by Lila Kane
“It looks great,” he said.
“It’ll look better when the flowers are on.”
“Poppy’s here already. I can get the flowers.”
She waved a hand at him. “Not yet. I’m going to change and make sure I’m ready first. We still have time before the ceremony starts. Why do you keep looking at me like that?”
He set the cake on the wide island in the kitchen. Had he been doing it again? It’s just that she looked so worn out. He wanted to hold her, kiss her. Tell her it would be okay. That he was here for her if she needed it.
But he couldn’t find the words.
Instead, he smiled. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“If I had more energy, I’d get it out of you.” She rubbed her eyes. “I’m tired, I know it. But it doesn’t make me feel better that you keep staring at me like you and everyone else knows it, too.”
He started to apologize, but Jillian walked in, going straight for the cake. She examined it and nodded. “Looks good.”
Poppy followed but instead of looking at the cake, she looked at Anna. “Hey. How are you doing?”
Anna’s lips turned down in a frown and he could see by her face she was biting back half a dozen curses. “I’m fine. And I’m going to change.”
She vanished from the room. Poppy winced. “I guess she doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“She does,” Beckett said. “She just doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her, and asking her how she’s doing like she can’t handle it makes her feel like we don’t think she can.”
Poppy and Jillian both stared at him.
“What?” he asked.
Jillian smiled. “Nothing. You know Anna as well as we do and that’s exactly what’s going on. Talk to her, Beckett.”
“Do something,” Poppy said.
“No time,” he answered, checking his watch.
“Fine.” Jillian turned. “I’ll make you dance with her later. I have to get to the church. Mom will be by soon and the caterers are going to start setting up their tables and the food.”
Poppy touched his arm. “No pressure, but I think you should tell her how you feel.”
He sighed. “I really don’t think today’s the best day.”
“Not today. Tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Poppy,” he said wryly. “That’s very helpful.”
“I’ll get the flowers for the cake.”
Once she and Jillian were gone, he propped his hip against the counter and shook his head. He knew they meant well, but it wasn’t that simple. Anna was going through a rough time right now. He didn’t need to complicate it by telling her how he felt. And what if she didn’t feel the same way?
No sense in screwing over their friendship, too.
Anna returned to the kitchen in a fitted green dress that stopped just above her knees. His throat dried. Her eyes stood out even more now, making him want to lose himself in her gaze.
He could ask her on a date. He could tell her to save a dance for him, even. Anything. But instead, he just stood there without words.
“Poppy left?” Anna frowned and turned around. “Could you get this zipper? It’s stuck right at the top there.”
She bent her head and his fingers fumbled for the zipper. He couldn’t help but sweep his gaze over the gentle line of her shoulders. Her soft hair twisted into a loose bun at the nape of her neck.
He opened his mouth and said the first thing that came to mind. “Not all guys are like Tom, you know.”
She froze as he tugged the zipper the rest of the way up.
“I know it’s none of my business,” Beckett continued.
“No, you’re right.” Anna turned, and when she lifted her eyes to his, he saw moisture at the corners, and it nearly broke his heart. “Not everyone is like Tom. You’re not.”
“No, I’m not.” He wouldn’t ever cheat on Anna like Tom had.
To his surprise, she smiled. And then said the last words he wanted to hear. “You’re a good friend, Beckett.” She walked back to the other room. “I’m going to finish getting ready.”
When she disappeared, he released a breath of ironic laughter. Of course. A friend. That’s how she saw him.
Well, Beckett thought, trying to boost his resolve, he was just going to have to get her to see him as more than a friend.
And he had a plan.
Chapter Two
The next day, Beckett brought his coffee with him into town. The Keller’s storefronts lined half of Main Street, with the flower shop on the end where Poppy worked. Next to hers was the main office, the largest space, where Jillian and her mother ran the whole operation. On the other side of the main office was the bakery. Anna was probably in there right now, her honey blonde hair pulled into a colorful bandana and some 80s or 90s rock blaring from her iPod.
The only store that wasn’t attached was the boutique Summer ran in a space across the street. She settled a mannequin in the window and waved when she saw him.
He waved back and squinted his eyes against the glare of the sun, second-guessing himself for being here. For his plan.
Since when had life and love gotten so damn complicated? It used to be he liked a girl, he’d ask her out. Simple as that. But it had never been Anna before. Never a friend. Never someone he couldn’t stand to see hurt and worried his actions might harm their relationship.
He missed Eli. As the only son in the Keller family, he and Beckett had been close as they grew up. Especially with so little testosterone around. But he wasn’t sure sharing his feelings for Anna would go over well with Eli—not after what had happened with Tom. Eli was protective of his sisters, and wasn’t likely to want to see Anna with anyone after what had gone down.
Before he could change his mind, Beckett walked into Keller’s Flowers. Poppy stood behind the counter chatting with another employee. She was dressed as bright as a tulip today, in strawberry colored capris and a printed shirt.
“Hey, Beckett. What’s up?”
