Single Wish (Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake #5)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Magnolia

I could see the neon glowing even before I unlocked the door.

The Moments by Magnolia sign that hung prominently on the inside brick wall of my business had been a gift from my new girlfriends, Presley, Rowan, and Chloe, when I opened my event-planning company a couple of months ago.

It was only three words, but that sign symbolized my future, my hope, my redemption. Maybe that sounded overdramatic, but I had so much to prove—to this town, to my terrible father who’d disowned me, but most importantly, to myself.

Two years ago, I’d gone from being a member of one of the wealthiest families in Dragonfly Lake to having nothing literally overnight. The rich-girl version of me had never quite managed to form any true, deep friendships. The new version of me, well…let’s just say work in progress.

Maybe opening a business in a town where everyone knew my history was a mistake, but a few weeks in, I had a few customers and more than a few stubborn glimmers of hope. A boatload of doubts too, and we’re not talking a little canoe. More like a big, filthy river barge.

On this Monday morning in early October, I’d walked from my studio apartment above The Lily Pad, across the town square, to my month-old storefront.

I used my key to enter, then closed my eyes for an extra second to breathe it all in.

The undertaking. The potential. The soothing aroma of peppermint, wild orange, and lime essential oils recommended by the girls at Earthly Charm.

The back wall of the main room where I hosted clients and potential clients was brick, with a wet bar for tea, sparkling water, or champagne when they signed a contract.

Above the bar was my cherished logo sign—the word Moments was on the top line in a simple font, and by Magnolia was in a smaller, graceful script below.

I stepped into my personal office and felt the remnants of my nighttime doubts and fears dissipate.

This was my refuge. My happy place, with peaceful plum, gray, and white decor and a tall, elegant vase of faux magnolias between two plush, comfortable chairs by the large windows that filled the room with natural light.

Daylight was so much easier to navigate than darkness.

I sat behind my pretty but sturdy white desk and pulled out my laptop to plan my day. It was ten till eight, morning rush time next door at Presley’s coffee shop, The Bean Counter, so I’d wait to fuel up with my one daily splurge.

My business hours didn’t officially begin until nine, but I’d much rather be here, trying to prove myself, than alone in my dinky apartment.

As I opened my planner, I heard the outer door close. I leaned so I could see who it was.

“Good morning,” Presley sang out with an obnoxious amount of cheer.

“Hey, Presley,” I said, happy to see her and the two coffees she carried. “Are you starting a new service? Free delivery to souls in need?”

She smiled warmly as she waltzed into my office and set one of the cups in front of me. “One-time deal. I might have an agenda. How was your weekend?” she asked as she sat in the chair across from me.

“Really good. The party Saturday night was a hit, and I gave out several business cards.”

“Congrats! Did you do anything besides work?”

“I binged a show and finished a book yesterday while recovering from the late-night job. What about you?”

“Oh…” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I got engaged yesterday.”

“What?” I slapped my hand down on my desk, coming alive with excitement. “West proposed?”

She held out her hand to show off the beautiful diamond on her left hand, her face lit with joy and excitement.

With a gasp, I hurried around the desk, took her hand, and checked out the bling close up. “Presley, it’s gorgeous. Congratulations.”

The princess-cut diamond wasn’t obnoxiously huge, but I’d learned the hard way money and bling meant nothing compared to love and affection. I leaned over and hugged her, ignoring the selfish pang in my chest.

“Thank you. He stunned the heck out of me.”

“I’m not surprised in the least. Have you seen the way he looks at you?”

Her grin stretched even wider. “I have. I love that look he gets. But we said we were taking it slowly.”

“Because of the girls,” I said.

She nodded. “I think it was more for him to be sure. The girls are beside themselves. You should’ve heard them when we told them last night.”

“I bet they were excited. I’m so happy for you, Presley.”

I meant that from my heart, but at the same time, I was sad on my own behalf.

Presley and I had grown close over the past two months.

I was the one she’d called when West had his head up his butt and broke it off with her.

I’d hated that she was hurting, but I’d never before been the girl somebody turned to in their time of need.

I’d made it a point to step up and be there for her.

Presley’s late-night texts back then had resulted in a sleepover and the beginnings of what I considered my first true friendship.

It didn’t hurt that Presley was new to town and didn’t know the old me. I was sure she’d heard plenty of stories; in fact, I’d told her some of the hardest parts of my past myself. But she hadn’t been here to experience the past me I was ashamed of now.

When she got married and became stepmom to three daughters, our friendship would inevitably be affected.

Stop being so self-centered, I scolded myself as I forced a bigger smile on my face.

“I’m dying to hear how he proposed,” I said, genuinely interested.

“Well…” She scooted to the edge of her chair. “It was right after I gave him his birthday present.”

“The painting?”

She nodded. “He loved it.”

“I told you he would,” I said.

She’d showed me the painting Shawna Jenkins had created from a photo on Presley’s phone.

Back before she and West were a thing, his girls had insisted on a group photo with Esmerelda the llama at the Honeysuckle Festival.

It was of West, Presley, and the three girls, family-photo style—plus the llama.

The finished painting was both heartwarming and humorous.

There was no way West wouldn’t adore it.

“I was so worried it would give off the wrong message—”

“That you were ready to be an official family,” I filled in.

“Right. And then after I gave it to him, he pulled a ring box out of his bag, went down on one knee, and asked me to marry him.”

“He’d planned it all along?”

“He said he couldn’t think of a better birthday present than me saying yes…with the painting a close second.”

