The Designated Date (Designated #3)

2. Prologue

Prologue

Stone

I s a lie still a lie if I’m actively working to make it true?

“I want to meet the lady who was able to tie Stone Harper down!” Gracie Helms and my sister, Stella, smush their faces together to fit into the parameters of the phone screen. The two nosiest women on this side of the Mississippi River, if you ask me.

“One day, Gracie. I promise.” I smile through the lie at the buoyant, short-haired blonde. I can’t promise anything because Lucy May Spence won’t give me the time of day despite all my advances. I’ve thrown everything at her—charm, wit, my handsomeness, and even a little money.

No, not like that. I meant to say I’ve offered to take her out to nice restaurants and have bought her little gifts and such.

She might be the only woman in the world immune to me. She’s certainly the only one who has made me chase her this long, which is why with every passing day, I grow more and more agitated at the situation.

Excuse me. Lack of a situation between us .

Four whole months. Once I made my mind up at the Valentine’s Day West Coast Swing Dance back in February that I wanted to get to know my now-permanent assistant more, I started to stop by Lucy’s office at random for nothing more than a chat or to compliment her. That led to me asking her out to the occasional business lunch while scheduling work dinners for everyone just to spend a little more time around her. I wanted time with her, though, so lately I’ve started asking her out to private dinners…

But she hasn’t said yes to one of those yet. Even with my blatant attempts to flirt and make my intentions known. She always has an excuse, the most frequent one being you are my boss. And the challenge is making me want her more…

“She’s so pretty in her social media photos. Did you know her twin got engaged to the Crown Prince of Korsa yesterday? Of course you did. You were probably there. Why haven’t we gotten pictures? Why do you two not post pictures together?” Stella asks without taking a breath, giving a fierce eyebrow raise in my direction. I know that look—the look of doubt.

I sigh, shoulders rising and falling dramatically, as if the reason is the most obvious one in the world. I’ve already concocted an explanation because I knew my sister would ask me eventually. “Because she’s my assistant director and we haven’t told everyone at the community center.”

Stella’s eyebrow still rides high as her gray eyes bore into me. “Scared people will accuse you of nepotism or something?”

“Yeah, he probably wanted her as his assistant just so he could keep her around him all the time.” Gracie laughs, and I grin through tight lips. She’s not wrong …

“No. Lucy is skilled with management and has proven herself capable of performing assistant duties such as planning events, which is her forte. That’s why I merged the assistant director and events planning roles back in April when we started dating.” Also not wrong. While I did want Lucy to work closer with me (more opportunities to get to know and flirt with her), she’s also a competent woman who is phenomenal at event planning because of her creative soul. She’s responsible for the Valentine’s Day West Coast Swing Dance night that opened my eyes to just how downright tempting the woman is.

Then sometime in April I decided to tell my family I was dating her so they would stop nagging me about settling down.

“We’re just teasing you, bud,” Gracie claims, but my sister looks suspicious as she tugs her brunette ponytail tighter.

“We need to meet her soon, Stone. Or else we are going to think you’re lying to us.” Stella’s pointed stare sends panic racing down my spine. Why in the world did I even tell my family I was dating Lucy? I’m regretting that decision right now, but ultimately, I was tired of hearing that I needed to settle down and stop going through girls like I was trying on new clothes. With Stella marrying Lucas over a year ago, all-eyes turned to me with the expectation that I was clearly next. Mama began to question me; Stella and Lucas straight-up told me I needed to start looking into settling down with someone; and Jared, Gracie’s husband, began to try and to set me up with a myriad of women.

The easiest out, since I now live in Juniper Grove, which is six hours north of Dasher Valley, was to state I had a girlfriend. That led to me having to give them a name two months ago after they pestered me while I was home visiting for Stella’s big announcement that she was going to forgo teaching the next year and run for Mississippi state representative.

Can you guess the name that spewed out of my mouth without a morsel of thought when they nagged me for my girlfriend’s name?

Ding, ding, ding! Lucy Spence.

“I don’t have plans to come home anytime soon, Stells. I’m busy with the community center.”

Gracie whispers something into Stella’s ear, and my sister’s ice gray eyes brighten for a moment before she schools her expression.

