Chapter 10 Oliver
TEN
OLIVER
Members of the wedding party trickled into the dining room, and Bryan mostly kept to himself, except when his sister engaged with him. He was all smiles then. His parents didn’t really spend much time with him, working their way around the group, playing host and hostess.
I was busy keeping the food and drinks replenished, but every time I stole a glance at Bryan, he was watching me. Our smiles went from shy and embarrassed to open and amused each time we caught each other looking.
I don’t know how I could have ever thought of him as angry. He’d had a crap day and had feelings about being single at his sister’s wedding. I'd been single my whole life, so I could relate.
Images of our night together kept flashing through my mind. It may have had me blushing, so I kept moving. Hopefully, the guests, including Bryan, would think I was flushed from running back and forth from the kitchen.
Eventually, the group left for dinner. Normally, my guests were given keys to the back door, but Bryan had never checked in properly.
“Oh, well. I’ll just have to wait up for him.” I showered up quickly, even though Bryan was probably going to be gone for hours.
I was settling in with a book, the fireplace burning again, when Chase showed up.
“Oh. My. God. Oliver.”
“Do not say tell me everything. There’s nothing to tell!”
“The blankets on the floor this morning said otherwise, boo, but whatever. I had an interesting talk with your man when we went to get his car.”
“Chase, what did you do?”
“Let’s just say that he seemed very interested in the fact that we’re just friends.”
“Chase!”
“Oliver. Listen to me. You like this guy, right?”
Yes. “What possible difference could it make? He lives three hours away.”
“It’s not ideal.”
“So can we talk about something else?”
“I had lunch with Gus last week.”
“A Jannah Beach/West Jannah political summit?”
“You know he has that hearing coming up on the West Jannah renovations. And your man …”
“Not my man.”
“And Bryan told me he’s a landscape architect.”
“Chase …”
“I’m just saying. Maybe we can get your grumpy guest to visit the beach again. Do you think he would work with Gus on the project?”
“I have no idea!”
“Well, you should ask him!”
Just then there was a knock at the back door. I jumped up. “He’s back early.” Chase looked amused as he stood up too.
“You sit your pretty ass down in front of this fire. I’ll send the big handsome man to you.”
“Chase …” His hands on my shoulders guided me to the chair.
“Hello, Bryan. Welcome back to the Lavender Sea. Your host is in the back living room,” I heard him say. “By the fire.”
I might have been blushing when Bryan came in. I had all these things I wanted to say about romance and connection and how much I’d enjoyed the night before. I wanted to ask him about Gus’s project, and if he ever thought about changing jobs or moving.
The beach was a vacation for most, but it was my home. Could he ever consider it home too?
Then I reminded myself we’d just met the day before. Oliver, the B that’s why she left it to me. And I’ve worked here for years, spending summers as a kid and then full-time since I graduated. But it’s a lot. I went to culinary school, but there’s so much more to a bed and breakfast.”
“Of course, something had to give.” He took my hand, and we walked the winding path. He stopped and looked up at the hotel next door, pointing. “I used to look down from those windows.”
I laughed, pointing to the Lavender Sea. “I used to sit in the bay window. I could see people looking down from there sometimes, admiring Gran’s work.”
“Maybe we saw each other back then.” Smiling at the thought, we kissed again.
He sighed. “I have a wedding to get ready for, but this is all fixable, Ollie. You haven’t ruined your gran’s garden.”
I nodded, trying not to cry. “Let’s get you to the church on time. Breakfast is ready in the dining room.”
When he came down a while later in a tuxedo, it nearly took my breath away.
He kissed my cheek as I walked him to the back door. “There is an epic love story at the beach this weekend. And I’m about to witness it.”
“Congratulate the bride and groom for me.” I waved him off.
He’d be staying one more night, then Bryan and I would both return to our regular lives, me with a business to try and resurrect, him with a job that seemed to frustrate him.
Chase found me in the kitchen, spinning a half-full candy dish.
“Gus is bartending the wedding. He’s going to ask Bryan to help with the landscape designs.” he said.
At the same time, I said, “He wants a grand gesture.”
“Close your eyes.”
Huh?”
“Trust me.” I did, so I sat there with my eyes closed as he continued, “Don’t think too hard. What grand gesture would you want?”
I gasped. “Snuggling in front of the fireplace.”
“With …”
I sighed. “With Bryan.” Chase remained quiet, and I sat there with my eyes closed, imagining the other romantic gesture I’d been contemplating. When I opened my eyes, Chase was staring, like he’d asked another question and was awaiting my answer.
“I met him two days ago.”
“When you know, you know, so …”
“I know.”
“Yeah, you do.”
“Can I borrow …”
“Whatever you need, baby.”
“And can you call Mandy and see if she’s got any sea lavender in stock?” Chase had his phone out before I’d even finished the sentence.