Page 29 of All Dressed Up

CHAPTER SEVEN

Will paid for his coffee and stifled a yawn as he strolled past the shops down Main Street. When he’d told Rachel he’d pick up the dresses, he hadn’t meant 7:00 a.m., but he’d gotten a text from her late last night saying he needed to stop by before her flower shop opened.

That was fine. He’d get an early start. God knows the boutique’s insurance paperwork alone would take up most of his day.

He’d load up the dresses in his SUV and take them to his parents’ house. His temporary shop would have to be his mom’s dining room.

He glanced over at the boutique. The insurance company would be calling later with the damage estimate. He knew he should be grateful that the shop hadn’t been engulfed in flames, and he was, but man, couldn’t it have happened in the dead of winter and not on the onset of wedding season?

His gaze trailed down to the park, remembering the ominous warning he’d been given from the random stranger. What had the old man meant by “Mary’s cooking”? He couldn’t have been talking about Mary Reed, the ghost, could he?

Adam had said that the fire was started by a toaster oven. Maybe one of Jason’s employees was named Mary. That was probably it.

Reaching the entrance to Buttermilk Blooms, he brought his hand up to the glass door to tap his arrival but stopped midway, his head tilting sideways to take in the beauty on the other side of the glass. Rachel was inside next to her workbench arranging a flower display.

And hot damn, in skin-tight black yoga pants and a maroon tank top and white sneakers, she was the sexiest woman he’d ever laid eyes on. Her long blond hair was swept up in an uncharacteristic messy ponytail, with light blond strands flying in every direction.

His lips turned up, enjoying the memory of the last time he’d brushed her hair off her face. It was the night of her house fire last December. Damn. Fire seemed to follow them.

That evening had actually turned out to be one of the best between them. It was the only time she’d let him stay over. In those early hours, he’d held his sleeping beauty tight, tucking those pretty strands behind her ear while vowing silently he’d never leave her side.

He let out a deep sigh for no one’s benefit but his own.

Things were different now.

He’d hoped last night would have put him on a new path with another woman in this town, but truth be told, it didn’t.

And wasn’t going to happen.

Amber had been great company, but after a couple of drinks, he’d called it an early night and drove home alone. It wasn’t fair to start something up with her when he wanted someone else.

Despite the fact thatthatwoman on the other side of the glass had made it abundantly clear on more than one occasion that nothing was going to happen again between them. He tapped on the door, and Rachel immediately spun around, giving him a wave. “Hi,” he said from the other side of the glass, his pulse quickening despite himself.

Rachel moved across the shop, unlocking the door. “Good morning! Is that for me?”

“Um...” His head dropped down to the one cup in his hand. Shoot. That would have been a thoughtful move. Why didn’t he think to get her a coffee? “Of course.” He handed her the cup. He’d get another one later.

“I was just kidding. I didn’t think it was for me.”

“It’s all yours. I’ll get another later.”

“Thank you. I pulled an all-nighter here and could really use this.” She took the cup and motioned him in.

“So, it’s kind of early...” he started, eyeing the shop. Why had she been here all night? Where were his wedding dresses?

“I know. I’m sorry. There’s something I’m excited to show you.”

“Me?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Donovan, Bethany, Adam, and I have been working on it for twelve hours straight. They just left to go get breakfast. Donovan will be back in a few minutes to help with the final touches.”

“Final touches...” he repeated. What had his friends been doing, and why didn’t they call him?

Sure, things were awkward with Rachel, but when were they not? He’d like to think if she really needed his help, she’d ask.

Just as she’d offered to take his dresses for him. It was the nice thing to do. He’d jump at any request she made.

Hell, if she needed help tying her shoelaces, he’d be right there at her heels offering his assistance.

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