Rescuing The Reluctant Groom (Windy City Romance 5)

by Barbara Lohr

  Sofia arranged Selena’s long white mantilla one last time, draping it perfectly over the comb their grandmother had worn for her wedding.

  When they reached upstairs, the arches of the gothic church soared above them, saints and cherubs smiling down from the frescoes. For a second, Selena wished they had gone to Santa Fe to be married in the smaller Loretto Chapel. Then she caught sight of Seth standing at the end of the long aisle. Her future was in his smile. That’s all she needed and her crazy stomach settled.

  The organist struck up the traditional wedding march and little Lisa started down the aisle, flinging rose petals with each step. None of Seth’s nephews wanted to be in the wedding party, but Lisa had been so pleased to be asked. She wore a child’s version of the pale purple gowns worn by the women. Their lace bodices were dotted with dainty seed pearls and a peplum ruffle accented the long, trim skirt. One by one they paraded to the front and a murmur rippled through the church. They looked so beautiful and stylish.

  Selena couldn’t help but think back. Little girls can dream and she was no exception. Never had she ever imagined anything like this wedding. When she was a young girl, working in the fields, this was beyond her childish dreams. Gratitude filled her heart. A kiss on the cheek and McKenna stepped away, the final bridesmaid down the aisle. When she reached the altar, she turned left to join the others. McKenna's nod was Selena's cue.

  “Oh, Papá.”

  Her father patted Selena’s hand while she clung to his arm. He looked handsome but uncomfortable in his tuxedo. “Tenga una vida maravillosa, mi hija preciosa.”

  Eyes damp, she nodded. Now she was the one unable to speak. Of course she would have a happy life. After all, she’d be sharing it with Seth.

  Stepping out into the aisle, Seth beckoned her forward with his smile. Unbearably handsome in his tux, he was everything to her, the man who would love and cherish her forever. Best of all, he’d written his own vows. Oh, Seth might have trouble getting through them, but what did they care? She couldn’t wait to hear them.

  This past year they’d gone through so much to reach this point. Together they’d face the future, stronger as a couple than they ever could be alone. Smiling at the man who would soon be her husband, Selena took the first step.

  THE END

  Please take a second to leave a short review if you enjoyed Rescuing the Reluctant Groom! Readers find new books through comments left by readers. Your words are very much appreciated. Rescuing the Reluctant Groom is the fifth book in the Windy City Romance series. The books are stand alones and can be read in any sequence.

  Other Books by Barbara Lohr

  Windy City Romance

  Finding Southern Comfort

  Her Favorite Mistake

  Her Favorite Honeymoon

  Her Favorite Hot Doc

  The Christmas Baby Bundle

  Man from Yesterday

  Coming Home to You

  For a sample of Barbara's other series, Man from Yesterday, read Chapter 1 of Coming Home to You, below.

  Coming Home to You

  The thumping started when Kate Kennedy reached Greta’s Gifts on Red Arrow Highway. Cheese curls churned in her stomach as she tapped the brakes. Almost home but something was wrong with the kayak strapped to her roof. Gravel crunching beneath the tires, she pulled into Greta’s and parked. The sun bounced off the hood of her SUV, but a cool May breeze bathed her face when she cracked open the door.

  Welcome to Michigan. Her eyes felt grainy from fourteen hours on the road, but she was home.

  Stretching, Kate breathed in the lake, damp and beachy. The tightness in her shoulders eased. Pine trees caught a high spring gust and the familiar rustle made her smile. Her stomach gurgled. Not much to eat the whole ride from Boston except peanut butter and jelly, plus bags of cheese curls washed down with coffee.

  Looking up, she exhaled. At least she hadn’t lost Gator, her green kayak. A red security tie flapped in the breeze. Must have lost the other strap along the way. Kate scrubbed her face with hands shaking from all the caffeine. A semi roared past, kicking up dust. She tugged up the zipper on her hoodie.

  “Doggone it, Gator.”

  The kayak slid a bit farther. Too bad she’d left her small kitchen stepladder in the Boston condo, along with a lot of other stuff. When she yanked the remaining red band, it fell away in her hand. One frustrated shove and Gator retaliated, smacking her square in the chest before clattering to the ground. The pain bent Kate over like a paper clip. She almost didn’t hear the door slam behind her.

