by Leigh Duncan
“It’s lovely.” Jenny moved closer to the gossamer number. The discreet price tag displayed on the stand made her shudder, but Ames certainly knew his merchandise. Everything about the veil was sheer perfection, from the comb adorned with freshwater pearls to the pencil-thin satin edging. Even the length was exactly right for her. The veil was out of her price range, but she’d choose it in a heartbeat. Not that she had any say in the matter. She wasn’t the one who’d be walking down the aisle at the Captain’s Cottage. Nor was it her responsibility to pick out the accessories her movie-star cousin would wear. Kay would do that for herself at Madame Eleanor’s. She summoned a smile for Ames. “I’m not quite ready to shop today. Maybe some other time?”
“Anytime,” came the ready assurance. As if by magic, a business card appeared in between Ames’s fingers. He pressed it into her hand. “If you need anything, day or night, call me. You hear?”
While she doubted she’d have a veil emergency so urgent it justified waking the shop owner in the middle of the night, Jenny nonetheless tucked Ames’s card in her wallet. They said their goodbyes, and Nick guided them toward their next stop.
They hadn’t gone far before he inclined his head to hers. “You nearly turned green when you looked at that price tag. Too rich for your tastes?”
Jenny gulped. For a second there, she’d forgotten she was supposed to be marrying a man with very deep pockets. “Sometimes, I forget I’m not still in college and eating ramen noodles every night because that’s all I can afford.”
Nick’s laugh, deep and throaty, rose from his chest. “I hear you. While I worked my way up the ladder from apprentice to assistant to head pâtissier in Paris, I lived in an actual garret. It wasn’t nearly as romantic as the novelists make it out to be.”
Picturing Nick’s tall form stooped beneath the rafters of a tiny attic apartment, Jenny smiled. It was nice to know that neither of them came from wealthy backgrounds. It gave them something in common. Besides a dozen smashed cupcakes, that was.
A couple of doors down, a young woman twisted the key in the lock outside a store called The Memory Box.
“Closing up for the night, Helen?” Nick’s footsteps slowed to a stop.
“Yes. It’s about that t-time.” The fashionably dressed brunette hesitated. “Did you want s-something?”
“Nothing special. I was just showing Jenny around town a bit and thought we’d drop by for a minute or two.”
“S-sorry, Nick. I’d open back up, but it’s my mom’s birthday. I don’t want to be late.” Turning, Helen pocketed the key.
“That’s okay.” Nick smiled agreeably. “Helen, meet Jenny Longley. She’s getting married at the Captain’s Cottage in true Heart’s Landing tradition later this month. Jenny, this is Helen Berger, co-owner of The Memory Box.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Jenny said, her hand outstretched. She glanced over Helen’s shoulder at the intricately carved boxes on display in the front window. Even through the thick glass, the detail was stunning, and she longed for a closer look.
For several beats, Helen stood as though rooted to the sidewalk while her delicate nose crinkled with indecision. “Would you like to go inside and l-look around?” she asked, giving Jenny’s hand a quick shake.
Touched by the offer, Jenny shook her head. “I wouldn’t dream of making you late on such an important night. But I’m intrigued. I’ll have to stop by again while I’m in town.”
“You do that.” Helen’s voice and her features smoothed. “You won’t find anything quite like our boxes anywhere else. I’d be happy to help you pick out something really special to hold your wedding memorabilia.” She straightened the strap on her shoulder bag and gave Nick a brisk nod. “S-sorry, but I have to run.”
As Helen hurried off, bells chimed the hour from the steeple on the church at the end of the block. Jenny surveyed the rapidly emptying sidewalks. Up and down Honeymoon Avenue, store lights had been turned off, and signs in windows had been flipped from Open to Closed. Taking their cue, she aimed a grateful smile toward her host for the afternoon. It was time to go.
“I appreciate your showing me around, Nick. I hope I haven’t kept you away from the bakery too long.”
“Not at all.” His deep voice rumbled in his chest. A mischievous sparkle ignited in his dark eyes. “So, are we even now? Have I repaid my debt?”
