Alex’s father was not coming for her.
“Do you think he’s coming?” Alex asked Gussie, hope in her voice as if she thought this new person might be the one with different information.
Gussie stroked Alex’s arm, not answering right away. Finally, she sighed. “I don’t know anything about him, Alex, but I do know that a man who cares very much about you is sitting across from you, trying to do the right thing, offering you a gift, and trying to give you something happy to remember this summer. Why don’t you give him a chance?”
For a second, he couldn’t breathe. He didn’t trust himself to even blink, because everything in him grew tight and heavy. Where did she come from, this unexpected gift of a good woman? He’d never known anyone like her.
Well, he had…once. And swore he’d never take that chance again.
“Okay, I’ll go,” Alex whispered.
“You will?” Tom asked, stunned.
“On one condition.”
“Anything,” he said. “Anything at all. Whatever you want.”
She gave in to a slow smile, still staring at Gussie. “You come, too.”
Chapter Ten
“That is the most brilliant idea I’ve ever heard!” Ari leaned forward like she was about to launch over the guacamole dip to shake sense into Gussie if she even thought about saying no.
Gussie blinked from Alex to Ari and back to Alex again. Both of them looked like the winning lottery ticket had just fallen out of the sky. Finally, she mustered up the courage to look straight ahead and meet Tom’s eyes.
He looked more like a reflection of how Gussie felt—gobsmacked.
“I…can’t,” she murmured.
“Why not?” That came in unison from Alex and Ari. Alex, she understood. But her friend? Her good, trusting friend who’d come to scrutinize the man in question and help decide whether he was worthy of a fling? She’d send her off to France with the guy?
Gussie zeroed in on Ari. “Because we have weddings—”
“One,” Ari said. “After this weekend, we have one wedding booked in August, because it’s so hot and humid.”
“But I have to be here for it.”
“The Lucente-O’Dell wedding?” Ari flicked her fingers like the event was a pesky fly. “Piece of cake. Willow’s the lead on that one, and everything is practically done. You really should go.”
“Well, I…don’t…”
“Have a passport?” Alex asked.
“She’s a destination-wedding planner,” Ari interjected. “Of course she has a passport.”
“But I…shouldn’t be away…”
“Everyone takes vacations in August,” Alex insisted.
“I couldn’t…”
“Yes, you could and you should,” Ari said, as if it were finalized. “Right, Tom?”
“She has to go,” Alex exclaimed, not giving him a chance to reply. “Because if she doesn’t, I’m not going.”
“Alex.” Tom and Gussie spoke in perfectly timed unison.
“This is a big decision,” Tom said, obviously choosing each word carefully. “Not something anyone could decide on the spur of the moment.”
At least one person had some sanity at this table. Unfortunately, he was the one whose opinion mattered most.
“I don’t know if I could—”
“It would be like stepping into a video game for real,” Alex said, enough singsong in her voice that Gussie recognized it as an echo of her own words. “‘You would go on a private plane and stay in a beautiful apartment and taste French food, and think about the clothes in France. Magnifique!’”
Alex looked so pleased with her memory, Gussie had to laugh. “Well, I still have to think about it.”
“What’s to—”
Ari cut off Alex’s question by standing up and taking the girl’s hand. “Alex, why don’t you and I walk into town and stop by Miss Icey’s for a cone and let these two talk about it?”
“Okay,” Alex agreed, also pushing back.
Gussie opened her mouth to argue—and possibly drag Ari off to the bathroom for an explanation—but then she thought better of it. “That is a good idea,” she said. “I have some questions for Tom about the…logistics.” Like, did he like the idea at all?
In seconds, Alex and Ari were gone, leaving Tom and Gussie staring at each other.
“Um, I think I know what it feels like to go under a steamroller now,” Gussie joked. “I really don’t know what to say.”
Leaning forward, he put his hand over hers, the touch warm and intimate. “Say yes.”
