past few weeks, he’d
taken to swimming like a fish.

Jim turned to his new wife.

“I love you,” he whispered.

And without another word, he reached out and took her hand, and they ran, as a family, off the dock and leaped, laughing, into the water
.

THE END

BOOK TWO COMING FALL 2014: STACKING THE DECK

Coming Fall 2014!

Our match-making grandmothers
are at it again
… Stacking the Deck
in Sugar Falls
!

Liz Beacon has life all planned out—prioritized, color-coded 
and
 cross-referenced. She long ago traded in the geeky high school nickname, teenage pounds and dysfunctional family for a fab career, killer abs and a man every woman would envy. Okay, so her sex life is non-existent and her almost-fiancé is technically a coworker.  Life, if not perfect, is still on track. But then, Liz is called home to Sugar Falls, NH, to prepare her childhood home for sale. She’s spent ten years denying her insecurities and hokey lawn-ornament roots. There’s nothing she’d rather do less than face all she happily left behind, including her embarrassingly one-sided high school crush.

Carter McIntyre has sailed through life on his winsome smile… and by the skin of his teeth. A college drop-out with ADHD, he’s learned it’s safer to play the carefree charmer than step up and take over his uncle’s landscaping business. But then his class valedictorian returns to Sugar Falls and hires him for some home improvements. Now Carter’s wondering if it’s too late—to grow up, take a chance and win over the only girl who ever believed in him…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cheri Allan lives in a charming fixer-upper in rural New Hampshire with her husband, two children, two dogs, four cats and an excessive amount of optimism. She’s a firm believer in do-it-yourself, new beginnings and happily-ever-afters, so after years of wearing suits, she’s grateful to finally put her English degree to good use writing romance. When not writing, you might find her whizzing down the slopes of a nearby mountain or inadvertently killing perennials in her garden.

Cheri loves to hear from readers!

E-mail her at cheri
@cheriallan.com.

F
riend her at
http://www.facebook.com/cheriallanauthor
.

Or, visit her website and blog at
www.cheriallan.com
.

If you enjoyed this book, please consider telling other readers by writing
and sharing a review.

Cheri is pleased to continue her ‘Betting on Romance’ series with
Stacking the Deck
(coming fall 2014)
because—after all—every woman deserves to get lucky.

ACKNOW
LEDGEMENTS

I am eternally grateful to my dear husband, Alan, whom I love beyond words, for supporting me through successes and stumbles and for never once questioning our household’s unusually high per capita consumption of chocolate.

I give thanks…

To my children for supporting me even though I’ve told them they can’t read my books until
they’re older, because they, too, believe in following one’s dreams…

To the beautiful, talented and inspirational ladies of NHRWA without whom I wouldn’t be sane or published. The waiting room was lovely, but it was time to move on…

To old friends and new for asking me how it was going, reading, critiquing, and often simply wading through imperfect versions of this and other projects before I—finally—got it right…

And, to Charis, a true angel from above, for sending out her beacon of hope when I most needed it and lighting the way through countless e-mails and ‘murky middles.’ You are a critique partner extraordinaire.

I raise my bunny to the Plotbunnies (you know who you are) for your creativity and strength and open-minded support. May all your dreams come true!

And finally, I thank you, my readers, for taking a chance on me. Without you, I’d just be a crazy cat lady with a computer.  ~ Cheri

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed falling in love with Jim and Kate as much as I enjoyed writing their story!  I have a special place in my heart for everyday heroes, and Jim is that all-around good guy that
should
get the girl in the end, don’t you think? So, any guesses of whether it will be a boy or a girl?

If you enjoyed meeting Carter in
Luck of the Draw
you won’t want to miss my next ‘Betting on Romance’ novel,
Stacking the Deck,
where Carter finds his own happily ever after
.

Also, be sure to sign up for my mailing list at
www.cheriallan.com
to receive invites to exclusive contests and info on new releases! It’s easy and free and you may well win cool stuff from beautiful New England! What’s not to love about that?

Sweet regards from Sugar Falls!

~
Cheri