by Leigh Duncan
He’d have sworn everything was perfectly fine up until a few minutes ago. With their help, Jenny had finished the gift bags in record time. She’d shown her gratitude by having Bow Tie Pasta deliver enough food for two armies. Then she’d stood, no doubt intending to thank everyone for coming out tonight. Not that she needed to. They’d fallen in love with the timid bride who’d gone from wishy-washy to certain in a matter of weeks. Even him.
Especially him.
But if she hadn’t received bad news, what had upset her? Unable to figure it out on his own, he knocked on the door to the ladies’ room. “Jenny?”
From the other side of the door, her voice rose above the sound of running water. “Go away, Nick.”
Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. He propped one shoulder against the wall, determined to wait her out. Minutes passed. He tapped his foot and cracked his knuckles. He had nowhere else to go, nothing he’d rather do than be right here, in this moment.
At last the door crept open, and she stepped into the hall. Though she’d splashed water on her face, tears had created trails down her powdered cheeks. The black smudges under her eyes offered further proof that she’d been crying. Hard. Hard enough to turn her skin blotchy.
His heart squeezed painfully. His fingers curled. Whoever had done this to her, they’d answer to him. But first, he had to find out who, or what, had upset her. He wouldn’t waste time trying to figure it out on his own. There was only one question to ask. Straightening, he stared at the woman he’d do anything to love and protect. “How can I help?”
She tried and failed to muster her composure. She pressed tissues against her damp eyes. Finally, a breath shuddered through her. She peered up at him through glistening lashes. “There’s… there’s something I need to tell you. Before I do, I want you to know that I tried to tell you earlier.” Her eyes pleaded with him for understanding. “That night in the bakery—I’d made up my mind to tell you. But then, you—I got sidetracked.” Her voice shook. Her head dipped. Her gaze dropped to the floor. “After that, it didn’t matter anymore. But I, uh, I should have told you anyway.”
“Told me what?” Whatever secret she was keeping, it would never change the fact that he was crazy in love with her. Or that it was impossible for him to ever let her know it.
“I came here under false pretenses.”
Powerless to stop them, he felt his eyes narrow. “What, you aren’t from California? You don’t work for a big movie mogul? You’re…” His mind filled in the rest with the least likely two words in the English vocabulary. Not engaged?
“I’m not getting married.” Jenny threaded her fingers together. “I never was. It was all a lie.” More tears leaked from eyes that wouldn’t meet his.
“You’re not?” His heart stalled. He tilted his head, trying and failing miserably to understand. “Why the act?”
“It was my cousin’s idea, but I went along with it. She’d just gotten engaged and was scared to death that reporters and fans would ruin her wedding. She cooked up a ruse to keep that from happening. She knew I’d always dreamed of having a Heart’s Landing wedding, so she sent me here to plan one. Only, it was hers, not mine.”
As if she couldn’t bear to look at him, Jenny studied the end of the corridor. “It was supposed to be so simple. I’d fly in, get everything set up, and leave. I wasn’t supposed to be here long enough to fall in love. Not with Heart’s Landing. Not with the people here. Not with…anyone else. But once word got out about Kay’s engagement to Chad, everything snowballed into this huge production. I couldn’t leave. I had to stay here to make sure everything was all set for their big day. From the very beginning, I hated not being able to tell everyone the truth. Most of all, I wanted to tell you.”
“Why didn’t you?” His mind reeled. His head felt too full. His heart, not full enough.
“I couldn’t betray her. She’s my cousin. She and her mom have done so much for me, I didn’t think I could let them down. But then, tonight, when everyone showed up, I knew I couldn’t keep this secret another minute. I decided to tell you—to tell everyone—the truth. That’s what I was going to do, come clean.”
“But then you ran out of the room.”
“Because, after everything she—after everything I—put us through, Kay eloped.”
“Kay?” He hit rewind on the last few minutes in the conference room. The television show. The ashen expression on Jenny’s face when the host had broken the news. No wonder she’d looked like she’d been hit by a semi when the camera had focused on the newlyweds in front of the chapel. He brushed hair out his eyes as the first domino in the chain crashed into the next one. “Kay—Karolyn Karter is your cousin?”
“Yes.” Jenny stared at the floor as if she wanted a hole to open up and swallow her. “She and Chad Grant ran off to Vegas and got married tonight.”
“And the changes? The number of guests, the color scheme, the naked cake—they were all Karolyn’s ideas?”
“Hers and her fiancé’s. Yes.”
“So there’s no wedding. You were never engaged to Bob.” His thoughts churned, slow and thick, like hand-beaten batter. It came down to one thing—she wasn’t getting married tomorrow.
“No.” Jenny shook her head. “I’m so, so sorry about everything I’ve put everyone through.” She studied the door that led to the conference room. “How do I go back in there and tell them there won’t be a wedding after the time they’ve spent on it, the effort they’ve put into it, the supplies they bought? The flowers. The food.”
“You’re not getting married.” The words fell from his lips. Though his heart leaped at the idea that Jenny wasn’t engaged to someone else, his brain was having a little trouble adjusting to this new reality.
