The Engagement Arrangement

by Jaci Burton

  THIS WOULDN’T BE Finn’s first time wearing a tux. He’d done it before, when Erin was supposed to get married to Owen. That hadn’t exactly worked out as planned, but then she’d fallen in love with Jason and now he was going to have to wear a tux again.

  Today they were just getting measurements taken. The wedding wasn’t until next month, though how the hell they were getting it all done in such a short period of time was more than Finn could fathom. Then again, it was the Bellinis and if any family could put together a wedding that fast, it was them.

  “Okay,” Jason said, holding up a card. “Erin told me I’ve got three tuxes to choose from.”

  Clay cracked a smile. “She gave you three, huh?”

  “Hey, it’s not like I care. I’ll show up in my underwear if it makes her happy.”

  Finn laughed. “It might.”

  “In most cases I’d say yes. On our wedding day? Not so much.”

  Finn looked around. “Owen’s really not going to be in the wedding at all, huh?”

  Jason shook his head. “Erin and I both told him we wanted him to participate, but he said that given everything that went down, he didn’t feel comfortable taking part. He didn’t want any bad memories to spoil our day.”

  Finn could understand how Owen felt, even though he’d been forgiven by both Jason and Erin. Still, it had to hurt not to stand up for your best friend. Clay was taking over best man duties, and Jason’s cousin Leo was going to step in as another groomsman. It would all work out just fine.

  But they were going to miss Owen.

  A man came out and started taking measurements while they discussed which tux Jason liked best. Since they were guys, and fashion wasn’t much of a thing that concerned them, that conversation didn’t take long. Jason tried them all on, and he looked great in all three. He sent pictures to Erin and she chose the one she liked best. That was easy.

  “Are you getting excited about the wedding?” Finn asked.

  “I’m excited about being married to Erin. And she’s excited to have the whole ceremony over with.”

  Clay raised his arm so the tux guy could measure him. “I thought women got into the whole wedding thing.”

  Jason nodded. “She was. The first time. But she said she got so wrapped up in wedding details that she lost sight of what was really important, which was being married. Now she wants to keep things simple, which works for me. We just want to be married and get our lives moving forward.”

  “I could see that,” Finn said as the tailor motioned for him to step forward. “You two went through a lot to be together. It’s time to put all of that behind you and start your married lives.”

  “Yeah. It was good that this early opening for a wedding date came up. Less to think about and plan for and just . . . I don’t want to say get it over with, but . . .”

  “But get it over with?” Clay asked with a crooked smile.

  Jason laughed. “Yeah, I guess so. It’s not that I don’t want Erin to have the wedding day that she’s dreamed about. I just saw how miserable she was on the wedding day she didn’t get to have. I want this one to make her happy.”

  Finn pinned him with a look. “Hey. She’s marrying you. That’s enough to make her happy.”

  Jason smiled. “Thanks.”

  After they were measured and Jason got a receipt for the order, they headed out.

  “Burgers and beer?” Jason asked.

  “I’m down,” Clay said. “But I have to pick Alice up at the airport at eight thirty.”

  Finn looked at his phone. It was just six right now, so plenty of time, especially since they were already in the city and closer to the airport, making it easier on Clay. “I’m game.”

  “Let’s go.”

  Finn’s mouth watered. They decided on Republic Gastropub because they had awesome burgers, as well as a big selection of craft beer.

  The cold beer tasted damn good. Despite it being mid-September, it was still hot outside, and since Finn spent most of his days working outdoors, the cool AC and the beer hit the spot for him.

  “How are things going with Brenna?” Jason asked. “You two still engaged?”

  Clay paused mid-drink. “Wait. You’re engaged? What did I miss?”

  Finn set his bottle on the table. “We’re not engaged. Not really. She wanted me to play the part of her fiancé for her ex-husband and his wife for this wedding she was in, so I agreed.”

  Jason took a long swallow of his beer, then grinned. “But that wedding is over and you’re still seeing her, right?”

  “Well, yeah. But there’ve been extenuating circumstances. It was going to be four days and done. Then there was a barbecue with friends from the wedding. And then we were supposed to go to the bride and groom’s place after their honeymoon, but the groom’s been traveling so that’s been put off. Which means we’re still fake engaged. And while we’re still fake engaged, we’re dating.”

  “Sounds to me like those circumstances mean you like her,” Clay said. “And she likes you. So you’re continuing this whole fake engagement thing because neither of you wants to back out of your arrangement?”

  Finn shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. We haven’t discussed it. It’s just there.” Like a lot of things they never talked about.

  “Could it be time to tell Brenna how you feel?” Jason asked. “And ask her how she feels? Maybe take the whole fake thing to something real? If that’s what you want.”

  “It’s what I want. I don’t exactly know what Brenna wants.”

  As they ate dinner, he thought about it, then thought some more. Was this a good time to screw up a good thing? Then again, he wasn’t the type to tiptoe around something important. Maybe it was time to bring it out into the open and have that discussion. It had been a while. Brenna had seemed relaxed with him, and they were having a lot of fun.

