Page 33 of Kiss the Bride

“That’ll be great. Get a nice rest and a good meal. You’ll feel a hundred percent better. Tomorrow’s another big day.”

“So I’ll see you tomorrow?” Brianna stepped from the car.

“I wouldn’t miss it,” she assured the bride through the open door. She kept her smile in place while her charge mounted the steps into the bed-and-breakfast. The moment Brianna slipped inside, though, she groaned. Nothing in her role as bookkeeper for the Captain’s Cottage had prepared her for dealing with a bride on the verge of calling off the wedding. She needed help, needed advice. But from whom?

Not Alicia. The event planner had placed the bride-to-be in her hands. While she considered Jenny one of her best friends, at the first whiff of trouble, the young woman would insist on taking the problem straight to her boss. So, no, asking Jenny for advice was out of the question, too.

That left only one person. At the thought, she brightened. She might not know how to handle a hesitant bride, but she did know a thing or two about weddings. And Ryan, well, he was one of the smartest people she knew. Once the two of them put their heads together, they’d come up with a plan for helping her bride-to-be remember all the reasons why she and Daniel were meant to be together.

After asking the driver to take her to the Captain’s Cottage, she whipped out her phone. Leaning into the cushions, she punched Ryan’s number, already looking forward to spending some extra time with him far more than she thought she should.

Chapter Nine

Snatches of conversation between busy shoppers and the sounds of traffic along Honeymoon Avenue faded as the door to Tux or Tails swished closed behind Ryan. In the well-appointed menswear shop, the soft strains of classical music broke the hushed quiet. He stepped forward, his footsteps muffled by thick carpet. At his side, Daniel whistled.

“Whoa,” the groom-to-be whispered. “This sure ain’t the rental shop where I got my tux for prom.”

Ryan grinned. “I’m betting Tux or Tails is a little more upscale?”

“This here might be a little too rich for my blood.” Daniel shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“You’re fine. Trust me.”

“Easy for you to say. You ain’t the one getting measured and poked and prodded.”

Ryan’s smile steadied. “Big, strong Marine like you? You can handle one tux fitting.”

Daniel lifted a skeptical eyebrow but squared his shoulders. “I guess if I can make it through the Crucible, I can make it through this.”

Before Ryan could ask for details, Greg bustled out from the back. An assistant with a tape measure followed him. Behind them, three handsomely turned-out men waited in the wings.

“Welcome. Welcome. So glad you could make it to Tux or Tails this afternoon.” The owner extended his hand as if he hadn’t just shared lunch with Daniel at the White Dove Deli. The groom shook hands with Greg while Curtis, who’d taken up a position beside a mannequin wearing a smart suit coat, snapped a few candid shots.

Greg rubbed his hands together. “Let me tell you a little bit about my shop. My family has owned and operated a tailoring business in Manhattan for three generations. When it came time to branch out, I chose Heart’s Landing because, well, who doesn’t love a good wedding?” He stopped long enough to laugh at his own joke. “I opened Tux or Tails some thirty years ago. Back then, we primarily rented and altered tuxes, but we’ve grown to meet the needs of Heart’s Landing. While our main focus remains on providing the best in wedding apparel for the groom and his attendants, we offer a full line of men’s clothing. Everything from ready-made to bespoke suits designed expressly to suit the wishes of the most discriminating customer.” He paused to take a breath. “Do you have any questions?”

“Not exactly a question, sir, but …”

Ryan canted his head. Daniel stood at attention, his posture rigid as if his entire future rested on what came next.

“What is it?” Greg leaned forward. “Whatever it is, we’ll do our best to take care of it for you.”

“Well, sir.” Daniel inhaled. “I had my heart set on wearing my uniform. Is that going to be a problem? The folks at Weddings Today said it was fine with them.”

“Your uniform.” Greg hesitated. “For the wedding.” He stopped again. “Not a tux?”

“Yes, sir. I—I mean no, sir. My uniform. That’s what I want to wear.”

Ryan blinked as Greg’s head swiveled away from the Marine to pin him with a questioning look. He answered with a blank stare. This was the first he’d heard of Daniel’s request.

Greg rubbed one hand over his balding pate. He swung to face Curtis. “Did you know anything about this?”

The photographer held up a hand. “Nah, man. You’d have to ask Regina Charm. I’m just here to take pictures.”

Ryan stifled a groan. He’d never met the senior editor for Weddings Today, but from all accounts, the woman was a piece of work. Hadn’t she sent Tara to Heart’s Landing with a hidden agenda? Things hadn’t worked out the way the editor had hoped they would that time. Was she up to mischief again? If so, he was pretty sure she’d fail. He swiped a peek at Greg. To his credit, the shop owner hadn’t flinched. His ruddy complexion hadn’t gone a single shade lighter. Clearly, the mayor could handle whatever monkey wrench Regina had thrown into the works.

“You want a military wedding?” Greg asked.

“Yes, sir.” Daniel snapped to attention. “My buddies from boot camp are flying in on Friday. They’ll stand up front with me.”

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