Page 76 of Love You Too

What are the chances that the surprise I have planned after PJ and Colin’s wedding will be a mistake of colossal proportions, and what are the odds that I’ll get the happy ending I envisioned when I convinced Archer to help me with my plan?

Yes, I pulled in Archer because I needed someone to do someadvance recon, and scraping together a package of center ice seats for the remainder of our season was easy payment for his trouble. “You really don’t need to do that.” He waved a dismissive hand when I offered, but I could see the itchy flinch in his hand, wanting to reach out and take the envelope from me.

“It’s the least I can do for you, man. If I pull off what I’m hoping to, I’ll keep you sitting in the good seats for life.”

I was treated to one of Archer’s rare smiles, which he was quick to explain. “The seats are a bonus. My sister’s who I care about, so I’m looking out for you.”

After dropping Tru at the doggie day spa, I pull up to Buttercup Hill, where a valet attendant takes my car and points me to where the wedding will be held on the back lawn of the restaurant. Trix finished the renovations on the inn a week ago. Julie made sure Trix kept her word and worked less, and they still got everything done a week ahead of schedule. Walking me through the rooms, she pointed out the fabric she was carrying the day I ran into her at the market. Hard to believe that was five whole months ago.

The place looks amazing, and I could see the pride on her face as she walked me through the new lobby, with its high-pitched ceiling, large hearth, contemporary clean lines mixed with antiques. Muted earth tones mixed with color. I have no idea how she looks at a blank space and sees potential, but this place meets its potential ten times over.

The restaurant itself is a California Craftsman with a wide front porch and weathered gray shingles. The windows are framed by white plantation shutters, and a wraparound deck on the second floor affords views in three directions.

I follow the crowd around the side of the restaurant to where rows of chairs are set up on the lawn, flanked by the hills that give the winery its name. A simple arch of flowers stands at the front of the space—at least, it looks simple. Because I know Trix, I know that every stem was chosen with care, every colored budpicked to contrast with the one next to it, all the tangled vines done so intentionally. It’s beautiful.

But it’s nothing compared to the woman standing to the side, greeting guests in a peach-colored silk dress hanging from tiny straps on her shoulders. Her hair flows down her back in loose waves, no tendril or wisp restricted from blowing in the light breeze. Her deep ruby lips offset her dark hair and piercing blue eyes, which land on me as soon as I come around the side of the building and walk onto the lawn. She smiles and starts walking in my direction.

“You look gorgeous.” My whispered words near her ear make her flinch, and when I tentatively run my fingers down her bare arm, she shudders.

“Thank you.” Her response is quiet, and she looks off into the distance, not at me. When my hand reaches her wrist, I encircle it with my fingers and rub the soft skin over her pulse with my thumb. I feel her relax, even though we’re only touching at this one point.

Sliding my hand lower, I interlace our fingers and give her hand a squeeze. “Today’s going to be great. You’ve got this.”

“Do you think it looks okay?”

I know how hard she’s worked to have everything perfect for PJ and all the guests. From where we stand, I see giant silver vases of pink and orange flowers framing the altar and tiny lights twinkling in the trees. With the setting sun, the vineyards look like a movie backdrop.

“No,” I tell her. “I think it looks perfect.”

She nods but she doesn’t look convinced. “I need to go check on PJ,” she says, looking at a point behind me where I assume her sister is getting ready inside the restaurant.

“Of course. You’ve always supported my career. Now it’s my turn to support you. I’ll be here.”

That smile I love overtakes Trix’s face. “Yeah, okay.”

She starts to go, but I still have her hand, so I pull her againstmy chest, wrapping her in my arms. Leaning toward her ear, I whisper, “To be clear, if you weren’t in the wedding, I’d drag you off to my room at the inn, caveman style.” I feel her smile and she laughs. The tension seeps from her body, and she turns in my arms.

“And if I wasn’t in the wedding, I’d go with you right now, Hockey Star.”

“Do me one favor, will you?” I ask, not letting go of her.

She nods.

“After the ceremony, when everyone goes to the cocktail reception in the vineyard, will you hang behind for a few minutes? Meet me here?”

Her brow furrows. “I’m not sure I can. I need to make sure everything’s set for the reception?—”

I wait for her to finish. I know she’ll have a laundry list of things to make perfect for her sister, so maybe my plan wasn’t the best. But as soon as Trix says the words, she seems to reconsider them. “Actually, I have a staff of people who can tend to that, so…yeah, I’ll meet you right here.”

Trix watches our fingers untangle as though she’s having the same second thoughts about letting go of me as I’m feeling toward her. She kisses me on the cheek before hurrying into the house.

In the garden next to the floral arch, a string quartet begins playing, signaling that it’s time for the guests to take our seats. I choose one in the second row. I want the best view I can get of the woman in the peach-colored dress. And I want her to know I’m looking.

CHAPTER 35

Beatrix

“I pronounce you husband and wife.”The minister barely gets the words out before a cheer goes up from the crowd squeezed into the chairs on the grass. Every one of them is filled, but no one is standing. I give myself a silent high five for estimating the exact number of last-minute no-shows and calculating the food and drinks perfectly for PJ.

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