The Stand-In Boyfriend

by Christina Benjamin

Beth rolled her eyes and swatted her.

  “Come on, Bethy. At least tell me if you took my advice about Parker.”

  “More or less,” Beth admitted, trying to conceal her grin.

  “You’ve made your decision, then?”

  Beth nodded.

  “And it’s Parker?”

  Beth couldn’t contain her smile any longer. Just the mention of Parker’s name made her giddy. “Yes,” she whispered excitedly.

  Brenna whooped. “It’s about time!” Then she pulled Beth into a bone-crushing hug. “Now spill it!”

  In a flash, the rest of Beth’s sisters piled onto the balcony to see what all the fuss was about. They’d no doubt been eavesdropping—it was practically a Bennett sister super power.

  “Hey, no sister-talk without me!” Britton scolded. “I flew all the way from Scotland for this.”

  Brenna beamed at Beth and then shouted loud enough to be heard two towns over, “Beth and Parker are finally doing it!”

  Beth’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, Brenna! We are so not doing it!” But her feeble protests were drowned out by the rest of her sisters’ cheers. Each of them took turns pulling Beth into a fierce embrace and giving her sage sisterly advice.

  It turned out that all of Beth’s sisters felt like Brenna did—Beth and Parker were meant for each other. They all had such kind things to say about him, sharing little ways they’d each noticed him hiding his feelings for her. Apparently all of Beth’s sisters had watched his love for her blossom into the vibrant bouquet that now overwhelmed her.

  By the time her sisters’ excitement died down Beth was near tears with happiness. The Bennett girls knew Parker so well and they all felt he fit into their family like the missing piece.

  For a moment, Beth felt silly for having missed all the signs of what they’d become to each other. But unexpectedly, it was Brenna who made her feel better.

  “Sometimes we can’t see the things that are right in front of us, until we learn how to see ourselves first,” Brenna said quietly.

  Beth squeezed Brenna’s hand. There was so much strength there and never had Beth been more grateful that Hurricane Brenna, in all her feisty, wild nature, was her sister.

  Parker

  Parker finished his morning run. He trekked eight miles on the beach. It was more than his usual six, but he couldn’t seem to stop. He just felt so alive. The salt air and the soft sand tried to coax him to keep going, but he was anxious to get back to Bellemora—back to Beth.

  He knew he wouldn’t have time to see her before the ceremony, but just knowing he’d be in her general vicinity eased his mind. It’d always been like that for him. Parker felt better whenever he was where Beth was. He smiled to himself knowing it would be nearly impossible to tear himself away from her today. He’d seen her pale lacey bridesmaid dress hanging in the bedroom before he left for his run. She was going to look stunning in it.

  Parker was lost in daydreams of Beth when he heard his name being catcalled from the balcony he jogged under. He looked up and nearly tripped. Beth and her sisters were all in states of half-dress as they waved and cheered like girls gone wild. Parker’s eyes found Beth’s and she smiled at him so brightly his chest hurt.

  “Spot any rainbows yet?” he shouted.

  Beth leaned over the railing, giggling like a child. “They’re all I see,” she called back.

  And then she blew Parker a kiss, riling her sisters even further. They teased him some more, dragging a giggling Beth back into the suite like she was a princess awaiting her knight.

  Her wild laughter trailed after Parker like music. He smiled to himself as he jogged away, his heart swelling in his chest. Beth’s happiness was all that had ever mattered to him, and being the one to bring that to her filled him up in a way he couldn’t express. He found himself wondering if her laughter alone was enough to sustain him. Parker laughed at himself, because in that instant, he knew it was.

  36

  Beth

  Beth was giddy as she put the finishing touches on her hair. Her blonde waves were soft and swept to one side with an antique comb. She looked around the room at her beautiful sisters, her heart brimming with pride. They were all dressed in matching lavender silk robes gathered around Brenna. Her robe was white, with the word, ‘Bride’, embroidered in elegant lavender script over her heart.

