Chapter FIVE

The next morning, Ariel straightened the pink peonies in the crystal vase on the antique buffet in the formal living room of Cliffside, the fragile blooms a burst of color in the pine-scented great room. She glanced out the mullioned window at the darkening sky, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach. Footsteps sounded and Jill appeared, worry creasing her freckled face.

"The storm"s coming in and they say it's getting worse. They just upgraded it to near-blizzard conditions by tomorrow."

Ariel waved off her concern. "It"s just a little snow. The weather channel is doom and gloom every winter. Nothing to worry about." But her palms were clammy as she fluffed pillows on the sofa.

Headlights flashed as a car pulled up outside. Taking a deep breath, Ariel smoothed her apron and pasted on a smile. It was showtime. The weekend guests had arrived.

Momentarily, the door flew open and cold air gusted in, wet leaves swirling around the guests" feet. Ariel stepped forward, pushing down her anxiety as she spied the darkening skies out past the figures of the new guests.

"Welcome to Cliffside, so glad you could make it!"

Ariel greeted the older couple warmly as they stepped inside, both shaking off the chill. The man had his arm wrapped securely around the woman"s shoulders, their bodies angled toward each other.

"You must be Jessica"s parents. I"m Ariel, your host. The bride hasn't arrived yet. You two are the first!"

The woman gave a nervous laugh, clasping her husband"s hand. "Oh yes, I"m Vivienne, and this is my Hugo." She gazed up at him adoringly.

Hugo patted her hand. "Happy to be here, my dear."

Vivienne clung to his side as they moved further into the great room. "It"s just beautiful, isn"t it Hugo?" She looked around with wide eyes, taking in the antique furnishings and flickering fireplace. "We'll be plenty warm, though, right?"

"Very charming," Hugo agreed amiably. He gave Ariel a conspiratorial wink. "I"m afraid my wife"s a bit high-strung about the storm."

"Oh pish posh, it"s perfectly safe," Vivienne said airily, though her grip on Hugo didn"t loosen. "Don't make me out to be a worrier." She kept glancing out the windows as if expecting the wind to shatter them at any moment.

Ariel suppressed a smile, touched by their devotion. "Let me show you to your room so you can get settled."

Vivienne trailed after her, one hand holding Hugo"s, the other skimming the banister. "Just delightful, everything is so quaint. Don"t you think so, darling?"

"As long as you"re happy, my pet," Hugo said indulgently, giving her fingers a squeeze.

Ariel"s heart swelled watching them. She opened the door to their room, the knot in her stomach starting to unfurl. Maybe this weekend wouldn"t be so bad after all. The door sounded again downstairs, and Ariel heard Jill greeting the next guest, and so she hurried back down.

Victoria—the bride's sister, according to the reservation—arrived next, her heels clicking on the polished wood floors as she entered the great room alone. She had an air of reluctance about her, glancing around uncertainly and fiddling with the strap of her purse.

"Victoria, so glad you could make it," Ariel said warmly, coming over to greet her. "I'm Ariel, the owner."

Victoria returned Ariel's offered hand half-heartedly. "Thanks for having me. This place looks great." Her tone was polite but distant.

"How was the drive up?"

"Long. Hit some sleet. Anyone else here?"

"Your parents have arrived."

"Splendid." Victoria rolled her eyes.

An awkward beat passed. Victoria avoided meeting Ariel"s gaze, focusing instead on straightening a painting on the wall that was already level. Ariel felt a pang of sympathy for the woman, for some reason—despite her fancy dress and designer bag, the light in her eyes seemed dim somehow.

Jill stepped up and nodded toward the stairs. "Well, let me show you upstairs so you can unwind a bit. Dinner"s at seven."

"Sounds good, thanks," Victoria murmured, following Jill up the stairs.

As Jil led Victoria to her room, Ariel's mind churned. She"d have to keep an eye on Victoria this weekend, draw her out of her shell a little bit. The woman seemed like she needed a getaway.

While she waited for the rest of the guests, Ariel busied herself, checking place settings and making sure the hors d"oeuvres were ready. She focused on her hostess duties, pushing down the unease still lingering within. One step at a time, she told herself. Just get through the next hour.

The door opened again, and she straightened up, determined to keep up a cheerful facade no matter who walked in. This was her domain, her chance to shine. She could do this.

Ariel"s breath caught in her throat as Randall swaggered in, the same cocky grin on his face that she remembered from college. Her palms grew clammy and her heart pounded.

Oh, no. If Randall is here, then the BB on the booking confirmation has to be Bradford.

Ariel felt momentarily lightheaded, and the room swam a bit. She gripped the podium that she stood next to as she stared at the grinning face of her ex-boyfriend's best friend.

She hadn"t seen Randall in over twenty years, not since her relationship with Bradford had ended badly. His presence stirred up too many painful memories she"d rather forget.

