Chapter 10

Ten

Everly

E ver since Harrison’s declaration about showing me fairy tales exist, he found every opportunity to touch me. A brush of his body while I was cooking, a hand flung over the back of the couch when we watched TV. And his touch wasn’t friendly . Each one sent a tingle of fireworks along my skin.

Was he doing it on purpose? Because he was quick with a wink, and his dimple always made an appearance when he smiled at me. It was like he was drawing me in.

“You ready for the wedding?” Harrison asked at breakfast on Saturday morning while he was whipping up eggs with bacon. He enjoyed making big breakfasts, and I prepared dinner.

“I’m there to make sure everything goes smoothly. Gia had a family thing.” Gia was the owner and wedding planner at Happily Ever Afters. She’d hired an extra planner, Aria, to help Ireland out when there was a big wedding, or when Gia had a conflict, or when we had two weddings scheduled at the same time.

I wasn’t there when she first introduced her, but Gia said the thing that made her want to bring her on board was her love for all things weddings. Aria brought a portfolio to show her wedding ideas, and Gia thought they were unique. Apparently, Aria was a romantic, and Gia hoped the brides would love her enthusiasm.

“Did you create the invitations for this one?” Harrison asked as the eggs slid from the pan onto the plates he’d set on the counter for us, along with a slice of wheat toast and avocado.

“Yep. I framed their invitation for them, too. It’s something I want to offer in the future, but we’re using this one as a gift.”

Harrison’s eyes widened. “That’s a great idea. Can I see it?”

“I haven’t wrapped it yet. Let me grab it.” I kept my invitation and art supplies in the spare room, which Harrison and Wren had taken to calling my office. I retrieved the frame and the wrapping paper and returned to the kitchen.

I set it on the counter while Harrison was shoveling his eggs into his mouth. When he saw it, he lowered the plate to the counter. “This is fabulous. I’ve never been married, but I could see how a couple would love to have this to remember their day.”

“It’s not a photograph or anything.” That was probably the best memory. “Or dried wedding flowers.”

Harrison touched my shoulder, the heat of his palm searing my skin. “Don’t cut yourself short. This is just as important as a photograph or the flower arrangement.”

“Thank you.” When my dad left, my mom became depressed and couldn’t muster up enthusiasm for much of anything. I even stopped bringing graded tests or awards to her. She’d gotten better over the years, but I didn’t expect any praise or encouragement.

I soaked up Harrison’s praise.

Harrison smiled. “You’re so talented. I’m jealous.”

“Why would you be jealous? You single-handedly run your own business.” I was continually impressed with his courage.

Harrison shrugged. “I rent tables and linens. I’m not creating anything.”

I wrapped my arms around his waist, settling my cheek on the soft cotton of his T-shirt. “I’m impressed. I work the front desk at a doctor’s office.”

When I pulled back, he picked up his plate. “Not for long. Your invitations are beautiful and one of a kind. And if you can offer more things like this, you’ll be too busy with your invitation business to stay with your current job.”

“You think I could quit my office job?” I asked, sitting on the stool at the counter to eat my breakfast.

“Gia’s bringing in business for all of us. It’s steady, and it’s only going to increase.”

“You don’t think we need to worry about competition with Silas’s Chesapeake Resort?”

“Silas’s resort appeals to someone who wants a destination wedding. Kind of like going to an all-you-can-eat resort. The couple doesn’t want to worry about the arrangements and the linens. They want someone to create a package and tell them which one to buy.”

Gia offered packages, but there was the option for custom, too. Gia made sure she charged what that was worth because anything tailor-made to the bride and groom’s specifications was time-consuming. “That makes sense, but Gia’s still concerned.”

“I don’t know Silas well. He’s a few years older than me, but I think her brothers are friends with him. So maybe it’s some holdover from childhood.”

“Maybe.”

“Personally, I think there’s something else there, but what do I know?” Harrison shrugged and rinsed off his plate before putting it into the dishwasher.

“What do you mean?” I asked, taking another bite of my omelet.

