Born to be My Baby: A Canyon Creek Novel (Canyon Creek, CO Book 1)

by Lori Ryan

  Lily froze mid-stride, her own smile falling as her eyes darted between her and Shawn. She quickly diverted her gaze, staring down at the dirt floor.

  Maggie studied her in confusion. “What’s wrong, Lily?”

  Lily raised her head but remained silent.

  Maggie walked toward her.

  Lily stared past her at Shawn, brows knitted, before turning aback to Maggie, shaking her head. “Nothing.” She laughed with no amusement.

  Maggie reached Lily and touched her arm. “Are you sure?”

  Lily’s gaze remained on Shawn, eyes narrowed. “Positive.” Her tone was unusually cold, void of emotion.

  Maggie glanced over her shoulder just as Shawn turned his back on both women and walked toward the opposite barn door, shoulders slumped.

  Ahhh.

  “Lily, you know there’s nothing going on between me and Shawn, right?” Maggie spoke quietly, even though Shawn was out of sight and not likely to overhear. Maggie would never jeopardize her friendship with Lily, especially not for a man. Besides, she’d never had those kinds of feelings for Shawn.

  Her friend’s gaze finally met Maggie’s, the sadness evident, but only for a heartbeat. “I know. Shawn’s a big flirt. Everyone knows that.” Lily laughed nervously but the humor didn’t reach her eyes.

  Maggie opened her mouth to say more but Lily cut her off. “Mom and Aunt Valerie are on their way here.”

  “Now?”

  “Yep.”

  Oh crap. “Why?” Maggie asked.

  “Because,” Lily drew out, “they’re bringing a potential bride to show her the barn…as a possible venue,” Lily practically shrieked.

  “What? But, they can’t. The wedding barn won’t be ready for at least another three months.” Maggie moved toward the barn door like she might be able to block the bride from coming in.

  “I know, I know, I told them,” Lily said. “But neither of those crazy women would listen. I even threatened to tear up Mom’s Journey poster in the bakery but she didn’t budge.” She giggled.

  “For someone who hates love so much, your mother sure is excited about converting this barn into a wedding venue.”

  The whole town knew how Sally Sumner felt about love and marriage. For her, they did not go together like a horse and carriage. Her ex-husband had left her over twenty years ago and her daughters had hoped Sally would recover from his indiscretions and eventually find a new love. She hadn’t.

  “My mom refuses to say wedding barn—she calls it an event venue.” Lily used air quotes, rolling her eyes. “I think she just wants me to have more events so I’ll stay in town. She’s doing whatever she can to push business my way.” Lily had moved back to Canyon Creek a year ago, leaving a high-profile position with a prestigious event planning company in Denver. She’d never said why, and Maggie had never asked.

  “You know,” Maggie said, tilting her head at Lily, “it’s odd. Your mom is so anti-marriage, but if you think about it, all her daughters are involved in the wedding industry in some way.”

  Lily scoffed. “Are not.”

  “You sound like a three-year-old.” Maggie grinned, shaking her head. “And, you’re wrong. You’re an event planner, Ivy is a chef, Mia is a makeup artist.”

  Lily studied her like she was crazy.

  “Holly’s a fashion designer, Daisy’s a florist, and Vee is a photographer.” She ticked off the girls on her fingers, making sure she hadn’t missed any.

  “But none of us do those things for weddings. Well,” Lily frowned, “Daisy does, but only because every florist has to do a wedding now and again. It’s not like Holly is designing wedding gowns or Mia is doing bridal makeup. She works in Hollywood on movies, for heaven’s sake.”

  Maggie only shrugged in the face of Lily’s denials. “But you all could. I’m just saying, it’s a little ironic.” She grabbed Lily’s hand so they could cut Valerie and Sally off before they had a chance to get to the barn—showing it to a potential bride wasn’t an option right now. Before they took two steps, Valerie rounded the barn doors.

  “And this is the wedding barn.” Valerie’s voice rang through the cavernous area.

  Maggie stared at the opened doors.

  Sally and Valerie stood next to a tall, thin woman wrapped in an ivory wool coat, blonde hair slicked back in a high ponytail. Maggie wondered how she could have walked on the rocky trail leading out to the barn in her four-inch designer heels.

