Sweetheart Bride. Lenora Worth

      Back Home To The Bayou

      Saying goodbye to Fleur, Louisiana, was all part of Brenna Blanchard’s grand plan. Coming back to the quaint tiny town after a failed art career and broken wedding engagement, however, was not. When architect Nick Santiago recruits her to help restore a beautiful old mansion, it’s just the distraction she needs—and growing close to handsome Nick is an unexpected bonus. Except, he has a heart in need of restoration, too. All business, the only thing Nick can’t manage to construct is a life outside work. Unless Brenna can finally help him arrange his priorities—with love as number one.

      “I think we’re both at a crossroad.” And his seemed to be leading straight to Brenna.

      She leaned against a thick column. “Yes, I guess so. We’ll see what happens, which way we both go.”

      A thick silence hung between them like a low, moss-draped cypress branch hanging over dark water.

      “I enjoyed supper,” Nick said, using the term her father had used. “I hope I can repay the favor one day.”

      “I enjoyed riding in that souped-up car,” she replied. “Now go. I can tell you’re eager to get to work.”

      “You know me already.” Nick took her hand, held it there between them. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      “Yes. Bright and early.” She pulled away.

      He wanted to bring her back. But then, she might get the impression that he wanted more.

      And Nick wasn’t sure he could give her more.

      So he got in his car and cranked the engine.

      When he turned to wave, she had already gone in the house.

      LENORA WORTH

      has written more than forty books for three different publishers. Her career with Love Inspired Books spans close to fifteen years. In February 2011 her Love Inspired Suspense novel Body of Evidence made the New York Times bestseller list. Her very first Love Inspired title, The Wedding Quilt, won Affaire de Coeur’s Best Inspirational for 1997, and Logan’s Child won an RT Book Reviews Best Love Inspired for 1998. With millions of books in print, Lenora continues to write for the Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense lines. Lenora also wrote a weekly opinion column for the local paper and worked freelance for years with a local magazine. She has now turned to full-time fiction writing and enjoying adventures with her retired husband, Don. Married for thirty-six years, they have two grown children. Lenora enjoys writing, reading and shopping...especially shoe shopping.

      Sweetheart Bride

      Lenora Worth

      

       www.millsandboon.co.uk

      And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

      —1 Peter 5

      To Linda White. Thanks for reading my books!

      Contents

       Chapter One

       Chapter Two

       Chapter Three

       Chapter Four

       Chapter Five

       Chapter Six

       Chapter Seven

       Chapter Eight

       Chapter Nine

       Chapter Ten

       Chapter Eleven

       Chapter Twelve

       Chapter Thirteen

       Chapter Fourteen

       Chapter Fifteen

       Chapter Sixteen

       Chapter Seventeen

       Chapter Eighteen

       Chapter Nineteen

       Chapter Twenty

       Epilogue

       Dear Reader

       Questions for Discussion

       Excerpt

      Chapter One

      The soft sound of wedding music flowed through the quiet church. A hush fell over the crowd of people gathered to celebrate the wedding of Alma Blanchard and Julien LeBlanc. Candlelight gave the tiny sanctuary a muted, dreamy glow. The groom beamed a bright, loving smile as his bride seemed to glide up the aisle, escorted by her misty-eyed father.

      Alma’s older sister Callie, the maid of honor, looked radiant in a light golden silk dress with a flowing skirt. She smiled at her sister, her expression full of love and hope.

      The other bridesmaid, wearing a similar dress with a fitted skirt, tried hard not to squirm and fidget. Brenna Blanchard sent up a little prayer for courage and self-control.

      Dear Lord, please don’t let me bolt out of this church.

      She couldn’t, wouldn’t do that to Alma. Alma and Julien were so in love. They’d been in love since high school, but circumstances and stubbornness had torn them apart for ten long years. It was their time to shine.

      Brenna could hang on for a few minutes. As long as she didn’t think about her own broken heart and the fact that technically, she should have been the one getting married, she’d be okay. Concentrating on the beautiful arrangement at the center of the aisle, she marveled at how her sister Callie could take sunflowers, mums and yellow roses and turn them into something exquisite. And what was the deal with all the Louisiana irises, anyway? Maybe Alma had a thing for irises?

      Brenna forced herself into a serene pose as she smiled at her sister. Alma did look lovely in their mother’s reworked wedding dress. Hadn’t Callie worn that same dress on her wedding day? Wouldn’t that sort of jinx the dress because she’d gotten a divorce?

      No, this was their maman’s dress. Lacy and flowing and full-skirted, with a portrait collar. Beautiful.

      Brenna’s eyes misted