“Congratulations,” I said, and I meant it. The glow in her face was evident, and I couldn’t help smiling back at her perma-grin. Her eyes were a deep blue, lined by heavy lashes that I figured were false, in defense of my own puny eyelashes.
“After I saw Natalie’s wedding, I told my fiancé that this—” She motioned to the elaborate decorations and gauzy tent covering with sparkling starlight—“is exactly what I want.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you like it.” I studied her closer now: a prospective client. My mom said I had a gift because I could get a vibe from someone in just a five-minute conversation that was usually pretty accurate. Malia seemed nice. I’d probably compare everyone to Sylvia for the rest of my career. As long as they weren’t up to her level of snobbishness, I would consider them.
Malia smiled at me and continued. “But I want this—my wedding—in Hawaii, and I want you there to make my dreams come true.”
I struggled to keep my mouth from falling open. “Hawaii?”
“Of course. February is just too cold here in Sun Valley. So what do you think?” She took a step closer, and I could see the flawless creamy texture of her skin and subtle auburn highlights in her hair.
Think? I couldn’t think. I’d always wanted to go to Hawaii—who doesn’t? But a destination wedding with barely six months lead time? I wasn’t sure if it would be too big a commitment on the heels of my hectic summer. I grinned at Malia, resisting the urge to chew on my bottom lip as my brain whirred around the proposal she’d just given me.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You need a reference, I’m sure. You’ll probably be swamped with requests. I have a few, but the most important . . .” She stopped and dug through her sequined purse for a moment before pulling out a business card with a flourish. “Here you are.”
I read the card and my eyes widened.
Luke Stetson, Attorney at Law
Serving your needs in Sun Valley, Idaho
Scrawled underneath in a blue ball-point pen, Luke had added: Specializing in Divorce!
“Did Luke put you up to this?”
Malia laughed. “No, Luke is my cousin. He’s not keen on weddings, but he said he might come if I got you to be my wedding planner.” She glanced at the card and back at me. “So what do you think?”
I looked past her to a tall, dark-haired man leaning casually against a tree. He lifted his head slightly. When our eyes met, his face broke into a wide grin. I studied him for a moment and then returned my attention to Malia. Hawaii was the dream destination for weddings. Lorea would flip. “I think we should make an appointment and see if I might be the right person to help make your dreams come true.”
Malia grinned and hugged me. She handed me a green index card with her name and number written on it. “Is it all right if I call you Monday?”
I nodded and glanced at Luke, still leaning against the tree. He straightened and gave me a thumbs-up sign. I laughed as Malia turned and caught his eye. She waved at Luke, and as he made his way toward us, I said, “You really think it’s a good idea to invite a divorce lawyer to your wedding?”
“Oh, Luke is doing our prenup, and he’s such a great guy. He probably has you fooled, just like everyone else, but once you get past his prickly cover, he’s a blast.”
“He’s making progress.” I said, “He came to Brock’s wedding.”
“Two weddings in six months.” Malia whistled. “Maybe you’ll be next, Luke?”
“In your dreams.” Luke tugged on one of Malia’s curls. “Or one of those books that end with ‘happily ever after.’ ”
“But that’s what I specialize in, right, Malia?” I handed Luke one of my business cards and said, “Pyper’s Dream Weddings, where happily ever after is your destination.”
He laughed as he read the card and then lifted his blue eyes to mine. “Guess you have your work cut out for you.” He elbowed Malia and held the card toward her. She took it, and her eyes lit up as she broke into another mega-watt grin.
“Adri, we need to get ready for the send-off.” Lorea tugged on my arm, and I took a step back. “Is it all right if I steal her away?” she asked.
Malia nodded. “Sure, as long as you convince her to plan my wedding.”
“It was nice meeting you, Malia. Talk to you soon.” I waved as Lorea pulled me along.
At first I thought Luke was referring to Malia when he said I had my work cut out for me, but as I followed Lorea, I turned back to catch him staring at me with a half smile.
The send-off for Natalie and Brock brought a happy warmth to my heart. Lorea had handed out baskets of rose petals for people to throw as the couple made their way across the lawn to a stretch limo parked in front of the house. The result was a fragrant snowstorm of velvet petals cascading in every direction.
Brock stepped back to make room for his bride to toss a bouquet—a mini version of Natalie’s wedding arrangement with cream and wine-colored roses wrapped in a dark green ribbon and adorned with an antique pearl brooch.
My neighbor Lily Rowan elbowed several ladies out of the way to catch the bouquet. She cheered and held the roses high in triumph. I didn’t even mind when I caught Luke rolling his eyes. Natalie brushed by with Brock holding her close. I saw her reach out and squeeze Lorea’s hand before climbing into the limo. Brock pushed aside some of the frills on Natalie’s gown and with a whoop slid onto the seat next to her.
Everyone cheered, including me. The smile that encompassed my face was a well-deserved one, and I basked in the glory of my wedding planner dreams for a moment. The crowd jostled me a bit as people hurried back to the party to nab one last drink and finish off the refreshment table. But I stood there in the quiet, watching the rose petals twirl across the lawn, lifted by the cool mountain breeze.
“So that’s how it’s done,” Luke’s voice tickled my ear. I turned and bumped right into him. He had crept up behind me, and as I moved to step back, I stumbled. My heels sank into the grass, but as I fell backward, Luke grabbed my arms. At the same moment I clutched his white dress shirt.
