Page 19 of Kiss the Bride

“Even with Jenny’s help, I have my hands full,” Evelyn objected.

Greg said, “I wouldn’t ask, but Heart’s Landing needs you. The Marines have given Daniel extra time off because of all the good publicity he’ll generate for the Corps. That only adds to the pressure this couple will be under this week. Can you imagine what would happen if they cracked? Maybe Weddings Today would take their contest somewhere else next year.” His firm features said he wasn’t taking no for an answer. “You both grew up here. Weddings are in your blood. You’re young enough that Brianna and Daniel can relate to you. And there’s one more thing you have in common with them that no one else does—you’ve been friends since grade school. Just like Brianna and Daniel. In my book, that makes you not just a good choice, but our only choice.”

Ryan scuffed his foot against the floor. He’d been right—he didn’t like the mayor’s solution. If it meant that much to Heart’s Landing, though, he supposed he didn’t have a choice. He’d have to help out. “Okay, I’ll do my part, as long as …” He let the rest hang. Before he committed, he had to make sure of one thing.

“Yes?” Equal amounts of relief and doubt swirled in the mayor’s eyes.

“As long as the Boat Works stays in the running for the wedding venue.”

“The Captain’s Cottage does, too,” Evelyn insisted.

“Absolutely.” Greg Thomas gave his head a firm nod. “Now, don’t advise them on their choices—that’s up to them. Just be there if Daniel needs someone to talk to, Ryan. If Brianna needs a shoulder to lean on, make sure it’s yours, Evelyn.” The man rubbed his hands together. “I want one of you with them when they visit every shop. “You can take turns if you must—”

“We will,” Evelyn blurted before Ryan had a chance to say the same thing. He agreed with an emphatic nod of his head.

“Good. I knew you were the right people for the job. Now, don’t let me down. We’re all counting on you to get this couple through all the Wedding-in-a-Week festivities and give them the wedding of their dreams.”

Ryan eyed Evelyn. His fingers clenched. He deliberately relaxed them. “I guess we’d better meet. We need a plan on how we’re going to handle all of this.”

“Sure. Jenny wants to go over a few things right now, and I need to be at the Cottage for Jason’s phone call in a bit.” She slipped her phone from her pocket and held it up. “I’ll call you as soon as I’m free.”

“Tell Jason I said hi.” He nodded. He still had some things to take care of at the Boat Works and could use the time between meetings to knock a couple of them off his list. His stomach muscles tightened as the group broke up, and Jenny and Evelyn headed for a corner, their heads together.

Heaven help him, what on Earth had he been thinking? He’d just agreed to spend an entire week shepherding a couple he’d barely met through their very own Wedding-in-a-Week. Worse, he’d promised to work closely with the one woman he’d sworn to avoid.

He squared his shoulders. For the good of Heart’s Landing, he’d do his best to make sure Brianna and Daniel got the wedding they deserved. He had no doubt he could help them survive this week. But would he?

He glanced down at the plate still balanced in one hand. His appetite for cheesy sausage balls or fried wontons had dulled. Not even the macadamia nuts sprinkled atop a fudge bar tempted him. After making sure no one was looking, he dumped the food in a nearby trash can, wiped his fingers on a napkin, and ducked out the closest exit.

Chapter Six

Evelyn propped her phone against a stack of fabric samples on her desk so she could multitask during her video call with her cousin Jason. In the darkness beyond his and Tara’s hotel room, she spied the lights of a soaring church tower. “So how was Cambridgeshire?” she asked.

As she listened to his answer, she went through the stacks of paper on her desk. Thanks to the hundreds of suppliers who had business dealings with the Captain’s Cottage, her office floated on a sea of samples. Despite that, she could usually put her finger on exactly what she wanted. Ever since Jason and Tara had embarked on their monthlong honeymoon, though, she’d lost more than one battle against the clutter.

If that were all, she wouldn’t worry about it. She could deal with messy. But she’d fallen behind on some of her own responsibilities, and Jason had only been gone two weeks. She flipped through the reminders that had appeared on her desk while she was at the train station. The kitchen had run out of crème fraiche. Housekeeping wanted more buffing cloths.

The landscapers needed more mulch. Each item was critical to the smooth operation of the Captain’s Cottage, and it was her job to supply it. Now that Mayor Thomas had added to her workload by practically shaming her into working with Brianna and Daniel, she didn’t see herself getting caught up anytime soon.

The full weight of running the busiest wedding venue in Heart’s Landing pressed down on her shoulders. Maybe, if she asked Ryan nicely, he’d take over the whole job of showing Brianna and Daniel around Heart’s Landing. She shook her head. Not if she wanted the couple to choose the Captain’s Cottage, she wouldn’t.

“Everything all right?” Jason stared out from the screen, his gaze slightly off-center.

She straightened. “Sure. You’re in Ely, right? At the Poet’s House?” Jason and Tara had chosen the snug hotel because of its fabled views.

“Eee-lee,” Jason corrected. “Yes. We’re in the north of England. We have to be up bright and early tomorrow. Our tour of the Ely Cathedral starts at nine.” He turned to his wife.

“I can’t wait to see it,” Tara gushed. “The octagon is considered one of the marvels of medieval architecture.”

“After that, we’ll ferry across the Channel to France,” Jason continued. “Then, it’s on to Florence and our final destination, the Duomo.”

“Jason arranged a private tour of the Dome and Terraces. It’s supposed to be breathtaking,” Tara chimed in.

“That sounds positively …” Boring. Evelyn bit her tongue. Traipsing through dimly lit churches had never been her cup of tea, but Jason and Tara shared a passion for flying buttresses and majestic naves. She supposed that was part of what made them perfect for one another. As for herself, she could think of a dozen better ways to spend her first month of married life.

Not that she had time for a relationship, what with the busy bridal season heating up. Plus the added responsibilities of looking after Brianna and Daniel. Her pulse thudded. Two more weeks. She only had to get through the next two weeks before Jason and Tara returned from their honeymoon. She could do it. Piece of cake.

She sniffed the air. The smell of Connie’s freshly baked cookies wafted into her office. Her stomach growled insistently. She hushed it and peered at the screen. On the other side of the Atlantic, Jason and Tara shared a loving glance.

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