  Blinking furiously, she pulled herself up, grateful for the sunglasses. No way would anyone see Kate Kennedy cry. A man ambled toward her in work boots, worn jeans, and shoulders that tested the seams of a beat-up jean jacket. That walk looked familiar and her heart kicked up a beat. He wore aviator sunglasses, so no telling for sure. A black and white dog hung out of the pickup, Great Dane ears pricking forward. Big muzzle, big dog.

  “Need some help?”

  Yep, it was him. Kate’s legs weakened. “No, I’m fine.”

  His eyes shifted to the kayak on the ground. “Doesn’t look fine to me.”

  She fisted her hands on her hips. “I’m fine. And so is Gator.” Her chest throbbed.

  Blue eyes swept like a July wave over the tops of his sunglasses. “Gator?”

  She swallowed. “My kayak. Seemed appropriate.”

  “I see.”

  But Cole Campbell had never understood why Kate wanted all her belongings named and in their proper place. Shoot. They’d been on the high school debate team together, and he didn’t recognize her? Maybe it was her recent drugstore dye job. She’d had brown hair in high school. Now she ran a hand over blonde hair, crisp from two days of neglect.

  He swayed back on his heels, a Good Samaritan with second thoughts. The two empty seats of the kayak stared up at them. “Lucky you didn’t lose it on the road. Could have smashed into another driver. You need to batten it down.”

  “Thought I did. It was dark when I loaded it.”

  “Try doing it in the daytime. You could kill somebody.”

  “I left at midnight.”

  “Midnight?” He lowered the glasses and his eyes darkened.

  Her chin came up. “Highway’s quiet at night. Just the truckers.”

  “Exactly. Truckers. You think that’s safe?”

  None of his business. “I’ve, ah, probably got some rope in the back.” She seriously doubted it.

  “I’ll be glad to help.” Cole’s attention shifted to her jeans. The corners of his lips lifted. “You saving that for something?”

  Kate looked down. A cheese curl was caught in her crotch and she batted it away. No time for games. Especially not with him.

  His eyes flitted from her to Gator and back. A stern mask slipped into place. Cole’s teenage acne had left faint pockmarks that definitely didn’t detract from his macho appeal.

  Was he going to help her or not? Her chest throbbed. Could this day get any worse? The boy she’d lusted for in high school didn’t even recognize her. Kate’s throat closed. Nothing like feeling forgettable.

  In two thrusts of his muscular arms, Cole had Gator back in the rack on top of her SUV. Disgusting how easy he made it look, but it gave her time to enjoy the view. Cole Campbell had definitely left “gawky” behind.

  “Thank you.”

  Wheeling around, he caught her staring and grinned. “Got that rope?”

  Her face burned. “Sure. I’ll get it. Let me just check Bonita.”

  “Bonita?” He tilted his head.

  “My car.” One glimpse of the pretty blue SUV on the lot and she knew it was Bonita.

  “Sure. Right.”

  Popping open the back gate, Kate launched herself into the tightly packed boxes and bulging trash bags. Her rear end felt big as a helium balloon.

  “Finding anything? I might have something in the truck.”

  Feeling him hovering, she tried to squeeze her butt tighter.


  When she heard the scratch of his boots, Kate thought maybe he was leaving. Her disappointment surprised her. After all, she wasn’t at her best. If you’re going to run into an old flame… well, a man you wanted to be your old flame… a girl should look hot, not sweaty.

  Kate was sweaty. And not in a good way.

  Finally, she climbed out empty-handed. Cole was ambling toward her with a roll of heavy gauge rope.

  “That looks serious.” Her mother wouldn’t even be able to get a clothespin around this sturdy stuff, although she’d probably try.

  “Want to stand on the other side and catch this?”

  “Sure.” I’d hold anything for you. Like my breath.

  While Cole tossed a length of rope over the kayak, his dog watched from the pickup with mild interest. Grabbing the rope, Kate threaded it back and he knotted it securely. “First, I like to tighten the bow and then the stern.”

  “You kayak?”

  Whipping out a Swiss army knife, he cut the rope. “Way too much work. I sail.”