He got right to it. “I need your help.”
Her eyes glittered with mischief. “You’ve never said that to me before. I like the sound of it.”
She excused herself and left Maya, one of her employees, to run the store. She linked her arm through his and led him outside. They sat on a colorful bench at the front of the store while the sun warmed the day.
“What’s going on?” Poppy asked.
Beckett scratched his chin. “She thinks I’m a friend.”
Poppy blinked. “What?”
“Anna.” He glanced around, halfway expecting her to walk out of the bakery and see him talking to her sister. “She said I was a good friend.”
“You are.”
Beckett frowned.
“Okay, sorry.” Poppy brushed her short, wavy hair from her forehead and sighed. “You’re like a brother to us, Beckett.”
“Shit.” He didn’t appreciate the laugh she gave at his curse. “That’s worse than being a friend.”
“I can’t believe you’re talking to me about this.”
Beckett felt a flicker of defense. “You told me to do something.”
“No, Beckett, I’m sorry. That’s not what I mean. I just thought you’d…I don’t know. Take a step back, or keep going like you were. I’m glad you’re doing this. We should talk to Jillian.”
“No,” he said when she stood. “Poppy, sit down. You’re the closest to Anna. I don’t need anyone else’s help.”
“Yes, you do. Come on.”
“Poppy—”
But she walked straight into the main office, tossing a smile at him over her shoulder when he called her name again.
They both stopped when Jillian and Mrs. Keller looked up from the lobby area where they’d clearly been discussing an event. Jillian held color swatches and had her tablet nearby.
“Poppy.” Jillian angled her head. “Beckett. What’s going on?”
Beckett groaned inwardly, silently hoping Poppy wouldn’t say anything i
n front of her mother. That was the last thing he needed. Gail Keller involved in his love life.
“We need your help,” Poppy told Jillian.
Beckett shook his head. “No, we don’t. Poppy—”
“Yes, we do.” Poppy curled her hand around his arm and flashed a winning smile. “Trust me.”
Mrs. Keller laughed and stood. “I’ll leave you kids alone.”
Beckett opened his mouth to protest, but she didn’t even look his way, just exited the room to the hallway that lead to the tiny kitchen in back.
“God, I swear you don’t know when to quit,” he told Poppy.
“One of my many charms.”
Jillian sat in one of the chairs that were grouped together on a plush rug. She set her tablet aside. “Okay, what do you need my help with?”
“Nothing.”
“Beckett, please.” Poppy sat as well and waved him over. “This is Jillian. Don’t be embarrassed.”
Her saying that made it worse. He didn’t sit but instead paced at the edge of the rug. “I’m not embarrassed. I’m frustrated you can’t keep your mouth shut.”
Poppy grinned and then lowered her voice conspiratorially. “It’s about Anna.”
Jillian picked her tablet up again. “Are we making a plan?”
“Seriously?” Beckett asked. “You’re going to put it in your tablet? Like a job?”
“A very serious job,” Jillian said. It looked like she was paging through her calendar. “Are we talking something more subtle or something more obvious?”
“I don’t—” Beckett sighed. “I have no idea. I came to talk to Poppy because I wanted some ideas how to…I don’t know…”
“Woo her?” Poopy asked, slapping a hand over her heart and leaning dramatically low over the arm of her chair.
“Poppy,” he warned.
She sat up, crossed her legs, and folded her hands in her lap. “All right. Seriously. This is serious.”
He bit off a curse and dropped into a chair. Maybe he did need help. He eyed Jillian’s tablet again. “Why are you looking at that?”
“The schedule,” Jillian said. “We have a meeting this afternoon for our monthly open house. And since the open house is at your barn, it’s absolutely necessary you come to the meeting.”
“But I hardly ever come to—”
“The meeting where Anna will be,” Jillian added.
Beckett glanced at Poppy, who grinned at him again. “I told you we needed Jillian’s help.”
“There’s more where that came from,” Jillian said, still looking at her tablet. “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
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Even though she didn’t have another event for two days, Anna kept busy at the bakery. She put a check next to the third item on her list on the white board by the back door. It was far less sophisticated than Jillian’s system, but not everyone could be Jillian.
Anna had decided long ago that she thrived in chaos, as evident by the flour, batter, and pots and pans all over the kitchen.
The cleaning part was less fun, though. And it was hot in here. Only the middle of June and already warm, even for how high they were in the foothills. Park Creek had been Anna’s home since she was born. And except for time away during college, which was only an hour west, she’d been here her whole life.
Maybe I need a break. Anna rubbed the back of her hand on her cheek and went for the door. She’d been thinking the same thing for months now. That maybe it was time for her to try something new. Somewhere else.
But that would mean leaving her family. That would mean leaving—
“Beckett!” Anna slapped a hand to her chest when she opened to the door to reveal him standing there. “What are you doing?”
He took in her appearance, a slow smile spreading on his lips. And those cute dimples she’d always loved that probably drove girls crazy winked back at her. “I came to help you.”