Harrison leaned on the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. “I think there’s some attraction there.”

My head snapped up at that. “That would be awkward if he’s her brothers’ friend. They’re protective of her.”

Harrison chuckled. “I remember that from high school. Her brothers made it clear she was off-limits.”

“I bet that was irritating.” But it sent a surge of jealousy through me. To be the youngest sibling of overprotective brothers was unimaginable to me.

Harrison’s expression slipped slightly. “I’m sure they thought they were helping.”

I couldn’t even imagine having a sibling to protect me, look after me, or just share in the burden of the loss when Dad left. Because I didn’t just lose Dad that day; I lost the mother I knew, too.

Harrison unfurled his arms and strode toward me. Leaning down slightly as if he was going to kiss me, he asked, “I need to get to Lily’s farm to set up. Will I see you in a bit?”

“Yes,” I said, sounding a little breathless as he kissed me.

It was brief, but the contact never failed to slide me off center. My lips tingled when he pulled away, and my skin heated.

His kisses were familiar and comfortable but teased at something more enticing. What would happen if I tangled my fingers in his hair and held him to me? I wanted to explore his mouth and feel his hard body pressed against mine.

Every morning was the same. I woke with him wrapped around me. It was something I looked forward to as much as I worried about what it meant.

“Drive safe.” He grabbed the keys from the hook by the door, shoved his feet into his boots, and left.

I didn’t let out the breath I’d been holding until the rumble of his truck sounded. When I agreed to move in with him, I stupidly thought Wren would be a sufficient buffer. I neglected to remember she was rarely here.

Most of the time, it was just us. We’d fallen into a good rhythm of taking turns showering with him making breakfast. Then I went to work when he settled into his home office.

In the evenings, I cooked dinner and then worked on new designs for my invitations while he watched TV.

I finished breakfast, started the dishwasher, and wrapped the framed invitation before I followed. Lily inherited the farm from her grandmother a year or so ago and recently began renting it out for weddings. It was always through Gia’s wedding planning service, Happily Ever Afters, since we were partners.

I was one of the newer hires. I’d shown my designs to Lily, thinking she could advertise them in her shop, and she passed them on to Gia. Gia immediately called me and had me come in to meet the group of wedding planners and other vendors.

I only acted as a wedding planner on rare occasions when Gia couldn’t be on-site. I rarely got to see Harrison in action. But this morning, he was busy getting the arch positioned where the wedding ceremony would take place. It had rained the night before, so none of the usual preparations had been done.

“Do you need help with anything?” I asked him.

“Can you set up the chairs? This arch the bride wanted isn’t standing how I need it to.”

“Of course.” I wore a dress with flats so I could easily pitch in if necessary. I arranged the chairs in rows and helped Lily tie the flowers to the ones lining the aisle.

“This is gorgeous,” I said to Lily.

“The farm or the flowers?” she asked with a smile.

“Both.” The flowers were gorgeous, as always, and the property was the perfect location for a wedding, with the arch overlooking the pond, the rustic barn where the reception took place, and the large wraparound porch on the main house that was used for the cocktail reception after the ceremony.

“It’s all coming together better than I imagined.”

“You didn’t own a flower shop before you moved here, right?” I hadn’t gotten much of a chance to talk to her one-on-one.

“That’s right. When my grandmother died, she left me a note, telling me to live my dreams.”

“And that was the shop?”

“Yeah, but then I realized the potential for the farm property. I wanted to rent it out for others to enjoy. My grandparents were so in love.”

I’d seen the photographs in the barn and the gold GTO that her grandfather kept as a memory of the first time he’d met his wife.

Lily straightened from where she was tying the bouquet to the chair and stretched her back. “I hoped that their love would be an inspiration for the other couples getting married here. A confirmation that true love really does exist.”

I was surrounded by couples and weddings but… “I’m not sure I believe in all of that.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

I knew that Lily had recently fallen in love with Jake, her mechanic. She’d met him when her VW delivery van kept breaking down, and he’d helped her restore her grandfather’s GTO. He was a common fixture at the farm, having moved in sometime in the spring.

