Megan grinned. “I think the love bug has bitten its next victim.”
“It’s not like that.” Cassie didn’t say another word until Brooke and Megan had their drinks. “It’s complicated.”
Brooke sighed. “Why isn’t falling in love ever easy?”
“I’ve got no idea,” Megan said. “But maybe if it was, we wouldn’t appreciate it when we found it.”
Cassie studied the thoughtful expression on her friends’ faces. “Before you get too philosophical, we need to talk.”
Brooke took a sip from one of the drinks she was holding. “William and Levi are sitting at our table with Noah. Let’s leave our drinks with them, then find somewhere quiet to talk.”
Cassie followed her friends. Brooke was only partially right about Noah not taking his eyes off her. One of the reasons he hadn’t left her side all night was because he didn’t know many people. The other part was why she wanted to talk to her friends.
As they approached their table, William, Megan’s husband, smiled. “Noah has been telling us about the tiny home project.”
Cassie smiled. “Everyone’s excited. Pastor John is hoping the first tenants will be in their new home by next April.”
Levi frowned. “That’s not too far away.”
“It can’t come soon enough. The bunks at the Welcome Center are already full most nights.”
Brooke handed Levi his drink. “Megan, Cassie, and I are going to find somewhere quiet to talk. If you think of any amazing fundraising ideas for the tiny home project, tell us when we get back.”
“Sam’s tossing her bouquet in a few minutes,” Levi reminded his fiancée. “Don’t be too long.”
Brooke smiled. “I’ve already found the man of my dreams, so I don’t need to be there.” She grinned at Cassie. “But someone else might need a little help.”
Cassie’s eyebrows rose. “Yesterday you told me the tossing of the bouquet is an archaic ritual.”
“But what if it works for you?”
“A bunch of flowers won’t make Mr. Right appear.”
Noah cleared his throat. “What if he’s already here?”
It was just as well Cassie’s glass was sitting on the table. Otherwise, fresh orange juice would be running down Noah’s white cotton shirt.
Megan linked her arm through Cassie’s. “If we’re really clever, we’ll miss the entire bouquet toss. Let’s go.”
And before Cassie could ask Noah if he thought he could be Mr. Right, Megan pulled her across the room.
Megan foundsome chairs in the corner of the main reception area and sat down. “Okay, Cassie. Spill the beans.”
“There isn’t much to spill. Noah is going back to Manhattan tomorrow. I don’t know when I’ll see him again.” The thought was so depressing that she sank into a chair beside her friend. “What am I going to do?”
Brooke sighed. “Living apart is never easy. If you want to make things work between you and Noah, someone will have to move.”
“Or you could spend one week in Manhattan and the other in Sapphire Bay,” Megan suggested. “People live in two towns all the time.”
“But it’s so far away.” Cassie dropped her head to her chest. “I don’t like big cities. Even if I didn’t mind traveling, it would be difficult to take my work with me. The only way it could happen is if I had two studios.”
“Have you told Noah how you feel about him?” Brooke asked.
“I told him I liked him.”
Megan’s eyebrows shot up. “You like Brooke’s chocolate fudge, too. Maybe you need to be more direct? Noah is probably as confused as we are.”
That’s what was worrying Cassie. She just hoped Noah still wanted her to work for his company after he realized how much she cared about him. “I’ve never told a man I love him. Especially when he’s my boss.”