  Valerie walked further into the barn. “I know it’s nothing to look at now,” she said, waving her arm like Vanna White, “but just envision it. Lights strung along the rafters, tea light candles glowing in antique lanterns. And here,” Valerie brushed past Maggie and Lily as she walked to the center of the barn, “you could have tables set up and covered in white linen topped with Mason jars filled with wildflowers. A very shabby chic look.”

  Maggie pressed her lips together. She had told Valerie they needed a strict no candles policy in the barn. They could allow battery-powered tea lights, but for safety’s sake, nothing with a real flame.

  The woman drew back her head as if offended and tossed her ponytail behind her shoulder. “Shabby chic?”

  Everyone went silent, studying the woman. She was definitely chic, but shabby? No.

  “Or anything you can envision really,” Valerie said, her eyes wide, her silent plea for help almost comical.

  Sally stepped closer. “Yes, of course, anything you want, Daphne.”

  Daphne glanced around the room, her gaze moving to the ceiling.

  “There will be a loft and a balcony along that side of the barn.” Valerie pointed to the far wall. “You can wrap the railings with lights.”

  Daphne frowned, obviously unable to picture it.

  Sally glanced at the woman then stepped toward Lily and Maggie, seemingly ignoring the bride. “Sorry, Maggie,” she whispered, giving her an impish smile.

  Maggie saw no evidence of a genuine apology. She raised one skeptical brow. What was Sally Sumner up to now?

  “I know you weren’t ready for us to show the barn yet,” Sally spoke softly, keeping one eye on the would-be bride. “but we’ve got people lining up to see it. We just couldn’t turn them away any longer.”

  Sally moved closer to the bride. “We’ve got two other brides looking at the same dates as you, Daphne. One is bringing her parents tomorrow afternoon to tour the facility before they put down a deposit.”

  Maggie narrowed her eyes but remained silent, not wanting to blow Sally’s cover. Her statement to the bride was a flat-out lie.

  Valerie stared at Sally like she’d sprouted two heads before turning to the bride with an apologetic smile.

  Maggie and Lily shrugged. Again. What in the world were these women doing?

  “Did I mention you’ll get the best event planner in all of Colorado, at a discounted rate?” Sally added, walking toward her daughter. She slipped her arm around Lily’s waist and dragged her closer to Daphne. “Right, Lily?” Sally said through gritted teeth.

  “Um…” Lily stuttered.

  Maggie knew Sally was blowing smoke up this girl’s ass, but she also recognized a chance to show the Sumner brothers that it was possible for them to pay off their loan on time. If Valerie could book out the barn’s calendar with events, it would prove to Ben that she and Valerie would be fine without him slashing their budget, and their dreams.

  Maggie stepped forward. “Yes, that’s right. Lily Sumner was an event coordinator for Mirabella Events in New York and L.A.” She glanced back at Lily with a huge grin. That wasn’t a lie, although Lily had never worked in either location. The events company also had an office in Denver where Lily had worked.

  “Really?” Daphne sighed, a gloved hand playing with the simple pendant necklace she wore. Maggie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the overly dramatic response.

  “Yes, that’s right,” Sally stepped in. “She’s planned events for all kinds of celebrities.”

  Maggie wasn’t
certain that was true, but hey, she’d go with it.

  “Ben!” Daphne shouted, glancing over her shoulder.

  Maggie cut her gaze from Daphne to Sally and Valerie who were both staring anxiously at the front of the barn.

  She followed their gaze and sucked in a breath.

  Ben stood just inside the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, an amused smile on his face as he took them all in. He’d taken off his jacket and now she could see that a tight, gray thermal Henley showcased his strong upper body. Heat bloomed from her belly and sweat beaded along her brow despite the cool January air. What would all those muscles feel like under her hands, she wondered, his hard body pressing into her while her legs wrapped—

  “Ben!” Daphne’s shrill voice cut through Maggie’s thoughts, “Why didn’t you tell me there was a wedding planner here in your hometown that worked with Beyoncé.”

  Lily spoke, “Uh, not really Beyon—”

  Maggie elbowed Lily. If this woman wanted to believe Lily had planned Liza Minnelli’s and Elton John’s weddings, let her. They needed the business.

