The Very Best Man

  The Very Best Man

  By

  Laura Stapleton

  The Very Best Man

  By Laura L. Stapleton

  Text Copyright © 2015 Laura L Stapleton

  All Rights Reserved

  Smashwords Edition

  Names, characters, and incidences are imaginary and fictional. Any references to non-fictional entities are provided merely for context and authenticity. Anything in here mirroring real life is all coincidental and not intentional.

  This book is for the Boardwalk Writers. Here is that Camp NaNo book I started, didn’t finish, and was too rushed to let you preview. The next round at Paneras is on me.

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  Other books by Laura Stapleton

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Jane Lawson waved out of her vehicle’s window, seeing Alan and David at David’s car. She slowed, scanning the lot. “There they are, but I don’t see an open space near them.”

  “Doesn’t matter.” Susan pointed to their right. “There’s one closer to the beach. Park there.”

  After spying a gap in vehicles in front of the men’s car, Jane took her sister’s advice and circled around. “Did you see David?” she asked. When meeting him a few weeks ago, she thought him attractive for any type of date, never mind a blind one. She hoped her sister took the bait. Susan’s flirting with Alan had increased last week when he and Jane announced their engagement.

  She shrugged. “Yeah, he’s ok.” Craning her neck to see, she added, “David is too tall. I like a guy who I can snuggle while slow dancing. Plus, he’s too dark; I like blond hair and blue eyes. You’re lucky. I think Alan is still much cuter.”

  Jane stifled a sigh of irritation. “I think so, too, but then, Dave has this rugged look to him, not as pretty boy as Alan.” She parked in front of the guys. “Besides, we both know you’ve dated better looking than Alan.”

  A sly look crossed her face. “That’s a mean thing to say about the man you’re going to marry! I might just tell him you said that.”

  Jane laughed at the implied threat. “Go ahead. Then I’ll tell him that better looking doesn’t mean better loved.”

  Susan wrinkled her nose in a “you win” way and hopped out of the car. Jane took a deep breath, steeling herself. If Susan didn’t go for David, her sister would continue to make a fool of herself with Alan. Jane hadn’t accepted her fiancé’s proposal without fully vetting him. He’d said, his words, that Susan didn’t “do it” for him, and she accepted his assertion after a few months of convincing.

  While Jane opened the door to the back seat of her car, Susan and Alan gave each other a hug. He stepped back, indicating the man next to him. “Ladies, this is my best friend, David Wells. Dave, you’ve met my lovely Jane, this is her sister I was telling you about.”

  He nodded at Jane and smiled. “A pleasure, of course.”

  “I agree.” She liked the dimples he had when smiling. Susan would be insane to not go for him. David fit the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome. His black hair held a hint of grey at the temples, while his brown eyes seemed dark enough to drown in but had a burnt gold hue to them in the sunlight. If he’d not been standing next to Alan, he’d look a lot more buff, Jane surmised. The guy was lean and built like an endurance athlete. Her fiancé on the other hand, looked like the usual gym rat. She smiled at Alan. He went shirtless already, and his muscles and low body fat overshadowed every other man no matter how fit they were. Alan winked at her and made a motion that he was going to his car for drinks. Jane nodded. She’d brought the food and began gathering the towels from the back seat.

  Susan held out her hand for David. “Welcome to town, do you like Elmdale so far?”

  He shook her hand. “It’s great. I’m with a good group of doctors, found a great house, and everything’s falling into place.”

  “Oh, I’m sad!” Hands on her hips, Susan admonished him with a fake pout. “You found a home without my help?”

  “If I’d known you were a real estate agent, I’d have called you first. Alan here didn’t tell me anything about you until yesterday.” Dave stepped to the right when the other guy nudged his left shoulder while holding a full ice chest.

  “Hey, no telling tales on me. This whole setup was a last minute thing.”

