Grady unfolded his big body so he towered over me even from his spot behind the bar. “When everyone else has finished?”
I nodded defensively. “I’m working.”
“Yeah, working hard at avoiding the mayor,” he snorted and shook his head. “I saw that dance, you know.”
“So did everyone else. What’s your point?”
Grady worked quickly on a new batch of drinks and set them on the bar without ice before he started on something else altogether. “My point is that what I saw, wasn’t the end of something.”
I smiled. “Who knew you were a hopeless romantic?”
“I just have eyes, and I’m not emotionally invested so I see the truth.”
I folded my arms. “Yeah, and what’s this truth you see?”
He slid a drink across the bar with a slow smile. “Enjoy this with your dinner Carlotta. It’s called Unfinished Business.”
“Clever,” I snorted and took the drink just as the tables started to clear as half the guests hit the dance floor. “Thanks for this.” I made my way to the empty table and waved at a server on my way over.
I ate my meal like a woman starved since I hadn’t eaten anything other than an apple for breakfast, and enjoyed watching the people of Carson Creek—old and young alike—give it their all on the dance floor. I couldn’t help but smile as several town council members danced to the latest pop song, but watching Trey dip Valona gave my heart a squeeze.
I would likely be planning their wedding next. Or Lacey and Levi’s wedding. There would always be weddings to plan, anniversary parties and baby showers, it was a good chunk of my business. Today it bothered me more than it usually did. I finished my food and pushed away from the table as an upbeat pop song ended and a slow, romantic song began.
Next came the traditional cake cutting, which made for what I knew would be really great photos.
Almost there.
After the cake cutting would come the bouquet and garter toss, and then my job would be done for the evening. I could relax since I had all day tomorrow to clean the barn with my crew.
With my Unfinished Business in one hand and my eyes closed, I let myself relax as the party raged on, complete with a conga line, the Electric Slide and a classic Cowboy Cha Cha. Today was a job well done and I smiled, feeling proud of myself for being able to shove aside my own heartache to give one of my oldest friends the beautiful romantic day of her dreams.
“Good job, Car.”
I startled at the use of Chase’s nickname for me, and my eyes flew open. Panic settled in and I wished it was about two hours later, so I could herd the bride and groom off and go home to lick my wounds.
“Excuse me, folks.” Chase’s deep voice sounded over the PA system and my heart sped up. “If you don’t mind, I have a few things to say.”
The crowd quieted down and I stood, eager, or maybe anxious to get a look at his face. “The floor is yours Mr. Mayor,” someone called out. Someone who sounded a lot like Grady.
My gaze landed on Chase. He looked nervous as he wiped his free hand on his pants. He looked to Pippa, who gave him an encouraging nod and a smile. “Many of you have probably seen me around town with Carlotta Montgomery. At least for a little while.”
All eyes turned to me and the crowd parted, leaving a straight line between me and Chase.
“The truth is that I messed up. Big time.” He sighed and scrubbed a hand over his face. “You see, I wasn’t planning on falling for her, and when it started to happen, I got scared. Really scared,” he said on a huff of laughter. “When the good and inquisitive folks of this town started to comment on our future, a future that I could see laid out for myself, I did what us men tend to do. I freaked out.”
Knowing chuckles sounded throughout the barn, even a few commiserative head nods went around from some of the men.
“I tried to keep this beautiful, intelligent and vibrant woman in the shadows. If you can believe it, I asked her to keep us a secret.”
“There are no secrets in Carson Creek,” someone called out.
“As a lifelong resident, you would think I know that by now.” He laughed good naturedly, and I felt my heart pounding in anticipation of what he would say next. “But it was an excuse because I was scared. Everyone talks about falling in love, but only the good parts, the rush of a first kiss. The way your whole body vibrates when she walks into a room.” Chase’s gaze ate me up and an answering heat started in the pit of my stomach. “That thrill of learning something new about someone you’ve known forever, and that hitch in your throat when you realize that this person, this friend was starting to become something more. That’s what everyone tells you about falling in love.”
“It’s the best,” a female voice chimed in.
Chase nodded and smiled, his gaze never leaving mine. “It is the best, but right on the heels of that comes panic and fear. That feeling that you love someone else, that you’re ready to hand your heart over to them on a silver platter. And then the fear that you might lose them whether through your own stupidity, or some tragic event.” He shook his head. “And that fear drove away the woman I love.”
I gasped at his use, his many uses of the ‘L’ word. Love. He said he was falling in love with me, that he’d fallen in love with me, and now, just plain love. Chase said he loved me, out loud and in front of the entire Carson’s Creek. I sat a little taller in my chair wondering what, if anything, it all meant.