The Best Man Problem

by Mariah Ankenman

  But those were the silly wishes of a young girl. By the end of the fifth grade, real life had reared its ugly head and her mother was onto her second marriage. Lilly knew her father wasn’t a spy, off saving the world and protecting her identity. He was just a man who knocked up his girlfriend and disappeared before his responsibilities could catch up to him. Meanwhile, her mother kept chasing love, always thinking she’d finally caught it and getting her heart stomped on.

  Lilly didn’t know what hurt worse: her mother’s abandonment or watching the woman’s heartbreaking sobs every time a guy left her.

  “What about you?” She tried to inflect some cheer into her voice, anxious to change the subject away from her. “Are your parents still together?”

  Lincoln paused. She held her breath, fearing he wouldn’t let it go, but then he spoke.

  “From the moment they met, my parents weren’t apart more than a few days.”

  She could hear the smile in his voice as he spoke.

  “Dad always said it was love at first sight, but Mom said he just wanted help on his math homework.” He gave a soft laugh. “They married right out of high school. Dad was an electrician, and Mom was a mathematician. She was wicked smart with numbers. She even taught at Harvard as a guest professor for a few semesters. When I started getting into computers, she encouraged me, reminding me a lot of computing was math. We had fun figuring out programming and stuff together. Dad always said I got all my smarts from her, but I think I got the best of both of them. They were great parents.”

  The way he talked about his parents made her heart yearn. Growing up, she ached for a family dynamic like Lincoln was describing. It sounded so loving, so warm. But she also noticed a hint of sadness as he described his parents—and his use of the past tense.

  “Were?”

  He cleared his throat before he spoke again. “They passed away a little over five years ago. Mom had a stroke, and Dad just couldn’t live without her. He died a few months later. The doctors said his heart just gave out.”

  “Oh, Lincoln.” She placed a hand to her chest, feeling his loss as he spoke the words. “I’m sorry.”

  “Me, too. I miss them every day.” He sighed, a wistful breath traveling over the airways. “They were both in their mid-seventies when they passed. I was a late-in-life baby. Mom had a few miscarriages early on, and they figured it just wasn’t in the cards for them, but then I came along a couple years before Dad was set to retire. It was quite a shock for them.”

  “A happy shock, I’m sure.”

  He laughed softly. “Yeah. They always said I was their best surprise.”

  “They sound like they were amazing parents. I’m sure they would be proud of you, Lincoln.”

  “Careful, sweetheart,” he said in a deep, warm tone. “Keep giving me compliments, and I might start to think you actually like me.”

  She was pretty sure she made that clear last night when she had inappropriate text sex with him.

  “It doesn’t matter what I think of you. We’re completely unsuitable as a match in almost every way.”

  He chuckled. “There’s the Lilly I know.”

  She joined in his laughter. “Seriously, Lincoln. I do think you are an amazing man. You’re smart, funny, kind, sexy—”

  “Why do I hear a but coming?”

  “But…” She sighed. “I’m not sure we want the same things out of life, and you’re still a part of a wedding party I’m running.”

  “Ah yes,” he mused. “Your rule. Let’s put that aside for a moment, considering it won’t be an issue after next weekend.”

  Holy crap, he was right. Next weekend was Marie and Kenneth’s wedding. The big obstacle getting in their way of pursuing something more, the thing she was holding onto like a lifeline, saving her from drowning in a sea of feelings for a man she already felt too much for, was rapidly approaching. Once the wedding was over, what was to stop them from being together? Nothing, really. So what the heck was she worrying about?

  A lightbulb went off in her brain, illuminating the one situation she’d never pondered. What if—after the wedding, of course—she and Lincoln continued getting to know each other, and things actually worked out? Could she dare hope? Maybe they wouldn’t be compatible enough to make it long term, but didn’t she owe it to herself to try and find out? If Lincoln was willing to try and see, then why not? What the hell was holding her back?