  Brenna was smiling so brightly it almost made Beth’s heart hurt. She couldn’t wait to meet the man that had made her wildest sister fall in love—because it was definitely love Beth saw on Brenna’s face. Being in love herself made it somehow easier for Beth to spot.

  The photographer posed them for a few more ‘getting ready’ shots. Pulling out her phone, Beth snapped a few candid shots of her own. She wanted to remember this moment forever. She’d never felt so close to her sisters before. They’d all been genuinely happy for her to finally realize her feelings for Parker. It was like being in love had made her worthy of being inducted into their secret club of grown up sisterhood. No longer was Beth the tag-along, the baby, the outsider. She was just Beth—sister, equal, friend. It was a priceless gift and she would be forever grateful to Parker for giving it to her.

  Beth almost had to pinch herself to keep her feet planted on the ground. She and Parker hadn’t even started their relationship—not officially—but already Beth felt like she was on cloud nine. Was this how everyone in love felt? If so, how was it possible to get anything done?

  Beth’s heart was aflutter and she couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than a few seconds before her mind slipped back to thoughts of Parker. It astonished her how someone so familiar had morphed into someone so entirely different overnight. Parker was like a drug and she craved him constantly.

  When Beth was younger and her crush on Parker had been fresh, she’d often wondered if it was possible for things to be different between them. If they started dating would she be able to think of him differently? Could they cross the line from friend to boyfriend, or would their familiarity be an obstacle?

  That fear had been obliterated the moment he’d kissed her on the beach. Then again last night.

  Beth realized there was so much more of Parker for her to discover. She knew him so completely as her friend, but this new Parker, the one with the smoldering gaze and wandering lips . . . she’d only begun to scratch the surface of him. And it made her pulse race just thinking about what else she would uncover.

  A knock at the door pulled Beth from her thoughts.

  “Come in,” Brenna called, but the door remained shut.

  A more forceful knock made Beth and her sisters pause their primping.

  “Bren?” A deep voice called through the door.

  Every eye in the room swiveled to Brenna, who’d gone utterly still.

  “Eric?” she whispered.

  The door cracked open. “Is everyone decent?”

  Brenna was on her feet now, moving toward the door as if propelled from a canon. “Eric!”

  Brenna called his name with urgency and he threw the door open just in time to catch her as she leapt into his arms, squealing like an over-caffeinated cheerleader.

  Beth stared at Brenna. She’d never seen her badass sister act so girly. And from the bewildered looks of the rest of the Bennett sisters, neither had they. They watched as Brenna cried tears of joy in Eric’s giant tattooed arms. Eric whispered sweet things too low for Beth to discern. He continued kissing every available spot on Brenna’s head as she buried her face in his burly neck.

  Eric looked just as Beth suspected—a muscle-bound Marine with a collection of tattoos and scars to accompany his rugged good looks. His dark hair was buzzed short and there was a fire blazing in his green eyes. Instantly, Beth saw how Brenna would’ve been drawn to him. He had that dangerous edge about him. But there was something else, too. He seemed as much of a protector as he was bad boy and that made Beth like him more than she’d expected. Brenna could use someone to look out for her.

  When Brenna fi
nally peeled herself away from Eric, she introduced him to everyone. Beth’s admiration for him grew. Eric was polite and eager to talk to all the Bennett girls, even if his eyes never left Brenna entirely. But that only reassured Beth that Eric was a good choice for her wild sister. Brenna needed someone who would put her first for a change. She didn’t have a stellar track record with guys and it was nice to see she’d finally picked a good one.

  After all the introductions had been made Eric cleared his throat. “Pardon my behavior ladies, but I’ve been away from this woman for far too long.” Then he scooped Brenna into his arms and kissed her in a way that made Beth blush and look away.

  The rest of her sisters swooned and giggled, and Britton called, “Get a room.”

  “We plan on it,” Brenna called detaching herself from Eric’s face. “Right now actually.”

  “Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Bianca asked.

  “There’s no such thing as bad luck with this woman in my life,” Eric replied. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some catching up to do with my bride.” Then he hoisted Brenna over her shoulder like she was a sack of flour and started toward the door.