Really? Her next breath was a little ragged, her stomach fluttering about while her heart rate tripled. How did he do that to her with two simple words?
“Yes?” She went for a joke, because his face was way too serious. “You’ve been telling me to say that all day, Tom. I think you’re a bad influence.”
“Yeah, ’cause a few weeks in France would be very bad for you.” He added some pressure on her hand. “I’d like to have you there. You’re amazing.”
“I’m good with Alex.” That had to be what he meant, right?
“And you’re amazing.” At her look of disbelief, he added, “I told you today I’m honest. So, yes, it’s obvious you have an incredible effect on her and connect with her in a way I never could. You have the ability to magically put a spark in the eyes of a little girl who thinks life has beaten her.”
Okay. That’s why he wanted her there. Like a babysitter or companion—for his niece.
“But that’s not why I want you to go.” He held her gaze, unwavering and direct. “I want to get to know you better.”
She didn’t answer, making him laugh. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“I admit to some skepticism.”
He laughed, shaking his head. “Woman, you have got to up the confidence quotient.”
“And I’m going to do that by going to Europe?”
“You’re going to do that by”—he threaded his fingers through hers—“spending time with someone—two someones, actually—who think you’re fantastic.”
Good God, it was easy to believe him. Easy to forget his personal mantra and travelin’-man lifestyle. Easy to hope that this could be more than…
A trip of a lifetime.
“I don’t know…” But she did. Deep inside, she did.
He smiled, slow and sweet and, dang it all, so sexy her whole body betrayed her with a hormonal tsunami.
“As you said to my niece”—he stroked her hand and inched closer—“there’s a man sitting right here who is trying to do the right thing, offering you a gift, and trying give you something happy to remember this summer. Why don’t you give him a chance?”
Because he was probably going to break her poor little heart into a bazillion pieces. “I don’t know,” she whispered. “Why don’t I?”
* * *
“Looks like Nick’s still here,” Ari said as she pulled the car into the driveway, the headlights shining first on Nick’s car, then on the wraparound porch that circled the first floor of their house. “Let’s get Willow’s opinion.”
“Let’s not bother her,” Gussie said, gathering her bag. “We can talk to her tomorrow.”
“Why? Are you afraid she’ll say you should go?”
“Yes. She’ll have me packed and out the door before you can say, Bonjour, mes amis.”
“See, you do speak French.”
Gussie shook her head, tired of the discussion. All she wanted to do was get up to her apartment and think about every single word Tom had said to her.
“Let’s go at least tell her about it,” Ari said.
“You know Willow will agree with you because love is blind, and she thinks we’re going to find lightning in a bottle like she did.”
Ari sighed wistfully as she turned off the engine and lights. “Could happen.”
“A hot Navy SEAL with abs of steel and a heart of gold?” Gussie grunted. “There are so many of those running around.”
>
“That’s not what I want, at least not if the universe doesn’t have that in the plans for me.”
“It’s not what I want, either.” Gussie sighed. “But I have a question for you since you’re all about ‘there’s one for everyone’ and the universe is going to send him. What if you think he’s the one and he doesn’t think you are?”
“Are you asking that because of Tom or just as a general question of my beliefs?”
“Tom’s not the one,” she said, barely hearing her friend’s question. “I mean, he’s a ton of fun and great for my ego, but he doesn’t know the meaning of forever. And the closer I get to thirty, the more I want forever.” Or at least more than a few fun weeks.
Ari reached over and touched her arm. “I told you, I got a really good vibe from him. And Alex is crazy about you. Why wouldn’t you go?”
She was still trying to come up with a reason that made sense, other than she was scared to death to fall for a guy who’d break her heart.
“Come on,” Ari said, opening the driver’s door. “Let’s see if they’re dressed and interested in company.”
