Chapter 1

Michael had just raised his hand to knock when a loud shriek rang out from the other side of the door. Instinctively, he dropped the flowers he was carrying.

He pushed the door open and stepped into a room filled with women in purple dresses, all staring at him with wide, startled eyes.

“Michael?” a familiar voice called. The rustle of silk drew his gaze to his sister, Molly, as she stepped away from a small cluster of women to his right.

He simply stared at her, struck by the sight. “You look beautiful, Sis.”

“Thank you, baby brother. Every little girl dreams of wearing a beautiful dress and looking like a princess.” Her voice trembled with emotion, the same emotion shining in her eyes.

“You make a gorgeous bride,” Michael said, then glanced around the room. “I heard someone scream and thought something had happened.”

“All is well,” Molly assured him with a soft smile. “It was a happy shriek. My bridesmaids were admiring how I look in my wedding dress.”

She twirled once, letting the gown flare and shimmer in the light.

Michael hesitated, eyeing the bridesmaids now clustered at the far end of the room. They all looked stunning—an issue, really. He was still a man, and the last thing he needed was to embarrass himself by reacting in any ... noticeable way.

Molly’s eyes flicked to the open door behind him. “Were those for us?”

He followed her gaze to the flowers scattered across the hallway floor. Thankfully, none of them looked damaged.

“Yes. Sorry—I dropped them.” He turned to gather the bouquets.

Molly followed him, then leaned in to speak softly. “I want to ask you something. A small favor, Bro.”

Michael knelt to collect the bridesmaids’ bouquets. “I’m listening.”

“A friend of mine came a long way to attend the wedding. I promised her I’d make sure she got back home after the reception. She’s a midwife—she said she needed to be home in time to help someone named Betsie deliver a baby. I told her you wouldn’t mind driving her.”

“You told her I’d drive her back?” Michael repeated slowly, a flicker of alarm rising in his chest. Molly was notorious for her matchmaking schemes. She never did anything without an ulterior motive. He suddenly had a bad feeling about this.

Molly rolled her eyes. “Oh, don’t look so alarmed, baby brother.”

He shook his head, groaning. “Geez, Molly. Your matchmaking powers aren’t going to work on me. Where does she live?”

“Middletown.”

He frowned. “Middletown? Where exactly is that?”

“It’s a small town northwest of here. I’ve never been, but she’ll give you directions. I don’t think it’s more than a day’s drive.”

“A day’s drive?! Are you out of your mind? Are there no planes or buses? Maybe a stagecoach?”

“She doesn’t like planes,” Molly replied, undeterred. “And there’s no direct bus. Stagecoach—very funny.” She smirked.

Michael shook his head in disbelief. “So I’m supposed to waste two days driving your friend out to Middle-Of-Nowhere and then coming back? Probably more if I have to stop and sleep.”

The bridesmaids were watching them now. Molly lowered her voice.

“It’s not like you have work to rush back to, is it? You’ve been staying home for months.”