A Timeless Romance Anthology: Summer Wedding Collection

by Melanie Jacobson

  Dallen grabbed his wrist to stop him from standing and let go when Slade plopped back in his seat. “Let’s order first. You scope out the room while we wait for our food. Tell me when you see them, and I’ll do something asinine like send drinks over to the table.”

  Slade nodded. “Make her come to you to thank you. Smart.”

  That’s not why he’d suggested it, but Dallen didn’t correct him. Bree had mentioned once that when Addison got extra crazy, Bree imagined herself sipping on a mai tai, and that got her through the crisis. He wanted to send one over to show that he remembered, not to gain some strategic advantage.

  The waiter showed up to rattle off the specials, but Dallen barely heard the list of delicacies as he peered around the room again in search of Bree. It wouldn’t feel like a vacation until he finally had her in his sights.

  Chapter Eight

  He stood there, in the flesh. Granted, half the time in her head it had been bare-chested flesh, but Bree didn’t know if Dallen could look better than he did at that moment fully dressed, pausing on the restaurant threshold while he waited for the hostess to seat him and Slade. She wanted to get up and go say hi, and she pushed her chair back to do it, when his gaze fell on her. She smiled. This was it. He was here—‌early—‌and she couldn’t be happier about it.

  His gaze flickered a moment but moved right past her, sliding to a table full of good-looking women and checking them out.

  And just like that, it was over. It had taken exactly two seconds of cold reality to deep freeze her warm, fuzzy daydreams about this week and Dallen.

  Even looking her very best, she hadn’t been enough to hold his attention, not with a table full of prettier women in the vicinity.

  Awesome. He’d overlooked her as easily as if she were still hiding under a couple of layers of fat and mousy-brown hair.

  Disappointment churned in her stomach, as vaguely nauseating as if she’d eaten a bucket of fried food. What now? Any moment, Slade would notice her and come over. She couldn’t stand the inevitable awkwardness of trying to talk to Dallen as if everything was cool when it would be so clear that there was no chemistry between them. It would take two to create a reaction, but he wasn’t feeling it.

  She made a quick decision and rose from her table to slip through the French doors leading outside to the sand. Jen and Shayla wouldn’t miss her; they’d decided to eat in the bar when they spotted some cute guys inside. Bree had stuck with the restaurant and its healthier options, but she wasn’t hungry now.

  Outside she veered toward the beach, slipping off her sandals. Love Blush would just have to get a touch up. Stepping onto the sand was a relief, an immediate connection to the countless walks she’d taken up and down her stretch of beach back home as she thought or plotted, or simply was.

  Being on the beach felt better. But it still didn’t feel good. For a second, she thought she’d seen a flicker of recognition in his eyes, but she was wrong. Why hadn’t he told her he was coming in early? Maybe he wasn’t in the same rush to see her.

  She sighed and trudged through the sand toward the water. It was low tide, the waves rolling in but petering out in white foam bubbles before they wet her toes. She sat and pulled her knees to her chest, staring into the distance to the bright orange rays the setting sun left hanging in the sky.

  It was lame of her to have gotten so caught up in the possibilities. She’d spent so much time managing Addison’s expectations that she hadn’t put the brakes on her own.

  We’ll meet, it will be love at first sight, and we’ll have the best how-we-met story.

  She knew how it went now. They met when she’d stared at him in frozen surprise, and he hadn’t seen her at all.

  She stretched her feet out in front of her and studied her toes. Love Blush was intact, unlike her pride.

  It was stupid to feel so let down by a twenty-second restaurant non-event. He’d seen her, he hadn’t recognized her, so what? What had she expected? That they would spot each other on the beach and run through the sand, splashing the waves as Dallen swept her into an embrace?

  She turned to examine the long stretch of beach. Well, yeah. That’s what she’d pictured a hundred times.

  Okay, more.