  Possible heartbreak.

  Not if she led with her head and not her heart. She could do that. Right?

  “We haven’t really been on a proper date; we don’t really know that much about each other or what we want in life. Do we?” Lincoln asked.

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  “Perfect! Then it’s settled.”

  “What’s settled?” She had no idea where his logic was going at the moment.

  “After the wedding is over, I’m going to take you on a date, one where we keep our clothes on, and we’ll get to know each other better. It doesn’t have to be anything life-altering. We can just see where the night takes us, have a little fun.”

  His tone was slightly teasing, but the thought of going on an actual date with Lincoln made her want to squeal with joy and hide under the covers all at the same time.

  “What do ya say, sweetheart?”

  Honestly? She had no idea. Half of her was screaming yes! while the other half was busy planning a way to fake her own death and run far away from this man and the terrifying feelings he stirred in her.

  “Uhhhhh.”

  “Why don’t you think about it and get back to me later?” he asked, amusement coloring his voice.

  She swallowed, finally finding her voice. “Yes. Thank you. I just need…to think about…things.”

  “Of course. But, Lilly,” his smooth voice whispered in her ear over the phone, deep and resonant as if he were in the room, in her bed, holding her in his warm, safe arms. “While you’re thinking about things, I’ll be thinking about you. And about last night.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Wow!” Lincoln stepped out of his car in front of the wedding venue. It was about a half an hour drive outside of the city in Genesee. No tall buildings or sidewalks here, nothing but a forest of dark green pines and stark leafless aspens. “This place is amazing.”

  This past week had been a rush of helping Marie and Kenneth get all the last-minute details in place. Max had been fully trained and assured his bosses he could handle the coffee shop for the next week while they were on their honeymoon. Lincoln had also promised them he’d check in and make sure everything was running smoothly. It was a small favor he would gladly perform in order to ensure his best friends could enjoy their special day and the start of their new life together as a married couple.

  They sure as hell deserved it.

  “Hey, man.” Kenneth came strolling out of the huge log cabin Lincoln had just parked in front of. “Amazing, right?”

  Lincoln stared up at the—well, it was a disservice to call the thing a simple cabin. This was no pioneer home, built to keep out the elements. This was a stunning display of craftsmanship. Architecture weaved into nature with a seamless beauty that both awed and inspired. The house loomed three stories high. Floor-to-ceiling windows covered the entire front of the structure, allowing natural light to pour in. The second floor sported a large wraparound deck where weddings took place in the summer months. Ken and Marie planned to have their ceremony inside. Good thing, too, because the wind had a bite to it.

  Lincoln sniffed the air, the tip of his nose freezing slightly with the chill. It smelled damp, cold, like an impending snow.

  “Don’t even say it,” Kenneth warned.

  “What?”

  “I saw you sniff.” His friend glanced around, lowering his voice. “The weather report said a storm was coming in over the next forty-eight hour
s. I’ve managed to keep Marie from hearing about it, because if she hears snow is coming, she’ll freak.”

  “How are you going to keep her from seeing the flakes when they fall down?” He pointed to the sky. “Because I’m pretty sure that’s going to happen any moment now.”

  Kenneth looked up with a scowl, as if he could keep the snow from falling by sheer force of will.

  “I’m hoping it’ll hold off until after the wedding. It’s less than twenty-four hours away. We might get lucky.”

  Lincoln laughed at his friend’s optimism. “And you might get snowed in.”

  Kenneth glared at him. “Do you have to be such a pessimist?”

  With a laugh, he held up his hands. “Hey, man. I’m simply being a realist.”

  “Yeah? Well, I’m really hoping it doesn’t start snowing until after the wedding. A storm could ruin everything.”

  “Probably shouldn’t have planned a wedding during one of the snowiest months of the year, then.”

  Kenneth flipped him off. “It was the only time we could get all the family together, jerk.”

  He laughed, grabbing his overnight bag and tux from the car. “For Marie’s sake, I will wish the snow to hold off.”

