Page 11 of Save the Dance

Striding toward the entryway, he reviewed everything that had happened so far in a day that had taken a sharp turn away from the script. Tara Stewart’s early arrival was no mistake, that was for sure. Regina Charm’s itinerary had been copied and plastered on every bulletin board in town. He hadn’t written the wrong date on his calendar. He didn’t accept that Tara had simply decided to put in an early appearance on a whim, either. There was no earthly reason for her to show up a day earlier than expected, unless it was a trap to catch the town with its proverbial britches down around its ankles to see how well everyone handled the change.

But sending what appeared to be a junior staffer to do the job, that was an entirely different matter. Why would Regina Charm do such a thing? Was she honestly trying to remain impartial after her own wedding crashed and burned in Heart’s Landing? That had been Tara’s explanation. Did he really believe her?

He shook his head. He had to. The alternative—that no matter how well they performed over the next ten days, Heart’s Landing was doomed to failure—was too difficult to even think about.

Chapter Five

Jason had half expected Tara Stewart to return from her brief respite with the poise and self-assurance of a veteran reporter. If anything, with her hair in a messy topknot while she stood staring up at the painting of his swashbuckling ancestor, she looked even less experienced. The camera she’d slung over one shoulder lent her a serious air, but the loose blouse with slits on both arms definitely wasn’t professional attire. Evelyn had referred to the style as a cold shoulder. He hoped that wasn’t indicative of the journalist’s mood.

“You bear an almost uncanny resemblance to him, you know,” she said, turning toward Jason as he strode down the hall. “I bet you get that a lot.”

“You’re not the first,” he admitted. “Evelyn and I put it to good use, though. We often appear at weddings and receptions dressed as the Captain and Mary. Sing a duet or two. Mingle with the guests. People like it.” He shrugged.

“Your cousin has a good ear. She was humming the Covenant Hymn when I came in. That’s not an easy piece.”

“You sing, do you?” The melodic lilt in her voice intrigued him.

“In my church choir.” She half laughed. “Not on stage like you do. That must give you quite a thrill, to stand in front of an audience and belt one out. Do you enjoy it?”

Did he? He and Evelyn had worked out their routines in order to fill the needs of brides who loved the history of Heart’s Landing as much as they appreciated Rhode Island’s rocky coast or the town’s beautiful wedding venues. He’d never really stopped to ask whether he actually liked performing or not. Not that it mattered. “I’m all for anything that makes our brides happy. We aim to provide each and every one of them with a perfect wedding. Around here, that’s all that counts.”

“I’ll probably hear some version of that line quite often while I’m in Heart’s Landing, won’t I?”

Tara had an easy grace about her. The prospect of spending time with her over the next few days was far less intimidating than he’d expected it to be with Regina. He relaxed enough to let a small chuckle escape. “It’s who we are here. We wish all our brides a Heart’s Landing love for the ages. Then, there’s our town motto. You’ll probably hear, ‘The best is yet to be,’ repeated so often before you leave that you’ll find yourself chiming in with everyone else.”

“Well, I don’t know about that.” Tara tapped the thin notebook she carried in one hand. “I’m supposed to remain at least a little bit impartial while I’m here.”

He cracked his knuckles and hoped that was exactly what she’d do. Remain impartial. If she gave them half a chance, he had no doubt she’d soon realize that Heart’s Landing’s perfect blend of charm and sophistication made it the best place in the country for brides to get married.

“Why don’t we get started? I thought we could begin at the top, as long as you don’t mind climbing a few stairs.” A quick glance confirmed the sensible shoes on her feet. “The view from the widow’s walk is spectacular. From there, we can work our way down to the ballrooms and the smaller wedding venues.”

Tara met his questioning look with a distant smile that reminded him she’d come to Heart’s Landing with a job to do. Though it would be easy to convince himself they could be friends, he couldn’t afford to let his guard down around her. Was she here to praise them, like she said? Or to cut them to ribbons? Whatever her goal, it was up to him to uncover the truth. Intent on finding out more about what made her tick, he led the way from the foyer to the grand staircase.

Might as well get started. He lobbed an easy question. “Where are you from, Tara?”

“Savannah, originally. My folks own a restaurant near Forsyth Park. My dad makes the best shrimp ‘n’ grits in the entire state. Whenever it’s on the menu, people line up out the door. Mom runs the front of the house. She keeps my two sisters hopping.”

He leaned closer, pleasantly surprised by the faint trace of a Southern accent that softened the corners of her voice when she spoke about her family. “You didn’t want to go into the family business?”

“Nope. I can make passable dishes, but I wasn’t born with my dad’s talent in the kitchen. My sister Lulu, now, that girl can cook! She’ll take over the stove when my parents retire. Gloria, she’s my mom’s right hand.”

Tara’s answer struck him as just a little too polished in spite of her off-hand manner. Wanting to uncover the whole story, he probed a bit deeper. “No place for you? Is that why you moved to New York?”

“In part. Everyone says I was born with a pen in my hand. From the time I could print the alphabet, I’ve known that writing was my calling. When it came time for college, my folks wanted me to major in the business. They weren’t thrilled when I studied journalism at the University of Georgia.” Almost like an extension of her team’s name, she peppered the conversation with a quick, “Go Bulldogs! Afterward, I landed an internship at Weddings Today. I’ve been there ever since. This assignment is my big chance to prove to my parents that I chose the right career.” She canted her head. “But listen to me going on and on about my life when I’m the one who’s supposed to be interviewing you.”

She was a smart one. She’d caught on to him a lot faster than he’d thought she might. Going forward, he’d have to respect her intelligence. “What do you want to know?”

“Have you always lived in Heart’s Landing?”

“You mean, have I ventured any farther than Newport?” he teased. “Yes. I spent a while in Boston after getting my Master’s. Cornell. Hotel Management,” he added, wondering if she’d be impressed. “No matter where I lived, though, this has always been my home. Running the Captain’s Cottage is more than a job. It’s a legacy. Passed from one generation of Hearts to the other. I’m proud to carry on that tradition.” Reaching the first-floor landing, he ran his hand over the wooden railing much the same as his great-great-great-grandparents might have done. The familiar, smooth finish felt cool to his touch. He’d always known the Captain’s Cottage would play a big part in his life’s work. The various positions in Boston had merely provided ample training for what was to come.

“And now you manage all of this.” Tara paused to scribble in her notebook. When she looked up, she asked, “Was that the plan?”

“I thought I’d stay in Boston for a while longer. I managed conference centers and arenas there, and I liked the work. The people were interesting, and every once in a while, I rubbed elbows with superstars. But when my dad died, the timetable shifted.”

“I’m sorry.” Tara’s voice dropped. “How long has it been?”

“A little less than two years.” He stopped to clear his throat. More and more often, the good memories outweighed the bad. Still, the pain of losing him so early lingered, even after all this time.

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