The Wedding Dance Read online

  He stood up. He needed to pull himself together and get on with it. He needed to snap out of it, to put the past back in its box, put a smile on his face, and go get on with his own life. He blew out a sigh. What life? He had a business to run, guests and staff to take care of. But a life? He hadn’t had one of those in a long time.

  He started at the sound of a knock on his apartment door. Kenzie had probably sent someone to come get him. It wasn’t fair of him to leave her down there to run the bar by herself. He hurried to open the door and was surprised to see Smoke standing there.

  He held up a six pack with a questioning smile. “What do you think? Is it time for one of our little chats?”

  Ben had to smile. Despite the fact that he didn’t know that times like this called for whisky, not beer, Smoke had become a real friend. He shook his head and grabbed his keys. “Thanks for the thought, but I need to get to work. Kenzie’s probably cursing me by now.

  Smoke grinned. “Kenzie curses all the time. I wouldn’t worry about her. In fact, she’s the one who suggested I come see you. She’s got the bar under control. She’s got Laura, Holly, and Renée perched at one end to keep her company and the two new guys seem to know what they’re doing. Looks like she’s trained them well.”

  Ben nodded. She had. He’d been impressed with the way Kenzie had taken to her new management role as they brought in more staff for the upcoming busy season. He looked up at Smoke and then down at the beers in his hand. “Can we take a rain check on them?” he asked. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to want to take you up on the offer sometime soon, but I’ve just pulled myself together. I’d sooner get to work than open the box tonight.”

  “Sure thing. I just wanted to give you the option if you need it.” He raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay?”

  Ben shrugged. “I’m going to have to be. You know how that goes.”

  “I do; that’s why I’m here.” He handed Ben the beers. “Why don’t you put them in fridge on standby?”

  “Thanks.” Once he’d put the beers in the fridge, he came back and pulled the front door closed behind him. “Come on, let’s go have some fun. I’m glad Pete and Holly made it out tonight; I’ve been worried about them.”

  Smoke pursed his lips. “Holly’s here. No Pete.”

  Ben blew out a sigh. “Maybe we should take those beers and go find him?”

  Smoke shook his head. “I called him. He’s hiding in his work. He’s pissed that everyone gave him a hard time at breakfast this morning. And Holly’s pissed at just about everything he does right now. I picked her up from LA this afternoon, and, when we landed back here, she didn’t want to go home. She hung out with Laura and then wanted to come here with us. It’s not looking good.”

  Ben sighed again. He wanted to help them get back on track on somehow. Pete was his oldest friend. Holly was awesome. The two of them were perfect together—or they would be if Pete could just let go of his need to plan everything to death. He started down the steps. “Let’s get down there. Maybe we can get him to come out, or at least we can try to talk Holly down. Remind her that he only goes overboard like this about things that are the most important to him.”

  Smoke gave a short laugh as he followed him down the steps. “Yeah, good luck with that. What do you think we’ve been trying to do all afternoon?”

  ~ ~ ~

  Holly sat back and listened while Laura and Renée chatted. It sounded as though the Women’s Center Renée was working on was coming together great. Holly knocked back the rest of her drink as she thought about it. She shouldn’t be feeling like this—as though she might need a women’s center for help and advice soon. Even if she did, though, it would be back in LA, not here. She loved her life here in Summer Lake, but it was all about Pete. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. Damn that man! She loved him, but right now she kind of hated him too. He made her feel worthless. He didn’t value her opinion, didn’t want her input. He needed to be in control. He claimed it was all for her, but if it was, surely to God he’d listen to her?! She shook her head again.

  “If you’re going to sit there shaking your head and rolling your eyes, I might have to cut you off.”

  She looked up at Kenzie who was leaning on the other side of the bar.

  “Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to go home and see that man of yours? Go work it out?”

  She shook her head. “None of the above. I don’t want to talk about it, because all I’ll do is bitch and whine. I don’t want to go home, because there’s no talking to him. He only sees what he needs to do to feel good about himself. He can’t see why I’m so fed up with it all. He doesn’t understand that he’s lost track of us while he’s so hung up on planning and details. Anything I say to him, he thinks I’m being difficult—just for the hell of it! Which makes me wonder who he really thinks I am!”

