Page 70 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

Nick’s arm came around her waist, and she realized they were making yet another turn.

“So, listen,” Nick began.

Holly stopped abruptly. “Oh, no.”

A crease formed between Nick’s brows. “What?”

“You’re getting cold feet, aren’t you?”

Nick let out a small laugh. “What? No.”

“You are.” Holly shivered. “You’ve got cold feet, you can’t stand my corny jokes, so you’re breaking up with me and abandoning me in this labyrinth, and you’re about to run off through the trees in hopes I can’t find my way out.”

Nick pulled her into his arms. “You’ve got quite the imagination, you know that?”

Holly chewed her lip and averted her gaze. “Or maybe I’ve been struck down one too many times and can’t get out of the habit of waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Nick lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. “There will be no shoe dropping on my watch.”

She bit the inside of her cheek. His expression told her he had something on his mind.

“What, then?” she asked. “What is it?”

“Were you not listening when I said you can talk to me when something burdens you?”

She tensed. “I was.”

“So why didn’t you tell me Grayson showed up in Silverwood and threatened you?”

She felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath. “I … I don’t know. I think I just wanted to block out the whole incident from my mind.”

“I’d like to think we have a healthy relationship.”

“We do,” she proclaimed earnestly.

“Then we always have to be honest with each other. That includes letting one another know the important things. No omissions of truth.”

She dropped her gaze. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Holly, Grayson sounds delusional and dangerous. It kills me that I wasn’t there to give him a stern talking-to, and it kills me even more that he tormented you. I’ve got to tell you, I’m a peaceful man, but when Rachel told me how he showed up terrorizing you? That might have been the first time I’ve wanted to kick someone’s teeth in.”

Holly grasped Nick’s coat. “I just … I can’t fathom that he’s in Silverwood. I want to believe that his bark is worse than his bite, but at the same time, I’m terrified he’s going to do something stupid to ruin the wedding.”

Nick sighed and held her tightly. “The police have been alerted. Everyone is on the lookout. I’ll do everything in my power to stop him from ruining anything. I’ve sort of got connections, you know?”

Despite her anxiety, Holly smiled.

“And in the end, he loses anyway.” Nick leaned back to look at her. “BecauseI’mthe one marrying you, not him. And there’s no way he’s going to change that.”

“You seem so calm,” Holly said. “Am I crazy for freaking out?”

“No. You’re just cautious. But don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine. Look at Heather and her hurricane wedding. Even if all our plans fall apart, we’ve already come out ahead as long as we have each other. There’s a reason why they’re called ‘silver linings.’ Hidden by those clouds, there’s still a sun shining behind it all.”

She winced. “That might be a little cheesy, even for me.”

He let out a low chuckle. “Well, sometimes I’m a little cheesy.”

She lifted a brow, her arms tightening around him. “So, no cold feet?”

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