  “Thanks.” The groom-to-be motioned to him. “Come on inside. I’ll show you to our room and give you the lay of the place before the rehearsal starts.”

  He followed his friend inside, listening as the man explained about the rental Mile High Happiness had helped them secure. The eight-thousand-square-foot cabin was a full-service rental that boasted a full gourmet kitchen, a great room—where the wedding would be held—six bathrooms, eight bedrooms, and a sauna. Fancy digs.

  “We’ll drop off your stuff and head to the great room,” Ken said as they entered the first floor, where half of the bedrooms and the kitchen were located. “Marie’s already there with the Mile High Happiness women. The rehearsal is in a few hours, but I think they’re doing some last-minute decorating or something.”

  His friends weren’t the kind to freak out over things—they ran their own business; they knew how to deal with a crisis—but he sensed tension coming off Kenneth.

  “Everything okay, man?”

  Kenneth opened a door to the bedroom, glancing over his shoulder. “What? Oh, yeah. I just…I just want everything to be perfect for her.” The man sighed. “She deserves the best.”

  Lincoln placed a comforting hand on his buddy’s shoulder. “She’s getting the best. She’s getting you. That’s all she cares about, I promise.”

  Kenneth shook his head. “You’re wrong. She deserves better than me, but I’m not going to be stupid enough to tell her. I’m a lucky bastard, and I’ll do everything in my power to make her happy for the rest of our lives.”

  He smiled. “Even threaten the weather?”

  “Mother Nature better keep her precipitation locked up if she knows what’s good for her.”

  He laughed, slapping Kenneth on the back as the men entered the room.

  “Damn!” He let out a low whistle. “Is this a room or a suite?”

  The large room boasted a huge bay window with a cushioned window seat that looked ideal for napping on a lazy Sunday. Two plush-looking high-back chairs sat in one corner, a coffee table in between them, while a dark red chaise longue took up the far wall. He spied an open door that appeared to lead to a private bathroom. The room rocked—except for one thing.

  “Dude, is that the only bed?” He pointed to the large king taking up a significant portion of the back wall.

  “Yes,” Kenneth answered. “All the other rooms are filled with out-of-town guests. Marie wanted to bunk with her bridesmaids. Something about not sleeping together the night before the wedding being romantic. So you and I are bedmates.” His friend pointed a finger at him. “And don’t get any wild ideas. I’m a promised man. We can share like civilized adults, but no funny business.”

  Lincoln smiled. “I’m getting a weird flashback to sophomore year when we went to Key West for Spring Break and stayed in that awful rental.”

  Kenneth laughed. “Oh yeah! The one that said it had two beds, but it was one full and a pull-out sofa with no mattress. That sucked.”

  They’d shared the tiny bed for the night, scouring the small island until they found a hotel that had two beds with an opening the next morning. It had maxed out their credit cards, but it had been worth it. Two grown men sharing a full bed was not the most comfortable of situations.

  “At least this is a king,” he said with a shrug. There’d be much more room.

  “And it’s only for tonight. Everyone is leaving after the wedding tomorrow.” A look of pure joy lit up Kenneth’s face. “In twenty-four hours, Marie and I will be on our way to Cancún for our honeymoon.”

  His friend’s happiness was infectious, and Lincoln found himself smiling. “I can’t believe you and Marie are finally getting married.”

  Kenneth’s jaw tightened, eyes misting over. “There was a time I thought this day might never come. When she was fighting for her—”

  Lincoln wrapped an arm around his friend, pulling the guy in for a hug as the words clogged his throat.

  “I know, man. But she’s okay now. You guys are going to get married, live happily ever after, and be one of those annoying couples who make everyone jealous with their bliss.”

  He could attest to that firsthand.

  “My goodness, the love abounds today,” a soft voice spoke from the doorway. “I just left Marie hugging and happy crying with her bridesmaids. Don’t witness too much of it with the menfolk, but it’s great to see.”

