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Julie explained the situation to him and then Miguel answered, “Oooo-kay. Eyes are shut.”

“Walk me to the stairs, Coop. Just in case.”

This was insane, but Coop wasn’t about to argue with a centuries-old tradition. Even if Taylor wasn’t the bride. They sort of penguin-walked toward the stairs, Taylor tucked safely behind his back, and once she reached the base of the stairs, she made a quick dash. “All clear,” she called down once she was upstairs and out of sight.

Coop stood there, facing an amused Julie and Miguel.

He shook his head, ignoring the twinkle in their eyes.

And realized nothing much wasall clearwhen it came to Taylor Preston.

*

“Miguel must thinkI’m a total idiot,” Taylor said to Julie.

She sat at the kitchen table, wearing a pair of white capris and a denim shirt knotted at the waist, sipping iced tea and glancing out the big window in the kitchen. The men were in the backyard beyond the pool area, in deep discussion. Coop’s appointment with Miguel.

“Not at all, Taye. He’s grateful you’re here. It takes the pressure off him to help me with the wedding plans. Now I have you.” She grinned. “And just for the record, he thinks you’re amazing for caring so much about tradition.”

“Really?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“Well, then. I only feel stupid in front of Coop now.”

“He doesn’t think you’re stupid.”

She lifted the glass to her lips. “I wouldn’t count on that. Why is he here anyway?”

“Miguel’s giving me a she-shed as a wedding present, right there where the old gazebo stands. The gazebo going’s down and the she-shed is going up.”

“Wow, you’re getting your own she-shed. That’s an amazing gift. You’ve always wanted a little library, reading area all your own.”

“Yep.” Julie shrugged. “You know me, always with my nose in a book.”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. But I’m sorry to see the gazebo go.”

Julie shot her a knowing look. “Me too. We had fun times playing in it. But it’s old and falling apart now, and that space is perfect for the shed. Not too far away from the house, and close enough to the twin cottonwoods to supply some shade. Miguel has one vice, if you can call it that, he likes music. Loud music. And he figured once we marry and he moves in, it’ll save us arguments.” She rolled her eyes. “He’s pretty addicted to heavy metal.”

“Ugh, say no more.”

They looked at each other and laughed. Both of them loved soft country rock. It was as adventurous as they would ever get, musically speaking.

“My admiration for your fiancé just bumped up a notch.”

Julie peered out the window, and seeing Miguel, a soft glow stole over her face. “Yeah, he’s pretty amazing.”

“You two wrote the book on love,” Taylor said. “You’re a good match.”

“Except for his taste in music. So, what about you? Have you been dating anyone?”

“Me? No. I haven’t had a date in at least a year. I’ve been too busy for all the complications of a relationship.”

Julie put a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the table. It reminded Taylor of old times, when Aunt Suzie would serve them sweets. Julie set two napkins out. “You know, relationships don’t have to be complicated. The best ones are sort of simple. I mean, you find the right one and suddenly things fall into place.”

“In a perfect world.”

“No, in a world where you have your priorities straight.”