“Well, that’s a funny story.”I gather her hair in my hand and hold it up so that I can drop a kiss at the nape of her neck.She smells like warm skin and girl juice.“So, Finn and Emma are getting married in a few days.You were invited, right?”
“I was.”
“Good.Emma has mentioned a few times how much she likes you.”
“I like her, too.”
“So you’re coming?”
“Of course!”
“I’m glad.”I drop her hair.It swishes over her shoulders.“To answer your question, the reason I was out when the storm hit was because—get this—Emma wanted a winter wonderland-themed wedding.”
“Nice timing.”
“Not really, because she decided this when there was no snow in the forecast, which caused Finn to freak out.So, he dispatched Special K to Tahoe to pick up an industrial-sized snow-making machine.”
She’s giggling.
“And I was sent out to Prospector’s Point to cut down this one specific, allegedly unique spruce that Finn wants to use as the centerpiece of his reception décor.”
“Wait—he’s planning the reception?The decorations and everything?”
“Yes, he is.”
“Why?”
“Because he’s hopelessly in love.”
“That’s adorable.”
“Plus, he’s a hopeless control freak.”
“An affliction shared by all MacLaine men.”
“That stings.”
“The truth hurts, Evander.”
“Indeed.”
CHAPTER 34
Evander
Phoebe laughs.
“So, what happened next?You rode out to find this unique tree—did you even know which spruce he was talking about?Because there’s a million spruce trees around here.”
“I did not.But I had to get away from the wedding planning insanity, so I said I’d cut it down and haul it back for him.And then the storm hit.I got turned around.My GPS stopped working and I went off the trail.And that’s when I heard your whistle.”
She’s quiet.After a moment, she whispers, “Can I say it out loud?What we’re both thinking?”
“Go ahead.”
“That wasreallyweird, right?”
“It was.”