  “Ow,” Lily said, rubbing her side.

  “Sorry, but we need the business,” Maggie said. “And so do you, right?”

  The bigger question was, how did little Miss Bride-to-Be know Ben?

  “Yeah, Ben.” Maggie cocked a brow, letting her lips curve into a playful smirk as she planted a hand on her hip, ignoring the way her chest tightened at the idea that this woman might be with Ben. “Why didn’t you tell Daphne? And how is it exactly that you know her?”

  Daphne looped her arm through Ben’s. “Oh, Ben and I go way back.”

  Ben glanced down at Daphne then raised his head, his hazel eyes wide, easy smile gone as he visibly gulped.

  Oh, yeah, this explanation was going to be good.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ben studied the five women standing in the middle of the barn, their eyes trained on him. He flinched as Daphne Wellington laughed and tugged at his arm playfully, her ponytail swinging like a cat’s tail.

  Daphne was beautiful, in a classic way. Long, lean limbs gave her a modelesque quality that most men fell for immediately. Including him. But once she’d set eyes on his best friend, Patrick Fairplay, Ben had known Daphne was off the market forever. Not that he’d minded. Daphne was gorgeous and intelligent, but she was exceedingly high maintenance and somewhat spoiled. Ben didn’t do either.

  “Ben,” Daphne tugged at his arm again.

  When had she moved so close?

  “What?” he asked quietly, not sure if she’d asked him a question. Daphne was also loud and exuberant. He didn’t really do those two either. Not that he didn’t love her as a friend. He did. But, man, was she boisterous.

  “You didn’t tell me there was a wedding planner here in your home town that worked with famous people.” She bounced up and down and covered her mouth as she squealed.

  Oh, Lord.

  Ben quirked a brow at his cousin, Lily. “That’s because I didn’t know we did.”

  Lily shrugged and pointed to her mother, Aunt Sally.

  Aunt Sally shrugged and pointed to his mother.

  Ben ran a shaky hand through his hair. Women.

  “And how is it exactly that you know Daphne?” Maggie asked.

  Ben turned at the sound of her voice. Her full lips curved into a smirk, her green eyes dancing with mischief. But there was something else there behind them. Ben narrowed his eyes and tried to read her.

  “Oh, Ben and I go way back,” Daphne repeated, patting his chest, distracting him from his study of Maggie.

  Maggie’s smile looked forced, like it might shatter at any moment. “Oh?” she said. “How far back?”

  Her green eyes turned darker and if he didn’t know better, Ben would have sworn he heard Maggie snarl.

  “Well,” Daphne sighed, “I’d wanted to go out with Ben for months.”

  Ben’s eyes snapped to Daphne’s. God, not this story again.

  Daphne stared up at him, batting her eyes. She was an expert at flirting and didn’t even know it. Or did she? “I met Ben at Daddy’s office.”

  “Daddy?” Maggie lifted a brow, her smirk slowly returning.

  “Yes, my daddy’s an oil and gas man from Houston,” Daphne said, her Southern drawl suddenly more pronounced.

  “I thought I detected a southern accent,” his mother said, smiling.

  Drawl was putting it nicely. Daphne damn near sounded like she belonged on Hee Haw, but in a sophisticated kind of way.

  “Ben flew in to help Daddy create a new systems development for his seismic testing division.” She glanced up at Ben, her brows wrinkled. “Is that what you call it?”

  His mouth twitched at the corners. “More or less. We developed a software system to integrate her father’s field ops’ geographic seismic tests with real-time data so—”

  “Oh my God, yada, yada, yada,” Aunt Sally broke in, moving her hand like a duck quacking its bill. “Can we finish the story this century? I have cookies in the oven and a Steve Perry video loading on my phone.”

  “Who’s Steve Perry?” Daphne glanced around the group.

  “Oh, jeez.” Aunt Sally covered her face.

  Ben’s mom laughed. “I like you, Daphne.”

  Daphne’s blue eyes sparkled. The only thing she loved more than Ben’s best friend was attention. “I like you, too, Valerie.” Daphne smiled.

  Ben scrubbed a hand down his face. “Please don’t encourage her,” he said with a pointed look at his aunt.

