Page 54 of Kiss the Bride

“But there’s a chance.”

Jenny looked at her with such hope in her eyes that Evelyn hated to disappoint the girl, but if and when she ever did fall in love, she’d always thought her Mr. Right should be the first to know. “We’ll see.” That was all she could say for now. “You—you won’t repeat any of this, will you?”

“I won’t. I swear.” Jenny crossed her heart with two fingers. “This is Heart’s Landing, after all. If two of its own start making calf-eyes at each other, every shop owner will have your entire wedding planned before you go out on your second date, right down to whether you’ll put mints or Jordan almonds in your favor bags.”

Laughter bubbled up from deep inside her chest. Jenny might be a relative newcomer, but she knew how things worked in the town where weddings reigned supreme. She sobered quickly and worried her bottom lip. There was one other reason why she refused to get her hopes up about Ryan, and it was a doozy. “It’s true that I have feelings for Ryan. I’m pretty sure he likes me more than a little, too. Once Brianna and Daniel announce their choices, though, everything could fall apart,” she warned. Until then, she couldn’t let her guard down. Not completely. She had to protect her heart.

Jenny’s brows knitted for a second. They smoothed just as quickly. “You think our Wedding-in-a-Week couple will choose the Captain’s Cottage.”

“If they don’t, it’ll be a first. I’m not sure Ryan will take the news well.”

Jenny shook her head as if that made no sense at all.

“He has a lot riding on this,” she explained. “He could lose everything he’s worked for if they don’t choose Harbor View. What if they choose the Captain’s Cottage and he blames me?” She couldn’t, wouldn’t let herself fall in love with Ryan until then.

“You’re not trying to influence Brianna and Daniel, are you?”

“No. Of course not.” She swept the question aside like rice on the sidewalk after a wedding. She’d never stoop that low. Not even if it meant catching drips from the Cottage’s leaky roof in pots all over the attic.

“I’m sure Ryan knows it, too. Just like you trust him not to try and sway them to his side.”

She smiled. Jenny was right. She did trust Ryan. At least, as far as Brianna and Daniel were concerned. That just left her heart. She’d have to figure out whether she could trust him with that next, and she had a pretty good idea how to start. “I’ll talk it over with Jason the next time he calls, but I want us to start recommending Harbor View Weddings whenever a new bride isn’t completely sold on what the Captain’s Cottage has to offer. Can we do that?”

“Wow! You really like this guy, don’t you?” Jenny’s mouth hung open just a bit.

True, but there was more to it than that. “Heart’s Landing prides itself on providing the perfect wedding for every bride. We’re either all-in on that, or we’re not. Now that Ryan’s opening Harbor View, we can’t afford to ‘miss the boat’ with anyone who wants a waterfront venue,” she said, enclosing the pun in air quotes.

Jenny’s eyebrows dipped. “What if we start doing this and things don’t work out between you and Ryan?”

She hated to think of that possibility, but Jenny was right. She had to consider it. “That won’t change a thing,” she said, sticking by her decision. “We have to do the right thing for our brides. It’s why they come to Heart’s Landing, after all.” She tore the top sheet off the blotter, folded it neatly into quarters, and tucked it in her top drawer for safe keeping. “I have to run. Ryan and I are meeting Brianna and Daniel at Favors Galore. Then it’s on to Janet Hubbard’s place for a tasting. Tomorrow, we’ll be at I Do Cakes for most of the day.”

“My favorite part.” Standing, Jenny smiled a dreamy smile. No surprise there, considering her husband, Nick, owned the bakery.

“We’ll wrap things up on Friday with cocktails and music selections here at the Cottage. Are we all set for those?” A country-western band, a jazz combo, and a string quartet had offered to provide music for the wedding and reception. During the auditions, the happy couple would sip drinks specially prepared by a professional bartender.

“Yep. I can’t wait to see what they choose for their signature cocktail.”

“Whatever it is, that’s one tasting we’ll all enjoy.” Evelyn licked her lips. She scooped up the day’s itinerary and rose. “I hate to run, but, well, I’ve got to run.”

She and her friend traded a few last-minute updates before they headed in different directions. Not long after, she stepped from the Cottage’s car in front of Favors Galore. Ryan waited for her on the sidewalk. As she’d hoped, his eyes widened slightly the moment he spotted her auburn hair falling in thick ringlets over the pale peach blouse she’d chosen especially for its color.