“I suppose. As long as you promise not to smash into anyone else.”
“And waste another batch of cupcakes?” Nick shuddered. “Got it. No more plowing into unsuspecting brides. At least, not for the rest of the week.”
Standing there, seeing the mirth dance in his eyes, she wished for an instant she could tell him she’d only come to Heart’s Landing as a favor for her cousin. She even thought about asking him to join her for dinner.
She quickly slammed the lid over that idea. The run-in with the baker notwithstanding, her stay in town had gotten off on the right foot. Not one person had questioned her claim that she was a harried bride-to-be, here to plan a last-minute wedding. In fact, everyone she’d met had gone out of their way to be helpful. Nick especially.
But sooner or later, someone would see through her act if she wandered too far from the script. And that was something she definitely needed to avoid.
Chapter Six
The sun had barely risen the next morning when Jenny pushed the covers aside in the bed that had been every bit as comfortable to sleep in as it had looked. Eager to get an early start, she shut off the alarm before it had a chance to ring. A tour of the grounds at the Captain’s Cottage, appointments with florists, photographers, and DJs crowded her schedule. With any luck, she’d cross the biggest items for Karolyn’s wedding off her To-Do list this week, leaving her plenty of time to handle the rest of the not-so-minor details, like arranging transportation to and from the airport for the happy couple, before she returned to California.
As she showered and dressed, she couldn’t stop thinking how well things had gone so far. Everyone she’d met in Heart’s Landing had been more than helpful. Granted, the accident outside I Do Cakes yesterday hadn’t been her finest moment, and when the same man she’d run into had rounded the corner of the bakery a little while later and introduced himself as the owner, she’d thought her heart would stop beating altogether.
Though Nick would have been well within his rights to blame her for his ruined cupcakes, he’d gone out of his way to assure her he didn’t hold a grudge. When he’d agreed to bake Karolyn’s wedding cake, she’d nearly swooned. She loved how he’d taken her under his wing, so to speak, and introduced her to some of the nearby shop owners. It had been a long time since she’d met anyone like him. Certainly not since she moved to L.A. There, wannabe actors were so focused on taking advantage of every opportunity to get their big break that people often forgot about being just plain nice to each other.
Yes, Nick was different, all right. She wouldn’t mind a second—or even a third—glimpse of his gray-blue eyes. As if that wasn’t reason enough see him again, one thought of his amazing buttercream frosting made her hungry. She licked her lips. There was nothing for it, she supposed. She’d simply have to find the time to stop by the bakery later today and treat herself to another of his luscious cupcakes. No matter what it cost.
With that to look forward to, she slipped into a favorite sleeveless floral dress. Paired with a light jacket and low heels, the outfit was one of her favorites and perfect for the busy day ahead. By the time she grabbed her purse, the inviting smells of freshly brewed coffee and sweet rolls straight from the oven wafted in the air. She sniffed appreciatively and followed her nose to the dining room, where domed lids covered two different breakfast casseroles and enough baked goods to fuel a small army. While she ate, she exchanged snatches of conversation with Marybeth, who bustled about refilling coffee urns and replenishing dishes as her guests came and went. A little before nine, Jenny tucked h
er portfolio under one arm, adjusted the strap of her purse at her shoulder, and ventured out the door.
A short ride took her to the Captain’s Cottage. From the circular drive, she stared up the mansion that far surpassed its name.
Her breath caught in her throat. How long had she been dreaming of coming here? She’d probably been ten or twelve the first time she’d seen pictures of Heart’s Landing in a bridal magazine her aunt had brought home from a beauty salon. While Kay had oohed and aahed over the hairstyles and insisted on trying out every makeup tip in the Features section, she’d instantly fallen in love with the house and the gardens described as “the perfect destination for a summer wedding.”
At the time, she’d agreed. But seeing the cottage up close and personal, she was even more impressed. From the widow’s walk atop the mansard roof to the tall black shutters at the windows, right down to the thick green hedges surrounding the white masonry walls, the house countless brides had chosen to marry in was even better than she’d imagined it. Better than in the photograph she’d tucked under her pillow each night until the glossy paper had literally disintegrated.
