Free The Bridesmaid by Julia London Page A

James. And my brother Colton and my sister Cassidy.”
    “With a C,” the young woman said.
    “Pleasure,” he said to them all, and he was still smiling when Kate’s mother moved. Joe thought she meant to take the dress from him. But instead, she threw her arms around him. “Thank you so much for bringing my baby home,” she said, sounding almost tearful.
    “He didn’t bring me home,” Kate said. “We were on the same flight, and we were both coming to Seattle.”
    “Don’t try and downplay it, Katie-Kate,” her mother said, beaming up at Joe. “We owe this young man a debt of gratitude.”
    “We’ll pay him later, Sandra,” Mr. Preston said, and clapped Joe on the shoulder as if they were old friends. “You didn’t take any liberties with my little girl, did you, son?”
    “Dad!” Kate cried, clearly mortified.
    Mr. Preston squeezed Joe’s shoulder and laughed. “Kidding! Come on, let’s go. I told Glen I’d help him get the bar set up.”
    “And we have hair and makeup this afternoon,” Mrs. Preston added. “Come on, Joe, we’ve made up a cot for you in the library.”
    “That’s not necessary,” he said quickly, holding up a hand. “I’ve got a reservation—”
    “Nonsense!” Mrs. Preston said firmly. “You will come with us. We have plenty of room, and after what you did for Kate, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Just call the hotel and tell them you’ll be there tomorrow.”
    “What makes you think he did it all?” Kate asked. “It’s not like we mushed across the country.”
    “Don’t be a sourpuss,” Mr. Preston said cheerfully, and grabbed her tote bag, handing it to Colton.
    Kate looked helplessly at Joe. “See?”
    He winked at her. He liked the Prestons. He liked them a lot.
    ***
    The Prestons lived in the Queen Anne district of Seattle, an area of old and well-loved homes. The Preston house was a rambling turn-of-the-century, five-bedroom, three-bath home with wood floors and dark window casings and a view of Lake Union. It was charming and a little quirky, just like Kate.
    As they pulled into the drive, people rushed from the house, shouting for Kate, embracing her as she emerged. One would think she’d spent forty days in the desert instead of two days traveling across country.
    She glanced back at him more than once, her expression apologetic. “They’re nuts!” she insisted.
    “They love you,” he said as they were swept along on a wave into the house.
    “Here, dude, a beer,” someone said, shoving a bottle into his hand. It wasn’t even noon. But Joe wasn’t turning down a beer. He’d just taken a sip when he heard a woman shout from the top of the stairs. Everyone paused and looked up. “Kaaaaate!” the woman cried as she flew down the stairs.
    The bride, Joe realized, had appeared.
    She grabbed Kate, hopping up and down, babbling about backup maids of honor. “The dress ,” she said.
    “In the car,” Kate said quickly.
    Why that should make the bride cry, Joe had no idea, but she burst into tears, and as he stood, dumbfounded, he watched Kate, Lisa, and little sister Cassidy with a C race upstairs.
    “Get used to it,” one man said to Joe. “This is the family you’re marrying into.”
    “Not me,” Joe said quickly.
    The man squinted at him. “You’re not Kiefer? Who are you, then?”
    “Joe.” At the man’s blank look, Joe couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m the guy who was sitting next to Kate when the plane was diverted to Dallas.”
    The man looked confused. “Huh?”
    Joe grinned and took a swig of beer. It was going to be an interesting day. “Is there anything to eat?” he asked.
    “Are you serious? J. J. made his ribs. You like ribs?”
    “Love ’em,” Joe said, and followed the man to the back of the house where he supposed he would find J. J. and his ribs.
    ***
    When Kate pulled the peach monstrosity from the bag, Lisa sank onto Cassidy’s bed with a crushed expression. “It’s ruined .”
    “No, no, not