“Oh, sorry,” I said. Releasing his shirt, I smoothed out the fabric and then realized that I was touching those rock hard abs I’d admired for so long. My cheeks flushed, and I pulled my hands back.
“No harm done,” Luke answered, but he didn’t let go of me. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to tell you that you did a great job.”
His compliment and his closeness lit off the grand finale of emotions in my chest. I lifted my head, feeling the breath of space between us charged with fireworks. He glanced at my mouth and then back to my eyes.
“Do I detect a hint of admiration in the divorce lawyer’s tone?” I struggled to make my voice light and teasing.
Luke grinned. “You do, but your friend Tony told me you’re not supposed to do any more detecting.”
I shook my head. Tony was one of the many guests at the reception. I wondered how long a conversation he’d had with Luke. “Did he tell you that I pegged Sylvia as the thief of her own wedding gown?”
Luke chuckled. “He mentioned something about you making him eat his words with the wedding cake.”
I laughed. “I’m so happy to be rid of her.”
“I’m happy for you.” Luke hesitated, studying my face before he continued. “How are you doing, Adri, really?”
My chin wobbled as I opened my mouth to answer that I was fine—the answer I gave to everyone who asked—but I could see I couldn’t fool Luke. The way he scrutinized me, I realized that he really saw me. Somehow he’d gotten past my façade of everything is all better now. Tears stung the corners of my eyes. “It’s hard,” I whispered.
Luke nodded, and before I could think about my wounded heart and crazy emotions, he had pulled me into an embrace. My cheek rested against his chest, and tears dripped onto his crisp white shirt, leaving trails of black mascara.
“It hurts, but it’s okay to feel that pain once in a while.” Luke’s voice rumbled in his chest, and the vibrations
caressed my cheek. “It doesn’t go away just because other people are happy.”
With a sniff, I pulled back. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Luke didn’t move to release me. “You are an incredibly strong woman. Just don’t be so strong that you can’t feel.”
I heard what he was saying, and at the same time I realized that he was telling me something about himself. I nodded, and we stood staring at each other for a moment. The breeze shifted, bringing with it music from the band playing in Brock’s backyard. Luke tilted his head toward the sound. “Would you like to dance?”
“That sounds like a great idea.” My hands rested on his forearms as I leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Thank you.” I thought about saying more, but I knew he understood what I meant in those two little words.
Luke smiled and took my hand as we walked toward the dance floor. I could feel Malia’s index card in the inner pocket of the linen dress jacket I wore over a blush-colored silk top. The prospect of a new challenge had me excited to meet with Malia next week. A wedding in Hawaii. I wondered if she would want to be married on the beach.
Luke squeezed my hand, and I turned my head to meet his gaze. We began dancing, moving through the crowd of people. Luke wouldn’t travel all the way to Hawaii for his cousin’s wedding, would he? For a moment, I let my mind wander to the sand and surf. What would it be like to spend time with Luke? There was depth to him, emotion that he kept hidden from the rest of the world, but for some reason he had let me see.
I felt his hand on the small of my back, guiding me along the dance floor. Even though he was a divorce lawyer, Luke had saved me. He made me feel safe. He twirled me and drew me in close to his chest. I allowed myself to relax and lean my head on his shoulder. A breeze cooled the back of my neck as it sent more rose petals scattering across the dance floor. For a moment, I could hear Luke humming along to the song. With my face so near his chest, I wondered if wounded hearts could ever really heal. But then I remembered something Briette had always said: “Love makes everything new.”
I believed her. There would be time to figure out the destination of my heart. For now, I was content to dance with “the hottie” and envision wedding vows in Hawaii.
Book Club
Discussion Questions
1. When Adri finds the diamonds, she’s faced with a dilemma that could ruin the business she and Lorea are building. Do you think she made the right decision? What would you have done?
2. In the dating arena, Adri has a difficult time discerning what her heart really wants. She feels some understandable pressure for a healthy, romantic relationship because she’s a wedding planner. Do you think that at times we force ourselves deeper into situations or relationships because of what we feel is expected of us?
3. How did you feel about Dallas Reynolds and his interactions with Adri? Did your feelings about him change? If so, how did they change and at what point in the novel did that change happen?
4. This novel is set in Sun Valley, Idaho, in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains. Discuss how the setting affected the story and the choices the characters made.
5. What was your first impression of Luke Stetson? How did that impression change when you learned more about him? How often do you think this happens in life?
6. Adri experiences a lot of joy and family bonding through her crafts and wedding planning business, and she’s also quite successful. What activities in your life provide joy, happiness, and feelings of success and self-mastery?
7. Adri undergoes a traumatic life-threatening incident that is linked to a painful part of her past. Discuss your feelings about the situation and how she handled it. How do you think this event will affect her in the future?
8. What would your fairy-tale wedding look like?
Learn more about Adri and her crafts at www.mashedpotatoesandcrafts.com
About the Author
Photo by Erin Summerill
Rachelle was born and raised in a small farming town in Idaho not far from the setting of her mystery Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in psychology. She enjoys singing and songwriting, playing the piano, running, motivational speaking, and of course reading. Rachelle has an amazing husband and five cute kids. To learn more about her, visit www.rachellechristensen.com.
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