A fresh round of tears seeped from under Jenny’s eyelids. A powerful urge to swipe his thumb under her eyes rocked him. Not quite sure how he resisted it, he stumbled back. First one step, then another. Now that he knew the truth, now that he knew she’d lied, he needed to think, to sort out how he felt. He just, he couldn’t do that standing here, not with Jenny within arm’s length.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m going to need some time to process all this.”
Turning away from her was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he forced his feet to move, ordered his legs to carry him down the hall, out the door, and into the parking lot. His strength nearly gave out on him before he made it to the van parked at the end of the lot. Climbing inside, he stabbed the keys into the ignition. The engine responded with a throaty rumble. He put the vehicle in gear.
But there was nowhere to go. Every single place in Heart’s Landing held a memory of Jenny and him. Together, they’d visited the shops on Bridal Carriage Drive. They’d ridden bikes along the cliffs overlooking the ocean, had a picnic at his favorite beach. He’d watched her try on wedding gowns at Dress For A Day, dined with her at Bow Tie Pasta, and grabbed sandwiches for them from the sidewalk cafe. He couldn’t even retreat to I Do Cakes. With her carefree smiles and ready wit, she’d invaded his kitchen, the one place he kept private from the rest of the world. He’d never again make cupcakes without thinking of the time they’d spent together there.
He might as well stay right where he was until he decided where to go from here. He had fallen in love with Jenny. Even now, he couldn’t deny it. But could their love survive the lies she’d told? Because she had lied. There was no doubt about that.
Was she still lying?
No, he’d seen her face when the newscaster had broken the story about Karolyn and Chad’s wedding. The news had shocked Jenny more than it had the reporter.
Could he forgive her?
He had to, didn’t he? In going along with her cousin’s plan, she’d been supporting her family. He couldn’t hold that against her.
Did he love her still?
Yes.
Despite everyt
hing else, he knew the real Jenny. The feisty brunette who’d snapped at him when they’d collided outside the bakery—that was the woman he’d fallen in love with. The sad and broken woman he’d comforted on the porch of the bed and breakfast—that was the woman he wanted to protect for the rest of his life. The carefree visitor who’d walked the beach beside him, who’d skipped shells across a tidal pool with him—that was the girl who’d stolen his heart. If it were up to him, they’d always be together.
But would she leave him?
She might. As angry as she was with her cousin right this minute—and rightfully so—he had no doubt the two of them would patch things up eventually. Karolyn Karter, despite her faults, was family. And if he knew one thing about Jenny, it was that family trumped everything else.
The question was, was there room in her heart for a new family?
There was only one way to find out.
Jenny stood stock still, unable to move, unable to breathe, while Nick slowly trudged down the hall, turned the corner, and disappeared. She really couldn’t blame him for leaving. Though he’d tried to hide it, she’d seen the shock waves roll across his face when he’d learned she’d been lying—to him, to everyone—all this time. He’d never forgive her. That night at the bakery, she’d thought she couldn’t feel any worse when he rejected her. She’d been wrong. Seeing how disappointment in her had rounded his shoulders and weighted him down—especially now that she’d begun to think they might be friends again—that hurt worse.
A lot worse.
But the sooner she accepted that she’d blown her only chance at happiness with the man she loved, the sooner she could move on with what was left of her life.
And to do that, she had to face the music.
People were waiting for her. Friends she’d wanted to make her neighbors. They’d probably never want to see her again after tonight, but they deserved to hear the truth. From her. Not thirdhand from some reporter who’d stumbled over a story. Because, if there was one thing she’d learned in the years she’d spent in L.A., it was that secrets didn’t stay secrets very long. This ruse of Karolyn’s would come to light. It might not happen tonight or even next week, but some reporter somewhere would eventually figure out she’d been planning a Heart’s Landing wedding. A wedding that never took place. When that happened, Jenny didn’t want the news to hurt anyone in the town that went out its way to give every bride the wedding of their dreams.
Even if everyone in the conference room turned their backs on her like Nick had.
She stood where she was for a few minutes while she drew courage and strength around her like a cloak. When she thought she was ready—when her sobs had died to soft hiccups—she blotted her eyes and blew her nose a final time. Then, her head held high despite her aching heart, she forced herself to take the longest walk of her life.
A low buzz of conversation died the moment she stepped across the threshold. She squared her shoulders. “Sorry for running out like that.” Now that she’d decided to do this, she needed to get it over with. She crossed swiftly to the front of the room where she cut the power to the TV. Turning, she faced the people she’d hoped to work and live beside for the rest of her life.
“I have a confession to make. But first, I need to tell you how grateful I am for all you’ve done for me these past few weeks. I know I haven’t been the easiest”—knowing it would be the last time she’d ever have to say it, she stumbled over the next word—“bride you’ve ever dealt with.”
“We’ve had worse,” Alexis or Ashley piped.
“No, we haven’t,” her counterpart corrected.
