PROLOGUE

      TWO THINGS CAME to mind as Sara Moreira stood behind the bride-to-be.

      One: she was grateful her boyfriend hadn’t waited until her wedding day to ghost her. Instead, he had left in the middle of the night. No response to her texts. No returned calls. He’d just disappeared into the ether.

      And two: Dr. Sebastian Texeira looked as gorgeous in a tux as he did in a lab coat.

      More than gorgeous. Even when he slid a finger behind his bow-tie and tugged as if his collar were ten times too tight. Something he’d done repeatedly during the wedding, looking none too happy with the proceedings.

      Why was she even noticing that? Wasn’t she supposed to be knee deep in her own woes, not worrying about someone else’s problems?

      Her tummy tightened as she took in the broad chest and narrow hips. Wow, evidently her devastation hadn’t reached the more primal regions of her brain.

      Dr. Texeira’s glance shifted with shocking swiftness and—yikes!—caught her staring. The second time he’d done that. His mouth kicked up to one side, sending her errant stomach diving feet first into a dark pool.

      What was wrong with her?

      This was his sister’s wedding, for heaven’s sake. She needed to keep her eyes to herself.

      Besides, this man was way out of her league. Even further than the guy she’d imagined herself in love with. The man she’d cried bitter tears over a month ago.

      Or had that just been wounded pride?

      “Up here, please?”

      Sara’s attention snapped back to the minister. He’d asked something and was staring right at her.

      Céus. Was she supposed to be doing something? Straightening the bride’s train? Vacuuming the red carpet that covered the dusty ground of her dad’s ranch? Lying down and dying of embarrassment?

      The last option was a definite possibility.

      A sense of hysteria began building in her chest before Dr. Texeira snagged her gaze once more, lifting his right hand and waggling his little finger. The glitter of