  “Aw!” She sidled up to Alan. “You didn’t say anything about me until you had to? I thought I meant more to you than that, future big bro-in-law.” Susan held onto his bare upper arm, resting her head against his shoulder. She stroked his bicep like a small puppy. “I won’t think you care if you don’t talk about me to anyone!”

  He leaned into her. “Hey, not fair. I told Dave all about how gorgeous, successful, and fun you are.”

  Tracing one of the veins in his arm, she asked, “You didn’t tell him I had a good personality?”

  “Nope!”

  “Good,” she winked at Dave. “Otherwise, you’d have scared him away.” Hands on hips, she added, “We used to tell Jane’s blind dates that and they ran. Of course, now that she has tough guy here, there’s no worry about trying to set her up.” She wrinkled her nose. “I got the looks, of course, but Jane got the personality, so you lucked out, Dave. You have arm candy for the day.”

  Jane’s chin lifted at the backhanded compliment. “Excuse me? Personality isn’t the worst thing to have and isn’t the insult you think it is.”

  Susan shook her head. “Here we go again and in front of strangers, too.”

  Alan cleared his throat for attention. “Hey, little sis, how about you follow me with some of the food you two brought?”

  “Ok! Whatever averts a Jane melt down!” Susan scooped up one of the lighter grocery bags and a towel. “Let’s go.” She walked along side Alan, swinging the bag as she went.

  Watching them leave, Jane inwardly chanted her mantra of ‘I’m not angry. This doesn’t bother me. I don’t get angry.’

  Dave intruded into her thoughts. “Looks like your sister likes Al.”

  She shook off a nagging bit of worry and grinned at him. “I hope not. She’s built up a habit of taking what she wants from me. I’ve given her plenty of chances before now to steal him away.”

  “You let her do that?” He stepped forward to stand next to her. “Why?”

  “Just so she wouldn’t if things became serious. She wants what I have. It’s just what she does.” With him standing downwind, she caught his scent of spice and mint. Jane had to give him credit. At least he’d wanted to make a good impression on Susan today. She watched as her sister and fiancé’ picked a spot for their picnic. “I’ve let myself care about Alan far too much for her to take him now.” Glancing back at Dave, she smiled. “None of which is important. Not like the fact that the blanket and chairs are in the back.”

  He paused before opening the driver side door to unlatch the trunk. “She’s done this flirt with your guy thing before now? Seriously?”

  “Yeah, and she doesn’t like to stop until the war is over.”

  David stopped, narrowing his eyes at her. “Meaning?”

  Jane watched as he set the lawn chairs against the front bumper. “Meaning she doesn’t win unless she’s had sex with them.”

  “Your sister does that to you? And is intentional about it? That’s cold.” He placed the plastic handles against the car in a careful way

  “Very. Susan takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level.” She smiled at his consideration for her car. He’d thought about sc
ratching the paint and kept from doing so. “I don’t want to plan a wedding and have it all fall through at the last minute only because I have what she thinks she needs.”

  David shrugged. “I wouldn’t worry about it. She can want all she wants. Al is a good guy and he loves you.” He went to the open trunk and retrieved the blanket. “He asked, you said yes, that’s that.”

  “I hope so. She’s always been attractive to guys. I’d hoped to find the one guy able to resist her because he loved me.” Jane kicked off her shoes and unbuttoned her jean shorts while he was behind the lifted trunk lid.

  “I’ve met women like that, even before her. I’m usually pretty good at seeing through their act. A lot of gals see ‘MD’ after my name and do whatever it takes to get my attention.” Dave grabbed a bag of utensils and closed the trunk. He paused, his eyes meeting Jane’s as she shimmied out of her pants. He glanced away and grinned. “Although, she is gorgeous in that swimsuit. I can see why you’d worry about her and Alan. Maybe I need to start worrying about her and Alan, too.”