“You could take a couple days off and road trip down to show us your lady friend. You haven’t dated someone for this long since Lacey. Lucy is apparently special, and we want to meet her. Don’t make me pull the Mama card…”

Disdain and discomfort stir at my sister’s mention of my ex-girlfriend, Lacey Fraiser. But I shake the feeling off and narrow my eyes. “You wouldn’t.”

She smirks. “You used it on me to get me home for Christmas, remember?”

“Revenge!” Gracie hollers, pumping her fist in the air. Stella high-fives her and they let loose an evil laugh. Gracie’s seven-month old son proceeds to scream in the background, so Gracie hands the phone to Stella.

“My dearest brother, you know that our lovely and caring mother is sick. You know as well as I do that her rheumatoid arthritis is disabling her with every day that passes. It would warm her soul to see her long-lost son that hasn’t graced her doorstep in two long months. And lastly, you know how pleased she would be to meet the girl who has captured your heart.”

I cringe as my sister bats her eyelashes, clasping her hands together underneath her chin. Regardless of her show right now, she’s right about Mama. Every time I talk to her, she sounds tired. I know her new husband is taking care of her, but it still worries me. And Mama has been subtly pushing me to bring Lucy home; it’s nothing compared to Stella’s agenda, however. If that woman doesn’t win come November, I’d be shocked. She as tenacious as the kids at the Juniper Grove Community Center who play basketball like they’re in the NBA. Maybe I should appease her for now.

“Okay, Seester,” I say, using my own variation of sister as I have since I was a child. “I’ll have to check my calendar, but what if I came home in September for your birthday?” As I say the words and watch a wide grin stretch across her face, I know something mysterious and unfortunate will happen between me and Lucy before then. And I’ll get an earful about it while I’m home.

Man, I’ve dug a hole for myself with this lie.

“You’re going to stay with her for three more months? This feels like a ploy for a ‘breakup.’” Stella says. This woman. Too sharp and perceptive for her own good. She’ll make an excellent politician.

“I plan to still be with her,” I say nonchalantly, then I change the subject to ask how Lucas, my brother-in-law, is doing for a few more minutes before ending the call and kicking back with a beer and chicken wings.

Overall, I’ve got a good life going for me, even without Lucy saying yes to my advances. Though it’d be the icing on the cake if she would. I don’t know what it is about her that is simply and utterly captivating. The primal need to experience her is something I’m slowly losing control of. It’s impacting my dating life.

My real one that I keep on the down-low.

My phone lights with a notification—a message from a girl I dated in college at Juniper Grove University. I read it; she’s wanting me to come over. But then Lucy’s freckled face and hazel green eyes and messy curly hair pop to the forefront of my mind, and I wish it was her I was going to see.

What’s with the hold this lady has on me?

I shake it off and shoot back a text to Gabriella, telling her I’ll come over for a movie.

Might as well entertain myself, even if Lucy saturates my vision all night.

As I get ready to leave, my phone rings again, and I answer my buddy’s call.

“‘Sup, Tate?”

A nervous laugh proceeds his speech. “Hey, man. Glad I caught you. Julia and I decided to get hitched, and well, we aren’t wanting a huge wedding, but I do need you by my side. We are doing a simple ceremony at the church in two weeks with a reception at Julia’s parent’s house to follow. You’ll come down, right? I’m sorry it’s not much notice. We just decided it was time, you know how it is.”

I’m silent for a beat because I don’t know how it is. How does someone just decide to get married? Isn’t there supposed to be months and months of planning? There are women out there who don’t want a huge barn-style wedding with the whole town present? I had wanted to marry Lacey, sure, but I wasn’t prepared to hitch myself to her after two weeks. The engagement was simply supposed to be the next right step.

Key word: supposed.

The engagement never happened.

I swallow my thoughts. “Of course, man. Congratulations. I’m happy for you two. I’ll be there. Text me the details.”

After we chat a bit longer, and I lock up my front door behind me, a thought zooms by me like a baseball while I’m up to bat: I’m going home to Dasher Valley in two weeks for my buddy’s wedding.

Strike one.

Which is a wedding my sister and Gracie will attend since Julia is Gracie’s little sister.

Strike two.

And the two of them are going to want to meet my girlfriend.

Strike three.

Batter out.