  Kenzie shook her head sadly. “I’m sorry. I have no clue what to say. I listen well, but I don’t do advice. Even if I did, I’m clueless when it comes to relationship stuff anyway.”

  Holly smiled at her. She liked Kenzie. She kind of envied her right now, too. She had a great relationship with her fiancé, Chase. The two of them seemed so happy-go-lucky. She couldn’t imagine them ever fighting over wedding arrangements. Hell, they probably wouldn’t even arrange one! They’d just go do it on a whim one day. “You’re not clueless at all. You’re much better at it than I am. And besides, you’ve got Chase. Seems to me that he’ll do anything and everything to keep your relationship on track.”

  Kenzie looked up at the stage where Chase was singing. She smiled when he caught her eye and winked as he launched into the chorus.

  “Can you get me another?” Holly asked. She needed one.

  Kenzie turned back to her with a stern look. “I can, but consider yourself warned. I will cut you off if you get any more miserable than you already are. Just because the boss man isn’t around to steer you straight, doesn’t mean I won’t.”

  Holly spotted Ben coming through the bar with Smoke. “You’re safe,” she said to Kenzie. “The boss man’s here to back you up.”

  As Holly watched them approach, she appreciated just how hot those two were. This place really was overrun with hot men. She sighed. Pete was the hottest of all of them as far as she was concerned. She pictured his face. He was gorgeous—his dark blond hair, his piercing blue eyes, his chiseled features. The little dimple on his chin that softened his imposing persona and gave a hint of all the laughter that… She sighed again. All the laughter they no longer shared.

  Ben came straight over to her and gave her a hug. Poor guy. It sounded as though he had enough misery of his own at the moment with the thought of having to see his ex at Missy’s wedding. Even with that on his plate, he was still coming to make sure she was okay. She felt bad as she reached up to hug him. Her problems were temporary—she hoped. It seemed as though he’d been living with his heartache for years. She shuddered at the thought.

  “It’s good to see you, Holly,” he said. “It’d be better to see you with Pete though.” He raised an eyebrow.

  What did he want her to say? She shrugged. “You know what he’s like.”

  Ben nodded. “And so do you. You know he’s just getting carried away.”

  “So, what? I’m supposed to make allowances for him being the way he is? What about him making allowances for the way I am? I’m a woman who just wants to have a say about her own wedding, for God’s sake!” She regretted it as soon as she’d finished. “Sorry, Ben. I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  He smiled. “I know. I understand. I’ve had a lifetime of him, remember? I know how frustrating he can be.”

  “Frustrating is a mild word.”

  Ben laughed. “I know. I just want to see the two of you happy again.”

  “So do I.”

  “I guess once the wedding is over with…”

  Holly gave him a sad look. “Or if we call it off…”

  Ben looked stunned. So did Smoke who was st
anding by his side.

  “You don’t mean that, do you?” asked Ben.

  She shrugged. Did she? She didn’t even know anymore. She loved Pete. She wanted to be with him, wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. But if this was an indication of what the rest of her life would be like…? Was this really what she wanted?

  Smoke gave her a questioning look. She wasn’t about to start pouring her heart out to these two! Laura and Renée had already tried to get her to open up. She couldn’t! She shouldn’t have said that much out loud. It felt disloyal to Pete. She could bitch about what he was doing; that was okay. But if she really was going to call it off, he should be the first to know. She smiled back at Smoke. “Just ignore me. I need another drink.” She didn’t miss the worried look he exchanged with Ben as she turned away from them. She needed to watch her mouth. She shouldn’t be saying anything to anyone until she knew what she wanted. And when she did, it was Pete she should be talking to.

  She saw Gabe come in through the main door. Renée had said he was still working but would join them later. He was another one—all organized and busy planning things. She watched as he approached the bar. The way Renée smiled when she saw him, the way he smiled back made her heart hurt. She was happy for them, she just wished she and Pete still smiled at each other at all—let alone like that.

