LITMIR.BIZ

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glanced back and forth between Bianca and Zach, asking, “You two met a month ago?”

      Zach shot him a look.

      Patton cocked an eyebrow.

      “I can’t believe it’s only been a month.” Bianca’s voice trembled.

      “Feels like we’ve known each other for a lot longer,” Zach murmured, smiling at Bianca. And Bianca beamed back at him.

      Patton popped a wedding cookie into his mouth to keep from snorting. He swallowed, adding, “Nothing wrong with a long engagement.”

      “Who said anything about a long engagement?” Zach asked before biting a cookie.

      His mother hopped up. “Oh, Patton, shush. There’s no time like the present. I’m going to call Henrietta and see if Tucker House has an opening for an engagement shindig.”

      Bianca looked stunned. “Oh Imogene, you do not need to—”

      “I want to, darling,” his mother cut her off, smiling from ear to ear. “Patton might be a stick in the mud, but I know how precious time is. We’re not putting a thing off. We’re celebrating every second.”

      The way Zach was looking at Bianca made him wonder, for a second, if his brother was actually in love. Maybe it was more than attraction. Maybe... Doubtful. He sipped his lemonade, smiling pleasantly at Bianca when she glanced his way. As much as he’d like to be wrong, he knew there was no way someone could fall in love in a month. Not the kind of love that would last forever— He doubted that kind of love existed. His engagement to Ellie—someone he’d known most of his life—had ended with the first obstacle they’d faced. And now he worried his little brother’s new crush might end up having lasting consequences for them all.

      * * *

      “WHAT DO YOU mean you’re getting married?” Cady’s heart was lodged in her throat. “Bianca, you can’t be serious.” She knew Bianca. She knew how focused her friend was. Bianca was careful, methodical—she’d set a goal and she wouldn’t let anything get in her way.

      Bianca laughed. “I’m totally serious. You met him. Zach?”

      Cady remembered him all right. Zach. The good-looking, charming one that was far too proprietary over her best friend. “The controlling, handsome one?”

      “Controlling?” Bianca’s eyes went round.

      “Controlling.” Cady sat forward. “Why marriage? Can’t you just bang his brains out for a while? Get him out of your system.”

      Bianca frowned. “Cady.”

      “Don’t Cady me, girl.” Cady sighed. “Why? Are you knocked up?”

      “No!” Bianca cried, glaring her disapproval. “I’m marrying him because I love him.” Bianca’s simple answer made Cady wrinkle up her nose.

      “Oh, please.” She shifted in her wrought-iron chair, staring blindly down the street to the fair at the end of the block. She and Bianca had come here the past few years, enjoying the wine tasting, touring the historic homes and exploring the booths of handmade treats and crafts. It was their thing—something that would change if Bianca got married. And while Bianca’s idea of marriage had always been warm and fuzzy and complete fiction, Cady knew the truth. Marriage, love and commitment were illusions. What happened after the honeymoon? Compromise to the point of losing one’s self, resentment or disgust replacing affection for your once-dreamy significant other, and—ultimately—betrayal and distrust. Not that Bianca saw it that way.

      “His family is throwing us an engagement party Friday,” Bianca added, pulling Cady from her thoughts. “Apparently they know the woman who owns one of the inns on the lake.”

      Cady stared at Bianca. “Friday as in two days?”

      Bianca nodded. “You have to come.”

      Cady frowned. “What does Zach do?”

      “He’s a promoter for a luxury resort chain. He just loves it. They have locations all over the world that he gets to visit. And they’re growing.”

      “While he’s off traveling the world, you’ll stay here?” Cady asked, frowning.

      Bianca shrugged.

      “Well, you can’t travel all the time,” Cady pointed out. “What about the shop?”

      Bianca’s answer was soft, “We haven’t worked out all the details yet.”

      “Details of your everyday life? Don’t you think you should do that before making him fifty percent owner in your shop? Texas is a fifty-fifty state, Bibi.” She took a deep breath. “You love your shop. You’ve fought tooth and nail to buy that space, to open your own business. Since the day we met, you’ve talked about this. Having a shop like the one your grandfather had in Puerto Rico.”

      “Cady,” Bianca sighed. “Zach is willing to take a demotion so he doesn’t have to travel.”

      “You don’t think he’d come to resent you for that later?” Cady shook her head. “I know you, Bibi. If there’s a compromise to be made, you’re the one who’ll end up making it.”

      Bianca shook her head. “We’ll find a way to make it work without sacrificing our personal dreams along the way.” Bianca paused, stirring her iced tea with a long spoon. “The shop wasn’t my only dream, Cady. You know that.”

      Cady did know. Bianca was the earth-mother type. Cady fought to convince her that kids, the minivan, the Saturday soccer games, big birthday parties and the adoring husbands would never be as rewarding as a solid career and loyal friendships. Bianca didn’t buy it. Even after having her heart ground to bits, Bianca held on to the hope that she’d find real love and support in the form of her own personal Prince Charming.

      “Shack up with the guy,” Cady argued. “Why do you need to marry this Zach?”

      Bianca laughed. “My family would love that.”

      “They’re okay with you marrying some guy you’ve known for five minutes?”

      Bianca frowned at her. “It’s been longer than that.”

      Cady shot her a disbelieving look. “Fine, five hours.”

      “I love him, Cady. I see a future with him. One I want.” She stared into her iced tea. “It would mean a lot if you could support me.”

      Bianca was serious. Dead serious. And Cady didn’t know what to do. Since freshman year of college, the two of them had been through a lot. They didn’t have much in common, but somehow that didn’t matter. Bianca had grown up in a huge, sometimes too invasive family of unwavering loyalty and strong opinions—freely shared. While Cady’s childhood was comprised of disappointing birthdays, indifferent and cold holidays, and broken promises. Over the years, Bianca had been a conscience when Cady needed it. And Cady had been the realist when Bianca needed it. Apparently, that wasn’t right now, no matter what Cady thought.

      “I love you, Bibi.” Cady took her friend’s hand in hers. “I’m not a good liar, you know that, so I can’t gush and jump up and down over this, okay? But I’ll try to wrap my head around this for you.”

      Bianca smiled. “I really appreciate it, Cady. Give him a chance. I know you’ll become good friends.”

      Cady shrugged. She didn’t want to be good friends with him. She liked things the way they were. Adding a man to this equation made her a third wheel.

      “I’ll be back, nature calls.” Bianca left their café table and headed inside.

      Cady sighed, taking the last sip of her drink. She picked up the last olive and stared at it, turning the toothpick in her fingers. She could almost feel Patton’s pale blue eyes, staring down at her, jaw locked as his arms braced him over her. Feel the muscles along his sides beneath her hands rippling as he moved into her. She shuddered,

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