  Now she’d seen the reality, and it was a bummer, but she didn’t have any business being offended just because Dallen didn’t decide on the spot that she was his soul mate. Nope. Not even when she’d begun to sense from their emails and conversations that it was a possibility.

  She wrapped her arms around her legs and sighed again. It had been so fun to live with the what-ifs for a couple of months. They’d entertained her through countless miles on the treadmill.

  What if we click? What if he’s as cool in person as he is online? What if we have chemistry? What if this stupid crush I have turns into something—‌a two-way something?

  Ocean foam tickled her toes, and she drew them back, a smile escaping despite her disappointment. So they weren’t going to be a thing. She was in Hawaii to witness her best friend’s marriage. She drew in a deep breath of crisp ocean air and leaned back on her hands to revel in the last bit of sunset. She might as well cancel on Dallen for breakfast and dive into the nonstop schedule of pre-wedding festivities, which Addison had made her download to her iPad. Twice.

  Tomorrow, when her path crossed Dallen’s at Slade’s big surprise, Bree would smile and crack jokes and try not to regret what could have been. Maybe she wasn’t the premium-grade cover girl Dallen usually dated, but she’d worked too hard to be healthy and disciplined to waste time on regretting his narrow tastes. Let him find himself a long-legged model poolside for his plaything this weekend. Addison needed her, and she’d rather be a good friend than arm candy anyway.

  Chapter Nine

  Dallen: Hey. I landed a little while ago. Thought I’d surprise you at dinner, but I didn’t see you anywhere. Are you up for a drink and a hello?

  Bree: So glad you made it. Everything (Addison) is much crazier than I expected, so I don’t think I’ve even got a free second until Slade’s thing tomorrow night. So sorry!

  Dallen sank onto his bed and stared at his phone. Something had gone very wrong between this text and the one that morning. What was it?

  Someone pounded on his door.

  Open up!”

  Addison? He hurried to open the door for her.

  She greeted him by shoving his chest hard, forcing him to take a step back. “What is wrong with you?”

  “Whoa,” he said, taking another step back in case she decided to shove him again. “What’s wrong?”

  “I asked you first,” she said. “You’ve never been an idiot before. Why would you start now?”

  He frantically scanned his memory files for a wedding task he’d overlooked. “Did I forget to do something? Should I have not texted Bree?”

  “No, you should not have texted her. You should have said hi when you had the chance.” She stuck her hands on her hips and glared at him. “How could you walk right past her without saying a word?”

  “I haven’t seen her yet.”

  “Exactly!” she said on a near shout. “She was right in front of you, and you didn’t even acknowledge her! Way to be, you idiot.”

  “When did I see her?” he asked in confusion. “I’ve only been down to the restaurant and back, and believe me, I looked.”

  This time only a strangled groan of frustration came out as Addison shoved her hands in her hair and tugged. “I want to punch you so bad right now.”

  “I can tell,” he said, moving further back. “Should I call Slade or something?”

  “No, you should call Bree and beg her forgiveness. I learn a lot of nasty words working in the court system. I’m trying to figure out the best one to use for you.”

  Dallen pushed through the mental fog that had descended with Bree’s rejection text. “She was in the dining room, and I didn’t see her?”

  “Yes, genius.”

  “Why didn’t she say anything?” He
took another hasty step back when her face darkened further.

  “Because she smiled at you, and you looked right past her. She said you even frowned. She decided maybe it wasn’t the right time to say hello.”

  “Wait,” he said, the first throbs of a headache kicking up. “What was she wearing?”

  “A white sundress. She said she smiled at you, then you checked out a bunch of other women and went on to your table, where you started shoving your face with pig.” Her eyes narrowed. “You are what you eat.”

  “Be nice. I was only looking for Bree, that’s it. I know exactly who you’re talking about in the white dress, and I would have smiled back if I hadn’t thought that would mean sending signals to some random chick when I flew in a day early to see someone else. You’re telling me that was Bree?”

