Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Mia
“ I can’t believe you’re getting married in a barn. If you had asked me to plan Charlotte Carruthers' dream wedding, it never would have been on New Year’s Eve. And certainly not in a barn,” Karissa, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, says from her spot on the couch where the bride’s feet rest in her lap.
The four of us are wearing matching pajamas and drinking hot toddies, huddled around the gorgeous stone fireplace in the living room of Callen’s ranch house. It’s a shame Cal refuses to live here. What he and his family built is beautiful, but his ex-wife wiped away all the beauty for him when he found her in bed with his cousin, Wyatt. Assholes, the both of them.
“That makes two of us. But I never really dreamed of my wedding day growing up. It was never on my to-do list,” Charlie replies.
“Well, I think it’s dreamy.”
Karissa’s right, it is all quite dreamy.
Knox’s gift to the beautiful couple was to send his party planner to do all the decorating, and the barn looks like a fairytale dream. White lights cover the wooden walls, and an enormous ornate chandelier hangs over the dance floor. It may only be family and their closest friends in attendance, but Knox’s planner spared no expense. Flower arrangements, candles, gold-trimmed dishes, the finest cutlery, and crystal glasses.
Dreamy is an understatement.
Daisy nods. “I’ve told my mom more than once to use the spare barn as an event space. It’s perfect for weddings and she could use the income, but as per usual, nobody ever listens to me.”
She’s right. It’s a great idea. After seeing what they can do with the place, it’s almost a no-brainer.
“Speaking of spare buildings. This house is beautiful. I can’t believe Callen lets it sit here empty,” Karissa says what we all think. “He built it from scratch and it’s freaking beautiful.”
“I know,” Charlie replies wistfully. “I’m working on it. The moment I walked through the front door, I was in love, but it reminds him of his failed marriage. He didn’t even want the four of us staying here tonight, but it makes too much sense for him to refuse. There’s plenty of space and we each have our own room. And it’s on the same property as the wedding. Eventually, I broke him down.”
“Are you excited about tomorrow?” I ask. “You feel like everything is ready to go?”
“As ready as we’ll ever be. Knox sending his team in was the best gift he could have given us. We didn’t exactly give ourselves a lot of time to plan, did we?” She chuckles. “Thank you all for giving up your New Year’s plans. We just figured it would be easier since Knox would be in town for the holidays.”
“It’s not like I had plans. I would have been having a private house party, with just me and the kid, so thanks for the invite.” I hold up my drink in salute.
“Speaking of you and plans,” Daisy says, pointing her fuzzy socked foot in my direction from her spot on the love seat. “You make any wedding hook-up plans with that hottie, Mark?”
“Ha,” I bark. “Uh, no. I don’t think he sees me that way.”
“Honey, please. You are one hot piece of ass and don’t you forget it! Besides, I saw him using your tattoo as an excuse to touch you tonight. Well played, Mark. Well played.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“She’s not the only one who noticed him touching you.” Charlie gives me a knowing look I don’t quite understand.
“See! Charlie saw it too! He was totally into you!”
Charlie arches an eyebrow at me. “Wasn’t that right before Angus brought you your beer?”
What the hell? Is she implying Gus interrupted us on purpose?
It’s not like I didn’t think it was odd that Gus brought me a beer I didn’t ask for or that he didn’t walk away after doing so. In fact, he didn’t leave my side until I was safely in Sharon’s car. His actions brought my old crush to the surface and for the briefest moment, before he closed the door, that naive girl I keep tucked away poked her head out and thought, does Angus McKinnon like me?
No.
That’s just ridiculous.
Isn’t it?
“Uh, was it? I’m not sure.”
“C’mon, how can you not be interested in Mark?” Daisy pleads, thankfully shifting the conversation away from Gus.
“Why even bother? He lives in California and has a big life. I’m a single mom in Central Oregon, living in her best friend's brother's house.”
“First, don’t act like you aren’t fabulous. You know you are,” Daisy counters. “Second, we aren’t suggesting a long-distance relationship. We’re talking about a wedding hook-up!”
“Maybe she’s into someone else?” Charlie says, with no humor in her voice. Just that all-knowing raised eyebrow of hers.
But what does she think she knows?
“No way. Who else could there be?” Daisy counters. “We know everyone in town and trust me, there isn’t anyone noteworthy.”
Feeling like a caged animal, not wanting to talk about my love life, or lack thereof, my heartbeat increases and my face heats. How does Charlie know how I feel about Angus? Because she knows. But how, when I won’t even admit it to myself?
She must see the panic in my eyes because she comes to my rescue and moves the spotlight from me to her best friend. “What about you, K? What do you think of Angus?” she asks Karissa, keeping her damned knowing look aimed at me.
Never mind. She isn’t coming to my rescue. She’s slowly torturing me while she studies my reaction.
“He’s hot, in that brooding, self-assured way.”
“Gross,” Daisy gags.
“But, as much as I’d like to take him for a ride, he’s not interested.”
“Oh, he’s interested. He’s always interested. I’m sure you’ll make it up to his loft before you catch your flight home,” Daisy assures her.
Now I’m the one gagging. Just the thought of them together has my stomach rolling. Not that I have any right to feel any kind of way about it. Nevertheless, I do.
Charlie continues to watch me, only this time compassion flickers in her eyes. She finally changes the subject, taking pity on me. “What about you, Daisy? You looking for a wedding hook-up?”
“Nah.”
“You can have Mark,” I say and mean it. “There’s no spark there.”
“What about Owen and those dimples?” Karissa asks.
“Uh, his goal in life is to make my life miserable. He is nothing but a thorn in my side.”
Charlie, Karissa, and I share a knowing look, and then burst out into a fit of giggles.
“What? What is so damn funny?” Daisy screeches.
“Thou doust protest too much,” Charlie says through her giggles.
“Oh, whatever!”
“What do you mean, whatever?” Karissa howls with laughter. “He’s hot. You’re hot. You would make pretty babies with pretty dimples!”
I’m a bit taken aback when sorrow flashes in Daisy’s eyes. “He’s my brother's best friend. It could never happen.”
And just like that, I know there’s something between them I’ve somehow missed. But most of all, she confirms what I’ve always known.
What I feel for Angus doesn’t matter, because even if he felt the same, which there isn’t a snowball's chance in hell that he does, he’s off-limits.