Anna propped the door open to let in a breeze and tried to tuck some stray hairs underneath her bandana.
“You have some flour.” He reached out but his hand stopped just short of her cheek. “Right there.”
Her mind whirled at the strange flutter she felt in her stomach. What the hell? This was Beckett. Beckett. Damn those dimples. He could charm the pants off a nun. She brushed at her cheek. “Better?”
“There’s still some—”
“Can you just get it, please?” He balked, and she frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
He used the pad of his thumb to brush her cheekbone, stepping far closer than necessary in the warm kitchen. And there went the flutter again. He had to be a whole head taller than her—and of course she’d noticed it before, but Beckett was…well, a friend. Like she’d told him.
A friend who smelled like the woods, like a deep forest full of magic and secrets.
She had serious issues.
“You’re good,” Beckett said, stepping back.
Anna blinked. And focused. She was probably just missing having a man in her life. One that was strong and sturdy—and nothing like Tom.
Lonely. That’s all. She was lonely. And Beckett was a good guy. The best.
“I’m sorry.” She backed to the counter and then started stacking pots in the sink.
“What for?”
“For snapping at you yesterday at the wedding.” She turned with a spatula in hand and waved it while she spoke. “You were trying to make sure I was okay because it was—well, you know—the day, and I snapped at you.”
“You didn’t snap.”
She pointed the spatula at him. “I did. So I’m trying to apologize. It wasn’t fair.”
“Okay.”
“That’s all?”
“Uh…” He scratched his chin. “Maybe if you tell me what you want me to say this will be a little easier.”
She laughed. “Say you forgive me.”
“I forgive you.”
“Say you won’t hold it against me.”
“I won’t hold it against you.”
“Good.” She flashed a smile, on even ground again. In fact, she was practically flirting with him. “So, why are you here again?”
“Jillian sent me over to help clean up before the meeting.”
“Clean up? How did she—” Anna sighed, propping her hand on her hip. Of course Jillian knew she’d made a mess. Jillian knew everything. “Why did she send you?”
He hesitated a minute. “Because everyone else was busy.”
“But why…oh, are you going to the meeting?”
He hardly ever went to their meetings. She didn’t know why he’d start coming now. Beckett was always so easy going. He let them use the barn whenever they needed to. For weddings, for open houses, for rehearsal dinners and any other events surrounding the weddings. And he didn’t ask many questions. It worked out well for him because he got a cut of the deposit and well for the Kellers because they got to use the best venue in town.
“I’ll be there,” Beckett said, rolling up his sleeves. “So, what do you need me to help with?”
“Dishes, I guess.”
Anna watched as he turned on the water without another word. Here to help? Since when had he ever come in to help her with dishes? And he said Jillian had sent him?
“Something’s going on,” she murmured.
Beckett glanced over his shoulder. “What was that?”
Anna shook her head. “Nothing.”
He went back to the dishes, and she turned to the counter again to clean it off. Yes, something was definitely going on. And she was going to find out what it was after the meeting.
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Keller Wedding Consultants was a product of her mother’s inability to sit still. And probably the fact that Gail had four daughters she longed to see married off one day. Anna loved her mom for her passion and innovation, but it was hard to be around a woman so consumed with weddings.
It made her feel like a failure since she was supposed to be the f
irst one married.
At this rate, Anna was going to be the last. She was so far over Tom it wasn’t funny, but that didn’t mean she was going to trust another man anytime soon. Beckett said they weren’t all like that, but Beckett was a special case. He was the most trustworthy person she knew. He didn’t seem to understand that most guys weren’t like him at all.
In typical Gail fashion, even family meetings were planned down to the smallest detail. The perfect kind of coffee or tea. The best snacks. They gathered in one of the two meeting rooms at the main office with drinks centered on the table and a basket of croissants and muffins Anna had baked this morning.
But Jillian was the one who took the lead. She sat at the head of the table in her dark gray suit, legs crossed, tablet in hand, and studious glasses framing her deep blue eyes.
“I want to see a few more winter and spring options for the flower arrangements this time. When we find the ones we like, we’ll have Eli photograph them for the booklet and website as well.”
Poppy made a few notes before grabbing a croissant. “You want plum this time? Maybe midnight blue?”
“Midnight blue,” Summer said. “That’s going to be in this winter. And speaking of Eli, when’s he coming back?”
“If you’d check your email once in a while, you’d know the answer to that question,” Jillian said.
Anna smirked at her younger sister. Summer wasn’t a fan of technology. Her cell phone was the oldest model out there and she only used a computer because it helped keep inventory at her store. She always said things like, Life’s about more than how many friends you can make on Facebook or Don’t text me because I won’t answer. If you want to talk to me, call me or come by.
But the only reason Anna knew when Eli was coming back was because she’d seen his email this morning after sending a response to her old college roommate. Celeste had emailed her yesterday with the same thing she’d been asked all day. How are you doing?
Anna actually vented to Celeste, however. It seemed safer over email. Less chance of her breaking down.
