Love Me Knot by Shelli Stevens

 
    Acknowledgments
    Huge thanks to LCDR Jil l A Creigh, USCGR for letting me tap your mi nd again and again for Coast Guard information while I wrote this story—you’re so incredibly patient and sweet. A nd thanks to Ana Avery RN, BSN for being my nursing source. T o Kendra Egert for creating this beautiful cover and your patience with me. To Megan and Danielle for being my editing eyes. And a big, massive thanks to my wonderful readers who requested that this book be written! Ryan Wyatt definitely needed his story told and I had a blast writing it.
     
     
     
    Copyright © 2011 by Shelli Stevens
          
          All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
          
          This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
          
          License Notes
          
          This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the author's work.
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    Ryan tilted the bottle of beer to his lips and finished it off, his gaze scanning the scene before him. People were smiling, laughing hugging, k issing. It was all a little nauseating. And at the center of the scene were his cousin Todd and his brand new wife Kate.
    From his corner of the room Ryan watched the newlyweds slow dancing around th e dance floor of the Wyattville Ocean front pavilion. He shook his head. Three weddings in less than a year.
    “You look a little flabbergasted there, cuz.”
    Tyson Wyatt sidled up beside him, his trademark grin on his face as he handed Ryan another beer.
    Ryan grunted and didn’t disagree. The hairs on the back of his neck lifted and he slid his glance across the room. Just like a few minutes ago, the same brunette stared at him. She was cute. Maybe interested. An out of town relative of Kate’s maybe? He didn’t recognize her.
    When she realized she’d been caught staring, she jerked her gaze away and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
    Tyson followed his gaze. “Better be careful, Ry guy. There’s something in the water. I’ve got a feeling you’re next.”
    Not likely. He still wondered how in the hell every one of his bachelor cousins found themselves shackled and chained in holy matrimony so quickly . Wasn’t it just a few months ago he’d been bitching with Todd about Tyson and Trevor settling down?
    Maybe Tyson was right—there was something was in the water. Which was why he was staying the hell away from it.
    He set the empty bottle of beer down on a nearby table and twisted off the cap on the new one. “Guess I should congratulate the newlyweds.”
    “Ah you’ve got time.” Tyson settled beside him and they both stared out at the floor together. “So any new gals in your life?”
    “I’m actually in between at the moment, Sheriff,” he drawled.
    Until Todd had fallen head over heels with Kate, he and Ryan had been like twins rather than cousins. They’d both lived and loved life to the fullest—including the girls that came with it. How many times had they been each other’s wingman? Too many to count. Damn. And now he