Could they really have their own Heart’s Landing love for the ages? Her breath quickened. Ryan was one of the kindest, most intelligent men she’d ever known. He knew what he wanted to do with his life and had set out to make his dreams a reality, even when they’d clashed with his parents’ vision for their youngest son. It didn’t hurt one bit that his tall, broad-shouldered frame and chiseled features made her motor hum. She liked him—a lot. She even loved him in many ways. But was she in love with him? She didn’t know the answer to that question, but she certainly planned to enjoy spending time with him over the next few days. And who knew? Maybe she’d discover the answer to her question along the way.

Inside the gift shop, Curtis snapped pictures while Brianna and Daniel lingered over three different gift bags loaded with goodies and wine. Each contained an assortment of Ashley’s hand-crafted chocolates. Evelyn tried and failed not to read too much into it when Ryan stuck close by her side as they sampled the candies and sipped the wine selections. But all too soon, it was time to head to Food Fit For A Queen.

She drank in the mouthwatering aromas of butter and spice as she stepped into Chef Janet Hubbard’s domain. She’d attended enough weddings and other events in Heart’s Landing to expect great food from the caterer, but in this instance, the chef had clearly gone the extra mile for their Wedding-in-a-Week couple. Evelyn’s tummy rumbled, as if she needed reminding that she’d deliberately skipped breakfast this morning in anticipation of the coming feast.

After welcoming them to her establishment, Chef Janet quickly explained Brianna and Daniel’s three options and then turned them loose to taste their way through the dining room, arranged to highlight their choices. In the front area, bar tables clustered around food stations that held a variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres, along with a carving station. Opposite it, a buffet offered a selection of pasta dishes before ending with a seafood bar. At a table in the center of the room, waitstaff stood ready to provide a plated dinner option. A discreet placard provided a menu that included steak, lobster, and Cornish game hens.

Evelyn grinned when Ryan headed straight for the carving station, where one of Chef Janet’s assistants piled his plate high with succulent roast beef and turkey. He drizzled her signature sauces on both. While Brianna and Daniel slowly worked their way through the pasta buffet and seafood bar, she surveyed the assortment of appetizers. Evelyn couldn’t resist a tasty-looking mushroom and scallop concoction and was glad when she sampled it. The combination of the earthy mushrooms with the salty sweetness of the seafood practically made her eyes roll back in her head. She loaded several of those morsels onto a dish and surrounded them with an assortment of other bite-size pieces, enough to share with the others. Gathering at the table, the foursome laughed and talked and traded bites as they worked their way through the amazing spread.

By the time everyone had declared they couldn’t eat another bite and thanked Chef Janet, the sun hung low in the western sky. Brianna and Daniel opted to swing by The Glass Slipper before going back to the bed-and-breakfast. Other than that, their big plans for the evening included renting a movie and vegging out. Evelyn rarely turned down a chance to go shoe-shopping, but for once, she resisted joining the couple. Despite the excellent job Alicia and Jenny and the rest had done covering for her this week, she still had bookkeeping to tackle and Connie’s supply order to place. When she shared that news with him, the disappointment that swam in Ryan’s eyes tempted her to change her mind, but she stuck to her guns, and they headed in different directions.

Chapter Fourteen

Ryan perched on the edge of a small couch in an alcove at I Do Cakes and sipped from a cup of dark espresso while Nick walked Brianna and Daniel through the process of choosing the right cake for their wedding. He rubbed his eyes. They felt gritty after a long night of tossing and turning in the bedroom of an apartment that suddenly felt too lonely, too empty.

Evelyn’s decision to return to the Captain’s Cottage alone had baffled him yesterday. He’d been certain she’d accept his invitation to go for another walk along the rocky coast after the tasting at Food Fit For A Queen. He’d seen her looking his way when she’d thought no one was watching and knew they shared a deepening attraction to one another. He was pretty sure she was as eager as he was to pick up where they’d left off with the kiss they’d almost shared the other night. But at the last minute, she’d chosen to return to work. The move had left him standing on the sidewalk outside Food Fit For A Queen with his head full of questions.

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