When I show up to the tiny island off Redbeard Cove for my wedding day, I'm so early it's just me and the big, quiet rose gardener. I always need a little time to breathe, and his gorgeous garden is the perfect place to do it.

But when I discover my groom's here early too-along with his hairdresser...in a broom closet-I have nowhere to run. In desperation, I beg the gardener to take me somewhere I can breathe.

As it turns out, the gardener's got a sanctuary on the other side of the island. It's got roses, endless air, and a view of the sparkling sea.

But most of all, it's got him-a man I didn't know I'd met once before. A man who's big and rough, but has the most tender hands I've ever known.

I ask him to help me forget. But I think this moment might be one I'll remember forever.

Could being the jilted bride be the thing that breaks me? Or will it end up giving me the greatest gift of my life-a love where I can finally breathe? The Jilted Bride is a short, achingly sweet standalone romance from USA Today bestselling author Claire Wilder. A knight in shining armor, runaway bride + virgin hero, forced proximity romance. The story is loosely connected to Claire's Redbeard Cove series and can be read at any time. There are no spoilers for that series, which starts with Here & There.