AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just that we couldn’t elope.”
He starts the UTV and drives with one hand on the wheel, heading down the path that goes around the lake. Their land is expansive and pretty with grown adult trees that shade the drive.
“You clean up nice,” I say, unable to stop myself.
He glances over, and one side of his lips tip into a smirk. “Thanks. Same to you.”
The breeze flows through my hair, and I hold it at the side of my neck so it won’t blow in my face.
We arrive at The Knotted Barn not too long after. It sits on a hill and overlooks the winery Jude’s uncle started years ago. There was lots of talk in town when that happened. People were judgmental and mean, saying that the grape vines would never survive, but now they bottle two varieties a year and have a regular customer base.
We climb out of the UTV, and Jude reaches for my hand without me having to remind him. After the near-kiss at the football game the other night, I worried I’d hurt our case. I was desperate to kiss him, but I didn’t want to kiss Jude for the first time in front of everyone in town. Sure, the wedding will probably be our first kiss, which sucks too, but better that than a football game.
“You’re learning fast,” I say and raise our entwined hands.
He glances over. “I have a really good teacher. Even though the teacher gave me her cheek.”
“Yeah, I told you, it felt weird with everyone watching.”
He nods and doesn’t say anything. As usual, Jude keeps all his emotions held tighter than a vise.
We walk into The Knotted Barn, the door shutting behind us. A few workers are setting dishes on the tables, and music plays in the background. Jude weaves us through to Romy’s office in the back hallway, and we find her sitting behind her desk.
She smiles when she notices us. She signals with her hand for us to sit in the two chairs opposite her desk. “Who would’ve bet on this day happening?”
“Was there a bet?” Jude asks.
Romy smiles sweetly and doesn’t answer the question. The Noughton cousins are known for betting on anything and everything, especially when it comes to their cousins’ personal lives.
“So, I got the best news today. Well, not good news for everyone.” She cringes. “There was a wedding booked in two weeks, but the groom found the bride with the best man.”
“Seriously? That’s a country song.” I inch up on the edge of my chair.
“I know, but it’s not the first time. But the good news is that you guys can have the date. I’d never fill that spot with such short notice, and you said you wanted to get married fast, right?”
I lay my hand over Jude’s on the arm rest. “Yes.”
“Sooner the better,” Jude chimes in.
Romy stares at her cousin for an extra-long beat, and I worry she can tell something is off, but she turns her attention to her computer, and her fingers click on the keyboard. “Great. So, we could do this one of two ways.”
Jude clears his throat. “It’s just a wedding, Romy. We say I do, and it’s over.”
“Well, that’s romantic, Jude. How about you think of your bride here?” Romy rolls her eyes. She shifts her position from behind the computer to face us.
“What are the two options?” I ask.
“We could just do the wedding and reception, but the couple who canceled had decided on a package deal, so that’s all available to you if you like.”
“A package?” Jude asks.
Romy sets her gaze on me. “They were from Hickory. Sometimes our couples come and stay a few weekends to get all the planning done, and I see now why they never made the trip. Clearly someone wasn’t interested in planning. But the appointments for them have been made, so if you want to take their place, you can.”
“Appointments for what?” Jude asks, and I squeeze his hand until he slides it out from under me.
“I’m curious—what do you think planning a wedding entails, Jude?” Romy asks, straightening her back and clasping her hands on her desk. She’s clearly insulted by his insinuation that a wedding is a ceremony and a meal and easy to pull off.
“I get that we need a cake, but Laurel will bake that up,” Jude says. “And I don’t need to try a menu from Jensen. I can tell you what Sadie and I like that he cooks. At Gillian’s law school graduation party, he made those cheese puff pastries. I liked those.”