I sighed. “My dad left my mom when I was a kid. I’ve never forgiven him for it.”

“Just because your father was an asshole doesn’t mean all men are.”

“It’s hard to put yourself out there and trust someone after that.” Initially, I thought it was my fault, but as I grew older, I wasn’t sure what to believe.

“You’re seeing Harrison now, right?” Lily asked.

Flustered that I almost forgot our arrangement, I was quick to add, “Yeah, I’m just worried it’s too good to last. Know what I mean?”

Lily nodded. “Jake struggled with something similar. His mother abandoned him when he and his sister were young. He hated seeing his sister get hurt each time his mom showed back up and then inevitably disappeared again.”

“At least my dad stayed gone.” But I’d imagine both were painful.

“And I bet it’s different with Harrison because you were friends first. You already love and trust him.”

“That’s true. He’s a good friend.”

“I think you have to have faith in your love for each other. And sure, nothing is definite. We’re all taking a leap of faith.”

“The arch is ready for you,” Harrison called over to Lily.

“Perfect. You mind finishing the rows?” Lily asked me.

“I’ve got it.” I pushed away the conversation, concentrating on making each arrangement perfect for the ceremony. But Lily’s words stayed in the back of my mind. Taking a leap of faith was the scariest thing I could imagine doing. I was supposed to just trust that someone would stay. That seemed foolish. Especially knowing what I did.

“I have to finish setting up in the barn. You almost done here?” Harrison asked, his voice soothing some of the anxiety in my chest.

Harrison was familiar and comfortable, and he had been in my life since we were kids. He’d only left when we attended separate colleges. But a part of my brain said he stayed because he got Lola pregnant on one of his breaks. Would he have stayed in town if it wasn’t for Wren? Would he have left, too?

“You okay?” Harrison asked, his face etched with concern.

“Yeah. I just need to finish these last two chairs, and then I can help.”

“Now you know what it’s like to set up. It’s crazy but exhilarating at the same time.”

“You enjoy this?” I asked him, gesturing at the bustle of activity. It was much worse this morning since they didn’t have any time to set up on Friday.

He smiled. “I do. I like creating something that will be remembered.”

“Even if it’s disassembled at the end of the day?” I asked him, curious to get to know him better.

“But the memory lives on in pictures and framed invitations.” He winked and smiled.

“I guess you’re right.” But I couldn’t imagine wanting something like this.

“This is what every girl dreams of. One day that’s all hers. Or, at least, that’s what Sage tells me.”

“I don’t know about everyone,” I grumbled.

Harrison chuckled, pulling me into his side, the rumble of his laugh settling into my bones. “I know how you feel about weddings. That’s why I was surprised when you started creating invitations.”

“There’s only so much you can do when your talent is calligraphy.”

He squeezed my shoulder. “I’ve seen your drawings. It’s more than that.”

“If you say so,” I said, a little surprised by his enthusiasm. I never thought about it before, thinking what he did was just a job, and he enjoyed the freedom of being his own boss. But he enjoyed setting up for weddings. He thrived on it. The energy of the event, the happiness and hope emanating from the couple. The belief that this could last forever.

“I’m going to crack that little black heart of yours. But first, I need to get back to work.” He kissed me on the lips. These greetings were becoming routine, yet each one still surprised me with its intensity. I’d dated and even had steady boyfriends, but no one had affected me with one simple kiss. Each one grounded me, reminding me that I was loved and cared for, at least by my friend. Sometimes, it was hard to remember that none of it was real.

I watched him saunter toward the barn, wondering what would happen when we broke up. Would he stop kissing me? I hated that idea. I’d become accustomed to them, lifting my day.

“You two are so sweet together,” Aria said.

“It’s still new. That honeymoon stage.”

“I don’t know about that. But I think it’s great that you were friends first and then got together. It’s so romantic.”

The musician for the ceremony and reception, Finn Evans, stopped in front of us. “What’s romantic?”

Aria nodded toward me. “That Harrison and Everly were friends before they got together.”

