Chapter 1
“Are you nervous?”
Rowan glanced at Michael out of the corner of her eye and whispered, “A little. Mostly I’m wondering why I let my sister pick such a long reading.”
His lips twitched. “You look beautiful, by the way. I didn’t get a chance to tell you before the minster started.”
She smiled and looked at him fully. Michael was a true gentleman—always making sure she was comfortable, that she knew he appreciated her, and that she was happy. He was perfect.
Any jitters she had were a perfectly appropriate response to getting married. Promising to love only one person for the rest of her life was a big step.
“You look really good in your tux,” she said with a wink.
The custom-tailored tuxedo fit him perfectly. Clean shaven with a fresh haircut, he looked like he’d stepped off the pages ofGQor was auditioning to be the next James Bond.
He winked back and turned to face the minister again. Rowan glanced down at her wedding bouquet, softly blew out a breath, and gave her attention to the minister as her sister, Adalynn, finally finished her reading.
The minister glanced between them. In a low voice, he asked, “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” they both said.
He raised his voice so the congregation could hear him. “Michael and Rowan, marriage is a promise between two people to love, trust, and honor each other. It takes trust to know in your hearts you only want the best for each other. It takes—”
A commotion at the back of the chapel stopped the minister from telling them what else it took.
“Sir, you can’t go in. There’s a wedding in progress!”
She recognized their wedding planner Stephanie’s voice.
“I know. I’m here to stop it.”
Rowan’s heart thumped in her chest and her fingers tingled from the flow of adrenaline suddenly coursing through her. She squeezed her eyes closed. “Please god, no,” she whispered. Maybe if she wished hard enough what she thought was about to happen wouldn’t.
The strum of a guitar and Luke Stone’s smooth, deep baritone filled the chapel.
I hate to interrupt
But do you believe in second chances?
I’m hopelessly romantic
It’s true
Our history is rough
But I think I learned some lessons
So this is my confession
To you
Rowan finally glancedto her right. Luke stood tall, proud, and unashamed in the center of the aisle, his gaze directly on her, while he sang. Several guests had their cell phones aimed at him and were either recording or streaming live. She couldn’t blame them—how often did you get what was essentially a private concert from a chart-topping country singer?
“Rowan.” Michael’s soft voice pulled her attention away from the train wreck happening in the center aisle.
She saw it in his eyes. The gentleness. The apology. The knowledge that what he did or said next was going to cause her pain, but he was going to do it anyway.
“No,” she whispered. He wouldn’t. He would leave her up here alone. He wouldn’t walk away from her…from them. Why?
Her head jerked from side to side and she took a jolting step closer. “Don’t do this to me.”
He shook his head gently. “I’m not doing it to you. I’m doing it for you.”
“Michael, please. I love you.” The bouquet slipped from her fingers and she reached for his hand.
He grasped hers and squeezed. “I know you do, but you’re not in love with me the way you are with him. I’ve always known that. I love you enough to let you find your happiness, even if it’s not with me.”
He kissed her cheek and his lips lingered next to her temple. “If you can walk away from him, walk toward me.”
She gripped his hand tightly, trying to hold him in place. With a glance at Luke, he turned around and walked away.