  “Brenna!” Brianna hissed. “It’s your wedding day!”

  “I know,” she replied with a sinful grin. “Wish me luck!”

  “Your dress!” Beth called running after her sister with her light silky gown in her arms.

  “Thanks,” Brenna replied, grabbing the gown from Beth and balling it up as Eric carried her from the room like a caveman.

  Beatrice laughed. “Brenna may have met her match with that one.”

  “Finally,” Beth and her sisters chorused in unison, causing them all to dissolve into a fit of giggles.

  Brenna had always said she would never change for a man, and it was good to see she hadn’t. She’d just found her perfect match instead.

  37

  Beth

  The wedding went off without a hitch. Brenna made it to the altar in time—wrinkled dress and all. Both Brenna and Eric wore such happiness on their faces that Beth was sure no one even noticed the wrinkled dress or Brenna’s slightly disheveled hair. Besides, that was Brenna. She was authentic to the core, and never apologized for her spirited nature. It wouldn’t feel right if her wedding day was an exception.

  Besides, Beth didn’t think Brenna and Eric would’ve made it through the ceremony if they hadn’t gotten their reunion out of the way first. She’d seen the way they’d looked at each other earlier—like even the universe wouldn’t dare to keep them apart.

  But for all Beth noticed about her sister and Eric, it paled in comparison to the way she felt when she’d first seen Parker waiting for her to walk up the petal-lined aisle. Beth’s heart had leapt to her throat as she drank in Parker’s long limbs, outfitted in an expertly tailored gray suit. He wore a slim tie almost the exact shade of his ocean blue eyes, and he’d traded his glasses for contacts, which only made the brightness in his eyes more fetching. And when Parker smiled, Beth felt something in her chest crack wide open. She knew his smile down to her very core—it was the one he reserved just for her. It spoke of secrets and promises and amazing things yet to come. Beth returned his smile, hoping to convey just how much she was looking forward to all of those things with him.

  When the ceremony was over, Beth slipped her arm though Parker’s as a thousand nerves danced under her skin. Parker leaned in and gave her a knowing look. “Ready?” he asked.

  Beth nodded. She truly was ready—ready for forever with him. She smiled, linking arms with Parker. If forever had a beginning, it would feel like this.

  Parker

  Parker swayed with Beth in his arms on the dance floor. They hadn’t left it once since the music started. He couldn’t bear to not be touching her, and this was the best excuse they had. Beth had obviously told her sisters about her feelings for him, or maybe they’d just guessed from the giant smiles both he and Beth couldn’t seem to wipe from their faces, but as far as Parker knew, everyone else in Beth’s family still thought they were just friends.

  Parker was happy to keep it that way for now. Beth’s parents were strict about dating and he didn’t want any more obstacles to overcome just yet. His hesitation to tell anyone his good news came from his deep-rooted fear that when things seemed too good to be true, they usually were. Even now, as he held Beth against him, Parker couldn’t help thinking that something would swoop in and ruin all of his hopes and dreams.

  Dancing with Beth cradled in his arms felt like heaven. Her cheek pressed against his neck, her fragrance of light citrus filling the night air—it was all too perfect.

  Parker slowly stroked his thumb against the bare skin of Beth’s lower back. Her bridesmaid dress was white and lacey with a low-cut back, and he couldn’t help feeling like he was holding an angel in his arms. The thought did little to calm his nerves. Parker was dying for a moment alone with Beth to reaffirm last night hadn’t been a dream, that she really had picked him and ended things with Jared. But then again, he didn’t want their perfect moment to end. Dancing under the starlit sky with Beth Bennett in his arms was a dream come true.

  “What?” Beth asked catching his adoring gaze.

  “Nothing.”

  “Nothing?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  “Well, not nothing, but I don’t want to jinx it.”

  “Jinx what?”

  Parker moved his mouth to her ear and whispered. “How happy I am.”

