Free Deep Night by Kathy Clark Page B

breathtaking setting…and free booze.
    “It’s showtime!” their father, Jack, announced as he swung the bedroom door open.
    Rusty’s hands shook as he tried to twist the ends of the bow tie into a proper knot. Chris smiled, but he didn’t comment. In all his twenty-seven years he had never seen his older brother so nervous. The man ran into burning buildings and carried out unconscious people on his shoulders for a living. Nothing flustered him. Of the three brothers, he was the biggest and the strongest…but right now, he was a hot mess.
    “Here, let me tie that for you.” Jack pushed his son’s hands away and deftly flipped the loose ends into a perfect bow tie. “There, all set.” He forced Rusty to meet his gaze. “We Wilsons take marriage seriously. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
    Rusty took a deep breath and relaxed. A wide, genuine smile spread across his handsome face. “Without a doubt, Julie’s the one.”
    Jack’s hand rested on Rusty’s shoulder for just a few seconds longer, and he nodded. “Then let’s get out there and do it.” He led the way out a back door. A cellist sat off to the side playing a classical song Chris recognized but couldn’t name. The conversation dropped to a murmur as Jack went to his seat next to Pat, and the three brothers lined up on one side of the arch next to the minister.
    It was easy to see the resemblance. They were all about the same height, each one or two inches over six feet. Their father’s dark hair was sprinkled liberally with gray, but it had once been almost the same rich, dark brown as Rusty’s and Sam’s. Only Chris’s was a couple of shades lighter, like their mother’s. He also had her blue-gray eyes, while the other two boys’ and their father’s were a deeper blue.
    Rusty shifted nervously from foot to foot as the music slid seamlessly into
“The Wedding March
.” The audience turned and all eyes focused on an adorable little girl Chris recognized as the fire captain’s four-year-old daughter, who was carrying a little basket and sprinkling rose petals on the flagstone path. When she reached the front, attention turned to the first bridesmaid as she walked down the aisle, a little more briskly than usual. Chris’s gaze moved up the slender bare legs, over the slim hips and tiny waist, lingering briefly on the firm breasts, then up to the face…
    Holy shit,
it was Sara! And she was beautiful.
    He couldn’t remember seeing her in a dress before. Ever. Pants, jeans, even shorts, but never anything pink. And certainly nothing like this sexy, strapless dress that showed off everything. Her short blond hair was fluffed into tousled curls and she was even wearing some makeup. Just a little mascara that made her eyes seem even bigger and rose-pink lipstick on her full lips. The spots of blush high on her cheekbones were totally natural, as she was obviously very uncomfortable under everyone’s appraising eyes.
    Chris realized his mouth was hanging open, and he snapped it shut. How had he never noticed what was right under his nose? Had he been that self-centered in high school? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t remember seeing her at any school dances or homecomings. Now that he thought about it, she probably hadn’t been there, and he hadn’t even noticed that either.
God,
he was a horrible friend.
    Kate McKinney, the maid of honor, approached, and Sam let out a low wolf whistle. He and Kate had met last summer, when he had rescued her from being killed by a psycho stalker. Although they weren’t engaged yet, they were definitely heading that way. It was obvious by the way they looked at each other and were always holding hands and stealing kisses that they were very much in love.
    But nothing compared to the sparkle in Rusty’s eyes when Julie appeared in the doorway. He immediately stopped shaking and grinned with obvious pride as he watched her glide down the aisle. Her strapless wedding gown was a blush pink with