  ~ ~ ~

  Gabe smiled at the sight of Renée sitting at the bar chatting with Laura. The two of them were smiling. He’d guess Renée was talking about her women’s center from the look on her face. She lit up whenever she talked about it. It made him happy that she’d found something to do with her life that met her need for meaning and purpose, while at the same time allowing her to stay here and contribute to the town where she grew up. And most importantly, to be with him. Things were moving along well for them. He was making great progress with the Development Committee. They were living in the house up at Four Mile while their new one was being built on Renée’s land. All they needed now was for her divorce to finally come through. He couldn’t wait for them to join the list of happy couples who were getting married around here.

  He spotted Holly sitting next to them, looking grumpy as usual. He didn’t know her that well, but he had to wonder what Pete saw in her. Sure, she was beautiful, but she never seemed happy. He’d hardly include them in the list of happy couples. He shouldn’t judge, but he did have to wonder why they were getting married.

  Ben was there with Smoke. He nodded at Gabe, who nodded back. He leaned in to peck Renée’s cheek and smiled at Laura. “Don’t worry, I won’t interrupt your girl talk. I just wanted to say hi.”

  “Hi,” Renée spoke into his ear sending shivers down his spine and making him hope she didn’t want to stay out too late.

  Laura smiled at him. “Hey, Gabe. You can have her back in a minute. We’re just talking jewelry-making class details.”

  He nodded and turned to Holly. He felt bad for her. “Hi, Holly.”

  She nodded and gave him a sad smile. “Hi, Gabe. How are you?”

  Wow! She was attempting conversation? “I’m doing great, thanks. How are you?” He didn’t really want to know, but he had an idea he was about to find out.

  She shrugged. “I’m okay. Just feeling sorry for myself, I guess.”

  Gabe would much rather turn away and join Ben and Smoke’s conversation, but she looked so down. “I’d have thought you’d have a lot to smile about? You’re taking one of the spaces in the plaza up at Four Mile aren’t you? And, from what Renée says, it sounds as though your business in LA is thriving? And you’ve got the wedding coming up.” Oh shit! Why had he brought that one up? The look on her face said her wedding was nothing to smile about. “Sorry. I’m just trying to cheer you up, but evidently I’m not doing a very good job of it.”

  She met his gaze. “Can I ask you something?”

  He nodded, wondering what was coming.

  “When you and Renée get married, what will your wedding be like?”

  He didn’t get why she wanted to know, but he thought about it. “I guess it will be whatever she wants it to be.” He could tell Holly was looking for something, but he didn’t know what it might be, and he could only tell the truth.

  She stared at him for a long moment. “What about you, though? What do you want for yourself? What’s important to you?”

  He considered that. “That is what’s important to me. That she gets what she wants.” He thought about it a little more, believing he might understand what she was getting at. “For me personally, what’s important is that my family should be there. My folks and Michael. That’s about it really.” He met her gaze. “Why, Holly, what’s bothering you?”

  “Just ignore me. Sorry, Gabe. I thought you were like Pete, and I was trying to understand what might make you tick.”

  He nodded. “Well, if I can make a suggestion, you’d be better off talking to him than to me.”

  She glared at him for a moment. He held her gaze. He wasn’t going to back down. She needed to hear it from someone.

  After a long moment, she smiled. “Thank you. You’re right.” She slid down from her stool and said her good-byes.

  Kenzie came down the bar. “Did you just scare her off, Gabe?”

  He laughed. “Hi Kenzie, nice to see you, too. And no, I didn’t. I just told her that if she’s got problems, she might want to talk to her fiancé instead of people in the bar.”

  Kenzie narrowed her eyes at him for a moment, then she laughed. “Good for you! And thanks. Someone needs to bang their heads together!”

  Gabe nodded. He’d rather keep things positive than get bogged down in other people’s problems. “Are you all ready for next weekend?”

  Kenzie grinned. “Yes, sir! Do you think you can stand to be officially related to me?”