  Of course. She pictured an elegant yacht skimming Lake Michigan. Samantha McGraw would be rubbing her tan body against his. Kate didn’t need the instant replay. Had enough of that in high school.

  Cole worked with calm efficiency, the way he’d handled Student Council or Debate Club.

  Oh, yeah. He’d handled their debate group just fine.

  When he turned back, his eyes went to her hair. Smiling, Cole whisked something from the mess. Her breath left her body.

  Maybe she was just tired.

  Or maybe she was desperate for a man’s touch.

  He handed her a cheese curl. “You missed this.”

  “Great. Thanks.” She jammed it in her jean pocket and then felt stupid. Was she going to press it in her high school scrapbook? Kate slammed her back gate shut.

  Cole’s eyes rested on the Massachusetts license plate. “Passing through or coming for the summer?”

  “That depends.” He still didn’t know her? She edged toward the driver’s door. “Thanks for your help.”

  Cole cocked his head to one side, like he was listening to her voice. “Sure. No problem.”

  “Got to get to an appointment.” Maybe a shrink. She opened the driver’s door so fast she almost cracked herself in the mouth.

  “Ah, huh. Well, good luck.”

  “Right. Thanks.” Kate needed more than luck this trip. Without looking back, she peeled out and did a U-turn on Red Arrow. In bad need of a friendly face, she headed into town.

  Driving toward Gull Harbor, Kate passed the ice cream parlors, restaurants, galleries, and gift shops that lured tourists. Some looked closed, and she hoped that was just seasonal. Winters could be hard on businesses, and this economy didn’t help any.

  Clancy’s grocery store sat at the main intersection of Whittaker and Red Arrow, just next to Dressel’s drugstore. Kate ducked into the grocery, grabbed a cart, and zipped through the aisles, snapping up basic necessities like OJ, milk, bread and cheese curls. Stopping at the deli counter, she picked up some sliced turkey and cole slaw. Should hold her for a while.

  After stowing the bags in her trunk, Kate glanced across the street. The Full Cup sign swung above the frosted glass door. A cheese crown called to her from Sarah’s shiny clean case. Hardly any traffic on Whittaker in early May and she sprinted across the two lanes. Kate pushed open the door of the bakery and breathed in the scent of warm, fresh pastries. No need to begin sensible eating now. Sour cream donuts, almond braids, cheese crowns and frosted brownies were neatly arranged behind the glass.

  Freshly perked coffee perfumed the air with a hint of hazelnut. Definitely not the roadside stuff. Everything about the place looked the same, just the way Kate liked it. Her irritation eased. Would it be a cheese crown or a brownie? Kate was still deciding when Sarah whirled through the swinging door to the back, patting her brown curls. “Why, Katie Kennedy. Back so soon?”

  “Couldn’t stay away from your cheese crowns.”

  “I know. Me too.” Laughing, Sarah wiped her hands on the apron around her ample waist. Miss Congeniality, hands down.

  “Everything good? Boys and Jamie doing all right?”

  Sarah had married Jamie Pickard, her high school sweetheart now serving overseas. They had two little boys.

  “Yep, as far as I know. One cheese crown coming right up.” Sarah handed over the largest pastry on the tray. She nodded toward the tables at the window. “Got time to chat? Coffee’s free.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” That run-in with Cole after all these years had left Kate’s head fuzzy. She just wasn’t ready to see her mom yet. After pouring a cup of hazelnut coffee, she slid onto one of the wire-backed chairs.

  Sarah settled across the table with a sigh. “Your mother will be glad to see you.”

  “So you know about her stroke?” No secrets in this town. Today that felt good.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “The therapists say she’s improving.”

  “She’ll be tickled to see you.” Supportive to the bone, Sarah always had your back.

  “Picked up groceries and thought I’d stop here.” Kate’s grin felt shaky. “Kinda tired. I started out late last night.”

  “A woman on the highway alone at night?”

  “Cole Campbell already told me that was stupid.”

  “You’re in touch with Cole?” Sarah’s eyebrows lifted into her curly mop.

  Kate brushed the crumbs from her jeans. “My kayak came loose, and he stopped to help.”

  “Really? Always so helpful. Cole’s a mover and shaker here in town.”

  “Samantha must love that.” Kate had heard Cole and Samantha married right out of college. By that time, Kate had been dating Brian for three years. High school friends pairing up had been old news.

