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of Ana’s soul that were both endearing and melancholy. Celia was marrying her high-school sweetheart, David Wiseman. He was handsome, charming, a star quarterback for the football team when they were in high school, and now a prominent accountant in their small community. Shortly after proposing to Celia, they’d gone house hunting together so that he’d have a threshold to carry her over.
    On top of snagging an amazing man, Celia had steadily been building her career since she graduated from high school. Even though she’d gone to college to be a veterinarian, she’d ended up as a dispatcher for the local police department and had soared up the ranks to lead dispatcher in no time, settling into a stable career with health insurance and all the other benefits. Her life was on the path that most girls dreamed of, while Ana’s was in shambles. How could Ana not be the tiniest bit jealous?
    Watching her sister walk down the aisle in her immaculate white dress filled Ana with a yearning for things she feared she’d never have. Bandera was a small city, and most of the guys she’d known growing up had moved into San Antonio to seek out better employment opportunities. Everyone knew everyone in this town, and those she didn’t know, she’d meet soon enough. She hoped that there was still someone left for her, someone who could look past the fact that she was having a child out of wedlock.
    Ana fought back tears as her little sister said her vows and became a married woman. From this point on, it would just be Ana and her mother living in the big ranch house together. It left her with a strange emptiness inside, and a sense of regret that she hadn’t come back sooner and spent more time with Celia as a single woman. What fun they could have had together.
    With the wedding over, the guests removed themselves to the reception hall while Ana went up to the pulpit to have her picture taken with the bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party. It was a lengthy process. Stand here. Move there. Hope her baby bump wasn’t showing. Wonder if she’d ever be skinny again. The women in her family were known for having issues taking off their baby weight. It was silly to think about, but what else was there to do when you were standing as still as a statue trying to force a smile for the cameras?
    With that done, they made the short trek to the reception hall, which was conveniently located behind the church, and Celia and David broke off from everyone else to greet their guests and thank them for coming before it was time for the meal to be served.
    Ana had just tied up a conversation with one of her cousins on her mother’s side when she turned around to find Ryan in her line of sight. He was standing with a glass of champagne in hand, talking to one of her uncles. It was strange to see him so at peace with her family, like he fit right in. She found herself staring at him, marveling at how handsome he looked. As if he could feel her eyes on him, he turned his head, catching her gaze. With a smile, he excused himself and crossed the distance between them, making her heart beat faster with every step.
    You look beautiful, Ana. That dress suits you well.”
    Ana’s cheeks heated up. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
    Your family is wonderful.” He looked around the room, his eyes flitting over the faces of the people he’d just met, Ana’s entire family in one night. If she was in his place, she’d feel overwhelmed. Ryan seemed at ease with the crowd, though, as if being around so many strange people didn’t bother him one bit.
    It’s been a busy day for you.”
    And it’s not over yet.” There was still the toast, the dancing, the cake cutting, and the cleanup. She certainly couldn’t forget the cleanup. She’d be lucky if she was in bed before midnight.
    Not a fan of weddings?” He smirked, bringing his glass up to his lips to take a sip of champagne. Ana’s eyes zeroed in on his mouth, thoughts of what it