Chapter 1

one

BEN

I ripped up the latest letter I'd received from Wilson Enterprises and threw it in the trash. For most jewelers, winning their prestigious award would be a dream come true. But not for me. One of my friends had entered me in their competition, thinking he was doing something wonderful for my career. But after three years of keeping a low profile, it was the last thing I needed.

Thinking about the award made me feel sick. What I needed to do was focus on my store and not worry about anyone discovering my true identity.

The display I'd nearly finished would be a welcome distraction. Opening the cabinet, I carefully placed a gold filigree necklace inside. When I was designing it, I'd imagined Colorado in the fall, the colors that rippled into life around the small town of Sunrise Bay.

As I'd sketched different ideas, the shape of a leaf kept reappearing on the page. That initial concept had become the simple oval pendant sitting inside my display case. It was everything I'd hoped to create and more.

The bell above the front door jingled. I looked up and smiled at my friend Jonathon. In a few minutes, two more friends would be arriving to discuss a fundraising auction they were organizing.

"Hi, Jonathon. I won't be long."

"Don't rush. Kathleen was happy to close the candy store so I could get away early. Nice necklace." Jonathon leaned over the display cabinet and studied my latest design. "Is it new?"

"It is. I finished it last night."

"It's beautiful. The gold looks like a spider's web. How did you make it seem so delicate?"

I placed a silk scarf and two sets of earrings beside the necklace. "It took a lot of experience and more time than I thought, but I'm pleased with how it turned out. Were you busy today?"

"It was a little quieter in the store, but the online orders have gone crazy. Mom had to help me gift wrap more than twenty boxes of fudge."

"Your website must be doing its job."

The doorbell jingled again, and Dylan walked into the jewelry store.

"It's all because of Dylan," Jonathon said.

Dylan's eyebrows rose. As well as being a good friend, he was a genius with computers. "What's because of me?"

"The reason Candy Lane's online store is so popular. You designed an incredible website."

Dylan waved away the praise. "The website's only as good as the product it's promoting. Your customers are raving about your fudge because it tastes incredible. Is Paul here?"

I shook my head. "He has a meeting with Amy's teacher. Once he's finished, he'll join us."

"Do you want me to turn on the coffeepot?" Dylan asked.

Jonathon sent Dylan a relieved smile. "Sounds good to me. After our meeting, my wonderful fiancé wants to take me to a barn. Shane thinks it'll make a great wedding venue."

"Don't worry," Dylan said. "It'll get better once you've settled on the menu, the guest list, the flowers, and your suits."

I didn't want to alarm Jonathon, but from what I'd seen, it wouldn't get any easier until the day he married Shane. "I've met lots of people who are planning their wedding. My advice is not to sweat the small stuff."

"I'll second that," Dylan said as he disappeared into the workroom.

Dylan was also getting married soon. He'd applied the same methodical process to planning his wedding as he did to the computer programs he developed. It seemed to have made everything a lot less stressful.

I moved to the front of the store. "Ask Dylan about the wedding program he's using. It's helped him."

Jonathon picked up his bag. "It'd be even better if it booked everything for us."

I turned the sign in the window to "Closed" and flicked the deadbolt. "Don't worry. No matter what you choose, it'll be an amazing day."

"I hope so."

"I know so. All you need is a little faith, a lot of love, and a great wedding planner."

Jonathon smiled. "We've got two, possibly three covered, so I guess we'll be fine."

I hugged my friend. "Who knows, the barn might be the perfect venue. And if other people have used it, the owners might be able to recommend a catering company. That would be two big items confirmed in one day."

"I should talk to you whenever I'm feeling stressed. I feel better already."

I held open the workroom door. "That's what friends are for."