“Okay,” Gussie agreed. “Maybe Willow will be the voice of reason. Maybe she’ll see that with less than a year under the belt of the Barefoot Brides, none of us is really in a position to take time off for romantic jaunts to the south of France.”
“See?” Ari whipped around to make her point. “Even you are calling it a romantic jaunt.”
“Well, I told you what happened at the warehouse. And I asked you to go tonight so you could give me your opinion on him.” Gussie climbed out of the car and slammed the door harder than necessary. “I didn’t expect you to betray me.”
“Betray you? By helping you get an all-expenses-paid dream vacation? Maybe you can betray me sometime, too.”
“Are you two betting again?” Willow’s question surprised them both when it came from the darkened porch.
“Discussing,” Ari said.
“Ending our friendship,” Gussie corrected.
“Get up here.” Willow appeared at the top of the three steps, gesturing for them to join her on the porch.
“Are you alone?” Gussie asked.
“Of course not.” Nick Hershey’s deep voice came from the corner, followed by the squeak of the swing. “Her soon-to-be better half is here.”
“Are we interrupting anything?” Ari asked.
Gussie could have sworn Willow shot a warning look over her shoulder at the man she loved, but it was too dark to be sure.
“We’re just talking,” Willow said. “What are you two ending your friendship about now? The last pink bubblegum cigar in the state?”
From the corner, Nick chuckled. “Is that the wager of the day?”
“We’re not betting,” Gussie said, folding into the corner of the rattan sofa. “We’re discussing how thrilled Willow will be when she finds out one-third of the company is considering being gone for a couple of weeks in August.”
“Who, you? When? Which couple of weeks?” There was definitely a note of panic in Willow’s voice and another silent look exchanged with Nick.
Of course she wouldn’t want Gussie to bail, no matter how few weddings they had in the peak of the hot summer months. They still had a business to run.
“Yes, me. And soon. Like, next week soon,” Gussie said. “I took Ari to dinner with Tom and his niece because I needed a second opinion on the guy, and what do you know? She loves him.”
Ari curled up on the other side of the sofa. “How can I not? He’s awesome. I think he’s a perfect fit for Gussie.”
“Really?” Willow finally sat down on the swing, as close to Nick as she could be without actually burrowing inside him. “He is hot, Gus, no doubt about it.”
Nick slid her a look, but let it go.
“Yes, he’s hot,” Gussie agreed. “And I’m attracted to him. And I made out with him on the warehouse floor today, but—”
“Whoa. You sure you want me to hear this?” Nick asked.
“You’re practically family now,” Gussie said. “But I don’t know if it’s smart to get on a private plane, fly to the Riviera, stay in an apartment, and…”
Fall hard for someone I can never have.
Willow laughed. “So far, it doesn’t sound like it would suck.”
“Right?” Ari asked, happy for the support. “You’d have the time of your life with a guy who is not only attracted to you, but clearly cares about others.” Ari crossed her arms, confident in her assessment. “You told me I can read people really well, Gus, and what I read was good. Did you see how he acted when his niece got emotional about her mother? He melted, for God’s sake.”
“And that’s enough reason for you to encourage me to do something wild and spontaneous and potentially”—heartbreaking—“dangerous,” she finished weakly.
“Is this guy a threat?” Nick leaned forward, making the swing screech. “What do you know about him?”
“Very little,” Willow said.
“I know all I need to know,” Gussie said. And she didn’t mean from following his work. “He’s a…” Man who has no home, lives the high life, and would never settle down and be a family. Not a family like the one she grew up in, not the family she wanted to re-create…perfect, whole, and happy. Did Ari and Willow even realize just how much she longed for that? Her dreams were more than having kids—Gussie wanted the wholeness of a real, solid family. She’d had it once and wanted it again.
“What’s stopping you, really?” Ari asked. “Be honest, you’re among friends.”
“I guess I want to think about it for a while, and that’s what I told him. A trip to Europe is a big commitment.”
“And so is sleeping with him,” Nick said.
