“Does that mean you’re finally agreeing to set fireworks off after we say ‘I do’?” Mary Anne asks.
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see,” David says, then turns to Hadley and me. “Can’t tell her what my plans are after saying ‘I do’ because then she might not stick around. Got to keep a little mystery alive.”
Mary Anne bounces on her toes. “I’m never leaving now, bud. You’re stuck with me.”
Hadley snickers at my side, which pulls Mary Anne’s gaze away from David. Her eyes travel to our interlaced arms.
“Don’t tell me…” she begins. I glance at Hadley, and she shrugs.
“Mary Anne. David. This is myboyfriend, Braxton Rawls.” Hadley beams. The statement elicits another round of dancing, giggling hugs between the women.
“It’s about dang time!” Mary Anne squeals. She releases Hadley and ropes me in for a hug. Thankfully, she doesn’t bounce and spin. After letting me go, she grabs Hadley’s unbraced hand and tugs her. “I need all the details. When? Where? Why? How?”
“Hold up, tiger.” Hadley laughs. “I have to get my luggage that you’re continually pulling me away from. Then I promise I’m all yours.”
“Fine. But only because I know you have a new pair of jeans from your boutique in there for me, right?”
Hadley grins. “Of course. I couldn’t show up empty-handed.”
After grabbing her suitcase, she reaches on her tiptoes and offers a quick kiss that still manages to send electricity to my toes. Then the two ladies are off.
“Guess I’ll show you where your room is,” David says. “Then we can get a couple of drinks if you want.” His expression tells me that he needs a moment away from the squeals and hugs too. A place of quiet.
“Sounds good, man.” I follow after David, already liking this guy.
Aftertossingmyluggagein my room (which again, makes me feel like I’m staying in the Royal Palace), I follow David out to the hotel bar. He’s a man of few words, and I respect that already. With Hadley, I’m an open book. I can talk to her anytime, be in her presence anytime, and be completely comfortable.
But she’s the only one outside of the immediate family I can be that way with. When I’m with other people for a length of time, I constantly find myself wishing I could crawl away. Big crowds, parties…weddings. Not my thing. My introverted brain howls at me to find alone space, a space where I can drag my guitar out, play a few chords, and chill.
“What’re you having? It’s on me,” David says, taking a seat on the stool. He flags the bartender.
“Think it’s too early for bourbon?”
“Not when there’s a wedding in town,” he laughs. “How do you take it?”
“Neat.”
David orders two bourbons, neat. It’ll be nice to have a drink since Hadley isn’t around. I would never drink with her out of respect for her past.
“What made y’all choose this venue?” I ask.
“My family owns it,” he says casually. Who is this guy? “It’s falling into my hands when Dad retires from the business.”
“And what business is that?”
“Hotel management.” He takes a sip.
“Hotel? But this place looks more like a restored castle.” I swipe a hand at our surroundings. David chuckles and shakes his head.
“It is.”
“How in the world did your family come to own this? Were y’all the ones to restore it? Who did the contract work?” I fire off the questions as the man beside me takes another sip of his drink.
“Long story, but it was my grandpa who took over the place. He designed it to have more of a hotel feel, then he led the way on renovations. It fell into Dad’s hands, and next, it’ll be mine.” He doesn’t sound upset or happy, just…factual.
“Man, that’s awesome. This place is a work of art.” I examine the stone columns in the room and the supporting beams of the arched ceiling. “I’m almost finished building my cabin-styled house back in Mississippi. It started as dream designs, but then I decided I wanted to make it my forever home. Looking at this place makes me want to try to implement this design to a family home.”
“Are you an architect?” David asks. I take a sip of my drink.
