Chapter 30
Sherry
It was the night before the big day. After two months of planning, everything was finally coming together in a beautiful array of vintage charm with old money sophistication.
Soft draping lined the rafters. Chandeliers cast a gold glow over vintage wine barrels turned to cocktail tables and transforming the barn into a warm yet lavish ceremony space.
Outside the barn doors, an expanse of white peaked tents overlooked the vineyards. Crystal chandeliers hung from the tops, tables and chairs of gold arranged around a long table for the bride and groom, complete with oversized wing-backed chairs fit for a king and queen.
Tomorrow the flowers and floral arrangement would arrive, and the tables would be filled with ivory roses and trailing greenery, candles strategically placed, giving another added glow. Each place setting had been perfectly curated down to the pressed wax seals on the menu.
This wasn’t just a wedding. It was going to be an experience.
Somehow, I managed to pull it off. Almost. We just had to get through the actual wedding before I declared victory, but with Ben’s dad and his special brand of drama behind us, victory had already come.
Ben approached with his trusty clipboard in hand. His hair was a disheveled mess from working all day in the heat to get everything perfect for my inspection. His green eyes a nice contrast to the royal blue t-shirt he had on. God, he looked good, and he was all mine.
“Inspection time.” He handed me the clipboard like he did for every event, and while I took pride in every event I planned, this one was so much bigger. There were more minute details, and we needed to get everyone right.
My eyes studied the checklist. “Tent lighting?”
“Strung and tested. Twice. No fire hazards and no flickering. All set and ready to go.”
I made a big check mark next to it. “Cake table?”
“In the corner by the champagne wall. It’s leveled and sturdy. I might have had Gio jump on it a few times to confirm that.”
A laugh slipped from my lips as I imagined my nephew thrilled with the permission to release his chaos. “The special reserve?”
“Under lock and key still to ensure no disasters before the bottles are popped open and served to guests.”
“You’re getting good at this.”
“I don’t know if you know this,” he said, leaning in, his breath brushing my ear. “I had my own label once. I know a thing or two about pulling off an event.”
He drew back with a smile, but there was still a sadness beneath. How different could his life had been if his father hadn’t ripped the rug out from underneath him? He could have been a massive success in the industry. He deserved that.
Granted, there was a chance we would have never met, but I didn’t believe it for a second. We had too many invisible strings. We were bound to meet eventually, and I was a hundred percent certain that if his life had played out differently, we would have found each other.
Ben was the happily ever after I never thought I would find. It was why I wanted all his dreams to come true.
“I spoke with Franc.”
“About?” Ben asked, taking the checklist from me and giving it another once over as if I hadn’t done that about four times.
“About Redmark,” I said, and his attention snapped from the clipboard to me. “He wants to help you revive it.”
Ben stilled, his pen hovering over the checklist. “Seriously?”
I nodded. “We all do. With everything that came out at the town hall… you’re free to make it yours again.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed with a hard swallow. “What if I fail again? I can’t—”
I touched his arm, cutting him off. “You won’t. You made that label a success. If it wasn’t for your father, you would be thriving today. And now you have what you didn’t have then.”
“And what’s that?”
“People backing you who want to see you succeed and will hold you up instead of tearing you down.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes, so I can tell Franc. He’s been dying to talk to you about your original blend, but has held off until I had a chance to tell you.”
“I’d be an idiot not to say yes.”
“And you’re no idiot. So, it’s a yes?”
“It’s a yes.”
“It’s a yes!” I cried out, and Franc and Gio poked out from the barn. Gio ran over, bouncing around as if he still had a cake table beneath him.
Franc followed and extended his hand to Ben. “We’re going to bring you back from the dead the right way.”
Ben took his hand and joy radiated off him. “I can’t wait.”
“Okay, we have a wedding to finish preparing for,” I said, clapping my hands together. “Back to work.”
Several hours later, my feet throbbed, my eyelids hung heavy, and I was ready to go home, pour a big, tall glass of wine and crash out on the couch.
I found Ben in the barn, checking the chandeliers for the fifth time. Crossing my arms across my chest, I leaned against the barn door and took him in.
Sweat had coated his t-shirt, dirt caked the knees of his jeans, and I couldn’t wait to get him home in my bed. “You might want to check those again. I don’t think they’re sparkling quite enough,” I teased.
Ben looked down from the ladder, grinning despite how exhausted he had to be. “Careful, you keep talking like that and I might make you come up here and polish them yourself.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’ve done worse in heels.”
His eyes darted down my body as he slowly made his way off the ladder. “If I didn’t know better, I would think you’re trying to distract me.” He stepped closer, desire pooling in his irises.
“I am. You’ve done enough for today, and I happen to have a pre-wedding ritual I’m hoping you’ll help me with.”
“What’s that?” he asked, as his hand snaked around my waist and pulled me close.
“Hot showers, a glass of wine, and you.” I poked his chest. “In my bed.”
“Sounds like a great tradition. Definitely one I can get behind.”
“Mmm.”
His mouth crashed down on mine, capturing my lips in a clash of lips and teeth. He backed me up, pinning me against the barn door as his hands slid to my waist, fingers curling into the fabric of my pants.
The chaos of the day faded and all I could focus on was us.
I tugged at the hem of his shirt, forgetting where we were for a second.
Ben’s hand stilled on mine, and he eased back, breaths coming in jagged bursts. “As much as I want you to strip me right here and now, there are still some workers about.”
“Good point.” I nodded, my lips still on his, wanting more than what I already had. “Plus, don’t want to risk messing up any of our hard work.”
His hand pressed against the hardwood above me. “Exactly” He captured my lips again, this time slower and filled with the passion that burned so intense between us. “Go home. Get ready for me. I’ll be there as soon as everyone is done for the night, and I can close up.”
I pouted. “Don’t make me wait too long.”
He kissed me again, harder this time. “Trust me, as soon as I can get out of here, I’ll be racing to you.”
“Promise?”
“Always. Now go.” He kissed me one last time, then pressed a kiss to my forehead. “See you soon.”
“Maybe I should stay,” I said. “This is my event.”
“And you did everything you possibly can. You need time to relax and unwind before the big day. I got this. Trust me.”
The words hung between us, a reminder of the secrets, lies and betrayal that all accumulated before we got here. But that was all behind us now. “I do trust you, and I love you.”
“I love you, too.” His hand snaked out, pulling me tight, his lips finding mine. Desire coursed through me, moisture pooling between my legs.
He drew away slowly. “Damn it. You turn me into a fiend.”
“There are worse things,” I joked as I stepped back. “I’ll be waiting.” I winked over my shoulder, and he lunged, giving my ass a nice smack. A laugh burst from me as we glanced at each other with smiles on our faces before going our separate ways.
I glanced around the property one last time, beyond pleased with how everything was coming together and excited about what was to come.