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She tapped the folder that held his newly-minted contract with his wedding planner and smiled a tiny know-it-all smirk that followed her from childhood. “If I hadn’t we would still be at square one only this time thirteen hundred miles away fromhome and two days closer to your—our—deadline of getting you hitched.”
He shrugged. “You think me not having a bride would have deterred her away from saving her business by taking us on?”
“Well Mr. Big Shot Risk Taker. You think it was worth risking her scooting us out the door? The fact we have days to get you married and add to that her clients aren’t local? You tell me. A person can only take so much on.”
All very valid points.
Marshall turned a narrowed-eyed gaze on his sister. At only twenty-two, the kid with freckles and pigtails he used to tease had grown up.
“It was hard enough getting her to sign with our kind of deadline. Add in no bride and she would have walked and then where would you be? Breaking your mother’s heart and tossing the company all at the same time. The way I see it I saved us all. It’s only a little white lie that we can sort out later.”
“You know how I feel about that.”
“I do. This time you’ll have to suck it up, buttercup.”
He tossed the remainder of his coffee down the drain. Even the tiniest of lies could turn into an iceberg the size of the Titanic.
Six years ago their brother almost died in a car accident that left him in a coma for two weeks over Christmas because of a lie. His lie.
It almost cost his family the ultimate price. He swore, prayed, begged, and pleaded with all his heart that whoever held the lifeline to his brother would show some mercy. That if Colesurvived, he’d never deceive again and dedicate his time to the wellbeing of his family.
He’d kept that promise and had no plans on breaking it.
“You look tense. I see where your head went with this, Marshall.”
The only time his sister resorted to his given name meant she didn’t want to mince words.
“You need to get out of the past. Cole’s accident wasn’t your fault.” Her hand came down on his for a brief second.
“Wasn’t it?” He cursed the tiny two-cup coffeemaker as he refilled the water and put in fresh grounds. “I wanted to teach him a lesson and it almost got him killed. Could have killed others. I should have protected him. Instead, I was too focused on me and what I wanted.”
“I’m not going to argue with you any more on this. And if Cole and Sam were here instead of holding down the fort in Texas, they’d be giving you a solid beating on the head right about now. You know what? On second thought.” Stella got up from the stool she’d claimed the second she poured her coffee and started taking off the few rings she wore on each hand.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m gonna give you that head thumping.”
He flicked her threat away. At five feet and some change to his six-four, she could try. “You know Juniper will hit Google up soon enough if she hasn’t done it by now. She’ll see who you are. Who I am.” She shrugged. “Problem solved.”
His sister reclaimed her stool, glowering his way, “True. I didn’t say the lie had to last forever. But by now she’s checked herbank account for the deposit. Plus,” Stella flagged the folder on the counter again, “we have a signed contract. It’s a done deal. You’re getting married by the time the clock tolls midnight on your birthday, big brother.”
That was the last thing he wanted to hear.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The next morning Juniper pushed through the doors of her shop and headed straight for the kitchen. She forewent her normal attire of heels and a skirt. Instead, she would need comfort for all the walking today would bring. She snagged a pair of comfy boots and jeans, deciding to walk the mile distance between her apartment and coffee shop down the road before heading in to work. The rising summer heat pushed her to walk faster.
Marshall had left with the promise to return sometime this morning to hammer out a few details. Bridal gown measurements and venues sat at the top of that list. She’d spent hours poring over information and managed only a few hours of sleep before she was back at it with the sun. But between her other clients and Gran, what she had managed to gather would not be nearly enough but at least she had some jumping-off points.
“Well, good morning, sunshine. I haven’t seen you smile like that since, well, I don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile like that come to think of it. Buuut,” Callie drew out tossing a wink her way, “I think I know why.”
Juniper sighed and looked over from where she hung her bag to find her friend behind the large reception desk, a silly, knowing smile of her own plastered on her face.
Since yesterday Callie had gone on and on about their new client after Juniper filled her in on since missing the meeting.
She blew out a breath. “What do you mean?”
“Hmm-hmm. No one walks in the heat unless they need the distraction.” Callie looked pointedly at her.
