Always a Bride

1 Finley I knew that look. The one that told me an anvil was about to drop on my head or a freight train was going to crash right into my cracking heart. It was a look I should have seen days ago, hours ago. Even minutes ago would have been nice. Christian Grant, the man I was seconds away from tying myself to for the rest of what would undoubtedly be a boring life, had come to a decision. The look springing to his impossibly blue eyes—eyes I’d once considered sinking into like they were the freaking ocean—was equal parts relief and guilt. Relief because the decision I waited for him to speak out loud was probably the right one. And guilt because even a man who barely knew how to wash his own underwear realized this was the exact wrong moment to suddenly have an epiphany. About us. A sigh rattled from my lungs as I listened to the priest go on about holy matrimony. I’d heard it all before—too many times. Yes, I was that girl. The notorious Finley Kelly, Gulf City’s local runaway bride. Though, I never ran away. I just sent grooms packing in the other direction. Three, to be exact. This was my third time down the aisle, and I hadn’t even been able to get excited or nervous about my big day. Maybe that should have been a sign. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, blocking out the small audience of people who’d already re-gifted the same salad bowls and blenders to me a few times. “Just say it, Christian.” My soft words cut off the priest, and the slim, bald man glanced from me to the man who was about to add to my fame. It wasn’t exactly a fame I wanted. “Can we go somewhere and talk?” A laugh barked out of me, and I ignored the chatter now coming from the witnesses to my humiliation. “Don’t you think it’s a bit late for that?” This wasn’t like last time. I knew that. Christian wasn’t seeing someone else. Nor was it like my first almost-wedding where my boyfriend of eight years, my high school sweetheart, was really in love with one of my bridesmaids. No, this time, it was entirely about me. I turned to the audience with a smile that hid the embarrassment racing through me. That should have been a sign too. I was more worried about not getting married—again—than losing the man beside me. “Sorry folks, but the wedding is off.” I stepped forward, ignoring the warning calls from both Christian and the priest and completely forgetting I’d had to climb two steps to get to the chapel’s stage. A yelp flew past my lips as I pitched forward, grasping for anything and finding only air. I landed hard on my hands and knees, my beautiful wedding gown dropping across the floor like some silly decoration I hadn’t wanted. This wedding was supposed to be simple, inconsequential. But my best friend was a wedding planner, so basically, I was screwed. I scrambled to my feet, heat rising in my cheeks, and marched down the short aisle, bursting out into the lobby. My train caught in the door, and I yanked it free, gathering it in one fist. Weddings were the worst kind of t*****e. At least for someone who almost expected to be left holding the bag, or the train, in the end with no husband to show for it. Footsteps echoed off the cold stone floor, and before I could make it into the safety of the ladies’ room, a hand clamped around my arm. “Finley.” I ripped my arm away. “Go away, Christian.” He looked back over his shoulder as the doors opened and our guests started pouring into the lobby. Once our families got ahold of us, there’d be no talking at all. In fact, Christian would probably end up flat on his back with my three brothers arguing over who got to take him out. Hm, maybe I should let them catch up to us. Christian had other plans. He shoved me into a coat closet—unused most of the year here in Florida—and shut the door behind us. I took a few steps away from him. “Finley, I never said we shouldn’t get married.” I laughed at that. I couldn’t help it. “You forgot who I am, didn’t you? I read the signs.” We’d been engaged for almost a year now and living together for a bit less. None of it had been easy, but I’d refused to end another engagement. This time, it was happening. Until it wasn’t. I wiped sweaty palms on my dress, not caring if I got it dirty. It would just join the collection I’d been growing unwittingly. Christian pushed a hand through his blond hair. That was my first mistake. Never trust a blond. Okay, that was a joke. It wasn’t his hair’s fault that every one of my now ex-fiancés was blond. I had a type, okay? “Fin, you in there?” Shane, my oldest brother’s voice came through the door, and I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine, Shane. Tell the others I’ll be out in a minute.” If I was used to this whole left at the altar thing, so were my brothers. I was pretty sure they got more upset about it than I did. “Fin…” “Go away, Shane.” “Have you seen Christian?” Christian blanched at that. I only smiled. “I’ll let you have him as soon as I’m done with him.” I turned to Christian, the man I’d considered too pretty for words. He had a delicate beauty, one I’d come to learn had little behind it. He was a nice guy, sure, but as I stared at him, I couldn’t remember what I’d loved so much about him. “Talk fast, and if I like what you say, I’ll give you a head start with Shane and Johnny.” My third brother, Tanner, was the one who would come to find me instead of Christian. Christian leaned against the wall. “I just couldn’t go through with it.” “Gee, that makes me feel so much better. Do you not want to get married? Is there someone else?” “No.” He pushed away from the wall to stop in front of me. “No. I promise. I wouldn’t do that to you.” “Yet, you’d leave me standing up there in front of everyone who already thinks I’m kind of a joke.” “No one thinks you’re a joke. You can’t honestly say you aren’t feeling a bit relieved.” “You don’t know what I’m feeling.” He leaned in, lifting two fingers and pinching them close together. “A bit.” I pushed him away. “Fine. I’m kind of relieved.” A smile spread across his face. “No. Don’t smile.” I pointed one manicured finger at him. “You don’t get to smile.” He pulled me to him and pressed a kiss to my cheek. “I knew you’d understand.” “I hate you.” “I know.” He didn’t stop smiling. “My brothers are probably going to hunt you down.” “I know that too.” “And yet, you’re