Page 48 of The Planner (Brides of Beaufort 2)

“Thanks. That prompted him to apparently do a little soul-searching, because a few days later he showed up at my venue—”

“On a freaking motorcycle,” Lyndi finished for me, nodding as she finally figured out who the mystery man was.

I pointed at her with a wink. “Exactly.”

“I am so stinking happy about this,” Layla said, her smile so big it looked like it hurt. “You guys would be adorable together.”

“Wait, what about Paul?” Shelby asked, wrinkling her nose. “How did he take the news?”

Dread settled within me. “I don’t know yet. Will was going to tell him at work today, but I haven’t heard from him yet. I actually thought you may have heard about it before we even got here tonight.”

“No, I haven’t heard anything. I feel like that means Will didn’t wind up telling him, right? I’m sure Paul would have told me by now if he knew.” Shelby’s eyes grew wide again and she cringed. “Oh, man, and now I know something major about his sister and his best friend and he doesn’t know. Crap, Aria.”

I leaned forward and wrapped her in a tight squeeze. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Don’t hate me, but you can’t tell him.”

“Aria,” she groaned, “don’t ask me to keep it from him. He’ll kill me.”

“Not for a long time, just until Will gets a chance to tell him. Would it help if I kidnapped you and kept you locked up and gagged so it’s totally against your will?” I asked with a hopeful arch of my brows.

Everyone laughed and Shelby shook her head. “You take crazy to a whole new level.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, grinning when I saw it was Will. I answered the call and gave my friends a saucy smile as I got up to talk to him. “Hey.”

“Hey. Where are you?”

Something in his tone made an iron fist close around my heart. “I’m at Layla and Lyndi’s. Girls’ night.”

“I’ll be right there.”

“Wait,” I said before he could hang up, stepping away from the girls. “I take it you told Paul?”

“We’ll talk about it when I see you.”

“Okay.”

He let out a shaky sigh. “I love you, Aria.”

“Love you, too.”

And then he was gone. I drew the phone away from my ear, holding it against my chest with numb hands as I turned back to my friends. “Well, Shel, it looks like you don’t have to worry about keeping my secret from Paul.”

“He told him?” she asked.

“Yep. And it doesn’t sound like it went well.”