The Runaway Bridesmaid

The Runaway Bridesmaid
Kaitlyn Rice

It's Not Who You're Running From…sitter for his kids, he'd beg her to return and marry him, and they'd all live happily ever after. That was the plan.Trevor Kincaid. He was everything her old lover was not—adventurous, always up for a challenge and with no qualms about having a fling. As soon as Isabel proved her point, the levelheaded Kansas girl would kiss the dangerous mountain man goodbye and resume her safe and predictable life. Or so she thought.

Developing a crush on a complicated man like Trevor Kincaid would be a mistake

Whether they were on a break or not, Isabel shouldn’t give up on Roger. He might be a little gun-shy about a second marriage, but at least the marriage gun he wielded was loaded with fairly innocuous pellets. Eventually she’d convince Roger to marry her.

And that was what she wanted, wasn’t it? Marriage to a man who would stick around. And happy children. She thought she could achieve that with Roger. Why, she was already halfway there if she counted Angie and RJ.

Trevor was actually a year older than Roger and he’d never been married.

She didn’t think he had any kids. He was a committed bachelor, she had no doubt, and she could see why.

An enigmatic, sexy man like Trevor would surely come equipped with a machine gun.

A relationship with him simply wasn’t safe.

Dear Reader,

Do you know these people? She thinks nothing of sacrificing an afternoon to watch her down-on-their-luck neighbors’ kids. He brings a dozen doughnuts to the office on Monday morning, including several of those chocolate old-fashioneds you like and a jelly-filled Danish for the receptionist. She plans a girls’ night out on the second anniversary of your breakup, because she’s been there and she knows some times are still rough.

Thoughtful folks. I’m lucky enough to know a few of them. Isabel, my heroine and the second of the HEARTLAND SISTERS, is just such a people person. Sometimes she gets so caught up in helping everyone else that she forgets about her own wishes. She tells herself that her greatest desire is to make other people happy. Maybe so. But maybe she’s also afraid. Will people think she’s selfish? Will she try and fail? Will she try and succeed, and have to let someone down?

Oh, yes. I know a few Isabels.

Trevor Kincaid doesn’t have any trouble striving for his goals, and he lives the kind of exciting life Isabel only dreams about. He has a few fears of his own, however, and he’s missed out on the great adventure of trusting and loving another person to the depths possible in a truly committed relationship.

As with the best of couples, Isabel and Trevor have much to teach each other, and much to learn. I hope you enjoy their story.

I love hearing from readers. Please contact me through my Web site at www.kaitlynrice.com.

Happy reading!

Kaitlyn Rice

The Runaway Bridesmaid

Kaitlyn Rice

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To a few great adults who recognize the importance of cherishing childhood and children: Jim C., Jamie and Jane, Kim and Lisa.

With a huge hug and thanks to each of you for helping my children feel special, in your own ways and times.

Books by Kaitlyn Rice

HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE

972—TEN ACRES AND TWINS

1012—THE RENEGADE

1051—TABLE FOR FIVE

1085—THE LATE BLOOMER’S BABY* (#litres_trial_promo)

Contents

Chapter One (#u15152fb5-edf6-5aec-adbf-454279b92c91)

Chapter Two (#u2e09a814-44ea-5103-b588-df80501a6315)

Chapter Three (#u644ab6ef-ffdd-5db2-a071-8dcc8b54c7f4)

Chapter Four (#u54318e62-4fcb-5db9-9aa0-1f303be59397)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

“Toss it to me!” hollered a petite blonde as she bounced around on the lawn in front of Isabel Blume. The thirty-something dynamo had introduced herself as Peyton at the bridal shower, two weeks ago Isabel recalled, and she’d arrived at this afternoon’s wedding on the arm of a George Clooney look-alike.

“Aim left and throw hard,” another woman commanded from her spot near the rose-trimmed arbor. Isabel didn’t remember the name of the tall redhead, but the Wichita ob-gyn had celebrated her forty-first birthday last year by touring French castles.

“Watch out, gals, this un’s mine!” The husky female drawl from the back had come from the bride’s college roommate, a Dallas banker who, at twenty-six, had recently been promoted to VP of her company.

From the sound of things, a person might think the women were throwbacks to a time when a nice, single gal over twenty had cause to be concerned about a dwindling pool of potential suitors. That wasn’t the case here at all. Most of these women had the world by the tail: careers, lovers, numerous friends. Plans for houses and children and travel.

These women were bachelorettes, not spinsters. They were merely having fun as they waited for the bride to stop posing for the photographer and toss the bouquet.