“Logan, huh?”
“Benny, shut up.”
“Just saying…”
I turn away from him as I stand up to greet Ginny and her mother.
“Did you see the hors d’oeuvres, Macey?” Mrs. Rattles says. “Absolutely divine! I asked Gigi’s mother where she got them, hoping we could do something for Gin’s wedding, but they’re out of our price range. Such a shame.”
“That’s too bad,” I say.
“They would have been perfect for Jane Austen’s chosen couple, wouldn’t it?” Mrs. Rattles wraps her arm around Ginny. “All these people thinking Logan and his Manhattan bride are soul mates…pssha! Never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. My daughter and future son-in-law were born and raised here in Darcy; of course Jane will choose them. And their wedding comes first.”
Ginny looks pale and barely there as she stands next to her mother. She never speaks and never interjects as Mrs. Rattles drones on.
“But Virginia, she’s useless! I asked her for one simple thing, to let me know when the bakery called so I could talk to them myself. And guess what she does—she forgets! I don’t know where her head has gone to these last few days.”
I think I have a clue. Ginny’s looking way past me, and I turn to see Nickel grinning at her from about twenty feet away. He’s got his guitar with him.
“Is Nickel going to play here?” I ask her.
Ginny nods as a big smile takes over her face. “I asked him for a trial run, and he agreed. His whole band’s here.”
Mrs. Rattles scoffs. “The fact that you replaced my dearest cousins with this young man and his band of…”
“Mama!” Ginny shouts so loudly I jump backward. “You haven’t spoken to those cousins in three years!”
Ginny stomps off toward Nickel without another word. I guess some men are worth speaking back to your mother for.
I glance back over at Logan. His eyes find mine, and he heads for us slowly, his lips tipped up in that half-grin he often wears. His black suit contrasts strongly with his rugged cowboy looks, but he’s so sexy I can’t complain. He’s wearing the hell out of that suit, and if he were mine, I’d grab him in a kiss.
But he’s not mine.
And if I have to keep telling myself that fact every day for the rest of my life until my heart accepts the truth, I will.
Logan’s eyes fix on mine like lasers as he completes the last few steps toward us. The emotion swimming in his gaze—I keep feeling like he wants to tell me something, but I don’t know what he could possibly say now. He’s already engaged, for goodness sakes. Our ship has sailed.Right?
As soon as he reaches our group, he smiles at Mrs. Rattles and says hello. She huffs and puffs her way through a response, barely looking at him before she excuses herself.
“Glad you could make it, Mace. You look really nice.” Logan steps closer and surprises me by giving me a hug.
I put my arms around him and let him hug me tighter for the briefest of seconds, but it’s long enough for me to smell the familiar scent of cologne on his neck. Which reminds me of waking up on top of him this morning.
I pull away with a forced smile and sit down again with Ben. But instead of leaving, Logan squats in front of us.
“When do you open the gifts?” Ben asks him with a grin.
“Are there gifts?” Logan says slowly.
“Oh, come on, we all know there are gifts,” I say.
Before he can respond, Gigi runs over to us, jumps on Logan’s back, and throws her arms around his neck.
Her pink top is sheer and sexier than anything I’ve ever seen in this town. She manages to look hot without a hint of trash, and her long black skirt clings to her curves flawlessly.
“Give me a ride over to my parents,” Gigi begs Logan. “Daddy just flew in, and he’s desperate to talk to you. And you know how my mom loves a cowboy. She’s had a crush since she first laid eyes on you.”
All the flashbulbs in our faces momentarily blind me. I can see the caption now—Darcy’s very own Mr. Darcy gives his bride-to-be a cushy ride.
