The SEAL's Best Man (Special Ops: Homefront Book 2) by Kate Aster

sighed at the sight of Lacey’s disbelief, and sank backwards onto her
pillows. “Besides, the men I date aren’t looking to settle down with someone
like me.”
    Lacey smirked. “Maybe you should stop
dating younger men.”
    “That’s harsh.”
    “I’m serious though. Try dating someone
who is on the same page as you are.” Lacey shared a conspiratorial grin with
her friend. “Still going on that date with Captain Shey?”
    Maeve smiled coyly. “How many girls get
to go on a date with a SEAL CO? ’Course I’m still going.”
    “Mick nearly burst an artery when I told
him. You, dating his CO.”
    “Former CO. It’s just dinner. It probably
won’t turn into anything else.”
    “Does Jack know?”
    “Why would I tell him?”
    Lacey shrugged, and took another look at
herself in the mirror. “This is gorgeous, Maeve.”
    “So wear it. Nothing would make me
happier.” She rose and took her friend’s hand as they gazed at the dress in the
mirror. “Gram had a timeless style about her, didn’t she? So? What do you
think?”
     “I think,” she began, stopping to carefully
hand Maeve the dress, “that you are the best friend I could ever ask for. But
everything in me says that this dress is meant to be worn by you next.”
    “Lacey—”
    “First your grandma, then you. I’m not
convinced you won’t have a second chance at marriage, Maeve.”
    Puffing out her cheeks, Maeve let out a breath.
“Okay then. Guess we’re stuck going shopping again. But you better actually buy
something this time. The clock’s ticking.” Frowning, she put the dress back in
the box. If Lacey had her way, she’d get married in jeans and her flip-flops.
    There was a light tap on the open door.
    “Bess, I didn’t know you were home
already.”
    “I left early. Remind me to never go to
one of those community playgroups again.”
    “Oh, no,” Lacey said. “Did Abby not get
along with the other kids?”
    “More like I didn’t get along with the
other mothers.” Bess flopped onto the bed with a stack of the day’s mail on her
lap. “Oh, they were like vultures and I was the prey. First, one catches wind
that Abby hasn’t said her first word yet. And she’s like, ‘Oh, aren’t you
worried? She should be saying something by now. My baby was saying three word
sentences by that age.’”
    Maeve’s lip curled. “Ugh. The
mom-competition begins. That’s just the beginning, I hear. Next she’ll tell you
that her precious child is learning quantum physics and reciting Shakespeare.”
    “And the doctor told you not to worry
about it yet. So don’t worry about it,” Lacey reminded her.
    “Yeah, and I told her that. But then
she’s got about six other moms in on the conversation, and together they had
Abby diagnosed with at least six different things. My blood pressure’s never
been so high in my life.” Bess threw her head back into the pillows. “And then
they asked about my husband, so I had to tell them I’m single.” Her laugh was
almost maniacal. “And then, the shining climax was when they asked me what I
did for a living.”
    Maeve sat beside her, knowing what was
coming. “And you told them you clean houses.”
    Bess nodded. “Next time I’ll just lie,
because honestly, my half of the room cleared out like I had the plague.”
    “Bitches.”
    “Every last one of them.” Bess paused.
“Except one seemed nice. I didn’t talk to her much, but Abby seemed to like
playing with her baby boy. We talked a little, and she actually gave me her
number so we can get the kids together again. She didn’t seem repulsed by the
scarlet A embroidered on my chest.”
    Maeve laughed. “So it sounds worth it.”
    “I guess, yeah. It sure wore Abby out,
too. She was out like a light the moment I set her down in the crib.” Bess held
up three cards, one with an open envelope. “Oh. And these came in the mail
today.”
     “What are those?”
    “Mine’s an invitation, so I’m guessing
yours are, too. Some