Page 40 of Kiss the Bride

“How fun is that!” Brianna’s smile grew wider. “We want to throw a big party and meet all our neighbors once we’re settled in at Daniel’s next duty station. That place card idea would be a fun way to tell everyone where to sit.”

“Place cards and formal dinner parties are for officers, sweetheart.” Daniel reached for his fiancée’s hand. “We’re more wings and beer than all this.” With a wave at the displays, he indicated the shop.

“But you like it, don’t you? I mean, it’s our wedding and …”

“Of course I do.” Daniel caught her fingers up in both his hands. “I’m just saying none of this matters as long as I get to have you as my wife.”

Evelyn swore every heart in the room went pit-a-pat when Daniel brought Brianna’s fingertips to his lips and kissed them. That, she said to herself. Forget the big, fancy wedding—just give me a man who loves me like that.

Curious, she glanced at Ryan. Was he as moved by Daniel’s display of affection as she’d been? She wrenched her gaze elsewhere when Ryan’s soft eyes touched her heart.

After a moment, Vi said, “So, to recap. The first option honors Daniel’s military career. The second is a tribute to your home state. Are you ready for your third and final option?”

“I’m already having a hard time choosing between the first two.” Brianna flounced back in her seat.

Daniel looped one arm around her shoulders. “I know which one I like.”

“Oh, you.” Brianna brushed her fingers over his upper arm. “We’re not supposed to say anything out loud.”

Her reprimand earned her a sheepish look, which Brianna followed up by bussing Daniel’s cheek.

Evelyn’s chest expanded. As they were getting into the car this morning, Brianna had whispered that she and Daniel had talked late into the night. So far, there’d been no sign of the doubts the young bride had expressed yesterday. Had the couple simply had a case of wedding jitters? She hoped so.

Up front, Vi rolled away the third curtain, and Evelyn clamped a hand over her mouth to capture a happy giggle. An olive-green runner stretched the length of a rustic wooden table. Cane-bottom chairs had been placed at regular intervals. Red dishes sat on top of gold charger plates. Silver flatware with gold handles rested on dark blue napkins. White bread plates and delicate stemware added to the effect.

This, she thought, eyeing a table that exuded charm and sophistication. This was what every wedding should be—a perfect blending of his dreams and hers. She started to comment on it, but one glance at Ryan told her something else entirely had captured his attention. Following his gaze to Vi, who invited Daniel and Brianna to give all three choices a closer look, she pressed her lips together. When he continued to stare while the couple joined hands and moved to the table settings, she leaned into her chair, her arms crossed. She sat, stewing in silence, as long minutes ticked slowly past.

Eventually, Ryan tore his gaze from Vi and leaned toward her. “Bev and Vi did a great job, didn’t they?”

“Perfect. Simply perfect.” She laced the words with an extra dose of sarcasm. “You two sure are awfully friendly.”

“I should hope so.” Confusion clouded his eyes. “When I first got back to Heart’s Landing, no one would hire me except my dad. He wanted to put me to work swinging a hammer. Um, no thanks. I thought I might have to move on until Bev and Vi asked me to convert their grandmother’s house into this place.” His gaze wandered the walls.

“I didn’t know.” She studied the nearest set of closets. How had she failed to notice Ryan’s handiwork? His demand for perfection was evident in the tight joints of the cubbies, the smoothly turned posts that adorned the display cases. That still left a lot of unanswered questions. Determined to learn the answers to them, she braced herself and plunged on. “Is that when you and Vi started seeing each other?”

Ryan rolled his eyes. “Is that what’s got your nose out of joint?”

“Me? You’re the one who’s practically drooling.”

Ryan shot a quick look over his shoulder at the couple, who stood at one table, their arms wrapped around a smiling Vi. Standing, he bobbed his head toward the exit. “Let’s go outside.”

Did she really want to end things with Ryan before they even began? She stalled by asking, “What about Brianna and Daniel?”

“Curtis will keep them busy for a few minutes.” He started for the door, leaving her no choice other than to trail slowly behind him. On the front porch a few minutes later, he turned to face her. “Now, what’s all this about me and Vi?”

“It’s no big deal,” she protested. Okay, so she’d dreamed of having a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Ryan, but that was all it was. A dream.

His social life was really none of her concern.

“You’ve been in a mood ever since we got here.”

“I am not in a mood,” she insisted. “I asked a simple question. How long have you and Vi been seeing each other?”

“We’re not.” Confusion knitted his brows. “Where’d you get that idea?”

“I thought …” Her voice trailed off. Did she really have to say it? Evidently she did, because Ryan just stood there, waiting for her to continue. Her breath shuddered. “I saw how she hugged you. How you hugged her back. Like you were more than friends. Like you were involved.” She gave him her best challenging look. There, let him deny that.

“Me and Vi.” A smile crept across Ryan’s lips. It quickly turned into a full-fledged grin.

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