A whisper of regret stirred in her chest. Now that Kay would get married here first, it rubbed a little bit of the shine off her own dream of a Heart’s Landing wedding. It wasn’t quite as bad as asking Santa for a pony for Christmas and finding a stuffed animal under the tree, but just the same, it hurt.
She doused her misgivings by drinking in the scents of freshly cut grass and the flowers that grew in thick clumps beside the path. She’d still find her Prince Charming one day. She’d still have her own wonderful wedding, maybe even at the Captain’s Cottage.
When she was ready, she headed up the curving sidewalk that led to the main entrance. As if reminding her that she’d come to the Captain’s Cottage to make all the arrangements for her cousin’s wedding instead of her own, her heels clicked hollowly on the brick pavers. The portfolio filled with plans for Kay’s wedding, not hers, hung limply from her shoulder. She straightened the strap.
At the main entrance, she stepped from warmth and sunshine into the cool recesses of a house that had been well-loved throughout its long history. At the entry to the dining room, where she and Alicia had agreed to meet, she paused to soak in the ambience. A long, gleaming cherry table stretched practically the length of the room. Though it had once provided ample seating for Captain Thaddeus Heart, his wife, and their children, the family had most likely followed the custom of the times and relegated the younger children to the nursery for meals.
Jenny smoothed one hand over her dress. Had the Captain’s wife felt lonely, sitting alone at her end of the table while her husband sat so far away? She gave her head a little shake, glad that dining customs had changed over the years. Under an immense painting of a sailing ship, coffee urns stood atop the sideboard. She helped herself, then settled in at one of the four smaller tables that filled each corner of the room. She’d barely pulled the plans for Karolyn’s wedding from her portfolio when a soft throat clearing drew her attention to a woman in a black suit.
“Jennifer Longley?”
“That’s me,” Jenny answered, though her response wasn’t necessary.
Assured and cheery, Alicia Thorn strode toward her table. “It’s so nice to meet you. Did you have a good trip? When did you get in?”
“I flew into Providence yesterday afternoon and drove down.” Jenny’s smile deepened as she recounted details of her trip. “I hadn’t ever been in this part of the country before, so I followed the scenic route along the coast.” Rather than bore Alicia with a lengthy description, she stuck to a straightforward, “It was beautiful.”
“I like that drive, too.” Alicia smiled dreamily. “I haven’t done that in a while—my job here keeps me too busy. But it’s definitely on my bucket list once I retire.” Her eyes crinkled. “What good is life if we don’t enjoy it, right?” She flipped one strand of well-salted dark hair over her shoulder. “So, tell me a little bit about yourself, Jenny. What do you and your fiancé do when you’re not hip-deep in wedding plans?”
“I’m the assistant to the president of a corporation on the West Coast,” Jenny said, bending the truth only the tiniest bit by failing to mention that, in addition to sitting at the helm of several companies, Karolyn was at the top of Hollywood’s A-List. “I keep track of my boss’s schedule, do whatever I can to make her life run smoothly and efficiently.” She paused. “Some of what I do is probably similar to your job here. The events I plan run the gamut from birthday parties to fundraisers.” She enjoyed that part of her job so much that she’d often thought of opening her own event planning business one day.
Alicia’s smile deepened. “It sounds like we have some things in common, then. There are so many moving parts to a big celebration. I always hold my breath a little until everything finally comes together on the big day.”
“That’s the part I like the most,” Jenny agreed. She shifted in her seat. She could probably learn a lot from Alicia.
“And your fiancé? What does he do?”
She gave herself a little shake. This wasn’t the time or the place to dream about her future. She had to stay focused. Taking a breath, she repeated the story she and Kay had crafted. This time, though, she used the same name she’d given at the bakery the day before. “Bob is in investments. He wanted to be more involved in this”—her gesture took in the plans she’d pulled from her portfolio and spread on the table—“but he’s tied up in a merger right now. He’ll fly in the day before the wedding.”
