When she’d called Bryan with her announcement and demands, she’d been met with a long silence. She’d almost enjoyed his obvious shock and unspoken, You’re what? Just when she thought he might have gone unconscious behind the wheel of his car, he asked her to repeat what she’d said. She’d ended up going through it three times, until he eventually assured her his family would keep it quiet. She supposed he wasn’t eager for word to get out that he’d jilted Dr. Kate at the altar.

At least one group hadn’t needed explanations. Lucas had introduced her to his brother and sister, Brody and Jamie. Brody, a lanky, curly-headed version of Lucas, was home from college on summer break, and Jamie was a teenager with dark hair and braces. They accepted the news of their brother’s impending matrimony with friendly smiles before exchanging a silent glance Kate didn’t have time to decipher.

Now, three hours, one wedding license, and countless moments of stark terror later, Kate stood in the pavilion with Lucas going over last-minute details.

“That’s James McFadden,” Lucas whispered as the preacher approached.

Reverend McFadden wore a well-cut black suit that contrasted perfectly with his thick silver hair.

“Kate, how wonderful to see you again.” Reverend McFadden extended his hand.

“Hello, Reverend. I’d like to you meet my groom . . . Lucas Wright.”

“Don’t you know you’re not supposed to see each other before the wedding?” he said as he shook Lucas’s hand.

“A silly superstition, don’t you think?” Kate said.

Reverend McFadden’s white brows pulled together as he released Lucas’s hand. “Lucas, did you say? I had in my notes you were Bryan . . .” he consulted his Blackberry.

Kate went still, looked at Lucas, panic racing through her veins.

“Yes, it’s right here,” the preacher said. “Bryan Montgomery.” He leveled a look at Lucas, frowning.

Lucas looked the Reverend in the eye, unflinching. “Nope. It’s Lucas.”

The two of them locked eyes.

This was it, the moment she’d feared, the moment she’d known would happen since she’d agreed to this crazy farce. Her breath froze in her lungs until she thought they’d burst.

Finally, Reverend McFadden’s face slackened. He shrugged. “Well. Glad we got this settled before the pronouncement.” He chuckled. “Would’ve made for an embarrassing blunder!”

Kate laughed nervously as Reverend McFadden jotted the correction in his Blackberry.

“There, all fixed.”

The preacher gave a few last minute instructions, made sure they were aware of the order of ceremony, then pocketed his Blackberry. “Well. That’s it, I guess. We’ll see you two in an hour. It was nice to meet you . . . Lucas.”

“Pleasure.” Lucas nodded.

Kate let out a sigh of relief as the reverend walked away.