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cousins joined in, and it was a giant hug fest. When they pulled apart, Peggy McBride’s face was pinched tight since Jill had pulled her in. Okay, more like dragged her in.
    “This is a little too much girl bonding for me.”
    “Well, you are the deputy sheriff of this town,” Jill said to pacify her discomfort. “You don’t want to ruin your rep.”
    “Let’s go,” Meredith said, picking up her purse and Jill’s overnight bag.
    She and Brian had spent the previous night apart so that they could reflect on how far they’d come together before the big day. And of course…as Brian had said in a husky tone, so they could both imagine the wedding night. It was still pretty weird to be horny and pregnant, she had to admit, but she was willing to get used to it. With a cherry on top, she might add.
    They hustled out of the girls-only house. All men had been banned the previous night for a Hale sleepover. Even poor Tanner and his and Meredith’s dog, Hugo, since he technically had a weenie.
    To Jill’s horror, Brian’s SUV came rumbling down the driveway just as she was opening the passenger side of her sister’s car.
    “Groom alert!” Meredith called out.
    The women started to shriek. Peggy even ran toward the SUV with her hands held out like a traffic cop’s, prepared to stop him with her flinty cop look.
    That didn’t deter Brian. No, he cut the engine and hopped out.
    “Hello, ladies,” he drawled, acting like he wasn’t breaking the biggest rule on the planet.
    “Get back in the car, McConnell,” Peggy said in her meanest voice ever, “before I cuff you and take you downtown—to the church where you belong.”
    “Yeah, Brian,” Moira said, hiding the wedding dress, which thankfully could not be seen through the garment bag. “Shoo.”
    He laughed and headed directly toward Jill. She knew that look. He wasn’t going to be stopped, not even by the hen house he now faced.
    “What are you doing here?” she asked in total exasperation. “You aren’t supposed to see me before the wedding.”
    “I’m not supposed to see you in your wedding dress,” he told her. “I looked up the rules.”
    She rolled her eyes. “This had better be good.”
    His brow arched, and his smile grew to a grin akin to the one sported by a certain Cheshire cat. “What faith you have in me. I worried you might panic and think I was calling things off. I’m in awe of you, Red.”
    Her heart did swell a little at his praise. He was right. It was a big deal that her mind hadn’t instantly turned Negative Nancy at the sight of his SUV. “I believe in us. I know you do too. Finally.”
    “I’ll ignore that crack about me being slow since it’s our wedding day.” He stepped forward and laid his hand on her belly. “But I have a slight correction. I believe in all of us. Now, take a ride with me.”
    If not for the look in his eyes and the gentle touch he spared for the baby growing inside her, she might have shooed him off. But he had a purpose for being here—a sweet one, it seemed—and this was her day. Besides, wasn’t she known for being spontaneous?
    “Ladies,” she called out, taking his hand. “Brian will see me to the church after we take a drive. I’ll meet you there.”
    “Brian McConnell!” her mom called out. “If you are taking my daughter off for a pre-wedding quickie, I will box your ears.”
    Few people could make a grown man blush like Linda Hale. “Jeez, Mrs. Hale, I’m not…cripes…I’d never.”
    “Good,” her mom said. “And please call me Linda, dear. You’re not ten years old anymore.”
    As they walked to his car, Jill leaned in to murmur, “No, you sure aren’t, thank God. I believe you’ve grown out in all the right areas.”
    His thumb rubbed the back of her hand. “Yeah, I rather like being taller than you. For a few years there, you made me feel like a midget.”
    “You should have experienced it from my perspective. I was fourteen and five ten while all of you boys