“Everyone?”
Jenna nodded. “Except for Huck.”
“Really? He’s usually the first one to have a date.”
“I know. But I think something is going on with him. Anyway, I’m surprised Ryder didn’t tell you. He met some woman when he was in Wichita, and I guess she’s coming in.”
“Right…Ryder.” Her brother was the least of her concerns at the moment. Granted, he seemed to think he had a right to weigh in on her dating life, then apparently could just do what he wanted. Not that she would have thrown a fit. She loved her brother and wanted him to be happy. But everyone had a date? Did that mean…
“So Bass has a date?”
Jenna shrugged like it was her life mission to play matchmaker. “Colt was talking to Bass today, and he seemed interested in going with my friend who’s coming from out of town and housesitting while Colt and I are going on our honeymoon.”
She swallowed hard and tried not to let the burning in her gut flare up. The rehearsal dinner was their last day together. And she was looking forward to every hour she had with Bass. They might not be going to the rehearsal “together,” but he’d said it himself. Until the two weeks were up, she was his, and he was hers.
Mine.
She wanted her full two weeks, damn it. Down to the final minute. Was this what he’d tried to tell her earlier at the store?
“Isn’t this friend of yours the same one that’s the third bridesmaid?”
Jenna nodded. None of them had met her, but apparently this woman and Jenna were friends from college. She wondered if this woman was pretty. Would she like Bass? Of course she would, he
was sinful and sexy and…
A sick ache twisted in her gut thinking of him with someone else. Not only that, but he was already making plans to replace her. He’d made it clear that they were a two week deal, then back to friends. And she’d agreed.
So why did the idea that he was making plans with someone else bother her like it did? Even if they wanted to go to the rehearsal dinner together, they couldn’t. Right? Unless she pushed for that. Revisited the “terms of the agreement” and saw if there was wiggle room with his two-week only stance. Why would she even try and risk the rejection though?
Because I like him.
She always had. This wasn’t breaking news. But at some point over the past few days, she’d begun to think he could be more.
To think they could be more.
Of course, now she knew he already had another date set up for as soon as their arrangement ended. That pretty much clinched the impossibility of extending this beyond two weeks.
I guess I was wrong.
It was sex. Temporary.
“You okay?” Jenna asked.
“Yeah.” Penny looked around her kitchen, then down the front of her flour-stained jeans and tank top. “I was just going to start cleaning up here and get ready for bed. Long day.”
“Oh, okay. Well everything is delicious, and thank you so much for helping with the dinner. I really appreciate it.”
Jenna hugged her and left. Penny looked at the various fudge, puddings, and pie fillings and blew a lock of hair out of her eyes.
Funny how today could go from awesome to a big fat mess in no time.
Chapter Eight
Penny hadn’t even dug into the dishes when a knock came at her door. She thought it was Jenna coming back, but she was greeted by a tall, dark, and handsome attorney instead.
She gripped the doorframe.
“Can I help you?” The words were harsher than she’d meant.