“As far as I’m aware, everything’s on track.” Owen placed the bow tie back on the shelves. “Daniella’s going to Bozeman on Monday for her final dress fitting.”
Mr. Reynolds hurried across the store. “Thanks for waiting. We’re a little busier than usual.” He handed Owen another suit and shirt. “Try these. They should be more comfortable.”
Owen nodded and disappeared into the fitting room with the garments.
While he was gone, Steve looked at some accessories on another set of shelves. The pocket squares and suspenders would add a point of difference to any of the suits in the store. Picking up a set of silver cufflinks, he considered them for a moment before putting them back. His mind was half on the wedding, half on Eden.
Could a wedding really be the right place to spend more time with her? From what she’d said, she’d come to Sapphire Bay to get away from the pressure of big city life, not get involved with anyone.
A few minutes later, Owen re-emerged, looking far more comfortable in the larger suit.
He did a quick twirl, raising his eyebrows at Steve. “Better?”
“Much,” Steve confirmed, giving him an approving nod. “That’s the fit you want. It looks better across your shoulders.”
Owen checked himself out in the mirror, smoothing down the lapels. “It feels good. Now all I need to do is keep Harper’s attention away from the decorations at the reception.”
Steve laughed, his thoughts drifting back to Eden. “After she sees Daniella’s decorations, she’ll definitely want some of them for your wedding.”
“As long as Harper doesn’t regret saying she’ll marry me, I’ll be a happy man.”
“She won’t,” Steve said softly. “She loves you. Maybe I should take your advice about inviting someone to your sister’s wedding. It might make the evening more interesting.”
Owen slipped off the suit jacket. “You’ve got nothing to lose. If she says no, you’re back to square one. But if she says yes, it could be a great night. I won’t be long.” He disappeared into the fitting room with the jacket over his arm.
Steve looked through a rack of jackets not far from where they’d been standing. There was something about Eden—her smile, her easy laughter, the way she seemed genuinely interested in what he had to say—that had caught him off guard.
Pulling out a jacket, he walked across to a mirror and held it against his chest. If he was going to Daniella’s wedding, he might as well look his best.
As Mr. Reynolds walked past him, he looked at the jacket. “You have broad shoulders. You’ll need the next size up.”
Steve checked the label. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve been fitting suits for more than thirty years. You’ll need the next size.”
Before Owen came out of the fitting room, Steve grabbed another jacket and tried it on. Mr. Reynolds was right. The fit was perfect, and the price was right. He just hoped asking Eden to the wedding would be as easy as finding a new jacket.
Chapter5
Steve checked the time. Even though it was one o’clock in the afternoon, the Saturday market in downtown Sapphire Bay was still busy. The chatter of locals and the enticing smell of the food made his stomach rumble.
He’d dropped Owen off at his studio a few minutes ago and decided to walk around the booths, looking for something for his lunch. Lynda, Owen’s mom, had looked after Rex while they were in Polson. With the excited welcome Rex had given them, anyone would’ve thought they’d been gone for months instead of hours.
He shortened Rex’s leash as they walked through a group of teenagers. It was the perfect day for the popular market. Sunshine glinted off the lake, creating a festive atmosphere over the booths lining the waterfront. Families wandered between the vendors, children tugged at their parents’ hands, leading them toward the homemade ice cream stand and the cotton candy machine.
If that wasn’t enough to bring people into town, a jazz band was playing in the background, adding a relaxed atmosphere to the afternoon.
Steve stopped in front of a vendor selling gourmet sandwiches and chose the caramelized onion, beef, and salad option. Rex sat quietly beside him. For a little dog, he sure knew how to act when there was the possibility of a juicy strip of beef in his future.
While Steve waited for the sandwich to be made, he watched the people around him. Across the walkway, a booth selling handmade soaps had a few people browsing their products. Beside them was a display of colorful crystals. His eyes widened when he saw Eden. With her red hair tucked under a fluffy hat, and a thick jacket keeping her warm, she looked cute in a small-town meets big city way.
Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage before walking over to her. “Hi, Eden. That’s a colorful crystal.”
Eden looked up and sent him a smile that did funny things to his heart. “Oh, hi Steve! Isn’t it stunning? I’ve always loved crystals and this amethyst is gorgeous.”
She returned the large crystal to the table and petted Rex. “Hi, boy. How are you? Have you been behaving yourself?”
“He’s been really good,” Steve told her. “A friend’s mom looked after him this morning and he didn’t leave her side.”