  Addison gave him a single, sharp nod.

  “But she didn’t look anything like the picture.”

  Addison whipped her phone out of her purse and thrust it at him. “That is Bree.”

  “Holy crap.” The picture staring back wasn’t a sweet-faced girl next door with light-brown hair and eyes hidden behind sunglasses. Addison’s phone showed a stone-cold fox with almost auburn hair and stunning green eyes. “Holy crap. This doesn’t look at all like the other one.”

  Her eyebrows drew together. “That’s the only picture you’ve seen of her?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Oh.” She studied him for a long moment. “Why haven’t you asked to see more pictures? I thought you’d probably exchanged some over email or something.” She flinched. “That sounded skeevier than I meant it to.”

  “That’s exactly why I haven’t asked her, or you, or anyone else for pictures. Most people you can find plastered all over Facebook, but not Bree.”

  Addison’s grin appeared. “You looked?”

  His cheeks heated. “Sure. I was curious about who I was jumping through all your demented wedding hoops with.”

  That finally earned him a punch. He rubbed his ribs where she’d nailed him, but he didn’t apologize. He was too confused to react.

  “So, dummy,” she said, waving the phone at him again. “This is what you walked away from tonight.”

  He groaned. “I totally saw her. I expected someone a little more...”

  Addison’s eyes narrowed again. “Average?”

  “Girl next door,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. I feel bad that she thinks I dissed her.”

  Addison shook her head. “She didn’t take it as a diss, exactly. She came back from dinner laughing like it was no big deal. But she’s seen Slade’s supermodel album of you, and she’s had it in her head ever since that you’re looking for something more exotic than she is, or something equally ridiculous.”

  He rubbed his hands over his face. “I’m going to tell you something, and I know you hate keeping secrets, but you have to keep this one. I don’t want her to take this the wrong way, and I don’t trust you to say it to her the right way.”

  Twin expressions of curiosity and annoyance crossed her face. Curiosity won. “Fine. What?”

  “I did expect someone way more average. Not that it mattered. I think she’s cool, and I was looking forward to hanging out with her. So it’s surprising that she’s hot, but it really doesn’t matter.”

  Addison tilted her head. “I believe you because I know you. But now you have to convince Bree, because I know her even better, and I’m telling you right now that she’s going to have walls up. Mile-high walls. So fix it.”

  He scrubbed his hand through his hair. “I’ll text her again.”

  “And say what? ‘Sorry, but I didn’t realize you’re hot—‌now that I know, I want to talk to you’? Don’t text her. Tone will get lost.”

  “Then I’ll drop by her room and say hi.”

  “You need a less loaded situation.” She closed her eyes as if considering the options. “I’ll get her out to the rose garden in half an hour. Find a way to be there, but don’t tell her I sent you, and think of something good to say.”

  He nodded. “Thanks.” He slid his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels, debating his next words. “I like her. I’ll fix this.”

  She gave him a quick hug and headed for the door. “If you’re smart, you will. She’s one in a million,” she said before closing it behind her.

  He reached for his phone a dozen times, anxious to fix his screw-up, but he stopped each time, mindful of Addison’s warning. Tone will get lost.

  He tried to figure out why he would be in a rose garden at nine o’clock at night. He decided to put on his workout clothes. Maybe running on the beach would give him a good excuse? Twenty minutes later, Addison texted.

  She’s on her way.

  He took the stairs down and followed the hotel’s private path to the rose garden. The moon was so bright he didn’t need the lights set artfully around the flower beds to see Bree sitting with her back to the entrance, her fall of dark hair contrasting sharply with her white dress. He cleared his throat, and she twisted around, her eyes widening when she registered that it was him. For a second, she said nothing, and he wondered if she would pretend not to recognize him, but then she turned to face him fully, her shoulders back and a friendly smile on her face.

  “You’re Dallen,” she said. “Nice to finally meet you.”

