“I see fine,” Senior grumped. “What does that doctor know anyway?”
“He’s one of the top ophthalmologists in the state. So when he says you can’t see well enough to drive because of macular degeneration, you need to listen to him. He knows his stuff.”
“Hmmph. You and Amber are stubborn, you know that?”
Rusty grinned. “Can’t imagine where we got that from.”
“Fine. I’ll let you pick me up next week,” Senior said. “I’ll also let you get goin’.” His tone brightened. “Who knows, maybe you’ll find that special lady you can’t live without at the weddin’.”
“Yeah, right,” Rusty muttered.
“What’s that?”
“See ya next week.” He hung up the phone before Senior had a chance to make any more comments on his love life—or, more accurately, lack of one.
He went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror.Tie or no tie?He decided against one. No need to have a cloth noose around his neck in ninety-plus-degree weather, especially when he couldn’t really knot one anyway. Besides, who would he impress? He knew everyone in town and had worked on most of their cars at one time or another. Senior had started him in the garage at age eight, and by the time he was twelve he’d been able to take apart and put back together an engine faster than Senior could.
He grabbed a comb and tried to force his wiry, wavy red hair into a decent style as he thought about Riley and Hayden’s wedding again. He’d danced with Anita at the reception. Tried to, at least. He could fix a car in his sleep—except for Harper’s Mercedes, apparently—but he had two left feet when it came to dancing. Fortunately, Tanner had cut in before Rusty broke one of Anita’s toes... and the rest was history. Now the two of them were getting married, and he was still... single.
His hair stuck up around the edges; he was in desperate need of a trip to the barber. Oh well. He shoved his feet into his barely worn dress shoes, grabbed his sports jacket and keys, and went to his car, shaking his head as he thought of Senior’s words. The chances of him finding a special lady today were exactly zero. In fact, he was starting to think she didn’t exist.
Chapter2
“I can’t believe you were late.”
Harper glanced over her shoulder at Olivia, who had muttered the words under her breath. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“This is Anita’s special day,” Olivia said, her brow knitting together. “She was worried you wouldn’t show up.”
Harper stared straight ahead, gripping her bridesmaid’s bouquet as they lined up for the bridal party procession. The peach, mint, and teal roses were beautiful, but she couldn’t enjoy them through the guilt. She hadn’t meant to be late, and if it hadn’t been for Rusty, she might have been tardy for the ceremony. Still, she didn’t appreciate Olivia scolding her, even though she had expected it. And deserved it. “I said I was sorry,” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
“Ladies, can this wait?”
She turned to Kingston, the groomsman she was paired up with. Even with her high heels, she had to look up at him. Anita’s pediatrician brother was flawlessly handsome in hislight-gray suit and teal tie. With their blond hair and almost matching blue eyes, more than one person had already said Harper and Kingston were a striking pair. But there was zero spark between the two of them. He was more like her brother—if she’d had one. He was also right. Now wasn’t the time to apologize or argue.
“Sorry,” Olivia said.
Harper couldn’t help but glance at her. She and Lonzo, who was Tanner’s best man and younger brother, both stood at attention, staring straight ahead.Like I should be.Following their cue, she smiled as the sanctuary door opened.
She waited as Anita’s sister Paisley and her husband, Ryan, entered the sanctuary behind Riley and Hayden, the other members of the bridal party. Kingston tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow, and they proceeded down the aisle.
As expected, the ceremony was perfect. Anita’s mother, Karen, was already crying before Olivia and Lonzo reached the front of the church, and Harper saw a sheen of tears in her husband, Walter’s, eyes too. Even Kingston showed a little emotion, the muscle in his jaw jerking as Anita and Tanner said their vows. Not unexpected since the two of them were very close.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Harper grinned as Tanner took his bride into his arms and kissed her sweetly. And that was that. Anita was now Mrs.Tanner Castillo, and Harper was thrilled.
She met up with Kingston again, and they walked back down the aisle. Feeling calmer, she enjoyed standing in the reception line and visiting with everyone as they congratulated the couple and their bridal party.
“My stars, look at the two of you.” Erma McAllister, Riley’s grandmother, stepped in front of her and Kingston. She leaned over to Bea, Peg, and Myrtle—three women from the Bosom Buddies group, otherwise known as the BBs, who stood beside her—and said, “They look straight out of a fashion magazine, don’t they?”
Bea, Olivia’s aunt, nodded. “They sure do.” She leaned forward and whispered, “Maybe you two will be the next ones to get married.”
Harper laughed. The idea was preposterous. Even when the two of them had gone to the gala together year before last, it had been as friends. She glanced at him, expecting him to find the comment as humorous as she did. Instead, he stood looking at Olivia for some reason, his expression the exact opposite of humorous. Olivia didn’t seem to notice.
“That’s the thing about weddings,” Harper said, turning her attention back to the older ladies. “We all get a chance to clean up for a change.”
Erma leaned forward. “Prettyandmodest. I like that. We’ll keep you.” She winked at Harper.