"Well, well, if it isn"t Ariel Hawthorne," Randall drawled, looking her up and down. "Never thought I"d find you playing hostess at some quaint little BB."

Ariel forced a tight smile. "Randall. I didn"t realize you"d be joining us this weekend."

"And miss my best buddy"s engagement party? Not a chance." He leaned in, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Bet you never thought you"d see Bradford again either, huh? He here yet? His bride"—Randall let out a wolf whistle—"quite a looker. The sister, too."

Ariel bristled, trying not to let him get under her skin. "My personal history isn"t any of your concern. The bride"s family has already arrived. Now, if you"ll excuse me, I need to attend to something in the kitchen."

She turned away, her hands trembling slightly. How dare he bring up Bradford after all this time? The very mention of his name made her stomach roil. She needed to regain her composure before facing him again. This weekend was going to be harder than she thought.

Ariel busied herself checking on the other guests, though her thoughts kept drifting back to Bradford"s impending arrival. She had spent years trying to forget their painful breakup and move on with her life. Now, here he was, about to walk back into it on the cusp of his wedding.

She pushed into the kitchen in a daze, and she jumped when she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You okay, boss?" Darcy asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "You seem a little...on edge."

He stood next to her at the kitchen island, his work idle for a moment. Ariel sighed, wishing she could rant to him about how Bradford had just up and left her. But it was too humiliating to keep rehashing beyond the bare details she'd already given him. "I"m fine, just focused on making sure everything"s perfect," she said briskly.

Darcy didn"t look convinced, but he nodded. "Well, I know Jill's helping get everyone settled, but you know where to find me if you need anything. I"ve got your back."

Despite her anxiety, his words brought a small smile to Ariel"s face. At least Darcy was in her corner. She continued greeting guests, making polite small talk while dreading the next arrival.

Her heart leaped into her throat when the front door opened again. She came to the end of the hallway off the kitchen, to the back of the foyer—and there he was, Bradford, with his arm wrapped around a beautiful, beaming blonde. Ariel froze, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of emotion—regret, grief, and flickers of her old feelings, ones she thought she"d fully extinguished long ago.

Seeing him now, she knew one thing for certain - this weekend was going to reopen old wounds in her heart, wounds that had never fully healed. And she had no idea if she was ready for that kind of pain again.

Ariel took a deep, steadying breath as Bradford and his fiancée approached. She plastered a gracious smile across her face.

"Bradford and Jessica, welcome," she said warmly, extending her hand.

He shook it, his familiar grin bringing back a flood of memories. But he gave no indication at all that he felt awkward seeing her—outwardly. "Thank you. I can't believe you own this place! And the restaurant—you were always a great chef."

Bradford Barlowe, in the flesh. Shock coursed through her body like an electric current. After twenty years, her college ex-boyfriend and indie rocker was here, inside her quaint New England bed and breakfast. Had he known when he booked the inn—or could this really be a coincidence? Ariel's mind swam.

"It"s been ages," Ariel agreed, unsure of how much Bradford had shared with Jessica.

"You look wonderful. Jessica, I have a little surprise for you. Meet my friend Ariel from college. She runs this charming little place," Bradford said smoothly, his voice just as velvety as she remembered.

Jessica extended a manicured hand and smiled widely. Ariel steadied herself. Bradford was marrying this woman? The Bradford she knew had hated the debutante types.

Ariel murmured a greeting, her thoughts swirling like the snowflakes beginning to fall outside. The Bradford she once loved had changed, while her heart still ached from the way he"d left her behind years ago. Seeing him now dredged up that hurt, raw and real as ever. Yet she would stay strong, for herself and for the guests who deserved her hospitality. For now, she must remain professional despite the storm of emotions inside.

Ariel nodded, confused. "Pleased to host you and your engagement party, Jessica," Ariel said to the pretty blonde.

"I'm so excited! It"s so nice to meet you," Jessica gushed, pulling Ariel into an unexpected hug. "Can I film content here? You're cool with that, right? I have a form you can sign giving permission."

"C-content?"

"For EnChaunte, my StreamTube Beauty Channel. Viewers absolutely eat up any wedding content. My followers have tripled since Bradford proposed. The BB is gorgeous, everything is just perfect."

Ariel relaxed slightly, grateful for Jessica"s bubbly warmth. "I"m so glad you like it. Make yourselves at home, and please let me know if you need anything at all."

As she showed them to their room, Ariel"s swirling emotions threatened to overwhelm her. Bradford"s presence had dredged up the past - how passionately they"d loved, the bitter heartbreak of their breakup. Seeing him with Jessica stung. But she was determined to keep up a professional facade, no matter how difficult. She was with Miles, and there was no way that she should care that Bradford—who was managing to keep a neutral expression the entire time—had rented out her B and B to flaunt his coming marriage. It all had to be a big coincidence.

But then—why was he pretending that they had been mere friends all those years ago?