Page 28 of Center Ice

I sat up and took her in, backlit like some heavenly being. “Will I see you later?”

She bit her lip. “Do you want to?”

I nodded.

“We shall see.” Without waiting for my reply, she turned and started running back in the direction she’d come from.

How was it, after just two days of knowing her, she was close to turning my beliefs on their heads? I was allowing her to influence me. I could admit that. Was it simply because I was attracted to her, or something more?

That realization made me pause while I stared out at the glistening water. I was attracted to her. She caught my eye the moment I saw her, but this was more than just thinking she was beautiful. No, I was drawn to her. I wanted to hear her voice and listen to her opinions. I wanted to spend time with her. Me, the recluse. The introvert actually wanted to be around someone else. That was new for me.

I was being honest when I said I wanted to believe in love and happily ever after. I did, I just sincerely doubted it would ever happen, at least for me. My walls were too high and too thick for anyone to break down. I kept to myself for a reason. It was hard to trust people. There was too much of a risk of them using you or hurting you or even just disappointing you. It was so much easier to avoid that all together.

Well, it had been.

But I wasn’t going home to my mom anymore. I didn’t have to check on her and make sure her nurse was taking good care of her while I was gone. I didn’t have her to talk to or laugh with.

From now on, I would be going home to an empty apartment. How long would the novelty of living alone last? When would I long to have someone else around? I could get a roommate, but that wasn’t very tempting.

What Dani described was what I wanted. I just had to overcome twenty years of being stuck in one mindset. I had to completely alter what I thought was true.

It would be worth it.

If only it could be true.

10

Dani

Wyatt gave me a wink when he and Kendall passed me on their way to the patio where their dinner was taking place. Maggie and I spent the afternoon setting up the tables and discretely arranging an arbor that the guests would pass under that would then double as the backdrop for the surprise ceremony. Music was playing quietly in the background, and the sun was low in the sky, creating a romantic atmosphere without us having to lift a finger. That was the best part of working here. The setting was almost always flawless. As long as there were no storms, I could practically guarantee brides their day would be perfect.

Even with the limited notice we’d had to prepare, we had things timed out to the minute Wyatt and Kendall would stand and the officiant would appear. A mic stand and speaker were set up out of sight so we could pull them in when it was time. Maggie would only let the photographers near at that point. We didn’t want to let them invade the personal dinner, plus that might tip someone off.

The group took their seats, and waiters appeared with the first course. I smiled at their arrival. Right on time.

I leaned toward Maggie. “I think we might actually pull this off.”

She chuckled quietly. “Did you doubt we would?”

“Never.” I smiled. “We’ve done more in less time.”

“So true. This was easy in comparison to some last-minute requests.”

Brides and grooms had an odd habit of expecting the impossible to be made effortless when it came to their wedding day. They had a vision, and being the one to bring them back down to reality was one of the hardest parts of my job. I didn’t want to crush any dreams, and I did everything in my power to get as close as possible to what they wanted, but it couldn’t always happen.

“Remember the bride that wanted white peacocks last year?” I reminded her.

“That was a nightmare,” she groaned. “She didn’t believe us when we said they were protected and we couldn’t fly them in from India.”

“Would you rather do that wedding over again or the nudist?” I asked while the group ate. I tried not to watch Jake every time I checked on them. We were hidden from sight but had to stay close enough to help if needed.

She barked out a laugh and covered her mouth. “I almost got that one out of my brain. Thanks for reminding me.”

I giggled. “I’ll never be able to forget that one.”

The resort was not of the clothing-optional sort, but the couple was determined to get married there, so they booked half of the rooms and paid an enormous amount to block off half the beach so their friends and family could enjoy themselves before and after the wedding. As much as I liked to accommodate special requests, that was one I’d never repeat, no matter how much money was offered.

Laughter erupted from the table and my eyes shot to them. Emma and Chloe were leaning against each other, laughing too hard to sit up. Some of the guys were wiping their eyes, and I caught Jake’s shoulders bouncing. Someone must have said something else because the laughter rose again.