by Tara Randel
With a minimum of fuss, the rehearsal took little time to get through. Once Pastor James dismissed the group, everyone mingled, waiting to move on to dinner in the high-end restaurant in the hotel.
Nealy wandered off, distancing herself from the jubilant wedding party. She gazed at the beach, her mind going in so many directions that she couldn’t land on one thought, until Dane joined her.
“Beautiful view,” he said.
“I noticed you kept the natural feel of the area when you remodeled.”
“Can’t improve on something already near perfect.”
She nodded, a sense of melancholy washing over her.
“So pensive tonight.”
“Thinking about Juliet. How she dreamed this for her own wedding.”
“Thought maybe your wistful look had to do with you wondering what our wedding ceremony would have been like, if we’d had one.”
She shrugged, not willing to let him know she had indeed gone there.
“When I first bought this place, I remembered all the things we did when we worked here. Sneaking kisses during breaks, swimming in the waves when our shifts ended, sitting on the grass right here, watching the sun set.” He moved closer, his arm brushing hers. “We had a good thing going until I messed it up.”
“Hmm.”
“What if I said I wanted to make it up to you?”
She turned her head and arched a brow at him. “A little too late, don’t you think?”
“I don’t think it’s ever too late when it’s right.”
She started to ask what he meant when she spied the bride-to-be standing alone at the makeshift altar, staring at the beautiful backdrop of the sun setting in the dazzling Florida sky. Torn between having him elaborate on his meaning or helping the bride, she wavered. Technically, she was still on duty, but her heart pounded with the weight of his unspoken words until Melissa beckoned to her.
Shoot. “Hold that thought,” she told Dane before going to Melissa. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know,” Melissa said. “We went back and forth about where to stand, on the ground in front of the altar or up on the platform. I agreed with the ground because I didn’t have to worry about lifting my dress to climb the steps, but it doesn’t feel right.” Melissa stepped back. “I love the lighting right now, with the evening sun glistening over the water. What a beautiful backdrop. I want the guests to enjoy the postcard view, so I’m thinking about changing things up.”
Nealy swallowed a groan. To make a change now would mean running through the rehearsal again, right when she wanted to be alone with Dane.
“If you want to make a change, we should stop the bridal party from leaving,” she said.
“No,” Melissa assured her. “I’m just thinking.”
The young woman stepped to the right then the left as if trying to visualize the best location to stand.
“Problem?” Dane joined Nealy as she watched Melissa pace back and forth. “Looks like the bride has something on her mind.”
“Where to stand.”
“I thought they covered everything during rehearsal.”
“You know how this goes. Last-minute tweaks.”
Melissa glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, good. I need to borrow you two.”
“What?” they said in unison.
The bride waved them over. “Come stand here so I can get a feel for the entire setup.” She tugged at Dane’s arm to move toward the altar. “Stand in for Ben.” Then she pulled Nealy over. “Okay, face each other.”
“Oh, I don’t—”
“It’ll just take a minute,” she said as she spun Nealy to face Dane.
Heart thumping, Nealy met his gaze.
“This is awkward,” he said.
“Tell me about it.” She shrugged off the ball of nerves, willing herself not to sprint away.
A small smile tugged at his lips. “Would be nice if I had a professional planner to navigate me through these things.”
Right. She took a breath, which made matters worse. He stood too close, smelled too good and looked more handsome in the twilight than was fair.
“Beautiful. Now hold hands,” Melissa instructed as she backed away from them.
“Is this necessary?” Nealy croaked.
Melissa, with her arms outstretched, called for her maid of honor to join her. “I need the full view,” she explained, “to get the picture in my head.”
Nealy’s breath became short. She tried to control her trembling hands, but failed until Dane’s steady grasp soothed her. Then, out of nowhere, the maid of honor shoved the bridal bouquet at her, forcing her to hold it instead of Dane’s hand. Standing with him, where the bride and groom would exchange vows, set her off-kilter.
“You okay?”
She nodded, unsure of what to say. The bride and her maid of honor were deep in conversation.
“Look, what I wanted to tell you—” Dane started.
“I don’t think now is the appropriate time.”
“You don’t know what I—”
“Dane...”
“I’m not going to let this go, Nealy.”
She closed her eyes. Did she want him pursuing her, because his intentions were pretty obvious.
By this time, more of the bridal party had moved up to the makeshift altar to see what the bride was doing. Melissa called out, “Now, walk up onto the platform. Let’s try you there.”
Taking hold of her hand, Dane guided Nealy to the spot under the tulle-draped arch.
It felt right, her hand in his, giving her the illusion they were the couple getting married. Only they weren’t a couple.
“Perfect,” Melissa called out. “Now move closer and stare into each other’s eyes.”
Dane kept his gaze on Nealy, his scrutiny making her uncomfortable. She couldn’t look at him for fear he’d see the hold he had on her. Nealy shifted to speak to the bride. “Melissa, maybe we—”
“Oh, don’t move. Just another minute,” she called. “Ben. Come here. I need your opinion.”
