Page 54 of Love for a Lifetime

“Possibly. I can’t make any promises.”

“Trey deserves a cold shoulder, but Mark is an unassuming stranger. Please be nice,” she begged.

Dawson narrowed his eyes. “I’ll think about it, but I don’t have to like him.”

“You haven’t even met him,” Olivia said.

Dawson shrugged. He didn’t have to meet the guy. He probably wouldn’t like anyone Olivia dated, but he’d keep his mouth shut for her.

Unless speaking up was necessary.

What determined “necessary?”

“Dawson!”

He turned, looking for the source of the shout, and spotted Bethany heading his way in a tight pink dress and outrageously high heels that reminded him of stilts.

Walking in those things probably took skill. Bethany practically bounced with each step, sending her long, strawberry-blonde hair flowing behind her.

“What are you doing here?” Bethany asked as she stepped up to his side, stopping a little too close for comfort.

He’d met Bethany at a barn dance at Wolf Creek over the summer. She was working at the front office there and very much in her wild and crazy era.

“It’s my best friend’s wedding,” Dawson said. “Have you met Olivia Lawrence?”

He turned back to Olivia who had a very fake smile plastered on her face. She gave a small wave.

“I haven’t. Sorry, you must be Dawson’s date,” Bethany said.

“Oh no. My date is inside.”

Bethany looked around. “Oh, where’s your date?” she asked, looking up at Dawson without as much innocence as she intended.

“She got sick and couldn’t make it,” Dawson reluctantly admitted.

Bethany gasped and slid her arm around his. “You can be my date!”

He pulled his arm away and desperately looked around for a distraction. “Um, I really have a lot to do today. You know, groomsmen duties.” He started backing toward the groom’s cabin. “I’ll catch up with you at the reception, but I… I think the photographer is waiting on me.”

“Okay! Save me a bunch of dances!” Bethany said as he backed away.

He waved at the women, and Bethany waved back ecstatically.

Olivia, however, covered her mouth to hide her chuckles.

Dawson turned and headed toward the cabin. Bethany was pretty, but it was hard to even see her when the only woman he wanted was standing three feet away.

So close, but just out of reach.

13

DAWSON

Dawson stepped up to his spot at the front of the church and settled in. He clasped his hands in front of him just like Olivia had instructed him to do.

Now, how long did they have to stand here before things got started?

He scanned the familiar faces in the small chapel. The pews were filled from one end to the other. He waved when he spotted his mom and Jeremy in the crowd.

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