  Lincoln pulled back to stare at the woman filling the bedroom doorway. The woman who’d been haunting his dreams for far too long, the woman who made him hard with nothing but a simple glance, the woman he hoped to have under him again the second this wedding was over.

  “Hey, Lilly.” Kenneth grinned. “Is it time to start the rehearsal?”

  “Almost.” She smiled at them both. “We’re just waiting on a few more people, but if you guys want to head up now, that would be great.”

  Kenneth gave him a hard slap to the back before heading out of the room.

  “Hey.” He walked over to her, cupping her cheek. Her eyes darted to the side, checking for people who weren’t there, before she leaned into his touch.

  “Hi. Drive okay?”

  “Mm-hmm.” He stroked his thumb along the softness of her skin. Her eyes closed for a brief moment before they snapped open, emerald depths hazy with desire.

  “We should get up there.”

  “Yeah, we should.”

  But neither of them made a move.

  “There’s a lot to do before the wedding.” She leaned into him, face tilting up.

  “Yup, a lot,” he agreed, stepping closer until her breasts brushed against his chest.

  “I have things to…”

  Her words trailed off, eyes closing as she tilted her head up, lips parting. How could he refuse? He leaned down slightly. Not too far, because Lilly was a tall woman, the perfect height for him to brush his lips against hers. She moaned, the sound making him hard as granite. He grasped her hip, pulling her body flush against his as he deepened the kiss. She opened for him, greedily thrusting her tongue against his, devouring his lips with her own.

  Damn! The woman was going to kill him.

  Then, just as quickly, she was gone.

  “Fuck.”

  He laughed at her curse. “I’d like to, but we have a rehearsal to get to.”

  She shook her head, smiling. “Ass. Come on, Romeo.”

  Adjusting his jeans, he followed her out of the room and up the stairs. He enjoyed the view as he watched the sway of her hips in her dark blue pencil skirt, the material hugging her curves with each rise of the steps. Noise filtered into his brain as they ascended to the main f
loor, which held the great room.

  “Oh no!”

  Marie’s cry brought him out of his lust-induced stupor. Glancing at the large windows, he winced. Large, fat flakes fell from the sky, swirling to the ground in a beautiful yet ominous dance. He glanced around the room, focusing on Marie, who stood in the center, staring straight out the window, Kenneth behind her, holding her in his arms.

  “At least it’s pretty?” Lincoln heard his friend say.

  “It’s beautiful, babe, but now the roads are going to be a nightmare.” Marie turned, burying her head in Kenneth’s chest. “What if people can’t make it up?”

  The heartbroken voice, muffled by his friend’s chest, struck a chord in Lincoln. This wasn’t fair. Marie and Ken were an amazing couple. Too much of life had tried to mess with them. They deserved to have one day free of disaster. He wanted to help, but he had no idea what to do.

  “Marie.” Lilly made her way over to the forlorn bride-to-be. “Everything will be okay.”

  “But it’s snowing!”

  The wedding planner smiled. “Yes, I can see, but Colorado is used to February snow. You’ve lived here long enough to know that, right?” Marie nodded. “Don’t you worry about a thing. Let me makes some calls and see what I can do.”

  He hurried to his friend’s side as he watched Lilly pull out her phone and speak in hushed tones to whoever was on the other end of the line.

  “Okay, everyone.” Mo—sporting purple stripes in her blond hair—called everyone over to the center of the room. “While Lilly works her magic, why don’t we go over what’s going to happen tomorrow? We want to do two run-throughs so we get everything down pat for the big day.”

  Everyone gathered at the small woman’s command. He lined up next to Rachel, half his concentration on the woman standing off to the side of the room, pacing as she spoke on the phone. He had no idea who Lilly was calling or what she was trying to orchestrate, but he’d bet his hard drive if anyone could push the weather back to make this wedding perfect, it would be her.