Nealy obliged the bride and gazed into Dane’s whiskey-colored eyes. He stepped closer, enveloping her in his warmth and the spicy scent of his cologne. She wanted to melt into his arms forever.
“I’m sorry,” he told her.
“I know,” she whispered.
“Closer,” Melissa commanded.
Nealy swallowed. She could feel his breath on her cheek.
“I want to make it up to you.”
She closed her eyes. “It was a long time ago.”
He didn’t say a word, but she felt his rapid breathing.
Lifting her lids, Nealy saw hope in his eyes.
“I didn’t expect you to be so...understanding. I figured if we met up again, you’d kick me to the curb and never speak to me again.”
“I needed to forgive you as much as you needed forgiveness.”
“Now lean into each other like you’re kissing,” Melissa instructed them.
Dane’s gaze lowered to her lips. Hesitated.
“It won’t be all bad. You kissed me before and liked it.”
He smiled. “Yeah. I liked it.”
They stared at each other and Nealy felt her world shift. She loved him just as much now as she had when she was a teen. Yes, they were different now. Had taken different paths. But maybe, just maybe, they could work things out. With the couple’s hushed discussion in the background, Dane moved, just a fraction closer, and their lips brushed.
The ground shook, thanks to that kiss, and it made her kiss him back with a deep longing that surprised her.
“You’re trouble,” Dane murmured against her lips.
“You always liked that about me.”
Inches separ
ated them. Nealy ached to feel Dane’s lips pressed to hers once more. Just when she thought he’d kiss her again, Melissa clapped her hands. “Thanks so much Nealy and Dane. I’ve made my decision.”
The loud sound brought Nealy back down to reality. She jerked away from Dane, already missing the warm connection. She shivered. The heat in his eyes still blazed.
“As much as I love the arch, I think being on the ground for the ceremony works better. We can just get pictures standing on the altar afterward. What do you think, Nealy?”
She cleared her throat, recovering from Dane’s kiss. It took a second for her breathing to return to normal. “You have a good eye,” she told Melissa.
“Thanks.” Melissa took Ben’s hand. “You guys are good sports for filling in.”
She watched the couple stroll away, aware of Dane’s presence as he took a spot beside her.
Now what? She’d completed her task here at the hotel. Time to head home or extend her time with Dane?
“I’d like to show you something,” he said, making the decision for her.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AFTER SHE COLLECTED her purse, Dane led Nealy through the hotel lobby and along the hallway to his office. Her phone rang just as they entered the room. She searched her bag for her cell. Once she had it in hand she checked the caller ID. “I have to take this. One minute.”
While she stepped into the hallway to take the call, Dane pulled out the designs he’d drawn after talking to his uncle. He laid them on the desk, smoothing the paper. Uncharacteristic nerves rattled him. What would she think? Would she go along with the idea? Stay in Cypress Pointe? With him? Since talking to Uncle Hank at the hospital, he wanted to lay it all on the line, go after Nealy, more than ever. Regain what he’d let slip away all those years ago.
A few minutes later Nealy returned, a triumphant smile on her face. She thrummed with energy.
“Good news?” he asked.
She set her phone on his desk, noticing the blueprints. “The best, but you asked me here, so you go first.”
He handed her a photograph of a building.
“What is this? A new project?”
“It could be.”
She glanced at him and frowned. “Come again?”
“Do you recognize the place?”
She tilted her head. Recognition followed. “The old Fowler building.”
“I bought it.”
“Okay.” She regarded him quizzically. “And?”
“The other day I asked you about staying in Cypress Pointe. To consider starting your own business here.”
“I remember.”
Her lack of enthusiasm almost stopped him from carrying on, but he barreled ahead. “The more I thought about you staying, the more ideas I had. I want to turn the Fowler building into offices. Peterson Holdings could use a permanent address outside of the hotel. I want our base of operations here in Cypress Pointe.”
“I don’t blame you. Makes life easier.” She studied the designs again. “What does this have to do with me starting a business?”
He moved to stand beside her, pointing to one of the offices in the design. “This is your office. You can set up your own event planning business right here in Cypress Pointe.”
Her mouth opened but she didn’t say a word.
“Plenty of people in town have expressed interest in your services. There are no event planners with your experience close by. You’d corner the market.” He rushed on. “We can do this together.”
By now, Nealy had closed her mouth. Her face flushed. “Together?”
“It’s an awesome idea.”
“No, it is not.” She dropped the photo on the desk. “Doesn’t this seem familiar to you?”
“Familiar?”
“You making decisions without discussing them with me first? Just like filing for an annulment and informing me after the fact. This is the same thing. You know I have a job in California yet you assume because you think this is a good business opportunity I should just drop everything and come back to Cypress Pointe.”
“I’ll admit, I may be getting a bit ahead of myself, but this is nothing like twelve years ago.”