  But with Cole? Okay, the news gave her a twinge or two.

  “They split up.” Sarah stirred more cream into her coffee. “It’s been tough for him the last few years. He has custody of their daughter.”

  Cole Campbell, a single father? “Thought the mom always gets the kids. Does Samantha live around here?”

  “Nope. California, from what I hear. Anyway, Cole wants to move Gull Harbor ahead.” Sarah glanced at the street outside. “Make some changes.”

  “Things look just fine the way they are.” Kate took another bite of the sweet cheese.

  “We’ve had a rough few years, Kate. Shops have closed or changed hands. Michiana Thyme was sold. Did your mom tell you?”

  Kate shook her head, struggling to swallow. She always bit off more than she could chew. “Nope. She might be a little out of touch now.” Craning her neck, Kate stared down Whittaker at the combination gift shop and diner on the main corner. Been there forever. Now it was sold? Her contentment at being home unraveled around the edges. “I was looking forward to their stuffed French toast.”

  “And I would have been right there with you, not that I need it. Loretta retired and moved to Florida to be near her son. No one wanted to take on the store.”

  “What’s going to happen to the place?”

  Sarah lifted a shoulder. “Town meeting pretty soon. Cole bought it. He’s got plans. Your mom never said anything? She’s always been so involved in Gull Harbor.”

  “She will be again. I have no doubt.”

  Sarah’s eyes softened. “She’ll be so glad to see both of you.”

  “Mercedes can’t come. Too much going on with her company.”

  At least that had been the excuse. Kate didn’t need to spell it out for her old friend. Eons ago, her older sister had borrowed an outfit from Sarah. The fluffy teal sweater and pants had been so pretty. After go-karting with friends, Mercedes returned it with oil stains. Never said a thing about it. Kate had been so embarrassed. Just another page from the book of Mercedes Kennedy. “I’m hoping Mercedes will be able to come soon.”

  “You Kennedy women are strong. Almost didn’t recognize you, Kate. Like the blonde hair.”

/>   “What was I thinking? Crazy, right?”

  “Maybe you need more crazy.”

  “Don’t know if I’m ready for that.” But change was bearing down on her, whether she liked it or not. This two-block street was all Kate had ever known in Gull Harbor. They’d hung out here at the Swirly Top, eaten Loretta’s special orange ricotta stuffed French toast at Michiana Thyme and grabbed pizza at Touch of Italy. All the local kids got part-time jobs in the shops during the summer. “I want it to stay just the way it is.”

  “I don’t know if that’s possible, Kate.”

  Her coffee had turned lukewarm. The cozy hazelnut flavor was gone and a chill stole through the glass window. “Boy, it’s cold. When will spring get here?” Kate pulled her hoodie tighter.

  “We had a long winter.” Sarah gave her a wry smile. “The ice floes didn’t melt until just a couple weeks ago. Beach is going to be wide this year. Hope people can afford to rent cottages.”

  By Memorial Day, families would be bustling from store to store with bulging shopping bags. At least, that's the way it used to be. “How's your business?”

  “Not bad. Course I have been taking more day-old pastries to the soup kitchens. Might as well have someone enjoy them, right? Gonna be here for a while? I'm sure the girls would love to see you. You probably have to get back, though. Husband, job, and all that.”

  Kate sucked in a slow breath, not quite ready to share the news. “So much depends on Mom’s condition. I’m freelancing now, you know. Healthcare blogs.”

  “Right, you told me the newspaper had a layoff.” A silence stretched until Sarah carefully swept crumbs off the table and into a napkin. “Well, then. You always liked to read, Kate. Come to our book group.”

  “Anybody I know?” Last thing she needed was a bunch of strangers asking questions.

  “Chili and Carolyn Knight, who teaches at the high school.”

  “Chili? Don’t think I would have passed Spanish without her.” Chili would quiz Kate about verb conjugations until she could recite them in her dreams. “Carolyn? You mean Miss Knight? Still single and teaching at the high school?”

  “Yep and then Phoebe and Diana. Both new to the area. You’ll enjoy them. Phoebe has a hair salon and Diana opened Hippy Chick, a clothing store. Kind of cute.”