“Oh,” I said, loving that she was so smitten with West and that he felt the same way, maybe even double, from what I’d seen. “Congratulations again. That’s the best news.”

“Thanks, Mags. I’m hoping you’ll be my planner.”

“Of course I will. I’d be devastated if you asked anyone else.”

“You might want to know the details before you agree,” she said hesitantly.

“What details?” There wasn’t much that could prevent me from throwing one of my closest friends the wedding of her dreams.

“We’re hoping for a Christmas Eve wedding.”

My brows shot up as I counted off the dates in my head. Approximately eleven weeks away. “Okay,” I said, drawing out the word as my mind spun with the pitfalls of such a short turnaround time. “What are we talking for size and venue?”

“Not too big. We’re only having two attendants each. Chloe and Rowan are my bridesmaids. You’d be my next one, but selfishly, I need you for my planner.”

“I’m much better at planning than bridesmaiding.” I’d never been a bridesmaid before.

“You’re the best. West and I both have small families, but we definitely want all our friends on the guest list. I’m thinking maybe a hundred fifty people?”

I nodded. That was manageable. “The biggest challenge will be finding a venue with availability.”

“We’ve already got that,” she said. “Or we hope so.” She eyed me in such a way that set off an alarm in my head.

“Where do you have in mind?”

She pressed her lips together before answering. “Saturday night at their dads’ group, Luke announced he’s converting his big barn for events. He’s hoping for a new revenue stream that will be steady regardless of Mother Nature, unlike his crops. West wants to support him.”

I sat up straighter, taking that in, trying not to think about the Luke part of the equation. “Barns can make beautiful wedding venues.”

“West says he’d feel more at home in a barn than a fancy hotel.”

“I can see that from your blue-collar guy.”

“I’ll just come out and ask. Do you think you can work with Luke?”

I tried not to let my true feelings show as I smiled and said, “For you, I can work with the devil himself.”

“Are you calling Luke the devil?” she asked, tilting her head.

“Not at all.” I laughed to act as if I didn’t have a doubt in the world.

“But there’s bad blood between you,” she said. “Right?”

“I wouldn’t call us BFFs, but this is business. My business.” My business that was everything to me—my means of supporting myself, repairing my reputation, and proving my hateful father wrong. “I’ve got you, Presley.”

She let out a squeal that was so not the norm for the former investment banker, but who could blame her? She was marrying the man she loved in less than three months. I could barely imagine what that must feel like, but the joy pouring out of her gave me a strong indication.

We hugged again, and she bounced with excitement.

“So tell me what you have in mind,” I said, leaning my backside on the edge of my desk. “General idea. Colors? Music? Will the ceremony be at the barn too or just the reception?”

Presley flopped back into the chair as if those simple questions wore her out.

“I was never the kind of girl who dreamed of a wedding and planned everything out. I never thought I’d get married.

So basically I’m overwhelmed. West and I talked about evergreens and silver.

That’s literally the only thing I know.”

“That’s a starting point,” I said, a kernel of excitement blooming in my gut at the possibilities.

The events where I had more freedom, where the people involved had fewer ideas of what they wanted, were my favorite.

They allowed me to flex my creativity, which was what I loved most. “You’re in the middle of your morning rush at the shop.

We can set a time to get serious about planning.

But it has to be soon if you want Christmas Eve. ”

“I want Christmas Eve. I don’t want to wait any longer than that to start my life with West. Rumor has it my eggs are rotting.”

I laughed at her choice of words but not too hard, because my thirty-five-year-old eggs were in the same rotting boat. While she had a good chance to have babies now, I wasn’t sure that would ever be in the cards for me.

I shoved the threatening anxiety down. This was a happy moment, a significant milestone in my friend’s life that called for joy and celebration, not to mention a new client for me.

“Is it too early for a champagne toast?” I asked.

Presley glanced at the time on her phone as she sat up straighter.

“I need to get back to help Glenda, but here’s the deal with the venue.

West and I have a meeting with Luke at six tonight to see the barn.

He’s just starting to remodel it, but he swears he’ll have it ready in plenty of time for the holidays. ”

“He could book other events if he’s ready by early December,” I said, my party-planning mind taking over and allowing me to ignore that it was Luke Durham we were talking about.

“It sounds like there’s a lot of renovation work. West agreed to help him with some of it. Anyway, right now it’s bare bones, but I was hoping you could come too?”

I worked to keep my expression blank as I mentally ran through my admittedly loose schedule. “Of course. We have so much to plan. Seeing the barn is important.”

“Okay.” She studied me, and I smiled again to hide my feelings toward Luke. “It should be pretty fast. Just a look around while he explains what the final space will be like.”

I nodded. “It’s fine, Presley. It’s good. Let’s do this.”

She stood, hugged me yet again, then picked up her coffee. “You’re the best. I know the timetable’s a big ask, but I have every bit of confidence that, if anyone can pull it off, it’s you.”

Her confidence warmed me clear through. I knew I could do it, because I’d put everything I had into it. It wasn’t like I had any kind of life outside of building up my business.

The timetable? It would be a challenge, but this was where not having a huge client list yet would be a benefit. Presley and West’s wedding could get the majority of my time.

The venue owner? That part would be unpleasant, but I’d just put on my professional, get-out-of-my-way-we-have-an-event-to-pull-off face and ignore him as much as possible.

I wasn’t about to let an insignificant thing like a man who hated me get in the way.