  “You’re Bree.” And you’re smoking hot, he wanted to add, but not at the risk of making it sound as if it mattered. Or insulting her by sounding surprised.

  She nodded and offered a tiny wave. “Hi.”

  “Hey,” he said, unable to contain a wide grin as he crossed to hug her. Her hug was cursory, the kind you give when you don’t want to be rude. Yeah. Walls way up.

  He stepped back and smiled. “Funny running into you here. It’s weird to bump into people out of context, isn’t it? I feel like it’s going to take me a minute to believe that the Bree I’ve been emailing is right here in front of me.”

  Was that too subtle?

  Her eyes narrowed for the tiniest fraction of a second. He would have missed it if he hadn’t been studying her so closely, but it was enough to tell him he hadn’t been subtle.

  She shrugged. “Yeah, it’s strange.” Her forehead wrinkled. “Addison made me come down to check whether this place would be better for the ceremony. What brings you here?”

  Careful not to incriminate Addison, he pointed to his sneakers. “Going on a night run. Thought I’d see what was behind the fancy flower arch.” He hated how stilted they both sounded—‌nothing like what he was used to between them, and even further from how he’d hoped it would be.

  “That’s good. Enjoy yourself.” She settled onto the bench again, her smile and tone polite, but it was a clear dismissal. He missed the underlying current of mischief he’d heard in their phone calls.

  “Sorry breakfast won’t work out,” he said, fishing for anything salvageable.

  She showed her first signs of uneasiness. “Yeah, well. You know how Addison is.”

  It had nothing to do with Addison, but he let none of his frustration show in his face. “If we don’t bump into each other before then, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “See you then.”

  With nothing left for him to say, he sketched a brief wave and left, hitting the beach path at a jog. He’d pound the sand until he figured out how to get the two of them back on the right footing. Even the way Bree handled herself when she was disappointed appealed to him. She was classy, undramatic, and even more intriguing since he knew what a funny girl hid beneath the hot-girl, detached-from-it-all demeanor. He’d figure out how to lure that Bree out, because he was more convinced than ever she was worth the effort.

  Chapter Ten

  Bree sucked in her first deep breath only after she heard the thud of Dallen’s retreating footsteps. Once again he’d caught her by surprise. At least this time she’d had the good sense not to grin like an idiot. She ran their short conversation through her head several times. He’d looked
so good in his workout clothes, as good as he had in his dinner clothes. Maybe better, because his hair had lost its perfect styling, so it looked mussed, and way too touchable. Thank goodness she’d kept herself together. She’d tried to act exactly like she would have with Slade, to think of Dallen as a nice guy that she only kind of knew. It had helped.

  But she was going to have to come up with a much better strategy for dealing with him by tomorrow, because despite keeping him at a distance, heat had raced through her when he’d pulled her into a hug, shocking her so much it was all she could do to remember to let her arms float up and return the favor before he let her go. He’d felt so good. She’d have to try to forget about that before she saw him again, or she’d end up looking pathetic.

  Deep in thought, she made her way back to her room. Addison definitely had something to do with Dallen’s sudden appearance in the garden. How did she have the energy to worry about Bree’s love life and still panic hourly about her wedding? The first order of business would be to make sure Addison didn’t butt in anymore.

  When Bree slipped back into the suite, Jen and Shayla were settled on the sofa watching a Lifetime movie with the volume low.

  “Where’s Addison?” she asked.

  “She went to bed,” Shayla said. “By the way, you’re my hero now. I had no idea you were running so much interference between us and her fifty thousand last-minute changes.”

  Bree smiled. “She’s the kind of friend that it’s worth doing for.”

  “She’s pretty great,” Jen agreed. “But I’m glad she’s sleeping. She’s stressing herself out too much.”

  “Truth,” Bree said, squishing onto the couch with them. “You guys ready to help with the big event tomorrow?”

  Shayla nodded. “I’ve been practicing the moves. You sure the guys are going to do this?”