Falling for the Best Man

by Amanda Ashby

  “Please, Emm. I’ve been spontaneously doing things my whole life. Of course I’m sure. Now, stop staring at me. I have two hundred salads to prepare.” Then without another word, Bec and the caterer hurried back toward the farmhouse kitchen.

  “Okay, is it just me, or has Bec changed?” Rachel turned to Emmy and rubbed a hand through her purple hair.

  “Something’s definitely happened,” Emmy agreed. “Not only did she hand write all of the place cards, but last night she found my list and made all the confetti by cutting up old maps and sheets of piano music, and then ironed all of the tablecloths. She must have stayed up half the night doing it. Do you think she’s been taken over by aliens?”

  Before Rachel could answer, her husband Jackson arrived with extra wineglasses and Emmy went in search for one of the waitstaff to help unpack them, while once again scanning through her list of all the things that still needed doing.

  …

  Christopher pushed back the sleeve of his well-fitted tuxedo to check his watch. There were still thirty minutes before the guests were due to arrive, and while he should’ve been helping keep Lewis calm, he’d ended up taking phone call after phone call from a panicked Melinda wanting to know how much breeze there was down by the wishing bridge because she was worried about her veil. In the end he’d decided it was easier to just go down there and take a video of him holding up a piece of fabric so she could see for herself.

  He’d found the buildup to the wedding slightly claustrophobic, so escaping for a few minutes would let him catch his breath. Not that he was complaining. It was the wedding that Lewis and his bride wanted, and what Emmy had created was amazing, but the never-ending procession of people milling around was a lot. It was like half the town of Sunshine had turned up to help out.

  Correction. Half the town of Sunshine had turned up.

  He watched as Stan the taxi driver carried a fruit bowl toward the house, weaving past Emmy’s mechanic who was constructing a picture booth, while over by the barn was the owner of the golf club, busy painting a “Just Married” sign.

  His skin prickled. As someone who liked to move forward, it was strange seeing people so content in their day-to-day life coming together with a sort of hive mind to help each other out. Don’t they ever get restless? Drop tools and run?

  Then again, the more people who were here helping Emmy, the better the wedding would go, and the better it went, the more likely it was she’d say yes to a trip to Hawaii. With me.

  The soft tread of footsteps echoed from behind him, and he turned to see her crossing the courtyard toward him. Wow. All thoughts of the bustle around him vanished, and his jaw dropped. For most of the day she’d been wearing loose fitting trousers and a soft cotton blouse as she dashed around but now she’d changed into a pair of black slacks and a demur, high-necked black blouse. She looked like the sexiest librarian he’d ever seen.

  And boy, do I want to look at books with her.

  Her face was one of stern concentration, but when she looked at him, it softened

  “C-Christopher.” She came to a halt, her dark eyes fixated on his chest. “You look…well, you—”

  “Look like a penguin? I know. The things I do for my friends.”

  “Actually”—her face colored up—“I was going to say you look very handsome.”

  Handsome, eh? He tugged at his cuff links and resisted the urge to puff out his chest. “Thank you. And you look beautiful.”

  “Oh.” The compliment didn’t seem to please her. “Is this too much? I want to blend into the background, so black seemed like the best choice. I should go and change?”

  “Over my dead body. You look amazing. You could change into a potato sack and you still wouldn’t blend into the background.” He leaned forward and plucked a piece of straw from her hair.

  “Um, thank you.” Her color increased, and Christopher found himself incredibly turned on by her confusion. “By the way, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with Lewis, getting ready to greet people? You haven’t come to find me have you?”

  “Don’t worry,” he quickly assured her. “I’m not here to pressure you for an answer. Melinda was panicking about the breeze down at the wishing bridge. I’m going to take a video to put her mind at rest.”

  “God knows how she’ll have time to get dressed. She’s already called me, Rachel, and Bec to triple-check on various things. I’m starting to think she has my whole team on speed dial.”

  “The good news is she’s raised the bar pretty high on hysterical brides, and I imagine every wedding you do after this will be a piece of cake,” he said as he took a small step forward and reached for her hand. “You’re doing great.”