  Aunt Sally swatted at him.

  “We should post signs around the lodge that say, ‘Don’t feed the animals,’” Ben groaned.

  “Are you calling me an animal, young man?” Aunt Sally narrowed her eyes.

  Ben shrugged.

  She shrugged back. “I’ve been called worse.”

  He had no doubt of that.

  “The story,” Maggie said impatiently.

  “Oh, yes, sorry.” Daphne released his arm and stepped forward. “So, anyway, I really liked Ben and flirted with him shamelessly.” She glanced back at him. “But he was such a workaholic, he never even noticed me, and he wouldn’t take any time off to go out with me.”

  From the corner of his eye, Ben noticed his mother staring at him.

  “I was quite devious in my plans,” Daphne continued, clasping her hands together. “When my father’s annual charity benefit arrived, I asked Daddy to invite Ben, hoping I could get him away from work stuff long enough to make my move.” Her blue eyes danced and Ben found himself smiling.

  “And?” Maggie asked, her tone flat.

  “And,” Ben answered, “I was dumb enough to send my best friend to the event instead.” He laughed at the memory of Patrick returning from the event, looking like he’d been smacked straight across the face by cupid himself.

  “Patrick?” his mother asked.

  “Yes!” Daphne clapped her gloved-hands. “Mr. Patrick Nicholas Fairplay, the third.” She paused and got that goofy look in her eyes. “It was love at first sight, just like in the movies.” She fluttered her eyes closed and sighed.

  “Ah,” the other women moaned collectively, but he couldn’t help notice Maggie’s eyes locked on him.

  Jeez.

  “It really was quite magical,” Daphne continued. “And I want our wedding to be just as spectacular.” She walked further into the barn. “When Ben came back to Seattle after the funeral, he told us about the wedding barn renovations.” Daphne glanced toward his mother. “I’m so sorry again for your loss, Mrs. Sumner.” She stepped toward Ben’s mother and patted her arm. “I really can’t imagine losing the love of my life.”

  Love of her life? Ben had never really thought of his father as the love of his mother’s life. Probably because he wasn’t a dopey sap like Daphne.

  Ben studied his mother. She looked tired, worn out. Heartbroken. Her face was pained for a beat before she offered Daphne a small smile.

  “Thank you dear
. And thank you for coming to look at the barn. Between Seattle and Houston, I’m sure you have lots of venues you’re looking at.”

  “My father actually has a vacation home in Colorado not far from here,” Daphne said. “I hadn’t even thought about marrying in Colorado until we found out about your barn.” Daphne glanced around the room. “We have family and friends all over the world.”

  “Well, again,” Aunt Sally stepped forward, “it’s not much to look at now, but give us a few months and this barn will be amazing.”

  “I’m sure it will be, it’s just hard to see it all right now.” Daphne smiled. “I’m not really a visionary like Patrick is.” She looked at the women standing around her. “I’m more of a romantic.”

  Aunt Sally grabbed Ben’s arm and yanked him toward Maggie.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, staring down at her.

  “You and Maggie walk down the aisle.” She pulled on Maggie’s arm and slammed them together.

  “What?” Ben and Maggie screeched simultaneously, their pitch painful, like a barking Chihuahua.

  “Shhhh,” Aunt Sally hissed. “She needs to visualize this.”

  “Who?” Ben asked.

  “Daphne, you idiot.” Aunt Sally gave Maggie some weird eye roll.

  “Come on,” Maggie slipped her arm through his.

  He noted how different Maggie’s arm felt wrapped around his than Daphne’s had. Instinctively he pulled her closer.

  “Just make it look real.” Maggie whispered as she led them down the middle of the barn.

  “Make what look real?” He was seriously lost.

  “Just picture it, Daphne,” Aunt Sally’s voice echoed loud through the space as she all but danced to one end of the barn.

  Ben glanced around and noticed he and Maggie were walking down an imaginary aisle headed straight for Aunt Sally with everyone else watching.

  “You’ll be so beautiful,” his mother told Daphne, “the candlelight flickering in your eyes.”

  Maggie and Ben came to a stop just before Aunt Sally.

  “Patrick won’t be able to keep his hands off you.” Aunt Sally waggled her brows at Daphne.