Beth

Beth was giddy as she put the finishing touches on her hair. Her blonde waves were soft and swept to one side with an antique comb. She looked around the room at her beautiful sisters, her heart brimming with pride. They were all dressed in matching lavender silk robes gathered around Brenna. Her robe was white, with the word, ‘Bride’, embroidered in elegant lavender script over her heart.

Brenna was smiling so brightly it almost made Beth’s heart hurt. She couldn’t wait to meet the man that had made her wildest sister fall in love—because it was definitely love Beth saw on Brenna’s face. Being in love herself made it somehow easier for Beth to spot.

The photographer posed them for a few more ‘getting ready’ shots. Pulling out her phone, Beth snapped a few candid shots of her own. She wanted to remember this moment forever. She’d never felt so close to her sisters before. They’d all been genuinely happy for her to finally realize her feelings for Parker. It was like being in love had made her worthy of being inducted into their secret club of grown up sisterhood. No longer was Beth the tag-along, the baby, the outsider. She was just Beth—sister, equal, friend. It was a priceless gift and she would be forever grateful to Parker for giving it to her.

Beth almost had to pinch herself to keep her feet planted on the ground. She and Parker hadn’t even started their relationship—not officially—but already Beth felt like she was on cloud nine. Was this how everyone in love felt? If so, how was it possible to get anything done?

Beth’s heart was aflutter and she couldn’t concentrate on anything for more than a few seconds before her mind slipped back to thoughts of Parker. It astonished her how someone so familiar had morphed into someone so entirely different overnight. Parker was like a drug and she craved him constantly.

When Beth was younger and her crush on Parker had been fresh, she’d often wondered if it was possible for things to be different between them. If they started dating would she be able to think of him differently? Could they cross the line from friend to boyfriend, or would their familiarity be an obstacle?

That fear had been obliterated the moment he’d kissed her on the beach. Then again last night.

Beth realized there was so much more of Parker for her to discover. She knew him so completely as her friend, but this new Parker, the one with the smoldering gaze and wandering lips . . . she’d only begun to scratch the surface of him. And it made her pulse race just thinking about what else she would uncover.

A knock at the door pulled Beth from her thoughts.

“Come in,” Brenna called, but the door remained shut.

A more forceful knock made Beth and her sisters pause their primping.

“Bren?” A deep voice called through the door.

Every eye in the room swiveled to Brenna, who’d gone utterly still.

“Eric?” she whispered.

The door cracked open. “Is everyone decent?”

Brenna was on her feet now, moving toward the door as if propelled from a canon. “Eric!”

Brenna called his name with urgency and he threw the door open just in time to catch her as she leapt into his arms, squealing like an over-caffeinated cheerleader.

Beth stared at Brenna. She’d never seen her badass sister act so girly. And from the bewildered looks of the rest of the Bennett sisters, neither had they. They watched as Brenna cried tears of joy in Eric’s giant tattooed arms. Eric whispered sweet things too low for Beth to discern. He continued kissing every available spot on Brenna’s head as she buried her face in his burly neck.

Eric looked just as Beth suspected—a muscle-bound Marine with a collection of tattoos and scars to accompany his rugged good looks. His dark hair was buzzed short and there was a fire blazing in his green eyes. Instantly, Beth saw how Brenna would’ve been drawn to him. He had that dangerous edge about him. But there was something else, too. He seemed as much of a protector as he was bad boy and that made Beth like him more than she’d expected. Brenna could use someone to look out for her.

When Brenna finally peeled herself away from Eric, she introduced him to everyone. Beth’s admiration for him grew. Eric was polite and eager to talk to all the Bennett girls, even if his eyes never left Brenna entirely. But that only reassured Beth that Eric was a good choice for her wild sister. Brenna needed someone who would put her first for a change. She didn’t have a stellar track record with guys and it was nice to see she’d finally picked a good one.

After all the introductions had been made Eric cleared his throat. “Pardon my behavior ladies, but I’ve been away from this woman for far too long.” Then he scooped Brenna into his arms and kissed her in a way that made Beth blush and look away.

The rest of her sisters swooned and giggled, and Britton called, “Get a room.”

“We plan on it,” Brenna called detaching herself from Eric’s face. “Right now actually.”

“Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Bianca asked.

“There’s no such thing as bad luck with this woman in my life,” Eric replied. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some catching up to do with my bride.” Then he hoisted Brenna over her shoulder like she was a sack of flour and started toward the door.

“Brenna!” Brianna hissed. “It’s your wedding day!”

“I know,” she replied with a sinful grin. “Wish me luck!”

“Your dress!” Beth called running after her sister with her light silky gown in her arms.

“Thanks,” Brenna replied, grabbing the gown from Beth and balling it up as Eric carried her from the room like a caveman.

Beatrice laughed. “Brenna may have met her match with that one.”

“Finally,” Beth and her sisters chorused in unison, causing them all to dissolve into a fit of giggles.

Brenna had always said she would never change for a man, and it was good to see she hadn’t. She’d just found her perfect match instead.