Page 32 of The Backup Bride Proposal

He walked away and it sucked.

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Mae went backinto her office, gathered her things and checked her phone. Fortunately, she had five minutes before the meeting, so she had time to go into the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. She made her way into the dining room and laid her things down on the table.

It took her a few minutes of organizing her notebook, laptop and pens before she looked up and realized that everyone at the table was staring at her.

“What?” she asked.

“You know what,” Erin said. “Hot hunk of cowboy on the front porch. Did he apologize?”

“Profusely and eloquently.”

“Dammit.” Brenna tossed her notebook on the table. “How are we gonna talk shit about him if he’s out of the doghouse?”

Mae gaped at her. “I’m…sorry?”

Honor glared at Brenna, then smiled at Mae. “No, don’t be sorry. It’s good you got things worked out with him.”

“I think so, too. Otherwise acting as the stand-in would be awkward.”

“Because that’s all you’re doing with him, right?” Brenna arched a curious brow.

“Of course it is. I mean, what else would we be doing? I did take him out to eat and show him around town a little, but that’s just me being friendly. Nothing else going on.”

She could hear herself blabbing incoherently.Oh my God, girl, shut up already.

“Anyway, things are fine and I can get back to work—both here and on the set. So what’s on the agenda today?”

She was glad when Erin took control of the meeting so they could talk Bellini Weddings and Red Moss Vineyards business instead of about her and Kane.

Once they’d gone through the agenda, Mae intended to hide out in her office for the rest of the day.

“Oh, and before you all leave,” Brenna said, “Finn and I are having a housewarming party tomorrow. You’re all coming. That wasn’t a question.”

Mae looked over at Erin and Honor, and found they were both looking around as well.

“I…” Erin paused, then said, “Yes. Jason and I will absolutely be there.”

“Ditto,” Honor said.

“What about you, Mae?”

“Of course. I’ve been dying to see the new house.”

“Awesome.” Brenna gathered up her things and started to head out, then turned and said, “Oh, and bring Kane August with you. He probably wants to get outside the compound here. He can meet the guys.”

“Sure, I can…wait. What?”

But Brenna had already disappeared, as had her sisters.

Dammit.

Chapter

ten

Kane watched theplay of emotions cross Mae’s face as she drove them to Brenna and Finn’s house. One minute she looked calm and relaxed, the next like she might need to pull over and be sick.

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