Page 50 of All This Time (Blossom Peak #1)

“Well, luckily he made the decision to call that whole thing off very easy for you. But if the way Fletcher looks at you is any indication, I don’t think you’ll have that problem with him. I’ve seen a man obsessed, and Fletcher is a prime example.”

“My life will never be the same when the world finds out I’m with Fletcher Adams, the star wide receiver for the Carolina Thunder.”

Dilynne shrugs. “No, it won’t. But you will still be Laney Hart, my best friend and badass businesswoman. And honestly? That’s all that matters.”

***

“So, the aisle will be right here, chairs on either side,” Anabell says as she walks through the courtyard of the winery, showing Elliot and Tori how the ceremony will be set up. “Usually, we would have you facing the other way, but we’re making the adjustments that you requested.”

Tori smiles proudly. “I don’t want our wedding to look like everyone else’s. Besides, this direction will have my good side displayed to our guests.”

Elliot rolls his eyes playfully. “Whatever makes you happy, baby.”

“Let’s go look at the room where the reception will be just to make sure you approve of the plans for the room.” Anabell leads Elliot and Tori into the building on the property where the large ballrooms are located for events.

I move to follow them, but Fletcher reaches out and grabs my wrist before I get too far. “Where are you going?”

“To fulfill my maid of honor duties?”

Shaking his head, he pulls me flush against him, letting me feel how hard he is at my lower back. “We don’t need to know shit about table centerpieces, angel. In fact, there’s something else I want to show you while we’re alone.”

I spin in his arms. “Okay…”

My dad comes out of the main wine tasting room, heading right for us.

“All ready for us?” Fletcher asks my father.

“Yup. Rhonan is on his way too.”

My eyes bounce back and forth between Fletcher and my dad. “What is going on?”

Chuckling, my father says, “Fletcher has a gift for us.”

“Us?”

My father grabs my hand and leads me to the tasting room.

“I know you’ve been bothering me to replace the popcorn cart that we use for movie nights,” he starts, “But you and I both know why I haven’t wanted to.

” He opens the door and holds it so Fletcher and I can walk through.

“Getting rid of the old one felt like throwing away a piece of your mother.” My eyes start to sting with tears.

“But Fletcher came to me with an idea, and it made me feel more at peace about upgrading the equipment.”

I glance over at Fletcher where he’s standing away from us with his hands shoved in his pockets, but a look of appreciation in his eyes.

When I look back toward my dad, he’s standing in front of a brand-new popcorn cart—shiny, top of the line, and much bigger than the old one. Whirling back to Fletcher, I say, “You bought us a new popcorn cart?”

“I did.”

“But the old one is still here too.” My dad points to the far corner by the windows, where the original cart stands, only there’s a plaque mounted to it now.

My feet carry me over there, and when I read the plaque, my eyes fill with tears.

In loving memory of

Elizabeth Hart

Wife, Mother, and Visionary

Hart Winery—her dream, her legacy.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I say as I turn around and meet Fletcher’s eyes through my tear-filled vision.

“Did what?” Rhonan’s voice cuts through the moment as he pulls the front door open and steps inside, still in his sheriff’s uniform.

My dad shows Rhonan the new cart and the memorial for the old one as I make my way across the room to the man I can’t deny my feelings for any longer.

“Thank you,” I whisper, wanting to reach up and pull his mouth to mine, but knowing this is not the time, nor the place.

“Just so you know, I’ve lost count of how many thank you’s you’ve given me now.”

Laughing through my tears, I swipe under my eyes in an attempt to dry my face. “This is… You made…”

Cupping the side of my face, he says, “Your mom was part of my life too, angel. And I understand how hard it is to let go of someone.”

God, this man.

How could I ever have doubted what exists between us?

How can I possibly walk away from him again, even though I know going forward is not going to be without its own challenges?

“Fletcher.” Rhonan crosses the room just as Fletcher drops his hand from my face. My brother throws his arms around his friend. “This really means a lot, man.”

“I’m happy you guys love it.” Fletcher’s phone rings, cutting through the heaviness in the room. “Shit, I need to take this,” he says, answering the call and stepping outside.

“Well, now that you guys have seen our new gadget, I’m gonna put it away.” My father pushes the new popcorn cart down the hall that leads to the offices. Rhonan and I watch him before I turn and find my brother arching a brow at me.

“What?”

“Is something going on between you and Fletcher?”

My stomach drops. Oh my God. Did he see Fletcher touching me? Does he know that we’ve been sneaking around?

“No,” I blurt, instantly hating myself for lying as the word leaves my lips.

“You sure?”

“Why do you ask?”

Rhonan looks over his shoulder at the door that Fletcher just walked out of, and then back at me. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Laney. Fletcher is…”

“Fletcher is what?” The topic of our conversation steps back into the room, studying both of us.

“Never mind,” Rhonan says, pushing a hand through his hair. “Thank you again for the gift, man. I know it meant a lot to our dad.”

“Your mom was an incredible woman. She deserves to be honored.”

Rhonan nods. “I agree.” Sighing, he hoists his pants up on his waist. “All right, I’m headed home to Joanne and Ellis. Not sure when I’ll see you guys before the wedding, so if not, see you then.”

I watch my brother leave and then release the breath I was holding. “Oh my God…”

“What?”

“Rhonan asked me if something was going on between the two of us!” I whisper, even though I know Rhonan can’t hear us now.

“Shit, really?”

“Yeah. I told him no, but I kind of got the feeling he wasn’t happy about the possibility.”

Fletcher reaches up to adjust his hat on his head. “I was gonna talk to him about us, Laney. But…”

“But what? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

He blows out a breath. “Your brother, me, Henley, and Elliot made a pact when we were younger.”

“What kind of pact?”

He looks down at me under his dark lashes. “That we’d never date each other’s sisters.”

Anger swells in my chest. “What? Why?”

“It seemed so trivial back then, but we were young and na?ve. All we cared about was being friends forever. So I need you to understand that telling your brother about us isn’t just a simple thing.

I’m hoping given how foolish we were back then that he’ll be a little bit more understanding now, but I’m just not sure how he’s going to react to this and if that detail is one he’ll hold onto. ”

Nerves race through my chest. “Is that part of the reason you didn’t act on your feelings back then too?”

“Yes,” he admits. “But now I know I was a fool to believe you and I could ever just be friends. You’re mine now, and nothing is going to change that—not even your brother.”

My hands begin to tremble. “You’re willing to risk your friendship with him…for me?”

His confidence is unwavering as he reaches for my hands. “I am. I honestly hope I’m making it out to be a bigger deal in my head than it turns out to be, but just know that no matter what Rhonan says, it won’t change how I feel. Okay?”

I nod, unable to speak any more words.

If Rhonan doesn’t approve of us together, it’s not going to change things for Fletcher.

But that’s also my brother. He’s a huge part of my life, one that I can’t and won’t leave behind.

“Wait until after the wedding,” I say, needing more time for us to figure everything out. Fletcher’s words, feelings, and actions are clear, but I still don’t know enough on my end to cause a fight with my brother just yet.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. We need time.”

Time. One thing we don’t have a lot of.

God, why can’t love ever just be simple?