Alicia nodded, as if Bob wasn’t the first groom to opt out of the wedding preparations. “Are you all settled in? You’re staying at the Union Street B&B, aren’t you? Are Marybeth and Matt treating you well?”
The interest in her well-being was yet another difference between her hectic life on the West Coast and the unhurried pace of Heart’s Landing. Jenny met Alicia’s probing gaze and smiled warmly in return. “They couldn’t be nicer. And it’s so calm and peaceful there, the perfect home-away-from-home.”
“Are you enjoying this weather? It’s a little different from what you’re used to in California, isn’t it?”
Jenny’s focus drifted to the window. On the other side of thick, wavy glass, the leaves on a pear tree rippled in the breeze. “The humidity is taking some getting used to, but I like how it makes everything so green. And the flowers,” she gushed. “I’ve never seen so many beautiful flowers.”
“We’re a little spoiled with all the greenery. Especially here at the Captain’s Cottage. Except for the dead of winter, something’s always in bloom. Right now, our roses are just beginning to open.”
“I’ve seen pictures. They’re spectacular.” She closed her eyes for a minute, imagining herself in a white dress, surrounded by red blossoms.
“How many guests did you say?” Alicia glanced up from a map of the cottage. “Oh, fifty—that’s right. Have you thought about holding the ceremony on the veranda?”
Had Alicia read her mind? Jenny tipped her head. “That would be perfect.”
“The roses should be at their peak in another four weeks. That spot will make a stunning location for your wedding.”
My wedding.
As if a cloud had passed over the sun, some of the light went out of the day. She and Alicia weren’t thinking along the same lines at all. A heaviness pressed down on her. She hated the pretense, cringed at the thought of keeping secrets from the woman who’d shown such an interest in her welfare, but she didn’t have a choice. She’d promised to keep her cousin’s famous name out of the wedding plans. Breaking away from Alicia’s probing look, she referred to her notes. “I was hoping you’d suggest exactly that.” She smiled past her ache in her heart. “With one of the smaller rooms as a backup plan. Just in case it rains.”
“Either the library or our smallest ballroom would make a wonderful site for your reception. If y
our guest list is a bit larger, I can suggest any number of other locations.”
“No, that’ll work. We’re expecting fifty guests, max.”
“That’s perfect for the library, although…” Alicia’s voice trailed off.
Jenny frowned into the other woman’s face. “Yes?”
“It’s just that, well, for a guest list that size, it wasn’t necessary for you reserve the entire cottage.”
Jenny took a sip of coffee to buy herself time to think of a good response. She liked Alicia and didn’t want the event planner to think of her as the kind of person who threw her weight around, someone who’d rent out an entire restaurant simply so she could enjoy her meal in peace and quiet. An expense that she, personally, could never, ever justify. Kay’s priorities, though, were different. From getting a facial to going out on a date, keeping the paparazzi at bay factored hugely in everything the star did. Still, Jenny couldn’t very well explain that to Alicia. Not without confessing the bride’s real identity. She took another sip as her answer became clearer. “It was my fiancé’s idea,” she said, shifting the blame to a man who didn’t exist. “He’s a very private person.”
“Men.” Laughing, Alicia shook her head. “Once, I dealt with a groom who went on and on about the cost of the wedding. Then, he wanted peacocks roaming the grounds during the reception. Peacocks!”
Alicia’s laughter warmed the empty spaces in Jenny’s heart. Her smile spread until it tugged at her eyes. “If I left it up to my fiancé, we’d be exchanging our vows on an island in Tahiti—just the two of us and the minister. But sharing our special day with family and close friends is as important to me as getting married in Heart’s Landing.” She took a breath. “I know we only snagged this reservation because you had a cancellation, but truthfully, I’ve dreamed of getting married here for so long that I’d be happy if we held the ceremony in the hallway.” She hesitated the slightest bit to make sure she got the name right. “Bob agreed, as long as we had the place to ourselves.”
