Lydia would be back soon enough, he kept repeating to himself as he answered emails, ordered provisions, and readied himself for the next bridal party that would come through the door to book their event.
In the past three months, he'd stopped stumbling over himself trying to give them every detail. He'd quickly learned, they usually knew everything about the hall, since Lydia's website was top notch. It was just customary to walk around and check it out.
His sister Bethany, who was also taking over some of the duties while Lydia was gone, would do her best to meet him and help with the walkthrough, but she had her own life with her family and a career writing books alongside her husband, who wrote the best sci-fi Todd had ever read. So he took on most of the duties, and if by chance he had time to make it out to the Walker Ranch, he'd step in and do what he knew to do best, and that was work a cattle ranch.
But family, even family comprised of dear friends, was most important. Lydia needed to heal from whatever happened to her when she'd been kidnapped, and killed her captor. Todd was proud of her for taking full advantage of the opportunities that had been given to her to recover both physically and mentally. He couldn't even imagine what she went through.
The alarm chimed on his cell phone, and he silenced it with a swipe of his finger and picked up the file for the next bride who was to walk through the door. And like clockwork, he heard the door open to the hall.
Todd stepped out from behind the desk and walked out to the hall, which he'd set up with the lighting the bride had said she was looking for. He smiled when he heard the oooohs and ahhhs!
"Carlie Hanson?" He approached the party of six women who were taking in the room.
"I'm Carlie," the short blonde in the front of the pack said as she held out her hand to shake his.
"Todd Walker. I'll be showing you around the venue today." His eyes lifted to the women that gathered with the bride and they settled on the tallest of them, who must have been the bride's sister.
Carlie turned around to face the women. "This is my mother, Carol. My best friends Emily and April. And my maid-of-honor, my sister Jessie."
Jessie, he thought as he shook her hand and drank in the sight of her.
The other women were closer to Lydia's five-foot mark, but not Jessie. She looked Todd in the eye at six-feet.
"It's nice to meet you," he said as Jessie shook his hand.
"You too," she affirmed as she smiled at him.
Todd drew his hand back, but his eyes lingered on hers for a moment longer before he shifted his attention back to the bride.
"I've set the room up to look the way you described. I have a table up front set to your specifications as well," he offered as he led the group toward the front of the room. "We do have a DJ if you don't have one you want to bring. I've arranged catering menus for you to look at, and if you're interested, I'd be happy to take you to the other shops and introduce you around. Pearl is our resident bridal gown expert. Audrey can fit your bridal party in for hair and makeup for the big day. The florist can design all of your bouquets. And should you need legal counsel, we have that covered as well."
Carol Hanson laughed. "We've heard great things about all the businesses here. Didn't you have a photographer in the building as well?"
Todd nodded. "They moved to Kentucky a few months ago. That location has been vacant since."
All of the women turned and stared up at Jessie who let out a little laugh as she shook her head. "I'm a photographer. They think I need a studio," she admitted as she looked down at her mother who shrugged her shoulder and smiled at her daughter.
He'd seen his aunt and uncle look at their children and the wives of their children with that I believe in you look, just as Carol did with Jessie. His father couldn't be bothered with such sincerity, and his mother was a piece of work in her own right.
"I'd be happy to show you the space when we are done if you'd like to look at it," Todd offered.
All eyes were back on Jessie. "That would be lovely. Thank you."
Todd went back to the business at hand—wooing the bride-to-be with what the Bridal Mecca had to offer.
* * *
As usual, Jessie followed the women who touched every piece of silverware, looked under the tablecloths, checked the glasses for smudges, and even spun on the dance floor. This was the fourth venue they had looked at for her sister's wedding in a week, and Jessie was over it.
She loved her sister and her sister's fiancé, but why Jessie had to be involved was beside her. Shouldn't the bride and groom decide on everything? Why did the bridal party—the women—have to do it all? Jessie didn't care what flowers she had, or the color of the dresses. No matter what her sister put her in, it was going to look hideous. Her athletic build didn't lend itself to elegant dresses.
