I could fake it till I got Magnolia alone.
“We’ve got a lot left to tackle,” I countered, ever aware of each day that passed.
The first week of November was gone already. I wanted the big projects finished by the first of December to ensure we’d have plenty of time to handle decor and create an arch, photo op areas, and whatever else cropped up. The barn might be rustic and rough around the edges, but the details needed to be refined and crafted with care.
I took the lead and walked toward the wide end of the barn again. Presley joined Magnolia in checking out the individual rooms, the two of them discussing how they would use each space.
At the corner where the room opened up, I stopped and leaned against the wall, summoning my patience. West joined the women, acting as tour guide, allowing me to stand back and watch Magnolia from afar every time they emerged from one of the rooms.
Her wavy hair hung down her back, glistening under the overhead lights, looking more blond than strawberry tonight. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and I wondered if that was from the cold outside or something else. She’d switched into planner mode with Presley, pointing out how tables could be scattered the length of the center part of the barn, where the head table could go, and a dozen other things I hadn’t yet given a thought to.
Now that my years-old anger had melted away, I was fascinated by this talented, competent adult version of the girl I’d fallen for. No question, she was in her element. She thought in details someone like me never considered, like stands of electric candles here and there along the walls, adding a romantic flair to the dinner segment. She might be going through a crazy bunch of personal stuff, but her confidence professionally didn’t waver. I found that surprisingly hot.
Though I’d barely had time to pee for two weeks, I’d spent considerable time thinking as I worked—about her, about us, about the past as well as the present.
My attraction to her since we’d cleared the air with her truth and my apology was alive and well, and surprising as hell. I’d fought admitting it to myself for the first few days, but I’d have to be a dense man not to acknowledge that kissing her had turned my world on end. One kiss. Less than sixty seconds.
If she could do that to me in such a short, serendipitous moment, what would happen if we willingly spent time together, getting to know each other as adults?
I wanted to find out.
She was sending signals that she might not want to find out. I’d definitely be addressing that and doing everything to change her mind, but now was not the time.
I needed to get her alone.
Chapter Fifteen
Magnolia
Luke had been eyeing me since I’d walked in the door, watching me when he thought I didn’t notice, studying me whenever I spoke.
It was disconcerting. I couldn’t read his mood.
I tried to act is if he was merely a business contact. Never mind that I’d sneaked multiple looks at him and couldn’t help liking what I saw. He wore an old white tee and faded, dusty jeans with brown work boots. I’d spotted a thick flannel shirt draped over the back of a folding chair and guessed he’d gotten hot and shed it. I secretly appreciated the view of his biceps.
I still hadn’t breathed a word to Presley about the llama night, when he’d come back to my apartment. I trusted her and considered her one of my closest friends, but I couldn’t bring myself to talk out loud about Luke kissing me. I was afraid that would give it too much significance. I didn’t want it to have any significance.
Since I’d kept mum, I’d been on my own to figure out how to handle this meeting. I’d decided to act like nothing had happened between us. Wasn’t that what he’d been doing for the past two weeks?
So maybe I’d had him on my mind this morning when I’d dressed for work, all too aware I’d be seeing him at the end of the workday. I wouldn’t admit it out loud.
The truth? I’d had him on my mind every single day since he’d planted that kiss on my lips and hurried away before I knew what hit me.
I hated that I hadn’t already let it go. I didn’t want any man to have any kind of power over me ever again, whether it was financially or emotionally.
A kiss didn’t have to be emotional.
I’d told myself that a hundred times, but Luke wasn’t some random guy. He wasn’t a stranger. We didn’t have a blank slate between us. There was no way to erase the past, no matter how much I wanted to.
“I’m excited,” Presley said once they’d committed to exchanging their vows here. “It’ll be a beautiful setting for the ceremony. I’m sure we can fit all our guests in the end area.”
“While they’re dining, we’ll remove the rows of ceremony chairs and open it up for dancing later,” Luke said.
“Do you have a staff to handle the transition?” I asked, knowing Luke was one of the groomsmen.
“I figure I can take care of it,” he said.
I shook my head. “As a groomsman, you’ll be at the head table. You can’t miss the toasts or the meal or fold up chairs in your tux.”
