Page 48 of Dreaming of You

"Barrett," she said, shaking her head in bemusement. "What are you doing here?"

"I gave your grandfather a ride."

"In the clothes you were in last night?"

He shrugged. "I slept at his house. It was late, and he seemed a little shaky. I knew he was going to need a ride this morning, so I figured I might as well crash there."

"I can't believe you did that," she said. "That was really generous."

"It wasn't a big deal. We had a nice chat. He showed me your old room, your photo albums, a couple videos of you dancing the ballet."

She groaned. "He did not do that."

Barrett grinned. "Sorry, but he did. You looked cute in a tutu, but I'm not so sure ballet is your thing."

"It's not. I was terrible. I just liked wearing the outfit." She shook her head again. "I really can't believe he brought those out and made you watch them."

"He needed a distraction. He was kind of wired when we first got there. He wanted to talk."

"What else did you talk about?" she asked a little warily.

"Family stuff." His gaze met hers. "I heard a lot about your mother, a little about your father."

"I'm sure that must have been boring."

"Actually, it was pretty interesting. You told me a little at dinner, but your grandfather filled in the rest of the blanks. I'm beginning to understand why you're so into beautiful weddings and happily ever after. You want what you wished your parents had had."

"That's not the only reason I became a wedding planner. I like events and making people happy and weddings are the biggest, happiest events—at least most of the time."

He gave a nod, but he didn't look like he really believed her. "Well, I'm glad to hear your grandmother is all right. Are you heading back to the city? Or are you going to hang out here?"

"I need to get back. I want to take a quick shower before I go into the office. I have a meeting with Candice and Olivia at ten."

"Why don't I drive you?"

"You're becoming quite the chauffeur," she said lightly. "I'd like to say no, because you've done way too much already, but if you're going into the city, I will take a ride."

"That's where I'm going. I also have a meeting at ten, so…"

"I'll just say good-bye." She opened the door, pausing as her grandfather placed a tender kiss on her grandmother's forehead. Then she said, "Sorry to interrupt, but I need to go to work, if you two will be all right here on your own?"

"Of course," her grandmother said. "But first please introduce me to that handsome man behind you, the one who has taken such good care of Lance."

She glanced back at Barrett, who was hovering in the doorway. "My grandmother wants to say hello."

"I'd love to meet her," he said, following her into the room.

"This is Barrett Fox," she said.

"Pleased to meet you. I'm Bess."

Barrett nodded. "I've heard a lot about you, Bess, from your very devoted husband."

Bess glanced at Lance, then back at Barrett. "I've been blessed. Day I met him was the luckiest day of my life."

"Luckiest day of my life," Lance corrected. "We were at a carnival, and she was tossing dimes, trying to win a bowl shaped like a fish, and she wasn't very good at it. So, I stepped up and won it for her."

"I wasn't actually trying to hit the bowl that looked like a fish," Bess put in, a twinkle in her eyes. "I wanted this pretty little candy dish, but when Lance won me the other bowl, I couldn't tell him. We've had that bowl in our cupboard for the last fifty-five years."

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