If she were candid, she'd rather be the one taking the pictures of the day and not one of the people in the background of each image. Her passion was capturing the sentiments around them, not faking a smile while immersed in the festivities.
Maybe they could have one more heart-to-heart about it. She was honored that her sister wanted her to be front and center with her, but Jessie just wasn't comfortable with it.
Now wasn't the time or place to mention it—again. Her sister seemed to be won over by the location and the women they were meeting in all of the quaint shops.
While Todd introduced Carlie to the women in the hair salon, Jessie walked down to the empty shop at the end of the building.
Cupping her hands around her eyes, she looked in.
The space would be a nice size for a studio. There was plenty of room to display photos, and it looked like there was a back room where she could stage as well.
"I have the key if you'd like to go in," Todd said, and Jessie snapped her head up to see him walking toward her.
"It's a nice location."
"Nicely priced, too."
Jessie clasped her arms behind her back, which she found she did when she was nervous, but she couldn't help herself. "Are they sold on the venue?" she asked, and Todd smiled.
"I hope so. That's my job, right? Make the venue fit the bride?"
"Is that your job?"
He chuckled as he jingled the keys in his jacket pocket. "I'm filling in for the woman who owns the building. Does it show?"
Jessie shook her head. "You did very well. What's your real job?"
"Cattle rancher."
"Walker Ranch?"
"You know it?"
Jessie tucked her hands into the pockets of her jacket and shrugged a shoulder. "I've lived in the area most of my life. You don't do that and not run into a Walker or two."
"True. But I don't recall ever seeing you before, and I'd remember."
He was looking her in the eye, and not up and down. That was a first, she thought. Men usually looked at her height and decided she was only a basketball player and nothing more. Well, they wouldn't be wrong. Basketball had paid her way through college and kept her busy on the weekends, but Todd looked into her eyes as if he knew there was more to her.
"Can I look around the space while you finish with my sister?" Jessie asked and watched as Todd pulled the keys from his pocket.
"Of course. Take all the time you want." He handed her the keys. "You can bring them back over when you're done, or I'll find you when I'm done with them." He nodded toward the salon.
"I appreciate it."
Todd turned back as Jessie's sister and her party walked out of the salon. They were huddled together giggling, including her mother. They were in their element, and Jessie was happy to be unlocking the door to what could be a fresh new start for her. She'd never owned her own business before, and the thought intrigued her immensely. She played it cool when her mother brought it up, but it tickled her inside to think about it.
If she did it, she did it on her own. No handouts. Nobody helping her set it up or getting her business. If she was going to go into business for herself, she was going to do all the work.<
br />
As she slipped the key into the lock, she heard Todd's voice again as he spoke to her sister. Jessie lifted her head and watched as they turned the corner with the sexy, out-of-place cowboy.
Working alongside the women they had just met would have its benefits. And, if she got the chance to look at Todd Walker every day, that would be the bonus.
Other Titles from 5 Prince Publishing
www.5princebooks.com
Walker Defense Bernadette Marie
Clash of the Cheerleaders April Marcom
Stevie-Girl and the Phantom of Forever Ann Swann
Assemble the Party Antony Soehner
The Last Goodbye Bernadette Marie
The Gingerbread Curse April Marcom
Stevie-girl and the Phantom of Crybaby Bridge Ann Swann
The MacBrides: Hannah & Ash J.L. Petersen
Leather and Lies Celeste Straub
Beginnings Bernadette Marie
Love and Loopholes Railyn Stone
Unite The Party Antony Soehner
Star Seer April Marcom
Totally Devoted E.M. Bannock
Bases Loaded Jena James
The Tea Shop Bernadette Marie
Walker Spirit Bernadette Marie
Remains in the Pond Ann Swann
Gather The Party Antony Soehner
Stevie-girl and the Phantom Pilot Ann Swann
Chasing Shadows Bernadette Marie
The MacBrides: Logan and RJ J.L. Petersen
Never Saw It Coming Bernadette Marie
Blissful Disaster Amy L. Gale
Victory Bernadette Marie
Chasing Her Heart J. L. Petersen
Hope in the Rain Sandy Sinnett
The Deja Vu House Doug Simpson
Walker Defense Page 15