  Jane followed Dave’s gaze, turning to see Susan walking up the sandy hill to them. She had stripped down to her bikini while on the beach. Oh for the love of…she almost exclaimed aloud upon seeing how much of her sister’s cleavage spilled out of the fabric. At least now was a good time to strip down to her bikini, too. Susan’s bounce towards him would keep any man distracted. Jane pulled off her t-shirt, her suit top riding up a few inches. She tugged it down; glad David stood between her and anyone else who might have seen the bottom of her breasts. Glancing up at him just to be sure, she saw him staring at her sister with an expression she’d not seen on a man’s face in a very long time. She folded her clothes and bent to throw them on the back seat with her shoes on the floorboard. If he’d been looking at her instead of Susan with such lust… Jane shivered at the idea then chuckled aloud at herself. The guy was a doctor and probably a lot more blasé about the human body.

  “What’s so funny?” He leaned against the rear driver’s side fender.

  “Here I am, fretting that you might see too much of me and you’re a doctor.” She straightened, still smiling and closed her car door.

  “So? How is that relevant?”

  She didn’t believe he was as puzzled as he seemed. “Aren’t the majority of women you see in your practice undressed?”

  David laughed, figuring out her reasoning. “The majority of women I see are mothers when I care for their children. My specialty is pediatrics, not obstetrics or even general practice. So I’m not immune to your particular charms.” He indicated Susan with a nod. “It seems my date is being held up. Excuse me while I rescue him from her.” Susan and some random guy stood chatting at the edge of the parking lot.

  “Sure. I’ll catch up in a few.” She rolled up the windows to a point, locking her car afterward. Jane dropped her keys into a pouch in her beach bag; not wanting to dwell on what he’d consider ‘charms’. Zipping the compartment, she watched as Dave strolled to meet up with her sister. No matter what Susan said, the girl liked two types of men. One fit David’s type and the other was whomever Jane currently loved. Susan had her chance with Alan for the past two years. This summer, Jane intended to steer her sister toward David or anywhere else away from her fiancé’.

  David shuffled from one foot to the other. Several months of planning now led to this single day. He tried to take a calming breath but couldn’t. His cummerbund fit too snug than it had last fall during the fitting. He should have listened to Jane and double checked before today. Instead of frowning, he focused on scanning the crowd. The maids moseyed to their places and the entire church held its collective breath, waiting for the bride.

  The march started and he focused on the altar ahead, unable to look at her. He knew once he saw Jane, his poker face wouldn’t fool anyone. Today of all days, showing his feelings was not an option. David winced when he heard the group sigh, as a mob will when a beautiful bride appears. The iron band of satin around his waist seemed to constrict. No choice, he told himself and gritted his teeth, he had to do this. He forced his face into an appropriate mask and looked at Jane as she approached.

  Seeing her, his stomach dropped. All the florid language of poets through the ages with their descriptions filled his mind. Something he had heard about never seeing true beauty until now overwhelmed him and his heart seemed too big for his chest. Her dress shimmered just as she’d wanted, like diamonds scattered in the snow. A long, sparkly veil trailed behind instead of covering her face. Jane’s dark hair sparkled with scattered rhinestones, worn despite her mother’s protests. He grinned at her defiance. He glanced over at the mother of the bride, seeing the sour expression on the woman’s face. Jane would hear about it from Mrs. Lawson, if not today, then sometime soon.

  As Jane walked up and took her place beside Alan, David glanced at Susan. He almost shook his head. No contest. Even discounting Susan’s puffy, crying eyes, and red nose, David thought Jane much more attractive. She must have dictated Susan’s makeup today; her color didn’t have the usual ‘put on with a trowel’ look. He took a quick glance at the bride. Both women had that fresh-faced glow, Jane distractingly so. Unease settled in as David wondered how he’d live through the next few hours, having to fake happiness and good will in front of an audience.

  He tried to keep up with the dearly beloved speech. Her perfume drifted to him, mixed with the white roses’ fragrance of her bouquet. He took a deep breath, not knowing until now that weak knees really occurred to guys. Jane’s fingernails matched the silver dresses her maids wore, another source of tension between her and her mother. Her cheeks appeared flushed, and dark, wispy curls escaped the up-do of her hair. He glanced at his best friend, then back to Jane as she promised her life to Alan. Audible sobs from both Susan and her mother diverted him from his covert admiration of the woman soon lost to him. They must be crying from joy and sentiment. He wanted to also cry, not so much from joy, but frustration.

