Best Man for the Wedding Planner

Adele Hawthorne, wedding planner extraordinaire, solver of problems and manager of crises, stood rooted to the spot with her mouth dropped open and her hands hanging uselessly at her sides. This was one wrinkle that she hadn’t seen coming.

“Did you come from the airport together? How smart! Come on, meet my wedding planner. She’s amazing.”

Adele heard the words and tried to unscramble the mess that was her brain. Dan hadn’t noticed her yet, thankfully. She was still trying to recover, and it was difficult because he hadn’t changed at all. Oh, sure, there was a slight maturity in his face but really...it was like it had been eight days rather than eight years since they’d seen each other. Dark, perfect hair, just a little stubble on his chin, and the way his coat fit on his shoulders...as if it had been specifically tailored for his build.

He’d always carried himself with that calm confidence. She’d envied it back then. Still did.

And then he adjusted his garment bag, turned around and saw her.

His face paled. “Delly?”

Her throat tightened. Damn. He’d used his old nickname for her, and that made it a hundred times worse. She wasn’t Delly. Not anymore.

“You know Adele? Oh, my God, that’s so weird!” Holly seemed totally unaware of the shock rippling between Adele and Dan, though Lisa—whom Adele knew was one of the bridesmaids—seemed to be cluing in.

Dan recovered first, and the color came back in his cheeks as he smiled. The smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “We knew each other in university. I haven’t seen her in eight years.”

Eight years, seven months and a couple of weeks, if they were going to be exact about it.

“Hi, Dan. It’s good to see you.” It wasn’t a lie. It was a huge mess, but it was good to see him. What had happened hadn’t been his fault. He’d done nothing wrong.

His eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe she’d said such a thing, and then he nodded. “Likewise.”

Holly finally sensed the tension and stepped in, looking back and forth at them with a small wrinkle between her eyebrows. “You should see the job she’s done putting all this together. I would have been so lost.” She smiled, but it had a worried edge to it.

Lisa held out her hand. “Hi, I’m one of the bridesmaids. Did you help find the dresses? Because I love mine.”

“Oh, I’m glad,” Adele answered, smiling through her anxiety. “There’ll be a seamstress here tomorrow for any last-minute alterations.” She chanced a look at Dan. “For the groomsmen, too. In case anything needs adjusting.”

“Great.”

The rock in the pit of her stomach got heavier.

“Listen,” Holly said, “why don’t you two catch up? Dan, we’re having dinner in town tonight. I’m sure Pete’s given you the details.”

“Actually, he hasn’t, and I’d like to get settled and make a few phone calls before we go out. There are a few things I forgot to tell my assistant before I left.”

Assistant. She didn’t even know what he’d done after he’d finished his business degree.

Plus, he’d basically just said that he had no interest in talking to her at all. Not that she deserved any consideration. She’d never told him the real reason why she’d broken off their relationship, only that she didn’t feel the same anymore. It had been a lie, but at the time she felt it was the kindest thing to say.

As the trio walked away toward the elevators, Adele swallowed the lump in her throat. It hadn’t been a complete lie, after all. She hadn’t felt the same after she’d left her doctor’s office. Her feelings for Dan hadn’t changed, but her feelings about herself and her place in his life had.

The word cancer tended to do that. Especially paired with the word infertility. She’d known he’d be better off without her.

* * *

Dan had to stop gritting his teeth so tightly. If he didn’t, he was going to give himself a toothache, a headache or both.

But seeing Adele this afternoon had been so unexpected that he hadn’t had any time to think or prepare. It had just hit him—wham—right in the solar plexus.

“Another beer, Dan?” Pete nudged his arm.

He shrugged. “Why not?”

Pete ordered another round as the noise in the pub got louder. Was he getting old? At first Pete’s younger sister had suggested a nightclub, but the idea of a crowded place with too much bass and bodies grinding was unappealing. Dan had assumed tonight would be a little more upscale, but instead they’d hit one of the local pubs. He was glad of it, actually—it had been too long since he’d chilled out in such a relaxed atmosphere.

He looked over at Pete and gave a grin. “This reminds me of when we both started with the company. Paying off student loans and heading for wherever had cheap beer and a decent steak sandwich.”