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Caitey and Jenna quickly ran upstairs to their bedrooms to get their planning notes for the wedding before returning to the adjoining dining room and the older women, where the four of them set up at the large table.
Being here again after the previous night’s dinner sprouted Marcus Stirling’s handsome, rugged face floating in front of Caitey’s eyes. Mentally, she roamed along his shoulders and torso.
His suit coat showed off that masculine physique that made her entire body sizzle like bacon on a griddle. Add some fluffy, syrupy pancakes, and she’d melt like hot butter all over him.
When Caitey looked up, she saw both mothers and Jenna staring at her. She cleared her throat and stared down at her wedding list, running a finger along each item.
“Everything okay, Caitey?” Jenna asked, a smile swirling along her lips—as if she knew what her cousin was thinking.
“Um, perfectly fine. Perfectly . . .” she stammered, blinking her eyes innocently. “Let’s figure out where all the flowers will be positioned. They’re being delivered first thing in the morning, so they’ll be fresh.”
“Perfect,” Jenna said.
Oh, yes, Caitey thought, her brain returning to Marcus. The man was perfect in looks, stature, strength, and kindness. She tried to refocus her attentionon the wedding plans, but her thoughts were scattering like a ball in a pinball machine.
Even so, she couldn’t really judgewhohe was until she got to know him better. Andthatcertainly wouldn’t happen in the next two days. The day after the wedding, they would go their separate ways and never see each other again.
After all, she lived in San Diego, hours away from Santa Barbara.Ifthat’s where Marcus lived. Or did he fly in from somewhere else? All at once, she wasn’t sure! What a ditzy daydreamer she was becoming.
Her daydreaming was one of her personal faults, but an asset when it came to planning unique weddings for her brides.
“I think I saw the men outside laying the carpet and the chairs,” Mrs. Hearst said. “This table is already laid for dinner so perhaps our little meeting is done for now. Right after dinner tonight, Reginald will set it for the wedding luncheon. That will be one less task in the morning before the ceremony. Shall we go check on our husbands, Victoria?” she asked Mrs. Thornton.
Jenna and her mother jumped up to head outside, and Caitey slowly followed. She hoped the outdoor set-up was finished. The wedding dinner menu had long ago been ordered, and Gus was ready.
Her stomach tightened at the thought of running into Marcus. Before this puzzling reaction to that man continued, shehadto find out more about that man and his past.
Trailing after Jenna, Caity sidled up next to her while Logan, Marcus, Uncle Alexander, and Mr. Hearst finished tacking down the plush red carpet.
“Ooh, look at that, Caitey,” Jenna said in delight. “I get to walk ‘the red carpet’! I’ll feel like a movie star.”
“I thought it was a great idea of yours. So much fun on your wedding day. Besides, you are a star! The bride! The woman everyone will be admiring.”
Even to Caity’s ears, her own words sounded stiff. Her chest heaved watching Marcus—not wearing his suit coat, but in a tight T-shirt that made his biceps bulge and his chest ripple . . . She abruptly plopped onto one of the chairs to catch her breath.
Purposely, she turned her head to gaze across the gardens to admire the beautiful roses, but the attempt didn’t work to keep him out of her line of sight. The guys kept moving about.
Tinkling water fell like soft rain from the fountains. The tall glass cylinders etched with gold that she had bought for the ceremony were placed along each row of chairs, from the rear chairs all the way to the end of the red carpet where the arch was currently being assembled by Marcus and Logan.
In the morning, she would place a trio of white and gold candles into each glass cylinder that would be lit before the ceremony.
Her eyes betrayed her—because she had no self-control—latching onto Marcus, again, whilehe and Logan set up the archway where the bride and groom would stand for the ceremony. Gold and red royal colors. The entire thing would be covered in a cacophony of colorful blooms when the flowers arrived.
Jenna plopped down next to her, smiling with happiness at how beautiful it was turning out. “Are you okay? You have a strange look on your face.”
“Um, no. I mean, yes. Just going through the details in my head as the guys set up.”
“You silly liar,” Jenna said, laughing. “I know you too well. What are we missing? I won’t go all bridezilla if we’ve forgotten something.”
“No—it’s all good. Everything is going to be perfect,” Caitey said stiffly, ripping her gaze away from Marcus. “Not sure I can stay out here any longer. The guys are almost done. Except for the—for the—you know.”
“Flowers along the arches and surrounding the candles we’ll set up later?” Jenna asked with a quiet chuckle. She turned to catch Caitey’s eyes, then moved a finger along her thigh all the way to her knee, pointing it straight to Marcus. “Or is it something—I meansomeone—else?”
A blush rushed up Caitey’s face. Her cheeks were probably bright red right now.
“Did something happen with Mr. Marcus Stirling?” Jenna whispered.
“No! No, not at all . . .” Caitey protested, but her voice trailed away.
