Page 49 of Bragg's Love

Moon cringes. “The expansion is approved.”

I slump in my chair and cover my face with my hands. This is a disaster. I’ll never saveEden’s Gardennow. Mom would be ashamed of me if she were still alive. I’m ruining her legacy.

Harmony rubs my back. “Don’t worry, Eden. We’ve got this. You’re going to give those courses to tourists, remember?”

“And compensation from the brewery will help, too,” Soleil adds.

I groan. They don’t get it. I don’t need a little money to help me get out of a hole. I need a boat load of money to help me out of the ocean I’m drowning in. And now the chance of me expanding the gardens is gone.

All thanks to Miller. Jerk.

Chapter 16

Good thing I learned how to do a revenge prank from the best ~ Text from Eden to Moon

Isurvey the barn at the wildlife refuge before checking my watch. I’ve got three hours to decorate this place to transform it into heaven for Ashlyn’s sister’s wedding. Juniper is marrying Maverick Langston today. Yes,theMaverick Langston. The most popular romantic comedy actor currently in existence.

A Hollywood star getting married at a wildlife refuge in a small town? Sounds crazy, but this is Winter Falls. Anything is possible here. Plus, Juniper manages the wildlife refuge.

I sigh in relief when I notice Riley’s truck approaching. We loaded all the plants and other supplies onto the truck thirty minutes ago before I hopped on my bike and rode out here. I thought Riley and Moon would be right behind me, but I arrived over ten minutes ago.

I was worried the two took a pit stop to Sexyville, which I am normally the biggest advocate of. You go girl! But not today when I’ve got a ton of work and a limited amount of time to get it all done.

“What took you so long?” I ask as I round the truck.

I frown when Miller jumps out. “What are you doing here? Where are Moon and Riley? They’re supposed to be helping me.”

Oh shit. I have to decorate all of these tables on my own? What was I thinking agreeing to do this? I’m not a decorator. I’m the plant girl. I’m going to ruin Juniper’s wedding.

And she’s marrying a movie star. There will be pictures in all the gossip magazines. Maverick’s new bride will be ridiculed. Juniper’s my friend and a Winter Falls native, I can’t allow her to be ridiculed.

Miller grasps my shoulders. “Deep breaths, Eden. I’m here to help.”

“Help?” I wheeze out. “What do you know about decorating tables for a wedding reception?”

He shrugs. “You can order me around how ever you want.”

My inner hussy wakes up. Order him around? Can we order him to strip? Maybe do a strip tease in the middle of the barn? I spotted a pole he could use.

I glance up at Miller from beneath my eyelashes. I want to watch him strip all of his clothes off. I want to know how those muscles look beneath his clothes.

“You okay, flower girl? You seem a bit warm.”

Flower girl? I grit my teeth. What was I thinking? I don’t want to see Miller naked. He betrayed my trust. And worse. He pities me.

I step back and his hands fall from my shoulders. “Let’s get to work.”

“You’re still mad.”

Oh no, he didn’t. How dare he imply I don’t have the right to be mad! He can be Mr. Grumpy All Day Long, but I’m not allowed to be mad about his betrayal.

I shoot lasers out of my eyes at him. Too bad they’re not real lasers that would cause him to erupt into a pile of ashes. Ugh! Why does this man make me forget about my peace-loving ways?

“I’m not mad. I’m freaking furious. You read my mail – an act you never apologized for by the way – and you made me sound unreasonable at the monthly meeting when all I’m trying to do is save my business.”

“Being mad doesn’t help.”

Has he never met a woman before? “What do you expect me to do? Snap my fingers and all of a sudden I’m not mad anymore.”

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