“From where I’m standing it’s exactly the same, only this time we aren’t married.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “When I got the annulment, I thought I was doing the right thing for us. Now I believe moving back to Cypress Pointe is the right move for you.”
“Dane, you asked me to think about it,” she stated. “Me thinking and you taking it to the next level are two totally different things.”
This was not going the way he’d envisioned. “Nealy, it’s win-win. Your services are needed here. You could call the shots. Be your own boss. Make your own decisions about what types of clientele you want to work with. How is wanting you to be in control of your future a bad thing?”
“You’re missing the point, Dane. You should have asked me. Included me in this great big plan for my life. Contrary to what you might think, I have thought about my future. Milestones by Crystal is where I want to be. Aside from the business aspect of your plan, there is no us. There hasn’t been for a very long time.”
“Things have changed since you’ve been home.”
Her features softened. “Yes, they have. But, Dane, there is still no us.”
“Nealy, you have to understand.” He took a deep breath. Pulled his wayward thoughts together. “When I saw my dad lying in a hospital bed, the truth dawned on me. I don’t want to end up like him, so unhappy with his life it made him sick. If I keep going down the same path, thinking I’ll avoid heartache by never having a serious relationship with a woman, I will end up just like him. You came back to town and I realized you’ve always owned my heart. You are the woman I want a relationship with. I hoped the idea of helping you start your own business in Cypress Pointe would show how committed I am to us.”
“Just like twelve years ago? Because that worked out so well?” She put a hand on the doorknob.
“Nealy, wait. You’ve got it all wrong. At the time, I honestly thought ending our marriage was the right thing to do. Now I see it as the biggest mistake I ever made.”
She turned and faced him. Her expression had lost all emotion, scaring him more than any ranting and raving ever would. “Thinking you can turn my life around again, without my say-so, is the biggest mistake you ever made.”
“Okay. Then tell me what you want.”
“The phone call I took? It was my boss. Ashlee James came through. I’m lead planner on the project. I’m heading back to L.A. as soon as I can catch a flight.”
His stomach bottomed out.
“So you see, I don’t need an office here. I never did. All I needed was for you to tell me you loved me. Three simple words.”
He took a step back. “I do love you, Nealy. I always have.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Dane. You should have told me how you felt before you went through all the trouble of planning my life out for me.”
She was right. He had come to his epiphany too late. And then managed to screw up their new, fragile relationship. If anything proved that he’d become his father, this was it. He deserved Nealy’s scorn. He’d wanted her to see his actions as a way of making up for what he’d done, not as a repeat of the past. He’d gone about this all wrong and the damage was done. “If going back to your job is what you want, is what you think is best for you, than I won’t try to stop you.”
“You’re right. You won’t stop me. This is my decision, Dane. I’m going back to the job I’ve worked hard to become successful at.” She pointed to the drawings. “Build your offices. Rent them all out, but forget about me because I won’t be here.”
She walked out of the office.
Alone now, Dane stared down at the bl
ueprints. Slowly, he rolled the plans up and slid an elastic band over the roll. He tossed the roll into a corner and stared out at the water.
He now knew exactly how Nealy felt when he’d broken her heart. She’d just returned the favor.
* * *
HER EYES BLURRY with tears, Nealy threw clothes into her suitcase in haphazard fashion. She’d already called the airline to book her flight back to L.A. At daybreak tomorrow, she’d start her day of traveling, dead set on leaving Cypress Pointe and Dane behind.
He’d done it again. Tossed her world upside down.
She sat on the edge of the bed, taking a moment to calm her nerves. The house was so quiet since her grandmother had gone to have dinner with Nealy’s parents and hadn’t returned yet. Nealy was glad to be alone, to gather her thoughts before her grandmother turned up and demanded to know why Nealy was leaving early.
She understood Dane had her best intentions in mind by encouraging her to start her own business. After all, she’d pondered the same idea a time or two herself since coming home. That he believed in her skills and what she could offer Cypress Pointe touched her heart. She even understood his fear of their relationship becoming like his parents’ disastrous marriage. Which never would have happened. She didn’t view love as a weapon, but rather a coming together to bring out the best in each other. Deep down, she believed Dane felt the same way.
But what she really wished for was Dane talking to her first, so they could figure out how best to rekindle their relationship. Yes, she’d admit she’d fallen for him all over again, but here they were, emotionally and physically, miles apart.
Rising, she tossed the last article of clothing in the case. Her cell phone rang and she glanced at the clock on the nightstand. Nine in the evening. Still early enough for Crystal to call from L.A. Nealy dropped her head. She wasn’t up to it. Right now she wanted to be alone and focus on her aching heart before heading back to her job.
The ringing stopped.
Blowing out a grateful breath, she crossed the room to gather her personal belongings from the dresser top when the infernal ringing started again. Annoyed, she grabbed the offending device and pressed the talk button.
