Page 45 of Snowbound

I’m giving him until after Ruth and John are married to say something. It’s ridiculous to imagine that he might use their wedding as a chance to make a grand gesture with me. There are three days until the ceremony. That’s plenty of time for him to decide if he really wants me enough to keep me around or if I was only a bit of fun for him.

I know what I want the answer to be, but I can’t ruin his life by trying to stay when he doesn’t want me. He has things exactly how he wants them here. The last thing I want to do is embarrass myself. What we’ve got right now is working.

I’m trying to deny that I want more, but I can’t lie to myself. If he asks me to stay, I’ll say yes without hesitation.

But only if he asks.

I’m getting out of my morning shower when the phone rings. I scramble to answer it, thinking it might be John or Ruth, but it’s an unknown number. I take a breath and answer. “Carly Whitlock, wedding planner, how can I help?”

“Hello, Miss Whitlock, I’m glad I got through to you. My fiancé and I were recommended to you by one of our friends who got married a few years ago. Well, we’re ready to tie the knot, and we thought we’d come to the best in the business.”

“I’m flattered,” I say. “And I would love to make your dream come true.”

“We’re in New York,” says the woman. “So if you could come down today…”

“I’m very sorry, Miss…?”

“Sinclair. Ellen Sinclair.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Sinclair, but I’m currently in Michigan, just finishing up another event. I probably wouldn’t be able to make it to New York until next week at the earliest.”

There’s some faint mumbling from the other end of the phone. Then the woman says, “When is the ceremony you’re currently working on?”

“Three days from now.”

“We’ll double your normal rate if you come to New York immediately when that’s finished.”

“Immediately?” I parrot, my head spinning.

“What’s the issue? Do you have some reason to stay?”

I hesitate. “No,” I say shakily. “I don’t.”

“Well, will you come?”

Double my usual rate. That’s an offer almost too good to be true. Ruth and John are paying me generously, but if this woman found me via my website, where my rates are posted, she knows exactly what she’s offering by saying double.

She’s willing to spend a fortune on me.

This is the kind of job I live for, the exciting ones, the one where they want me because I’m the best, the ones where I can satisfy them completely.

But Gabe…

“I need a little time to think,” I say. “I have to organize my calendar.”

“This offer isn’t going to last forever,” she snaps. “We have plenty of other people we can call. Do you want our business or not?”

There it is, the typical client I’m used to working with, the ones who are pushy and demanding, the ones who don’t know what they want and don’t want me to make suggestions because any time I try and tell them what they might want, I get it wrong.

Mullen Falls has been like a dream, but all dreams come to an end, don’t they?

After all, Gabe said it. I’m a city girl. I’m not used to living my life slowly. I’m used to convenience, to making things happen. I’m used to expensive tastes and quick turnarounds.

Never mind that organizing Ruth and John’s wedding has been the most fun I’ve had in years. I don’t have anything here to stay for. Do I?

And for double my normal rate…

“Okay,” I blurt out. “As soon as the ceremony is over, I’ll make my way to New York. Can I get some more details from you, please?”

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