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Chapter One
Hallie
I stare down at my phone and sigh. Ignoring the third text message in as many days, I toss the device onto the bed, determined to put Curtis and his long-winded apologies and promises out of my head. It’s too late for them. It’s been almost two years since we broke up, and like clockwork, he sends me his monthly text messages. Usually, they start on the same day every month and go on for days. It’s probably on his very busy calendar. Text Hallie. It’s bullshit, to be an item on someone’s to-do list. And of all the times for him to try to plead his case, this is the day I’m not having it.
Today, my friend is getting married.
It’s a bit of a shotgun wedding, but not for the reason you may think. No, she’s not pregnant—though I believe that’ll happen pretty soon. Ellie and TD, friends of mine from high school, wanted to get married quickly before her son, Brody, starts college. She manages the diner in town and he’s a police officer. A May engagement resulted in a July wedding ceremony, but that’s okay. I work best under pressure. Plus, I have summers off from teaching preschool in town, which left me plenty of time to help her plan a wedding to the man of her dreams.
That’s my focus. Ensuring every detail is executed perfectly to her vision, which really was pretty simple, since Ellie Daniels is a simple woman. As long as TD is standing at the end of the aisle waiting for her and at the end of the day they’re pronounced husband and wife, that’s all she cares about. Everything else is just fluff.
Well, fortunately for her, I specialize in fluff.
A knock has me spinning toward the sound and opening the door. I’m prepared to see Blair, who was getting ready at her house before joining us at Ellie and TD’s, but that’s not who stands before me. It’s Logan, TD’s best man and professional thorn in my side.
He flashes me a grin, which seems to drop from his lips just as quickly as it appears. His eyes slowly take in the dress I picked to wear for today’s celebration. It’s light blue and hugs my curves to perfection. When I first saw the dress, I knew it was the one I wanted to wear. Ellie gave Blair and I free rein to choose our own dresses for the wedding, and I fell in love with this one. Timeless, simple, yet sexy.
“Jesus, Cupcake. You look stunning.”
A blush creeps up my neck and burns my cheeks at the rare compliment. I take in his navy-blue slacks and ivory button-down with the top button open. He’s sans necktie, and even though his arms are covered, I can picture his intricate ink hidden beneath the material. “You clean up nicely yourself, Johnson.”
For years, I’ve despised the man. Honestly, I’m not even sure how it started anymore, but the bickering has sort of been our thing. I’m sure it has a lot to do with his cocky I know everything attitude, but all I know is he’s always been cocky and completely full of himself. Of course, he’s also one of the most attractive men I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing in a pair of swim trunks.
Not that I’d admit that out loud.
He glances down, running a hand over his abs. “I know,” he states with a smirk and a wink.
Sighing, I shake all thoughts of Logan and how yummy he looks out of my head. “Can I help you?”
“TD wanted me to give you this,” he states, holding out his fist.
Hesitantly, I lift my palm below his fist. His fingers brush against my skin as he slowly opens his hand and drops the basic silver band. I glance down at the ring, my heart skipping a beat for a moment at the sight. It wasn’t that long ago I thought I’d be wearing one of these. Of course, Curtis ruined that dream by deeming his career more important than me. Since then, I’ve found little desire to actually try dating again. It just seems so pointless at this stage of the game. All the good ones are taken, at least in our small town, and I can’t seem to find the time or willpower to look outside my hometown.
“Don’t you have something for me, Hallie?”
There’s something in the tone of his voice that goes straight to the apex of my legs. The deep timbre of his voice is like an electrical charge to my clit. I’ve always had that reaction to him and spend a considerable amount of effort to keep that little nugget hidden. No way can he know how attracted I am to him. If he were to find out he’d use it against me, no doubt.
I spin around and walk toward the small velvet bag sitting on the guest bed beside my phone. Just as I lift the pouch, which contains Ellie’s wedding band, the device lights up again. I instantly spot Curtis’s name on the screen once more. I try to stop the groan, but it slips past my lips quickly and must catch Logan’s attention.
I feel his broad chest brush against my back as he reaches for the phone. “Curtis? As in the douchebag with the misguided priorities?”
I snort. “That’s the one.”
His eyes narrow just a bit. “Are you seeing him again?”
“No,” I insist rapidly. “He just texts every now and then. I haven’t had time to block him yet.”
His dark eyes bore into me with their intensity and scrutiny. “Want some help with that?” he asks, reminding me how much Logan didn’t seem to like Curtis. Don’t get me wrong, he was always polite, but I just sensed his displeasure anytime they were in the same place together.
“No thanks, I can handle it,” I assure him, handing the small bag over. “Her ring. Don’t lose it.”
He rolls his eyes dramatically. “I somehow managed to make my way from Brody’s room across the hall to this one without losing TD’s ring. I think I can manage the return trip.”
“See that you do,” I sass back, pasting on a sugary sweet smile.
He snatches the velvet bag from my hand and slips it into his pocket. When he turns toward the door, my eyes automatically drop to where his pants hug his rear. Let me tell you, Logan Johnson has one hell of an ass. Of course, he is one hell of an ass too, but that’s not what I’m focusing on right now. His ass is firm, round, and looks amazing in a pair of jeans.
And I can now confirm that statement holds true for dress slacks as well.
