Page 19 of Love in Bloom

“Yes.” Miller leveled him with a glare. “This is important. If I’m lucky, I’m only doing this once and I want to get it right.”

“What about when it’s your turn to tie on the ball and chain?” Jackson asked, and Emily gave him a gentle elbow jab to his ribs.

“Watch it, buster,” she cautioned.

“I’m serious. You’re the best, Em. Whoever Miller marries will be a ball and chain compared to you.” Jackson leaned in and kissed Emily. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. Miller spoke before the love fest went any further.

“If the Gods are smiling on me, it will be a weekend in Las Vegas.”

“What if she wants a traditional wedding with all the trimmings, or even a destination wedding?” Emily asked.

“Really, whatever she wants is fine with me. I’d just prefer something fast, because once I decide, I won’t want to wait, and Vegas fits that bill.” Miller was done talking about a hypothetical distant event. “So, we’re all agreed on a big old ‘no’ for the strip-tease DJ at the Elk’s, right?” Everyone nodded as the cocktail server delivered their hot drinks. Just as he’d predicted, Wren wrapped both hands around her mug. Miller moved his mug in front of her. “Here, now you have one for each hand.”

She looked surprised but didn’t argue. He went back to his notes and from the corner of his eye noticed that she’d wrapped a hand around each mug. “Let’s see what everyone put down,” Jackson said. Emily liked the first band from the country club, and Jackson liked the band they had just heard at the hotel.

“Tie,” Jackson said. “Well, proxies, let’s see what you have. Wren and Miller handed their ballots to Jackson. “Huh, you both picked the lady DJ across the street.” He gave Emily a resigned look and she shrugged her shoulders.

“Great minds think alike. We must be friends,” Miller said to Wren as he took his mug back. He smiled to seal the deal.

“Acquaintances,” she insisted and took a sip of her drink. Miller leaned forward and wiped a drop of whipped cream from the corner of her mouth with a cocktail napkin.

“Friends,” Miller said as he crumpled up the napkin. “So tell me, what’s the name of the guy who broke your heart and ruined you for the rest of us?” Wren leaned back and laughed. Her laugh was deep and smooth and it woke up every cell in his body.

“You are so full of yourself, Miller Lynch. Why is it guys like you always think it is another guy instead of the one staring back at you in the mirror?” She stopped and grinned, and he noticed the sparkle in her eyes. “That made more sense in my head, but you know what I mean.” Laughter and an insult were not the reactions he’d hoped for when he’d wiped away the whipped cream.

“No. I don’t know what you mean,” he said nervously.

“I know what she means,” Emily said. Jackson cocked an eyebrow, encouraging her to continue. “Let’s face it, Miller, women think you’re the full meal deal. You’re handsome, successful, and you’re a nice guy. You’re what every parent hopes their daughter brings home. And, as a result, if a woman isn’t interested, you think she’s broken or it’s because of someone else. You can’t comprehend a woman not being interested in you for no reason.”

Jackson chuckled.

“Watch it, Coach.” She pointed at Jackson. “Don’t even get me started on you,” Emily warned him, but she softened it with a quick kiss.

“Wow, ladies, tell me how you really feel,” Miller complained. He took a sip of his lukewarm hot chocolate to avoid eye contact. They made him sound shallow. Arrogant. He didn’t think he was that guy, but Emily’s description seemed to fit. Now wasn’t the time for introspection, though. He looked back at his friends. Wren looked contrite, but Emily and Jackson were lost in each other.

“I’m sorry, Miller. I shouldn’t have teased. I have a hard time warming up to new people and I don’t like to be pushed. I’ll get there eventually.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” he promised. It disappointed him when she didn’t have a scathing comeback. Instead, she lightly squeezed his hand before stifling a yawn.

“Jackson, my date is falling asleep. Let’s call it a night.” Both men threw bills on the table, which more than covered their tab. Wren didn’t protest the date comment and Miller didn’t protest when she slipped her icy hand into his on the walk back to the car.

December

Wrendidn’tthinkshe’denjoy herself, but she was. The restaurant was dressed for the holidays, diners smiled and laughed, and Wren had a corner table near the fireplace. Dining alone usually bothered her, but she’d gotten used to doing things alone, and the heavy envelope in her black Prada satchel reminded her that alone is what she officially was now.

She could have called any of her friends to join her. They would have been there in a heartbeat, but she didn’t want to explain the celebration. Not that anyone would guess Wren was celebrating. She’d spent most of the evening staring into the fire while picking at the appetizers she’d ordered. She was saving room for dessert and champagne. It wasn’t a true celebration unless there was champagne.

Laughter from the private dining rooms on the upper level floated down and interrupted the relative quiet of the restaurant. Wren knew Anderson, Anderson & Swanson were having their holiday party. She’d delivered the centerpieces that afternoon.

They weren’t her best work. Diane Swanson had been specific in what she’d wanted, and what she’d wanted wasn’t very interesting: white mums, red carnations, a few pinecones, and red velvet ribbon tufts all nestled in a bed of pine. They were lovely and very traditional, but Wren enjoyed her work much more when the client left the creating up to her.

She watched the small party descend the stairs and stop by the coat check. From the safety of her corner table, her eyes lingered on Miller. His jet-black hair reflected the light overhead. He stood confidently with the partners and held a centerpiece while Mr. Swanson helped Diane on with her coat. The men exchanged the centerpiece and then Miller helped Michelle on with hers. Such simple gestures, but Wren needed to look away.

As much as she prided herself on being a single, independent woman, she missed being taken care of, having someone concerned about her welfare, and having someone who loved her. She diverted her attention to the dessert menu the server had left. She debated between the flourless chocolate cake and the apple crisp à la mode. It wasn’t an easy decision, and it didn’t help that she kept losing her focus.Oh, what the heck! It’s a celebration. Wren slapped the dessert menu closed and gave her order to the server, including a bottle of champagne.

Wren resumed staring into the fireplace and recalled visions of Miller and Michelle together. She’d seen them walk together for coffee or lunch several times in the last few weeks. She’d even run into them one evening at the Galley. Each time, Michelle looked like she’d just won the lottery. Oh, yes, the boss’s princess had it bad. It wouldn’t be a terrible thing, Wren admitted. Getting involved with Michelle would be very good for Miller’s career. It would definitely help him make his goal of partner by the age of thirty-one.

A movement off to the side caught her attention.Buckets! I knew I should have gone somewhere else!Trouble headed straight for her.

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