Gussie gave him a light kick in the shin. “Way to remind us that Willow snagged the last greatest guy on earth.”
“No, I didn’t,” Willow said. At Nick’s look of dismay, she laughed. “I’m pretty sure there are two more for my best friends.”
“There are,” Ari said with certainty. “And maybe Tom’s one of them.”
Gussie snorted. “And maybe we’ll see some pigs soaring next to the window of the private jet.”
“So you’re going?” Ari asked.
“You’re missing the point,” Gussie insisted. “I am deathly afraid of having my heart broken, Ari.”
“I’m sorry.” Ari reached across the sofa and put her hand on Gussie’s arm. “I thought all you needed was a little prodding, and that guy seems like he’d be a lot of fun for you. Really, that was all I was thinking. He’s really nice.”
“And superhot,” Willow added.
“So we’ve heard,” Nick said dryly.
“Really, Gus, it was my mistake,” Ari said, giving her hand a squeeze. “I thought the only thing stopping you was the commitment to work, and I wanted to reassure you we had it covered. I didn’t think you were evaluating him for husband material.”
Gussie felt her face burn, grateful for the dim light. “I’m not.”
“And it is kind of the trip of a lifetime,” Ari added.
After a beat, she realized Willow hadn’t joined in, but instead was looking at Nick, both of them carrying on a wordless conversation the way only people in love could do.
“I guess I don’t have a really good reason not to go,” Gussie said, half to herself.
Willow took a deep breath and turned to the other two women, still holding Nick’s hand. “Actually, we might have one for you, depending on how long you’ll be gone.”
“Might?” Nick asked, a tease in his voice. “There’s no might, honey.”
“He’s right,” Willow said. “Fact is, the Barefoot Brides actually are going to have a second wedding in August. My parents are able to come the last weekend and, well, we don’t want to wait any longer, so…”
Gussie blinked, the rest of the statement not necessary, because they all knew what was coming.
“You’re getting married!” Ari and Gussie
exclaimed in unison, and they all popped up, the three of them hugging hard, with Nick wrapping his strong arms around the whole group.
“I know we always said we wouldn’t have weddings ourselves,” Willow told them.
“Big-deal weddings with crazy in-laws and plastic cherubs,” Ari said.
“Of course you’ll have a wedding,” Gussie agreed. “And we will be there, no matter when and where it is.”
Willow hugged them again. “Well, don’t worry. It’ll be right at the resort, and I promise small, intimate and, well, I’d say classy, but with a rock star for a father, I’m not guaranteeing anything.”
“Well, I hope there are at least two bridesmaids,” Gussie said.
“Co-maids of honor,” Willow said. “If Gussie’s not still in France with the superhot photographer.”
“Ahem.” Nick elbowed her.
“As if I’d go to France and miss your wedding. I should be back by the last weekend of the month.” Then she caught herself. “If I go,” she added quickly.
And her two best friends laughed, knowing her like the real sisters they were.
Chapter Eleven
At T-minus five hours before the Bernard-Lyons wedding, all three of the Barefoot Brides consultants went to work. This was when they forgot about their own lives, problems, candy bets, and future plans. Nothing mattered but making that day perfect for one starry-eyed, nervous-wreck woman—and maybe her mother—who’d spent her life dreaming about it.
At least, that’s what Gussie told herself as she headed down the hall to the far end of the Eucalyptus spa to prepare the dresses, shoes, makeup, and jewelry for the bridal party, which would arrive in about an hour. Except, instead of Hailey’s sculpted lace and imported satin slippers, Gussie’s mind was lingering on a decision she’d yet to finalize.
Should she go with Tom to France? She’d already decided that she’d make her mind up by the end of the day, sensing that seeing him “in action” would seal the deal one way or the other.
Unlocking the dressing room door, she stopped to inhale the lingering scents of lavender and rose, makeup and hairspray and powder, instantly calm and happy.