  He felt Beth shiver as her mouth quirked into a smile. “Me too.” She gazed up at him, her deep brown eyes twinkling. “You know . . .” she said playfully. “This is starting to feel like a date.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  She gave an impish shrug. “I mean there was dinner and now dancing . . .”

  “And we could take a moonlit walk,” Parker offered catching her drift.

  “And if I’m not mistaken, those were all the things you said you wanted us to do first.”

  “You’re not mistaken,” he replied.

  “So now what?” she asked.

  It was Parker’s turn to shrug. “The world is our oyster.”

  “Well, I have an idea,” Beth offered.

  “What’s that?”

  “I think maybe we should take that moonlit walk back to my room.”

  Parker’s heart nearly beat out of his chest. “So you were serious about that note you left me?”

  Beth smirked. “I was wondering when you were going to bring that up.”

  “It’s pretty much all I’ve been thinking about,” Parker admitted. “I mean, come on. You can’t tell a guy you want to wake up next to him in the morning and expect anything else. It’s torturous. Do you know how many cold showers I had to take?”

  Beth giggled. “I’m sorry.”

  “No you’re not.”

  She laughed. “You’re right. I’m totally not sorry.”

  “Good,” he said. “Because I’m holding you to it.”

  Beth grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

  Beth

  Beth’s willpower got her through one more song, but the sensation of Parker’s fingers stroking the small of her back was doing unholy things to her insides. She stretched up on her tiptoes and whispered into his ear. “Ready?”

  She couldn’t see his smile, but she felt it against her cheek. A moment later he was guiding her off the dance floor and through the crowded reception, his hand never leaving her back. It was a new, yet welcome feeling.

  Having Parker nearby had always been reassuring, but now, his touch was intoxicating. Everywhere he brushed her skin lit up with heat and electricity. The feeling spread through her body in unexpected and delicious ways. Her heart beat faster and her chest felt tighter. She wondered what she looked like to the people she passed. In her mind, Beth felt like she was sprinting away like a thief in the night. She held her breath, sure someone would notice she’d stolen the most precious guy at the party.

 
When they made it far enough away from the outdoor reception, Parker took Beth’s hand and began to run. She pulled him up, giggling and breathless after only a few steps.

  “Wait. I can’t run in these,” she said reaching down to slip off her shoes. She handed them to Parker and picked up the long hem of her gauzy white dress. “Race ya,” she said.

  “What?”

  But Beth was already bolting barefoot across the lawn. She knew it was cheating, but she also knew Parker would catch her in a heartbeat. She hadn’t been able to beat him in a race since she was six.

  She was right. In no time, Parker’s arms snaked around Beth’s waist. He dropped her shoes and hoisted her off her feet. She gasped and half-heartedly tried to slip his hold by tickling him.

  Parker barked a laugh. “You’re such a bad sport.”

  She was about to say something witty when he swept her feet out from under her, catching her just before she landed on the ground. She shrieked which made Parker smile so wide his dimples carved handsome grooves in his flushed cheeks.

  “You almost dropped me,” she gasped.

  “Never.”

  “You could have!”

  Parker smirked deviously. “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Then he attacked her with his own brand of tickling that left Beth panting with laughter.

  When he stopped, they were tangled together on the cool, lush grass. Parker’s beautiful face was inches from hers. Her heart raced with the promise of his kiss. He made her want to be reckless. Beth looped her arms around Parker’s neck and he leaned in, kissing her with abandon.

  Fireworks erupted in the distance and Parker pulled away, laughing when he saw Beth’s awestruck expression. “I swear, I didn’t plan that. I’m not that good.”

  Beth laughed. “I don’t know. You should give yourself more credit. It sorta feels like fireworks in my chest every time I kiss you.”

  Parker grinned and leaned in to kiss her again, and that’s when it happened. She heard someone call her name and dread spread through her like a crack ripping through ice. Even before Beth looked up, she knew who she’d see standing there. She’d know his voice anywhere. Except he wasn’t supposed to be here. He was supposed to be in Aspen.