Page 3 of One-of-a-Kind Bride (Home to Texas #1)

“Simone, you’re on a roll, but I can’t just barge in on Julie’s life. I was planning to go one week before the wedding.”

“So, now you go a few weeks early. I’m sure your cousin would love to have your help with the wedding plans.”

“I don’t know. I’d be lousy company. I wouldn’t want to bring Julie down.”

“Well, I’m no expert, but if you give yourself a few days to grieve over your designs, then head out, I can almost guarantee you, you’ll have a good time and come back in a much better frame of mind.”

“You think?”

Simone nodded. “I think.”

Taylor let out a deep breath. The idea had merit and she did have wonderful times in Last Stand when she was younger.

She’d love to spend extra time with Julie and get to know her fiancé a little better.

Miguel wasn’t originally from Last Stand, but he’d fallen hard for Julie and picked up stakes, figuring he could move his online tech support business anywhere.

That kind of love was hard to find. An image flashed of Coop, the seventeen-year-old boy she’d left behind in Last Stand to pursue her dreams. They’d grown up being childhood friends, but on that last summer together, they’d fallen head over heels in love.

It had been the best summer of her life, one that she’d tucked way back in her memory.

Puppy love was how her mother had defined it and Taylor knew that to be true.

She had lofty dreams that no one guy could keep down, but Ryan “Coop” Cooper wasn’t easily forgotten.

Even after twelve years, she still thought of him and hoped he was happy.

“You know, your idea is growing on me,” she told Simone.

“Like a weed or a fresh blooming flower?”

She chuckled, something she didn’t think she’d do after being fired by one of the most prestigious bridal corporations in the country. “Maybe a little bit of both. Sort of an unwanted wildflower that is pretty enough to catch the eye.”

“I’ll take that. So, dinner is on, right?

Pizza, M&Ms and popcorn. We’ll rent your favorite movie.

” Which was The Devil Wears Prada . No, that wouldn’t do.

She didn’t need reminders of her failure in life.

She’d find something to watch that didn’t involve fashion. Maybe a movie about a dog or something.

“Right. Okay.” Taylor turned to hug her best bud, squeezing her extra tight. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Simone.”

Her friend didn’t know it yet, but she’d just saved Taylor from having a soul-searching, heart-wrenching, tears-flowing, pity-party horrible night.

Correction, Simone did so know it. Taylor saw the truth on her expression.

Simone wanted to come to her rescue, the way Taylor had when Simone’s jerk-face boyfriend had dumped her.

“Right back at ya,” Simone said.

And Taylor was grateful for the rescue.

Even if it was for just one night.

*

They settled on The Notebook . So not a dog movie, but it was a far cry from fashion and just what Taylor needed.

She loved the time period and flashbacks and, honestly, she could look at Ryan Gosling for hours.

She ate three pieces of pepperoni pizza and half a giant-sized bag of M&Ms. Her stomach was a battlefield now, acid fighting against sugar and the warfare was grueling.

But at least for the last three hours since Simone showed up with the goodies, she hadn’t thought too much about losing her job, or her next career move.

She’d called Julie this afternoon and they’d spoken for over an hour, her cousin a good listener and before Taylor could even broach the subject of showing up in Last Stand early, Julie had invited her.

“You have to come. I’d love to have your help and it would do you a world of good to get out of the city.

Please promise me that you’ll come as soon as possible. ”

And Taylor had promised. Just like that, her immediate future was planned out. She’d be leaving on a flight for Texas day after tomorrow and luckily, she was able to change her reservation without it costing a major fortune.

The movie ended and Simone was crying. Taylor’s eyes had misted up too. She rose to grab a box of tissues and handed her friend one.

“It gets me every time.”

“And yet, we keep watching it.”

“Yeah, it’s that good,” Simone said. After she dried her eyes, she glanced up. “How’re you doing? You’ve been quiet.”

“Busy eating away my grief. I did major damage on the M&Ms. The sugar is bouncing off the walls inside giving me tummy rolls.”

“Tummy rolls? Is that a thing?”

“You know, when you’re doing dips on a rollercoaster, or when you’re driving and speed up on the down side of a hill and your stomach rolls. That’s what mine feels like right now.”

“O-kay,” she said, her brows gathering. “Sorry.”

“It’s my own fault. I ate too much and I’m paying the price right now.”

“You don’t want to get sick before your trip,” Simone said.

“I won’t. But you have to admit, this day has been kind of horrendous. You know what I mean?”

“Of course I do, but I have to tell ya, you’re handling it pretty well.”

“That’s because you’re here with me. Otherwise, I’d be falling apart.”

Simone rose, grabbing the empty pizza box and paper plates. “Then I’m glad I’m here.”

She walked the stuff over to the trash and dumped it in. “Before I go,” she said, “I’d love to see your cousin’s dress.”

“And I’d love to show it to you. Follow me,” she said. She led Simone into her bedroom, where the gossamer wedding dress—well, the bare bones of the dress—was hanging high up on the wall. “It’s definitely a work in progress.”

“I’m just amazed you can work on it from across the country.”

“I lucked out. Julie and I are the same size. When she sent me her measurements, they were almost identical to mine. So, it’s been easier than I thought it would be. I’ve been putting it on and checking my work firsthand.”

“Now, I’m more impressed.”

“There’s more beading to do.”

“All hand stitched.”

“Yes, and the hideaway zipper’s going to be a challenge, but it’s the detailing that’s going to make this gown come to life.”

“Julie’s a lucky girl.”

“We’ll see.”

Simone gave her a don’t-go-there look. “She’s going to love it, because you’re great at what you do. Don’t doubt yourself, Taylor. Ever.”

Simone was not only a loyal friend, she was a big fan of her work, which warmed her inside, but Taylor still couldn’t believe she was out of a job.

She’d worked so hard to get to this position in life and now, it all seemed to have blown away on a frivolous gust. She felt like the star of a terrible dream.

She wanted to wake up and have it all go away.

She wanted her old reality, not this new one that totally sucked.

She said goodbye to Simone, giving her a long, loving embrace. It was late and her friend had to get up early for work the next morning. Whereas tomorrow, Taylor had only to pack her bags and lament her future.

She donned her blue polka dot pajamas, which were much too cheery for her mood, and slipped into bed after midnight. Oddly, as her eyes closed, the first image filling her head was of a seventeen-year-old Ryan Cooper, kissing her goodbye for the final time behind Julie’s gazebo in Last Stand.