I pulled the sticky note from the binder. “Caitlyn, we need to discuss your flowers. The peonies are in short supply, as we expected, so we’ll have to go another route.”
“Too bad,” a deep voice said.
One startling familiar.
I jerked my gaze up, eyes clashing with Bryson’s vivid blue ones. My heart leapt. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
“Uh, I’m Branson Larkin. I’m with Caitlyn.”
I shook my head, reeling. “No. Caitlyn’s marrying Branson Kennedy. You’re not— You can’t be?—”
“Oh.” He laughed. “I see where the confusion is. Yeah, my last name is Larkin, but Caitlyn is keeping her name, so we booked under Kennedy.”
I stared at him, horror dawning.Thiswas Caitlyn’s groom.
Branson, not Bryson.
Bryson had just been a fiction, a made-up man to have a little fun on the downlow behind his bride’s back. No wonder he hadn’t texted me about our next date. There would be no date.
I stood so fast my chair went sliding across the room. Heidi jumped, looking at me with wide eyes.
“I should have known,” I said in a tight voice.
Branson blinked and looked at Caitlyn. Of course. Hewould be worried about me telling her what happened. How could he do this to such a sweet woman?
Not only had he lied to me and used me—but he’d made me complicit in hurting Caitlyn.
“Should have known what?” Caitlyn asked. “Silas, are you okay?”
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t continue as your wedding planner.”
“What? But the wedding is in a few weeks!”
I nodded. “Heidi can see you through to the end. I’m sorry. I have to go.”
My stomach churned, and if I didn’t get out of the room, I was going to throw up or punch Bryson—er, Branson—or both. I hurried for the door.
Branson caught hold of my arm. “Wait, you can’t just run out on us with no explanation!”
I glared at him hard enough he flinched back, releasing my arm.
“You should be glad I’m not giving an explanation,” I said angrily. “But I’ll leave that to you. If you’ve got any decency at all, you’ll come clean.”
“What?” He looked genuinely shocked as I fled the room.
Had to hand it to Branson, though. He was a damn good actor. He’d had me fooled like no one else with all that romantic nonsense. I couldn’t believe I’d fallen for it.
I’d learned nothing since Michael stood me up at the altar.
When I let my heart lead me, I always ended up the fool.
CHAPTER 6
Bryson
“What do you mean,out of stock?”
I glared at the half-filled shelves. Our grand opening was in five weeks—exactly one week after the wedding—and the last thing I needed was another delay.