  Gabe smiled. Kenzie was not his kind of person at all, or at least that’s what he’d thought, until he’d actually gotten to know the brash blonde. She was good people. Nowadays he considered her a friend. And when Michael and Megan got married they would, as she said, be related…somehow? In-laws of some description, if his brother married her sister then…yeah. He had no clue. He nodded. “Stand it? I’ll be happy to call you family. Almost as happy as Ethan will!” Michael’s son was thrilled about the wedding and thrilled that Kenzie and Gabe would soon officially be his auntie and uncle.

  The way she smiled back at him reminded him again that she was so much more than the brash blonde that first met the eye. Her whole demeanor seemed to soften as she nodded. “Me, too. And I really do feel as though I’m becoming part of the family. Your parents are awesome; they’ve been so kind to me, as well as to Megan.”

  Gabe grinned. “They’re good people. As far as they’re concerned, they’re gaining two daughters.” He didn’t know the whole story of Kenzie and Megan’s own family life, but it sounded as though it had been pretty awful. He loved that his folks were welcoming the two of them into the family. He shot a quick look at Renée; he was even happier that they were excited to welcome her as a daughter-in-law, too.

  “How do they feel about Vegas, though?” asked Kenzie. “Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s awesome that so many of the oldies are coming, but it must be kind of weird for them.”

  Gabe laughed. “You would think so, wouldn’t you? But, no. My parents are excited about a trip to Vegas. Missy’s dad says he hasn’t been there in years…”

  Ben leaned in to join them. “Joe and Gramps are like a pair of teenagers at the prospect of a weekend in Vegas.”

  Laura looked up. “So are my mom and Aunt Christine.”

  Gabe gave her a puzzled look. “Aunt Christine?”

  She smiled. “Dan’s mom.”

  “Ah, right.”

  Kenzie laughed. “See, there are so many oldies coming!”

  Ben nodded. “Yep, Pete’s parents are going to be there, too.”

  “They are?” asked Kenzie, looking puzzled.

  “They wouldn’t miss it. Missy’s been li
ke a daughter to them since we were in Kindergarten—and Michael.”

  Gabe laughed.

  So did Ben. “You know what I mean! Not that Michael’s like a daughter! That we’re all like brothers and sisters.”

  Kenzie smiled. “I envy you all that. And you said your parents might even make it?”

  Gabe watched Ben for his reaction. He looked uncomfortable for a second, but covered it almost immediately with a smile. “Yeah. I spoke to them yesterday. They reckon they’re going to be there.”

  Gabe held his gaze for a moment. Ben rarely mentioned his folks. He gave the slightest shake of his head. Fair enough. He didn’t want to talk about it? Gabe wasn’t going to push.

  Chapter Four

  Smoke reached for Laura’s hand as he drove them back up East Shore. He was glad that she’d wanted to called it a night. Ben seemed to have pulled himself together and was back in full-on work mode. Holly had taken herself off home—hopefully to talk to Pete. Gabe and Renée would have stayed and hung out for a while; that might have been fun. Smoke liked them, but all he’d really wanted was to bring his lady home.

  “So what do you want to do for the next few days?” she asked.

  He smiled through pursed lips, but said nothing.

  Laura laughed. “I take it we’re not getting out of bed until Thursday then?”

  “I’ve missed you. We’ve got some making up to do.”

  “I’ve missed you, too. It seems as though it’s been forever since we had a couple of days at home together.”

  Smoke nodded. “It does, doesn’t it?” He loved the life they were building. He got to fly and Laura got to travel and design her jewelry. She spent a lot of time out in the workshop in the orchard behind the house. He spent a lot of time at the airport setting up the flight school. The first batch of students were due to arrive next week. Life was good; he and Laura were both free to come and go as they pleased. They’d both maintained their independence and rather than feeling trapped—as they’d each feared they might—they enjoyed their busy lives and looked forward to whenever they could snatch some downtime together. “We can do whatever you want to. My only request is that we get some alone time, just you and me. Next weekend is going to be crazy; I just want my lady to myself for a while before the madness starts.”