She let a spate of laughter die down before she continued. “I’ve asked a lot of you, and you’ve delivered one hundred percent. More than that, you’ve been kind to me when I didn’t deserve it. You’ve helped me when you didn’t have to.” She gestured toward the reception hall and the waiting gift bags. “You’ve treated me like a friend. I’d hoped we’d continue to be friends—and possibly neighbors.” Her gaze flitted about the room, landing on the faces of the people who’d come to mean so much to her in such a short amount of time. Mildred. The twins. Alicia. Marybeth. Cheri.
“But that’s probably not going to happen.” She held up a hand, silencing the few, scattered objections. “There’s something you don’t know. Something I need to tell you.” She paused. This was the hardest speech she’d ever given. Not so much because of what she had to say, but because once she did, she’d be surprised if anyone in the room ever spoke to her again. She forged forward. “I—uh, I’m not engaged to Bob.” She aimed a wan smile at Marybeth. “Or Tom, either.”
Shock electrified the room. On its heels, dismay spread like a puddle of dark molasses.
Alicia spoke for the others when she asked, “You mean, you two called off the wedding?”
“No, I—” She stopped, her attention drawn to the door that whispered open.
“Hold on to that thought for a minute, will you?” Carrying a bouquet of red roses, the man she least expected stepped inside.
Jenny shook her head. She had to be seeing things. “Nick?”
“Jenny.” He crossed the room, coming to a halt a step or two away from her. “I’m not sure what you’ve told these good people, but I have something to say before you say another word.”
Her gaze landed on the flowers Nick held. Roses, her favorite. Of course, Nick knew that, but why would he bring them here? To her? Her heart in her throat, she nodded.
Nick shifted closer. His gaze captured hers. “Jenny, I’ve loved you from the moment we collided outside my bakery. From that instant, I’ve known we were meant to be together. The only thing was, I thought you were engaged to someone else. Now that I know you’re free, there’s a question I need to ask you.”
A collective gasp sounded in the room when Nick went down on bended knee. As for her, Jenny was certain her heart had stopped beating.
Taking her hand in his, Nick stared up at her while everyone went utterly still and silent. “Jennifer Longley, will you marry me and let me love you forever?”
He loves me.
The torn and tattered pieces of her heart stitched themselves back together. An incredible sense of wellbeing radiated outward from her center. Despite it all, she shook her head. Tears pooling in her eyes, she pointed out the one reason they could never be together. “I lied. I haven’t earned your trust.”
“I trust you with my heart,” came Nick’s instant response. His signature grin spread across his face. “One day, this will make a great story to tell when our grandchildren ask how we met.”
“Our grandchildren,” she whispered. “And our children.”
In the blink of an eye, she saw the future Nick held out to her. The house with the white picket fence. Little League games and dance recitals. Best of all, she’d spend the rest of her days in the arms of the man she loved. She and Nick would build a life together. They’d grow old together. They’d spend their twilight years sitting in matching rockers on the front porch of a quaint little cottage, surrounded by their children and grandchildren…and love.
“Yes,” she whispered. More than anything, she wanted to spend her life, her future, with him.
“I didn’t have time to shop.” Undaunted, Nick took something from his jeans pocket and slipped it on her finger. “This’ll have to do until I can get you a real one.”
“I don’t need a ring as long as we’re together,” she said, glancing at the plastic trinket he must have pulled from the one of the bins in the bakery. Designed as decoration for a cake, the oversized bauble winked in the glow from the overhead lights. “Oh!” She pressed the toy to her heart. “I’ll treasure it always.”
Rising, Nick closed the distance between them. Her heart stalled again at the tender brush of his fingers. He cupped her jaw, nestling her chin in the palm of his hands. She met him halfway as he leaned forward. At las
t their lips met, and she knew, once and for all, she’d come home.
She could have gone on kissing Nick forever, would have, if she’d had her way. But moments later, applause rang out around them. His eyes filled with promise of more kisses to come soon, Nick smiled down at her. He slipped his arm around her waist and, together, they turned to face the sea of happy faces.
Congratulations and well-wishes flowed for a while before someone declared that the situation called for a toast.
“Here’s to a Heart’s Landing love for the ages!” Matt lifted his paper cup while he hugged Marybeth.
“The best is yet to be,” added Roy.
“To the marriage of a one of our favorite sons and a true Heart’s Landing bride,” Jason said, holding his cup high.
Jenny looked to Nick. One day, she’d ask him to explain Jason’s comment. For now, she wanted nothing more than to have Nick’s arms around her and more of his delicious kisses.
“Have you set a date?” Ashley wanted to know.
Nick chuckled. “Give us a minute, will you? We haven’t exactly had time for that conversation. But soon.” He snugged Jenny closer to his side. “I don’t want a long engagement. Do you?”
Looking up into the slate-blue eyes of the man she loved, she knew one thing—she didn’t want to wait a minute longer than necessary to walk down the aisle and marry the man of her dreams. “I hear the Captain’s Cottage is available tomorrow.”
Nick’s eyes flared while his famous grin widened. “Alicia,” he called without lifting his gaze from hers. “What do you think? Can we do this?”
“Why not? The place is yours for the entire weekend.”
One by one, the others chimed in.
“We have the flowers.”
“And the perfect gown.”