  Just then, Alan took a step back, bumping into David. With a hand on his friend’s shoulder, David said under his breath, “Whoa, buddy.”

  The groom’s eyes had that panicked look; same as that time in college when the cop stopped him in the bar with a fake I.D. “I can’t do this, Dave.”

  Winking at Jane’s puzzled smile to reassure her, he whispered, “Yes, you can, Al. It’s cold feet. She’s fantastic and you’re a lucky man.”

  Alan turned away from the bride to David. “It’s not cold feet, and I can’t do this.”

  He had to keep Alan from hurting Jane. “What the hell are you doing? You love her, want to marry her, remember?” David saw a rivulet of sweat trickle down the groom’s face in defiance of the church’s cool air temperature. Any of his damage control options felt inadequate all of a sudden.

  “Back me up, buddy. I have to change this while I can.” Alan squared his shoulders and turned back to the minister.

  Impatience evident in his voice, the minister asked, “Ready?”

  Alan nodded, grinning. Jane’s face had a relieved expression while Susan resumed crying. David steeled himself as if waiting for a dam to burst, hoping he was wrong.

  “Do you, Alan Vale Lyons, take Jane Deanne Lawson to be your lawfully wedded wife, to hav--?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “What?” Jane yelled, her voice loud in the quiet. She swallowed, gave Alan a tight smile and said in a softer tone, “Certainly, I’ve not just heard an “I don’t” from you, have I?”

  Alan held her hands. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but no, I don’t want to marry you and haven’t for a while.”

  Susan screamed in delight, throwing her bouquet in the air. She pushed aside the bride and jumped into Alan’s arms. Hugging him, she continued to jump up and down. Alan laughed, kissing her as if the minister had pronounced them husband and wife.

  Jane staggered back. Still using a voice higher and louder than her usual, she said, “Is there something I should know? Maybe something I shou
ld have been told before now?” A clear edge of anger spiked her last sentence. With that, the pair pulled apart as if embarrassed.

  Susan replied first. “Don’t get shrill, Janie, not here in front of everyone. Try to be calm. You know how you are.”

  “Sweetheart, we need to let her know.” Alan kissed Susan’s nose and after that, turned to Jane. “I’m sorry about this, but we love each other.”

  “Love? I doubt that’s what it’s called!” She took a calming breath before turning at the tap at her shoulder. The girls’ mother stood there and Jane’s face crumpled. “Mom, I can’t let her take him.”

  Their mother smiled at Susan and Alan, and in a quiet voice told her daughter, “You need to let this go, let them have their day.”

  “Their day?” she hissed. “How is this their day? How is this particular day not mine and Alan’s? I’m still wearing his engagement ring.”

  Through gritted teeth, her mother replied, “Let him go and stop being difficult.”

  Jane clenched her hands into fists. “I’m being what? I am not the one being difficult.” She pointed at Alan. “He isn’t a boyfriend this time. He’s supposed to be my husband. He asked and I accepted. I even offered Susan her chance to steal him for literally years. I won’t accept this.” Her last words faded once she looked around at the spectators. Jane gave a reassuring smile to the congregation and said, “Why isn’t she the one asked to let him go and stop being difficult?”

  Mrs. Lawson also smiled at the guests while replying, “Because she’s pregnant with his child.”

  She stopped the pretense that nothing was truly wrong and stared at her mother. “How far along is she?”

  “Three months, possibly four.”

  Jane turned her head toward the minister and bit her bottom lip. Watching her struggle to not cry, David’s own nose stung. He’d wanted her free, sure, but by her own choice and not like this. He glanced at the new couple, still kissing. “Alan, come on,” he said, tapping his shoulder. “Give it a rest.”