  He didn’t like the idea of rocking the boat, especially with Brenna, who was shaky at best when it came to having a relationship. But it was high time they had a conversation about how they felt—he needed to tell her how he felt.

  But like everything else where Brenna was concerned, timing was everything.

  He’d find the right time, and then they’d talk.

  CHAPTER

  • • • • • •

  twenty-three

  BRENNA JOTTED DOWN notes as Honor gave her report on upcoming weddings and any changes to the schedule. Fortunately, no one had asked for changes or additions, and since Erin and Jason’s wedding was on the horizon, it was good that there were no upcoming disasters. The last thing any of them needed—especially Erin—was a disaster. This wedding was going to go smoothly.

  Erin went over the financials and those were all in order as well, so Brenna was up.

  “The harvest went even better than anticipated. We had an excellent yield this fall.”

  “That’s such great news,” Honor said. “I thought we had a big turnout, too.”

  “We sold a lot of bottles of wine that day,” Erin said. “Good for business.”

  Brenna nodded. “I’ll say. We booked several wine tastings, so hopefully we’ll get some repeat customers. Oh, and Honor, a recently engaged couple who was there for the harvest said they were going to contact you to set up a tour and possibly book a wedding.”

  “That’d be Helen Tollson and Travis Silver. Helen called me and she and Travis are scheduled to come in for an appointment next week.”

  “That’s awesome,” Erin said. “Any other business?”

  Honor shook her head.

  “I don’t have anything,” Brenna said, closing her notebook and preparing to get up.

  “Let’s talk about Finn,” Erin said.

  Brenna frowned. “What about Finn?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. How about the way he nuzzled you at the harvest, convinced you to stomp grape
s, and how attentive he was to your every need?”

  And here she thought no one had been paying any attention to them. She was wrong.

  “First, he didn’t nuzzle, and second, he was working the harvest like everyone else. If something needed to be done, he did it—also just like everyone else.”

  Erin looked to Honor. “See how she tries to deflect?”

  “Hmm, I noticed. It’s like she doesn’t want to talk about him.”

  “She doesn’t,” Brenna said. “Are we done now?”

  “No, we’re just getting started,” Erin said. “You know how you were just going to playact the whole fake fiancé thing with Finn for the wedding weekend? We’re well past a weekend, Bren. And you’re still playing with Finn. Why is that?”

  “Oh, you know I meant to explain that to you, Erin, but then I realized it was none of your damn business.”

  Honor snickered and Erin shot her a glare. Honor held up her hands. “Sorry. Sorry. Yes, why is it that you’re still playing at being engaged?”

  Brenna loved her sisters. She honestly did. Except when they butted into her personal life. “Did you miss the ‘none of your damn business’ comment, Honor?”

  “We didn’t miss it,” Erin said. “We’re just ignoring it, like you always ignore it when you meddle in our lives.”

  “I never meddle.”

  Erin snorted out a laugh. “Right. Like that time I was dating Jack Rutherford freshman year of high school and you thought he was wrong for me—”

  “Which he was.”

  Erin held up a finger. “Beside the point. You had to go and tell everyone your opinion about what a jerk he was, and then Mom got wind of it and shut it down faster than a tornado.”

  “Well, he was kind of a jerk,” Honor said. “He led you on and had another girlfriend you didn’t know about.”

  “Again. Beside the point. Or how about that time Honor wanted to sneak out and go to the concert with Becky Black? I said she’d be fine. She had a phone.”

  Brenna shook her head. “Becky Black didn’t have the sense that God gave her and you know it as well as I do.”

  “Honor does. But oh, no. You knew best and you ruined it for her.”

  “This is true. I really wanted to see that concert. But you told Mom.”

  Brenna could not believe they were rehashing old grievances. “And what happened to Becky and the other girls?”

  Erin rolled her eyes. “I think her boyfriend’s car breaking down can’t be blamed on Becky.”

  “But they all got found out and grounded.”

  “Yeah, but at least they got to see the concert,” Honor said. “I got grounded anyway.”

  Brenna threw up her hands. “What, then? I’m always wrong?”

  “That’s not at all what we’re implying, Bren,” Honor said. “We care about you and want what’s best for you, just like you’ve always wanted what’s best for us.”

  Erin nodded. “And when you shut us down and refuse to talk to us, it’s concerning.”

  “I . . . can’t talk about Finn.”

  Honor gave her a look of concern. “Why? Is something wrong?”

  “No. I just . . . don’t know where we are. Where we stand. And I’m scared to even talk about it with him because I’m afraid he’ll want more than I’m ready to give him. I know he wants more than I’m ready to give him.”

  Honor reached for her hand. “What are you afraid of?”

  “That I care too much already. That I’ll screw this up. I’m not exactly a success in the relationships department, you know?”

  “Which is a hundred percent Mitchell’s fault,” Erin said.

  “No failure is all one person’s fault. I have to take some of the blame. I was the one who decided the marriage was over. I never suggested marriage counseling or asked if he wanted to try to make our marriage work.”

  “Did you still love him when you ended things with him?” Honor asked.

