Page 8 of Love in Bloom

“Actually, it affects both of you.”Oh, no. Wren slumped back onto her stool.

“We’re in a bind,” Jackson said, plowing his hand through his hair, “and we’re hoping you can help us.”

“My sister, Sarah, is my maid of honor, and Jackson is asking his sister, Pris, to be his best woman.”

“OK,” Wren encouraged. The sooner these two spit out their dilemma, the sooner she could escape.

“Sarah lives in Madison, and Pris is finishing her residency in St. Louis. We’re hoping the two of you can help with their wedding responsibilities,” Emily finished.

“Sounds like we do all the work and they get all the glory,” Miller observed.

“Come on, man,” Jackson pleaded, “I can’t have my sister plan my bachelor party.”

“Good point. You can count on me,” Miller said. He squeezed out of his chair and gave Jackson a hardy man-hug complete with back slapping. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make your and Emily’s wedding day special.”

All eyes turned to Wren.Really?! Not only do I have to help plan a wedding, but I’m stuck doing it with Trouble.She scowled.

Emily noticed. “I know you’re busy with Wallflowers, and I know how important it is to you. I trust your taste and I trust you as a friend, but if you’re too busy to help, I’ll understand.” Emily twisted her hands and trailed off as though she wasn’t sure what else to say.

“Oh, no, Emily,” Wren blurted as she remembered her manners. “I’m honored to help.” She offered a tight smile. “I was just working through in my head how to best coordinate with Sarah. I’m sure she wants to be involved, and I don’t want to step on her toes.” Now that Miller wasn’t crowding her, Wren could leave. She gave Emily and Jackson each a quick hug.

“I am so happy for both of you,” Wren said, and to her surprise, she meant it. She knew Emily and Jackson had started out as friends and it had grown into more. Maybe that was the key. A marriage built on friendship, not lust. Mutual support, not single-sided professional goals.

“Thank you, Wren,” Emily said, snuggling into Jackson’s side.

“It’s getting late and I have an early morning flower truck I need to meet. I need to go,” Wren said, looking at her watch instead of the happy couple. Even though she was happy for them, seeing their happiness was painful for her.

“I’d better be going, too. I’ll walk you out,” Miller said to her.

“No, thank you, Counselor.” She softened the sting with her ice-maiden smile.

He followed her anyway. Wren did her best to ignore him, but it was like trying to ignore a swarm of woman-eating mosquitos. His presence surrounded her and her ice-maiden repellent wasn’t working.

“I get the impression you don’t like me,” Miller said as he closed the front door behind them.

Bingo!she thought. “I’m sorry you feel that way.”

“I don’t think you are.” He reached for her arm and turned her around to face him. The porch light cast a glow around them. Wren stepped back and Miller dropped his hand.

“I know you’re mad about the subpoena, but I need the information for a client. I’m hoping they’ll show the cheating bastard of a husband was having a long-term affair and help me get some type of justice for my client. You gave me no choice but to subpoena you.”

Wren felt a smidgen of guilt but deflected it. “Careful, Counselor. I wouldn’t want to turn you in for breaking client confidentiality.”

“I haven’t said anything I can’t,” Miller asserted. “Wren, I understand you’re mad at me. If I were in your shoes, I’d be mad, too.” He paused and Wren sensed he was going in for his closing argument. “So, how about a deal? You can stay mad at me until the subpoena is complete.”

“I can do that,” Wren easily agreed. She opened her purse and looked for her car keys.

“And after it’s done, then we go back to being friends.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“We weren’t friends in the first place,” she argued.

“Fair enough,” he conceded. “We can go back to being acquaintances and then work our way to friends.”

“The problem, Counselor, is that I don’t want to be friends with you,” she said and smiled. She wasn’t sure Miller saw her smile in the dim light, but she hoped it gave her words an extra punch.

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