Pru froze in the process of uncorking another bottle of wine. Mom. Ari had just called her Mom. Emotion swelled in her throat ’til she thought she might just dissolve into a puddle of goo.
Ari frowned. “You okay?”
Pru swallowed. “Fine. I’m fine. Incoming what, baby?”
“Locals. Looks like word got out about our jam session. People are parking along the drive and hauling in coolers and lawn chairs.”
As the Nashville girls began to make their way outside, Pru headed to the front of the house and peered out.
“Good Lord. They’re all the way to the street.”
Ari peeked out the sidelight on the other side of the door. “Well, at least they’re bringing their own snacks. I don’t think we have anywhere near enough to feed that many people.”
“Indeed, we do not.” If they continued to make this a regular event, she really needed to find out if there were any kind of special permits they needed. “But people are good.”
“People are good,” Ari agreed.
By the time the musicians began the opening set, the entire backyard looked like a giant picnic. People sat in chairs or sprawled on quilts around the makeshift stage. Flynn had finally taken down the lights from the wedding and strung them across the yard, lending a festive feel to the gathering. Pru circulated, greeting locals, chatting with guests. The whole thing felt more like a party than work.
“We’re about to take a little break shortly, but I wanted to end this first set with a song for our lovely hostess. Can we get a round of applause for Pru Reynolds?”
The ripple of applause was punctuated by a few whistles and whoops. Pru felt her cheeks heat and was grateful the sun was fading.
Flynn swapped his fiddle for a guitar and looked right at her. “I’ve been working on turning what I feel for you into a melody. I don’t know as this quite does it justice, but it’s the best I’ve got.” He began to strum.
Pru curled a hand around the porch rail as she felt her knees go weak. His voice wrapped around her like velvet, and everyone else melted away as he crooned the sweetest words she’d ever heard—words of love and home and forever. Words that embodied everything she wanted, everything she needed. He kept his eyes fixed on hers. She couldn’t read them from this distance, but her heart stumbled nonetheless.
Was he saying he really loved her? God, it felt like it. It felt like this performance was for her and her alone. With a pang of grief, Pru dismissed that as wishful thinking. He was a performer. An exceptionally gifted one, who was only playing the part they’d agreed on. He wanted these people to believe that he loved her and wanted to marry her. That’s all it was.
But she wanted. As the last notes died way, as his eyes lingered on hers, she felt the pull between them. She felt the undeniable connection she’d forged with this man. On some level, despite the extraordinary circumstances, it was real. Wasn’t it?
“Well that’s it. I have to hate you.” Deanna’s voice broke into Pru’s reverie.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“There’s just no justice in the world. There is a man like that out there and you’re the one who’s going to marry him.”
“You’re going to what?”
Pru whirled to find her sister and Xander standing half a dozen feet away, mouths agape. Oh shit. “Kennedy! You’re back! We weren’t expecting you until tomorrow.” She knew her voice was way too bright, but she couldn’t think, couldn’t do anything but stare. This was not how she’d wanted to present the news.
Kennedy zeroed in on her left hand, lifting it to study the ring. “Lucy, you got some ‘splainin’ to do.” The joking words did nothing to lighten the serious expression.
“I—” Jesus, what could she say?
Flynn had worked his way through the crowd. “Welcome back.”
The hand he slid around her waist settled the explosion of nerves in her belly. They were in this together. They’d get through it together. Even if Xander was looking at Flynn’s hand like he was considering taking it off at the wrist.
“Why don’t we take this inside?” Flynn suggested.
Ari came flying across the porch. “Kennedy!”
Kennedy absorbed the enthusiastic hug. “Hey baby girl. Missed you.”
“Missed you, too.” Ari stepped back to slip an arm around Pru, beaming up at Flynn. “Isn’t this awesome?”
“It’s something,” Xander said.