happy.” “Doesn’t it feel like the giant weight of this wedding has been lifted?” He reached for the door. As I followed him back into the lobby, I realized he was right. Nothing had felt right leading up to this day. Yet, I hadn’t called it off, hadn’t given in to my gut feeling. Most of the guests had trickled out to the parking lot and were searching for their cars by the time we came out, but two imposing figures stood on either side of the glass double doors leading into the hot Florida afternoon. Shane and Johnny, so similar I had to keep myself from laughing. Both had the trademark Kelly dark hair, emerald eyes, and lean, muscular frames. Johnny was a bit shorter than Shane and nine years his junior. Christian’s steps faltered as he reached them. I let them stare him down for a thick moment before stepping forward. “All right, boys, that’s enough testosterone. Let poor Christian get out of here. His mother is going to do more damage to him than either of you.” It was true. All his mom wanted was for her only child to marry and start giving her grandchildren. I didn’t envy his confrontation with her. Johnny looked like he wanted to back down, but one glance at Shane and his spine stiffened again. “Christian,” I urged. “Go. They won’t touch you.” Like a cat with its tail on fire, Christian bolted through the door, away from the Kelly drama. I barely glanced at my brothers as I followed, shielding my eyes from the blinding sun. Only a few people still milled around. My parents talked with the only bridesmaid I’d wanted this time, my best friend, Rae. Christian’s mother stood with her arms crossed as he approached her. And lounging on a dark stone bench near the edge of the parking lot was my saving grace. I hadn’t bothered to change out of my dress and could already feel sweat soaking into it. Soon, my makeup would run, and then I’d truly look like a train wreck. But I didn’t care. I wasn’t ready to leave yet. I slouched onto the bench beside Tanner and cursed myself. “I forgot my purse inside.” He shot me a wink. “Let me get one of my manservants.” He lifted his chin. “Yo, Johnny, the lady needs her lady things.” “On it,” Johnny called back. “They scare poor little Christian?” “Yep.” I leaned my head back and looked up at the blue skies overhead. “He probably needs to go change his pants.” “So, third time isn’t the charm then?” I laughed. This was why I spent more time with Tanner than anyone. Shane and Johnny worried about me, but Tanner knew what I really needed. “Just adding to my notoriety. I’m angling to be Gulf City’s most famous resident.” “Well, we have national surf champions, best-selling authors, and even a rock star who lives here. But sure… Gulf City’s scorned bride ranks up there.” “Shut up.” I bumped my shoulder against his. “It’s an accomplishment.” “You don’t seem terribly upset.” He was right. I wasn’t sure when I stopped loving Christian. Maybe it was when we moved in together and I learned he still took his laundry home for his mom to do. Or maybe it was every morning when we woke up to have the exact same conversation. How did you sleep? Good. You? Fine. Anything happening at work today? Nothing exciting. Me neither. Then, he’d proceed to read the paper while I read whatever fantasy book I’d started on my k****e before we both left. He wasn’t a bad guy. He taught history at the same school Shane taught math, was good with kids, and sweet to my parents. There was just something… not right. It took me a moment to realize Tanner was staring at me. “Oh, I guess… I guess I’m not. You know what I could use, though?” If he was fazed by my changing direction, he didn’t show it. “There’s a restaurant two miles from here where everything has been paid for in advance.” “You read my mind, brother. Now, can we get there before Mom corners me for a more-fish-in-the-sea chat?” He held out a hand, and I took it, letting him pull me to my feet. “Let’s go.” We made a break for the limo that sat idling at the curb. I yanked open the door and tumbled in. We reached the Beach Club as they were preparing to serve our entire dinner party—since we’d opted for that instead of a reception. Everyone in town knew who the Kellys were, so no one mistook Tanner for my husband—thank the sweet earth. We were greeted with raised eyebrows and the offer of tonight’s special—mussels in some kind of sauce they were famous for. But I only wanted one thing. “Burgers.” Tanner handed the menu back. “Please.” By the time the rest of the family joined us, we were halfway through gigantic burgers that had been run through the garden. I’d been so nauseated all day, and it was the first I’d eaten. “Told you they’d be here.” Rae glared at Shane. “I know Fin.” “No fighting, dears.” Mom sat across from me. “Hi, baby. How are you?” This was a mom how are you. I was well versed in them as the family screwup. But at least I’d tried getting married, unlike my fool brothers. “I’m fine, Mom.” She raised one perfectly arched I-don’t-believe-you eyebrow and made a sound in the back of her throat. “If she says she’s fine, we should believe her.” Dear old Dad. I shared a smile with him as he sat next to Mom. “I still think you should have at least let me hit Christian.” Shane threw himself into a chair and stole my burger, taking a bite before setting it back on my plate. “Can we please talk about something other than my aborted wedding?” Rae took a chair next to me and reached for my hand. “Of course. Though, that’s kind of hard when you’re sitting here in your dress.” Johnny tried to steal fries from Tanner’s plate as Tanner swatted him away. “Yeah, I’d rather talk about how Finny fell flat on her face. Classic.” That earned him a smack on the back of the head from Mom. It wasn’t until later that night when I returned to the small house I’d shared with Christian and noticed his missing belongings that it hit me. The relationship I’d given the last two years of my life to was over, done. I curled up in the bed we’d shared, hugging a pillow to my chest. I’d once had a life plan. Get married by thirty when I’d advanced in my career, start having kids while my parents were young enough to be around, and be happy. Well, I had two weeks until the big three-oh, and all I had to show for it was a job I hated, three failed weddings, and the whispers of the town everywhere I went.