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Hawk strode toward us. The playful mood instantly tightened.
Or maybe that was just the nervous effect he had on me.
Gabby and Adrian still beamed at one another as though they were the only ones here before Adrian slipped free and, still holding Gabby’s hand, greeted his friend.
“What’s up?” he asked.
Hawk’s blond hair had a devastating swoop to it. I found myself enraptured by his features and how well the combination of eyes, nose, and mouth went together on him.
“Just got settled in. Your mom said you were here. Actually, she told me to tell you and the bride to stop messing around and get ready so you won’t be late.”
Adrian chuckled and dipped his nose toward Gabby’s hair as though he couldn’t get enough of her. “That sounds like her.”
Gabby beamed at him and then grimaced and turned to Adelie and me. “Sorry, girls. You might have to wait to see the dress until the big day.”
“Even better,” I said. “Then we’ll get the full effect during your big entrance.”
Her teeth flashed. “Eek, I can’t believe it’s tomorrow. I’m marrying the love of my lifetomorrow!”
Hawk elbowed Adrian at thispronouncement.
“Yeah, that’s?—”
She cut me off with another hug, then another for Addie. “And I’msoglad you’re both here. You’d better get back so you can be ready in time.”
She shuffled us to the door, and Hawk wasn’t far behind as we said goodbye and made our way back into the sunshine once more.
“Those two are kind of disgusting,” I said, kicking a rock from the sidewalk and staring at the barn. The couple we’d seen out here earlier had mounted their horses and were leading them in the pasture.
“They’re adorable,” Adelie said. “I can’t wait to fall in love.”
“You can have it.”
Hawk seemed interested in this. He quickened his pace to fall in beside Addie, but his attention was on me. “You don’t want to fall in love?”
Ugh, why did I open my mouth?
“Love is fine for other people.”
But for me, love meant obligation and family and getting hurt.
“Don’t mind her,” Addie said, smiling at Hawk as we left the barn behind and approached the larger B & B. “She’s just bitter because her stepsister?—”
I glowered at her. “Shh.”
What was Addie thinking, opening up to Hawk Danielson like that?
“Uh-oh,” Hawk said, hooking his thumbs into his beltloops and swaggering closer to Adelie. “Did her stepsister steal her boyfriend or something?”
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” Addie grinned at him.
“Sounds like we need another round of truth or dare on the flight back.”
If there was a flight back. I’d hitchhike at this point if that was what it took to keep his pesky, obnoxious questions out of my life.
FOUR
ella