  “Thanks.” She let out a breath as her fingers tightened around his. “And thank you for being patient.”

  “Like I said—Switzerland. Now go and shine.” He dropped the lightest of kisses onto her mouth and then, noticing Rachel was bearing down on them, gently untangled his fingers from hers before continuing down to the bridge.

  The early morning promise of a beautiful day had materialized, and the sun turned the landscape into a blaze of red fall colors. Everywhere he looked there were signs of Emmy’s hard work, from the bunting strung up in the trees, through to the old bicycle leaning against the barn, its basket filled with flowers. It was perfection. She was perfection.

  He reached the clearing where the ceremony was due to take place and held out the tea towel he’d swiped from the kitchen. The breeze was so mild the fabric hardly moved and it didn’t take him long to take a quick video and send it along to the bride.

  He was just about to head back to where Lewis and the other groomsmen would be waiting when Charlie stepped into his path. He’d been introduced to the old farmer on Thursday, but hadn’t done more than say hello.

  “So, I heard you’ve asked our girl to go to Hawaii with you.” Charlie wiped his hands on a spotted bandanna before putting it back into his trousers. The man’s face was a weathered map of lines and wrinkles.

  “That’s correct,” Christopher said before realizing Charlie wasn’t smiling. “Um, is there a problem?”

  “No problem. I just wanted to remind you she isn’t like normal girls.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” Christopher said as sweat gathered around his collar. “She’s pretty special.”

  “You won’t catch any folk around here disagreeing with you.” Charlie’s voice was a slow drawl, and Christopher understood. He didn’t meet relations of potential girlfriends very often, and since his own home life had been less than embracing, this wasn’t a conversation he was familiar with.

  “Is this like the dad talk where you remind me you have a gun?”

  Charlie gave a slow shake of his head. “No gun. No talk. Just wanted to tell you our girl needs to be treated right. Now that’s done I’ll let you get back about your business.” Without another word, the old man turned and walked back to the bridge where he’d left his ladder.

  Christopher frowned. He wasn’t quite sure what the purpose of the chat had been, and he was even less sure if he’d passed muster. All he could take from it was that he was under scrutiny. His throat tightened and he swallowed hard as a vision of his father’s face came into his mind. I don’t do well with scrutiny.

  Then he shook the sensation away. It didn’t matter what Charlie or anyone else thought. The only person’s whose good opinion he really needed was Emmy’s. But before he could think anymore about it, he received another text message from Melinda, asking him if he minded taking a quick video of the creek that ran below the wishing bridge so she could check it wouldn’t be too noisy during the ceremony.

  Christopher reminded himself that helping Melinda was helping Emmy and Lewis, and while he might not have the hive mind that the rest of Sunshine seemed to possess, helping people he cared about was something he could do.

  That said, as he walked down to the creek, taking care not to get any mud on his dress shoes, the pair of them
were still going to owe him for this. Big time.

  …

  “You should be very happy. It’s beautiful,” said Bec’s voice. Emmy turned around to see her sister standing next to her. After spending all afternoon in the kitchen helping the caterer, Bec had changed and was wearing a short black skirt, a plain black T-shirt and a pair of Doc Martins. On anyone else the combination would’ve looked out of place, but on Bec it was fresh and cute, just like her.

  “Thanks.” Emmy gave her sister a grateful nudge as they both looked into the barn. The meal had been served and the speeches were starting. “I couldn’t have done it without you. You’ve been amazing.”

  “It’s been fun.” Bec grinned. “And now that it’s almost over, there’s something I want to talk to you about. It’s to do with the farm and the business.”

  “Oh.” The warmth in Emmy’s chest disappeared. The day wasn’t even over and already the thumbscrews were coming out. She pushed her lips together. “I know you think you and Pepper are trying to help me, but I’m sorry. I’m still going to do everything in my power to get a mortgage and buy you both out.”