  “I don’t know. I was hurt and angry and I just wanted out. I couldn’t see us repairing the damage we had caused each other. There’d been so many arguments and things said that couldn’t be taken back. We wanted different things, and I couldn’t see it working between us. Not then and definitely not now.”

  “Then you made the right choice,” Honor said. “And you healed and you moved forward and you started dating again.”

  “That’s right,” Erin said. “And you learned what you did and didn’t want in a relationship so you could do it right the next time.”

  She looked at both of her sisters. “But that’s the thing. I’ve been in a really good place. Strong and confident and knowing who I am. And then Finn comes along and—”

  She couldn’t seem to formulate how she felt.

  “And what?” Honor asked. “Has he taken away your confidence?”

  “No. That’s not it at all.”

  “Does he make you feel less than?” Erin asked.

  “No, of course not.”

  “Then what is it?” Honor asked.

  “I don’t know. I guess I felt like after what I went through with Mitchell, I just needed to figure out who I was by myself. I went from being a daddy’s girl to being Mitchell’s wife. After the divorce, I needed to figure out who Brenna was, all by herself. And I’ve been doing that, and I like who I’ve become as a whole person. An individual.”

  “Bren,” Erin said. “You can be wholly independent and still love someone. You don’t lose your individualism just because you’re in love.”

  She blew out a breath. “Maybe. I’m just not sure I’m ready to take that step yet.”

  “Is Finn?” Honor asked. “Has he said he loves you?”

  She shook her head. “No. Not at all.”

  “Then what are you worried about?” Erin asked. “Just enjoy what you two have and whatever happens, happens.”

  “Exactly,” Honor said. “Why don’t you live in the moment with Finn and quit worrying about the future so much? Whatever happens between the two of you will happen on its own. Shouldn’t you be enjoying the now?”

  Maybe she was blowing everything out of proportion, including her relationship with Finn. She should do exactly what her sisters suggested and relax, enjoy the moments and quit thinking too much into the future. “I guess you’re right.”

  She only hoped it was that simple.

  CHAPTER

  • • • • • •

  twenty-four

  FINN WASN’T A master at planning surprises, but he had come up with one for Brenna that he hoped she would like.

  After work he went back to his place, fed Murphy, let him run around outside a bit while he showered, then drove to the main house. Murphy ran inside and Finn followed into the living room. He was greeted by Maureen and Johnny, who had already pseudo-adopted the dog as their own.

  Maureen bent down, taking Murphy’s face between her hands.

  “How’s my wee boy today? Did you have a good day?”

  “You’re spoilin’ him, Maureen,” Johnny said.

  “Aye. He needs that.”

  Finn knew his dog would always be well taken care of whenever he was out. “Thanks for watching him.”

  Maureen came over and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “It’s our pleasure.”

  Brenna came in, taking his breath away in a dark blue cotton dress that clung to her top half and swirled around her bottom half. Her hair was loose around her shoulders and the gold hoops she wore in her ears made him want to take a bite of her earlobes, something he kept to himself since they were standing in a room with her parents.

  “You look beautiful,” he said.

  He saw the telltale blush creep up on her cheeks. “Thank you. Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  She arched a brow in suspicion.

&nb
sp; “You two have fun,” Maureen said, shooing them away with both of her hands. “Now go.”

  “Bye, Mom,” Brenna said.

  They got into his truck and they took off, heading away from the property.

  “You’re really not telling me where we’re going.”

  “No.”

  “Am I dressed appropriately?”

  He glanced over at her—okay, he ogled her legs. “You look amazing.”

  “Appropriately, Finn.”

  “Yes. You’re appropriately dressed.”

  She sighed. “I’m very irritated with you right now.”

  He smiled, hoping she would enjoy the night he had planned for her.

  It took a while to get to the location since it was outside the city and on the other side of town. They had twinkling lights set up and tables all around. There was already a good crowd wandering about when they climbed out of the truck.

  “This is a garden center,” she said.

  “Yeah.”

  “I smell food, too.”

  “Yeah.”

  She walked over and read the sign just outside, then looked up at him. “Fall Flower Showcase and Sale?”

  “Yup.”

  Her eyes widened. “How did you know about this?”

  He shrugged. “I hear things.”

  “I didn’t even know about this.”

  “I thought you might want to see what they have. Plus there’s wine and dinner, too.”

  “Really? How fun.” She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go in.”

  Her enthusiasm was infectious. He knew how much Brenna loved gardening, and he’d come across this place the week before when he’d been out buying supplies. He saw the flyer for the dinner and sale and knew this was something she might enjoy, so he’d made sure she was going to be free tonight, then asked her out for dinner. He didn’t tell her what they’d be doing, hoping she didn’t already know about it. Lucky break for him that she didn’t.

  They’d decorated the place nicely with everything a gardener would love. There were flowers and plants and fountains, along with rocks and garden decorations, anything else you might want or need to add to your landscape. They’d added white twinkling lights outside, which brightened up the place for tonight. Brenna seemed to soak everything in piece by piece.