“Some of it was earned.” She shrugged. “But some of it wasn’t. He’s a good guy, Wren.”
We strolled toward the gazebo with Percy, Bri’s words sinking into me along with a strange tingling sensation. Was she giving me permission to date her brother?
“He’s been asking about you for years, you know,” Bri said.
My stomach dipped. “What?”
“Yeah, all it took was one look at a pic from college, and he was hooked.” She laughed. “He’s begged me to introduce you ever since. ButI always told him that if it was meant to be, it would happen without my interference.” She stopped and sighed with a twinkle in her eyes. “And here you two are, hitting it off all on your own.”
I allowed my gaze to find Zane. He knelt by the gazebo, laughing with a group of men as he tried to piece the wagon back together. Something velvety warm, like melted milk chocolate, filled my stomach and flowed to every part of my body. I didn’t know him that well, but Bri did, and I believed her.
Zanewasa good guy, and I’d been going about this whole thing all wrong. Was there a chance that he wouldn’t like the real me if he got too close? Yes. But I’d never know if I didn’t let him in, and with Bri’s blessing, that was just what I was going to do.
SIX
The big day had arrived. Yes, Bri’s wedding was about to start in a few minutes, but that wasn’t the only thing that made today big for me. This was the day I was going to open up to Zane and test the waters with him a bit. What would he do when he got his first glimpse of the real me? My stomach churned as the possibilities played out in my mind.
I choked down a bundle of nerves, locking them away out of sight and hoping they’d keep quiet long enough for me to get through the ceremony. Istooped over and adjusted Percy’s royal-blue bowtie. “Looking good today.”
“You sure are.”
I jumped at Zane’s voice behind me, my stomach exploding with a million tingles that radiated through my body. Tucking my waves behind my ear, I turned and flashed him a smile. “Thanks. You clean up pretty good yourself.”
Thatwas the understatement of the century.
Zane Hayes filled out a suit like no other man ever had. His broad shoulders were made all the more attractive in his jet-black suitcoat. White cuffs peeked out around his wrists as he straightened his royal-blue tie. “You look good in my colors,” he said, his gaze taking in my figure.
I stood a little taller and angled my body, posing so he could take a mental picture. “Your colors?” I said with a toss of my hair. “I think you mean Bri’s wedding colors.” I gestured toward my blue gown that perfectly matched his tie,scolding myself for falling back into the role ofFlirty Wren.Zane was just so easy to flirt with.
“They were my colors first.”
I rolled my eyes and looked to Percy’s harness to see that he was all set to pull the replacement wagon down the aisle. He’d be following the flower girl today, his only cargo a flower arrangement and the rings Bri would exchange with the love of her life. Even if Percy decided to go rogue, no children would be traumatized, and that went a long way to ease my nerves.
“I’m serious,” Zane said. “Why do you think Bri chose royal blue, black, and gold for her wedding colors?”
I smacked my palm to my forehead. “No way! Are you saying she chose?—”
“The Bobcats’ team colors. Yep.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I knew she was a fan, but this is an ultra-mega-fan level of commitment.”
“Bri and I are a lot alike. We’re not afraid of commitment.”He captured my gaze with an intense look I’d never seen in his eyes before. “When we’re into something, we’reall in.”
A shiver traveled up my spine, honeyed warmth radiating from its wake. I almost forgot to breathe as I gazed into his eyes, but it didn’t matter. Zane was all the fresh air I needed.
“All right, everybody, time to line up.” The wedding coordinator’s voice broke the spell Zane had put on me.
I blinked several times and swallowed hard. “I guess it’s time for me to go.”
“Yeah,” Zane said through his half-smile, his eyes still smoldering with hidden secrets I ached to know.
I led Percy to our place in line, Zane mirroring my every step with my massive dog between us. “What are you doing?” I whispered as we waited for the music to begin.
“Didn’t Bri tell you? I’m the insurance policy,” he said, patting a bulging pocket I hadn’t noticed before.
I gasped. “Jerky?”
“It ain’t Brussels sprouts.”