  “No, no. You’ve got it all wrong.” Bec shook her head, sending her short hair spiking out in all directions. “I don’t want you to buy me out. I want you to let me in.”

  Emmy blinked. “I-I’m not sure I understand. What am I letting you in to?” Even by Bec’s standards this conversation was strange.

  “The vintage-wedding planning business.” Bec waved her arms in the direction of the barn. “The farm. All of it. I want to come back here and live. I want to help you with the business. It could be our business. What do you say?”

  “Um.” Emmy stared back at her sister. Bec’s face was still pale, but there was no mistaking the small twinkle that appeared in her eyes whenever she discovered a new adventure. Except this wasn’t an adventure, this was Emmy’s life. Ivy’s legacy. She licked her lips. “I don’t understand. You hate this place.”

  “I don’t hate it,” Bec protested. Then she sighed. “So, I haven’t always loved it, but I’m serious. I’ve had more fun these last few days than I’ve had in weeks. Months even. Emmy, I want to do this with you. Sure I’m not organized like you are, but I’ve spent more time than you in catering, so I think I could really bring something to the table. Oh, and I had a great idea for a name. We could call it Aunty Ivy’s Weddings.”

  Aunty Ivy’s Weddings.

  It sure had some ring to it. Hope bubbled in her chest as she watched Bec nervously biting her lip. Emmy took a deep breath.

  “So, just to be clear—you’re really telling me you don’t want to sell Wishing Bridge Farm?”

  Bec gave a decisive nod. “That’s what I’m telling you.”

  “And you do realize this means we can out-vote Pepper two to one, and that we don’t have to sell?” Emmy had to double-check, still not quite sure what to make of her sister’s change of heart.

  “That’s right. Unfortunately, it isn’t going to be a conversation any of us will enjoy,” Bec said.

  Wasn’t that the truth.

  Emmy rubbed the side of her face. From inside the barn she could hear cheers, which let her know the first speech had finished.

  “I just don’t understand. You left here when you were seventeen, and we’ve hardly seen you since. And now you’re back and suddenly you want to stay?”

  “Trust me, no one’s more surprised than I am,” Bec said. “But it just feels right. Plus, if I join the business, it will let you go to Hawaii and—”

  “Don’t say ‘spread my wings’ or I’ll hit you.” Despite her growl, she gave her sister a grateful smile. “But thank you. Knowing the farm’s safe is the biggest relief.”

  “And Hawaii?” Bec arched an eyebrow and Emmy stood perfectly still as the implication sunk in. With Bec around to work on the business, there really wasn’t any reason why she couldn’t go to Hawaii. And while they were there, she and Christopher could work out a way for him to spend his downtime with her. Warmth spread through her veins.

  “Does it make your decision easier?” Bec asked.

  “I think it does.” Emmy reached out and squeezed her hand as she caught sight of Christopher weaving his way toward her, a lazy smile spreading out across his delectable mouth. “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you,” Bec said softly, forcing Emmy to stop admiring the way the tuxedo hugged Christopher’s shoulders and turn to study her sister. Despite her bright eyes, Bec’s face was still pale and her jaw was tight with tension.

  “Hey, is everything okay? You never did get around to telling me why you decided to come home.”

  “It’s a long story.” Bec didn’t quite return her gaze. “And one that requires a lot more ice cream than is presently available. But as soon as you’re back from Hawaii we’ll binge and I’ll fill you in. In the meantime, go and tell that hot man of yours the good news, and I’ll make sure Stan’s finished loading all of the gifts into his taxi.”

  “Why don’t you just tell me now?” Emmy protested, but Bec was already gone.

  “Everything okay between you two?” Christopher finally reached her, his hands automatically finding her waist. A delicious tremor raced through her body.

  “No.” Emmy shook her head before remembering what their main conversation had been about. “Well, yes. Bec wants to join me in the business.”

  “Nice. I like that sister of yours,” he said. “Hey, if Bec’s going to be around a lot more, does that mean—”

  “Yes, Switzerland.” Emmy grinned as he tugged her close, the heat of his body pressing against hers. “It looks like I might have some more free time. So I thought I’d go to Hawaii. With you.”