“Is that all it takes for you?” Finn rested back on his heels.

Aria smiled at him, not deterred by his cynicism. “I think it’s romantic—how a couple meets, the way they slowly or quickly fall for each other. That moment when they realize they’ve met the one. I love all of it.”

Finn tipped his head to the side, considering her. “You read romance novels?”

Aria nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed. “I love them. They remind me anything’s possible.”

Finn adjusted his hands on the guitar case. “So, what? You think Prince Charming is just around the corner?”

My stomach dipped at his tone. It was clear that Finn was a pessimist and Aria was a romantic.

Aria smiled softly. “I wouldn’t call him Prince Charming.”

Finn set the guitar case on the grass and made air quotes with his fingers. “The right one?”

Aria’s face pinched. “Don’t make fun of me because I’m a positive person.”

Finn shook his head. “I’m not making fun of you. I’m just trying to understand.”

Curious about where he was coming from, I asked, “You play music at weddings. Don’t you believe in them?”

He chuckled humorously. “I believe the divorce rate is over fifty percent. Or is it eighty? I can’t keep up.”

Aria shook her head. “That’s one way to look at it.”

“Hey, weddings keep us in business.”

“That’s gross,” Aria said, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

I felt a kinship with Finn. “I feel the same way. I’m not sure I believe in all of this.”

“A woman not longing for her own wedding?” Finn asked.

Too late I realized I was supposed to be in love and soon-to-be engaged. Shrugging, I said, “I don’t need the big party.”

Finn’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure Harrison knows that? He loves this too.”

“Yeah, he knows.” My heart raced. Pretending to be in a relationship was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Especially since I didn’t believe in them.

Finn regarded me for a few seconds before saying, “I’d better set up.”

“Let me get you a chair,” Aria said, switching into planner mode.

I headed to the barn to help Harrison set up in there. He was quick and efficient, polite to those around them but not wasting any time. He was good at his job. And I loved him even more for believing in what he did. It made him more appealing somehow. Even if I didn’t agree with him.

Harrison left before the ceremony itself. I stuck around to make sure everything went smoothly. Aria and Ireland were the ones in charge of this one. It was a test of sorts to see if they could handle more weddings on their own.

This couple insisted on setting up the dance floor outside the open doors of the barn. Twinkling lights hung over the space, adding to the ambiance. Their guests were a lively bunch, dancing most of the night.

“It was a good decision to set up another bar by the dance floor. The key is sensing the vibe of the families from the couple,” Aria murmured to me.

“Hmm. I didn’t even know that was a thing.” When I met with a couple, I knew which one was more interested in the designs—usually the bride. But I didn’t delve too deeply. It wasn’t necessary to do my job, but after listening to Harrison and Aria today, I wondered if diving a little deeper wouldn’t make my creations even better. It was something worth considering. Especially if I ever wanted to quit the day job.

Harrison strode toward us in a white button-down shirt, rolled to his elbows, and slacks. “You want to dance?”

“I’m working,” I said as my heart pounded at his appearance. Was he here to see me?

Aria waved me off. “There’s no need for you to help. I’ve got this.”

“Are you sure?” I asked her, almost desperate to avoid being alone with Harrison. When he was like this, it was difficult to resist him.

“Go. Have fun.” Aria shooed us away.

Harrison spun me and I slid easily into his arms. “Why are you here?”

“I wanted to make sure everything went okay.” He was quiet for a bit, and then he said, “It’s a little lonely at the house.”

My face screwed up. “It sucks when Wren is at her mother’s.”

“Tell me about it.”

I sensed that Harrison wanted my company, and I loved that he’d sought me out instead of grabbing a beer with friends.

Harrison held me close, his lips close to my temple but not kissing me. My heart beat a steady rhythm under my rib cage as I reveled in the feel of his arms around me and his chest pressed against mine. If I could bottle up this feeling of safety and security, I would, and I’d return to it again and again.

That was what I’d lost when my dad left, a sense of security. Was that something I could ever get back?