Free Team Bride by Valerie Comer Page A

longer to send you into the lions’ den, but...” He smiled at an angle. “I really don’t want my aunt to go hunting down a date for me, either. I want you by my side.”
    “Then I’ll be there.”
    “I hope you won’t regret it. Can I pick you up at two? Semi-formal is good. No bridesmaid dress.”
    “So no tux for you?”
    He chuckled. “Not this time. I’ll be in dress pants, a button-down shirt, and a sweater, if that helps.”
    He’d be easy on the eyes. The man cleaned up nice.

Chapter 9

    “Corbin!” Aunt Deb swung the door open wide and crushed him against her, casting his memory back to the wedding reception line a few weeks back. “You made it.” Then she seemed to notice Sarah. She looked from one to the other. “And who’s this? I know I told you to bring a date — and I certainly meant it — but this is the first time you’ve actually obeyed me.”
    He reached for Sarah’s hand and tugged her forward. “This is Sarah. Sarah, my aunt Deb.”
    Aunt Deb was an equal-opportunity hugger. Sarah disappeared into enfolded arms and came out a moment later looking dazed.
    Corbin could sympathize.  
    “Aren’t you lovely?” gushed Aunt Deb, holding Sarah at arm’s length. “Where did you meet our Corbin?”
    Sarah’s eyes cast a plea in his direction. “We were both in the wedding party of mutual friends in September.”
    “Now there’s a romantic way to be introduced! I’m thrilled he’s finally met someone. I was about to take matters into my own hands, but I see I should have trusted him.”
    Corbin stepped between them, forcing his aunt to release Sarah. He slid his arm around her and grinned at Deb. “Yes, you should have. Now be nice to Sarah, or you’ll scare her away. And trust me, I don’t want to lose her.”
    “Oh, pshaw. I’m sure she doesn’t scare that easily. She’s put up with you for over a month already. Do come in.”
    Sarah trembled under his arm, so he tightened his grip on her waist as he guided her into the house. “I don’t see my parents’ car here yet.”  
    “They’ll be here any minute, and dinner will be on the table shortly. Then on to the celebrations!”
    That sounded ominous, but he put on a brave smile. “What do you have planned?”
    Deb leaned closer to Sarah. “If you think that boy is cute now, just wait until you see him as a five-year-old!”
    Sarah glanced helplessly between Corbin and his aunt.
    “Oh, no, Aunt Deb. You don’t need to inflict your old wedding video on Sarah. Or on any of us, for that matter.” It hadn’t been his best day as a ring bearer.
    She swatted at his arm. It would probably leave a mark. “Oh, you. It’s Uncle Don’s and my twenty-fifth anniversary party. Of course we’ll be looking at old photos and such. So many happy memories.”
    There’d be no dissuading her. Corbin shrugged. “She’s right about one thing, Sarah. I was a cute little kid. And wait until you see the flower girl I was paired with at the Double D wedding. You’ll be jealous. She was all over me.”  
    He’d been all over the flower girl, too. Why hadn’t he remembered Aunt Deb would pull out all the stops? He only hoped his and Sarah’s relationship could handle the next few hours... and his parents hadn’t even arrived yet.
    Sarah shook her head slightly as a little smile poked at her cheeks.
    They followed Deb through to the kitchen at the back of the house.
    “Corbin!” His sister flew at him, knocking him back a step. “Aunt Deb said you were bringing someone.” She beamed at Sarah. “I’m Corbin’s big sister, Amanda.”
    “This is Sarah,” he managed to get into the half-second lull.
    “I’m so excited to meet you!”
    Sarah smiled. “Thank you.”  
    By the way she hung back and clung to his hand, she was finding this as overwhelming as he’d feared. Might as well get it over with, though. “Is Michelle here?”
    “Yes. She just ran down to the basement for another jar of pickles.” Amanda turned