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My eyebrow rose as I glanced to the doorway.Sherry’s head popped in, and my entire body relaxed just at the sight of her.She was in a pair of black pants that hugged her ass in the best way and a simple cream top tucked in at the waist.
“How did you know I was there?”Sherry asked as her eyes darted to me.
“Because you’re nosy, and I would have done the same thing.Does his story line up with what he told you?”she asked, and I should probably have felt betrayed in some way, but I was just happy she’d heard everything.When we were talking I was all over the place, desperate to get it all out, afraid I’d say the wrong thing and lose my chance.Now she knew everything.There was no stone unturned.
She nodded to Chardonnay.“Every word.Except…” She turned to me, and it damn near knocked the wind right out of me.Her eyes were a little red around the edges, and I hoped to all that was holy she wasn’t crying over me.“Is it true?That your dad sabotaged your label?”
“Unfortunately.”
“And you’re going to help us take him down?”
“I am.”I shifted, needing to be as close as she would let me.“I didn’t come here with the intention of hurting you and I sure as hell didn’t come here to fall in love with you.But I did, and I’m not walking away from you or this town.Not now and not ever.You want me to prove myself to you?Here I am, one hundred percent in.”
She didn’t say anything for one too many beats of my heart.The sound grew louder in my ear as I waited for her to speak.A tiny smile curved her lip.“Good.Because if you walked away I would have kicked your ass.”
“She gets that from me,” Char said, pride exuding from her tone.
She took my hand and squeezed.“We’re not there yet, but it’s a start.”
That was all I wanted.A start was something I could work with.
Chapter 24
Sherry
Domenique had approved all the final selections, including moving the timeline up by an hour to catch the golden hour light for the photos.It was the kind of change that would have sent most brides into a spiral, but not her.She wanted perfection, and she trusted me to deliver.
We’d confirmed the candlelit tables under the tent, the floral-draped arch at the edge of the vines, and the live acoustic guitarist, a friend of Rhone’s, who would be setting the mood during cocktail hour in the barn.Everything was falling into place.
All I had to do was make sure it stayed that way.No drama, no mishaps, just clear skies and smooth sailing ahead.
There was a knock at my office door, and I glanced up, not expecting to see Ben.My heart skipped a beat as I took him in.He had a five o’clock shadow and bags under his eyes.I wasn’t happy he looked worse for wear, but it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one not getting enough sleep.
He lingered in the doorway, uncertainty clouding his usual confident gaze.“Is this a bad time?”
I stood slowly, smoothing my hands down my pants.“It depends on what you’re here for.”
He leaned against the doorframe, his shirt stretching across his biceps.My eyes lingered on the bulging muscle.“I miss you,” he said.“I know you need time, but I wanted you to know.”
I glanced at him, chest tightening, throat working around the words I shouldn’t say, but they rose too fast.“I miss you, too.”
A hopeful glint lit his eyes as he tentatively stepped into my office.The confidence that was as much a part of him as the stubble on his chin resurfaced as he moved closer toward me.God, I wanted to meet him halfway, throw myself into his arms, and kiss him with every ounce of my being.
But I still was so confused.
He’d lied to me.
He’d lied about who he was, why he was here.He’d lied about so many things…
“That story you told me,” I said, and he stopped his advance.“About my grandfather.Was that real?Or was that all part of the act?To make me feel close to you through my grandfather.”
He didn’t flinch or hesitate.“No, not at all.That was true.Every word of it.It’s the reason I pushed against my father.I didn’t want to come here, knowing my father’s end game.I didn’t want to do anything harmful to a man who took the time to talk to some kid.”
“But you still did.”
“I felt like I didn’t have a choice.”He moved again, taking one long stride, then another until he was standing beside my desk.He leaned against it, his frame so close I could move my hand and touch him.I fought the urge.“And even though I came here for nefarious reasons, I don’t regret it.”
My head snapped up, eyes locking on his.“How could you not?”