  “Tres bien,” he murmured as his mouth found hers. “And thank you. You’ve made me the happiest man here.”

  Emmy melted as all of the stress and worry of the last few months fell away. Right now, as the pale moon hung above them, everything was just about as perfect as it could possibly be.

  Chapter Ten

  Three days later, Emmy smiled as she wrapped another tea cup in newspaper and slotted it into the box, while at the other end of the kitchen Christopher muttered something in frustration as he tried to fold one of Ivy’s ancient lace tablecloths he’d just brought in from the washing line.

  “What’s going on here?” He frowned as it ended up in a ball. “Is there some kind of secret folding rule I don’t know about?”

  “Yes. It’s a giant conspiracy to make you feel inferior.” Her smile widened as she crossed the kitchen floor and wrapped her arms around his waist. He immediately responded by dropping the lace onto the table and dragging her toward him. Emmy’s whole body was on fire as his lips found hers.

  How could a person ever get sick of doing this?

  “You know,” he murmured as his fingers explored the buttons on her shirt. “I’m pretty sure we’re due for another break.”

  “Really?” Emmy’s skin tingled in delight. “Because so far we’ve had three breaks this morning and have only packed one box away. At this rate it will take us three months to get this place back to normal.”

  “I can be fast,” he said in a hopeful voice, but Emmy just grinned as she forced herself to give him a playful push.

  “Or, you could wait until we’re finished and then go very, very slow,” she said as memories of the last night filtered back into her mind. Her body shuddered. After the wedding, they’d spent most of their time in the cottage, but last night Bec had gone out and Christopher had stayed with Emmy in the big house. She thought it might have been strange to see him in the house she’d grown up. In Ivy’s house. But as she watched him take off his clothing and seen his gorgeous body framed by the window, she’d been overwhelmed with a sense of rightness.

  Everything about Christopher was right.

  Especially the way his hands touch my body. So right.

  “Slow is definitely better than fast.” His velvet-green eyes glimmered with interest. “Plus, if no one’s arou
nd, we could stay right here.”

  “Are you saying you want to go off the beaten track?” Emmy said and was rewarded with a throaty laugh. “Because for a travel writer I’m not sure a farmhouse kitchen is the most adventurous destination.”

  “Is that a challenge?” He gave a lazy smile. “If so, then you’re really are going to like Hawaii. What are your thoughts on waterfalls?”

  A vision of Christopher emerging from the pool at the bottom of a waterfall flashed into her mind, and her body responded in kind. “I could be converted.”

  “I knew you had the makings of a good traveler.” He grinned, sending another shiver of delight through her. “And speaking of travel plans. Trent’s just confirmed the tickets. We’ll be flying out on Friday, which gives you two days to get ready.”

  “Sounds perfect.” Emmy leaned forward to give him another kiss, still marveling at how radically her life had changed in less than week. Not only was the farm safe and the business receiving more enquires every day, but the man who’d haunted her dreams for the last two years had given her a second chance.

  And this time I’m not screwing it up.

  “Yes it does.” Christopher’s gently tugged at her waistband. “So, we’re really going to do this thing.”

  “We really are.” Emmy let out a soft sigh. “I was thinking you could come back to the farm between some of your jobs, and I could join you on your more exotic locations.”

  “So, it will be a yes to jobs in the South of France or Australia, and no to jobs that involve mud and rain.” He grinned.

  “Pretty much,” Emmy agreed with a teasing grin. In two days’ time she’d be getting on a plane with him. Familiar nerves jangled in her stomach, but as Christopher’s arms tightened, his touch warming her skin, the panic faded and possibility bloomed in its place.

  I freaking love my life right at this moment.

  “Is that a problem?” she asked.

  “I think it’s something I can work with.” He nuzzled her neck, and she was just about to suggest they go down to the cottage when Charlie appeared in the doorway. Christopher released her like a hot potato and busied himself with the lace tablecloth again, leaving her feeling strangely isolated without his touch.