Chapter One

      Here comes the bride.

      For Jean Matrim, the arrival of Matrimony Valley’s first bride was a victory. She was looking at living, ready-to-walk-down-the-aisle proof that her long struggle to overhaul this town into a wedding destination was finally paying off.

      Violet Thomas was going to be wowed if Jean had to call in every favor and spend every last ounce of energy to do it.

      “You must be Violet,” Jean said with her best everything-is-going-to-be-wonderful smile. “Welcome to Matrimony Valley.”

      North Carolina could be stunning in the spring, and the mountains were certainly showing off today. A clear sun dazzled through bright green leaves as they fluttered in the May breeze. The town was showing off, too. Front stoops sported potted plants. The sidewalks were swept, and many of the town’s main-street businesses sported new coats of paint and cheery signage. Jean had even convinced nearly every shop on the newly renamed “Aisle Avenue” to put a little pot of violets in its window to welcome the valley’s inaugural bride on her first visit. People had worked hard, and everything looked as charming as she’d hoped.

      Violet certainly seemed to love it. “You must be Jean,” she gushed, looking around at the small town and then up to the clear blue sky with its adornment of fluffy clouds. “Look at this place. It’s just like I imagined.” Violet beckoned to someone inside the car. “Come out here and look at it, Josh. It’s perfect!”

      Josh? Violet had listed her groom as navy captain Lyle Davis. She’d mentioned that Lyle wouldn’t be on furlough until just days before the wedding. So this Josh—an uncle, brother or such—must be helping with the arrangements.

      A tall, dark-haired man with intense eyes opened the driver’s side door and stood up. At the sight of him, Jean was sure the Smoky Mountains behind her shifted a foot closer. The sight of this “Josh” pushed her so far off balance she nearly had to reach out and grab the car to stay steady.

      Joshua Tyler stood in front of her. He still possessed the same powerful air of confidence she’d remembered, the same charisma that once drew her heart to his. Of all the people she never expected to set foot in Matrimony Valley, Josh topped the list.

      Violet, oblivious to the shock wave going off in Jean’s chest, and likewise in Josh’s startled eyes, called him over. “Jean, this is my stepbrother, Josh. He isn’t only paying for a lot of this, but he’s giving me away at the ceremony. Right now, he’s a great stand-in for Lyle. We’ve only got Josh for forty-eight hours before business sweeps him away again, but we can cover a mile of ground in that time, can’t we?”

      “A mile of ground,” Jean repeated, still scrambling to get a grip on how her past and future had just collided right in the middle of Aisle Avenue. Her first bride was Josh Tyler’s stepsister?

      It can’t be. There had been a time when she was to be Mrs. Joshua Tyler, but life had steered her far away from those days. Of all the hurdles she’d jumped to turn this town around and launch Matrimony Valley’s destination wedding enterprise, a surprise like this certainly hadn’t entered the picture in her mind. Jean wasn’t even sure it entered the realm of possibility. Him? Here? Now?

      Jean looked at Josh, searching for some hint as to how to handle what Violet clearly didn’t know. Josh only stared at her as wide-eyed as she stared at him. One thing was certain: right now was not the time to get into the long and complicated history Matrimony Valley’s mayor and chief wedding planner had with the man about to walk the town’s first bride down the aisle. Think, Jean. Be professional and keep this rolling. Deal with Josh later—keep your focus on Violet.

      “Let’s start by checking in with Hailey,” she managed. “You’re staying at the Inn Love, aren’t you?”

      “Of