Hit & Run Bride (Hit & Run Bride Contemporary Romance Series) by Nana Malone, Misty Evans

always promised to stay out of her career, but it looked like he hadn’t kept his promise.
    “You won’t screw this up. You’re smart and resourceful and have a different way of looking at things. It’ll make you stand out. You’ll see. You have to remember that it’s okay to stumble sometimes. It’s not the end of the world.”
    Yeah, she wasn’t so much down for the stumbling. But maybe her mother was right. She did have a knack for making things work in her favor.
    A pang of guilt tied Becca’s stomach into a knot. Now would be the perfect time to tell her mother about her engagement. But as her mother filled her in on what was happening at home, Becca couldn’t find the words.
    She was still on the phone when Van breezed into the office, plopping into a seat with a dramatic sigh. She waggled her eyebrows and mouthed, “Who is that? Liam?”
    Becca shook her head and bit back a giggle. She mouthed back, “Mom.”
    Van lost interest in the conversation, pulling out her phone to check her email.
    After Becca’s mother recounted a story about adventures in raccoon hunting with one of the neighbors, she asked, “Anything new happening besides the job? Any man news?”
    And by man news , her mom meant, ‘Have you met anyone new besides Holden?’ Her parents had met Holden during Thanksgiving last year, and it had gone fine, but her mother had made it clear that while Holden was nice and all, she didn’t think he was right for Becca.
    Becca stifled the urge to blurt out Liam’s name and searched for the courage to tell her mother about her engagement. She grabbed the bag of Snickers in her desk and peered inside. No courage to be found in there, but there was a dark chocolate bite-sized one at the bottom. Those were healthy, right?
    “Nothing to report, Mom. Same old, same old. Listen, I have to go and deal with this design thing. I’ll call you this weekend.” Yes, by the weekend, she’d have it all sorted. Then she could tell her mother that they were getting married in that little church and that she had a ring she loved. Putting it off was really best until she’d talked some sense into her fiancé.
    Van waited until Becca had hung up with her mother before pouncing. “So, what you’re not saying is…you haven’t told your mother you’re engaged.”
    “I—” She cleared her throat. “I figured it could wait a little. Besides, I want to do it right, send pictures of my ring, let her happily start daydreaming and calling venues back home and stuff. Holden and I still have things to work out.”
    Van snagged the single, miniature candy bar at the bottom of the bag. “Okay, that’s fair. But you know you have to tell her.”
    “I know, and I will. But not right now.”
    “Uh-huh.” Her friend’s gaze slid to the gym bag under Becca’s desk. “Swimming today?”
    Her stomach flip-flopped. She wasn’t sure which made her more nervous—getting in the water again or seeing Liam. “Yeah. My first private lesson.” Ten was a little late, but it would give her some time to work later and grab dinner. Bonus that she wouldn’t have the other people in class giving her the I-feel-sorry-for-you look as they triumphantly did their glides while she could barely blow bubbles.
    “So just you and Mr. Swim Hottie in a pool all by your lonesomes.”
    “Van, it’s not like that.” Becca wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince.
    Her friend’s eyes twinkled. “Of course not. You’re engaged to the perfect man...with your very pink ring.”
    Becca couldn’t help a snort of laughter. “Stop. Come on. It’s not so bad.” She glanced down at her hand, willing herself to love it. Nope. She didn’t love it. “I’m going to talk to him about it.”
    Van chewed her bottom lip. “Well, as hideous as that thing is, maybe you should iron out the wedding first. I still can’t believe he wouldn’t hear you out the other day.”
    “He’s so adamant. He kept talking about training for the