An even better uncle.
A swift shot of guilt mixed with the swelling panic in her throat, her reckless secret pressing down until she was choking. But Darcy swallowed it back and refused to shoulder all of the blame.
Life was filled with hard choices. While Gage’s twin had chosen to be unfaithful, Darcy had chosen their daughter’s happiness.
She would always choose Kylie.
Gage looked at her bare feet, then aimed that intense gaze her way. “I would have thought that after jilting Kyle like you did, you’d have started wearing running shoes to these kinds of events.”
Although Gage had a big heart, he was still an Easton. And when someone messed with one brother, they messed with the whole clan. The only way to survive was to hide your fear and never stand down.
Shoulders back, chest slightly puffed, Darcy made her body appear bigger, the way she had when she’d been a young girl and encountered a stranger at her breakfast table. She’d walk into the kitchen and pretend she was big and strong—someone not to be messed with.
Her mother had a thing for rot-gut whiskey and bottom-shelf men—and made a habit of bringing both home. Sometimes they stayed the night, sometimes they stayed the year, but Darcy never knew who—or what—she’d encounter in the one place that should have felt safe.
But this was her home now, and she’d do whatever was necessary to protect it.
“After five years, I would have hoped you’d realize your family wasn’t the only ones who were hurting,” she said. “I may have walked out on your brother, but I wasn’t the one who let him drive that night.”
Gage Easton felt the truth of that statement hit hard, the power of it nearly taking him out at the knees. Darcy wasn’t a confrontational person by nature, but she knew how to stand her ground. No doubt a trait she’d picked up from dealing with his family.
He hadn’t seen her since the funeral. Nobody had. Not that he’d blamed her. His family had still been reeling from the aftermath of the wedding that never happened, when tragedy struck again, tearing a chasm between Darcy and the Eastons that could never be fixed. His brother, Kyle, was gone, and with the overwhelming and sudden grief that had been thrust upon his family, most especially his mom, a lot of the blame had been unfairly placed upon Darcy.
There were so many times he wanted to reach out, make sure she was okay, but he’d spent the majority of their relationship keeping his distance, certain that no good could come from letting himself get too close. And he wasn’t looking to test his theory.
Not today.
“Are you okay?” he asked, waving a hand to her elbows, which were scrapped and he was certain smarting.
“Nothing that won’t heal,” she said, and he knew she wasn’t talking about the gravel burn. “I just have to change my skirt and shoes.”
“You might want to change the top while you’re at it.” He grinned. “Not that I mind the view, but it might cause some heart problems with the older guests.”
Darcy’s gaze dropped to her shirt and the two beautiful buds peeking through the translucent fabric, and she gasped. Hell, Gage was in his prime and her top was causing some serious gasping and heart palpitations on his end.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t peek. Much.” He leaned in and whispered, “Although, if you know you’re going to take a swim, you might just consider skinny dipping. You’d get the same effect, only you wouldn’t have to hang-dry your lace bra and panties.”
“You can’t see my panties.”
No, he couldn’t, but she didn’t need to know that. The narrowed eyes and pursed lips were enough to tell him that she was ticked just thinking about him seeing her panties. And that was a far better state than the tears that had been threatening a moment ago.
“Look,” she said pointedly, crossing her arms over her chest, which did nothing except pull the fabric tighter. “I’m grateful that you found the ring and helped me out of the fountain, and I have no clue as to why you’re here”—her tone said she didn’t care to find out either—“but I need you to leave.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I didn’t come to ruin your big day. I’ll get out of your way as soon as my meeting is over.” And he found the abomination in bows he was stuck dog sitting.
“Oh, it’s not my big day,” she clarified. “I’m the planner for the wedding that is supposed to start in less than an hour.”
He looked at her outfit and, while cream in color, it wasn’t bridal attire. The skirt, the buttoned silk top, even her hair said professionally elegant. Not bride-to-be.
A heaviness that he didn’t even notice he’d taken on lifted at her admission, and he wanted to kick himself. She wasn’t getting married? So what? It didn’t matter. Kyle was gone, Gage was still struggling to make peace with things, and Darcy would always be off-limits.
No matter how great she still looked. Even scratched up and sweaty, she was as gorgeous as ever.
“Well, if you’ll just direct me to the manager’s office,” he asked. “I’m late, and don’t want to keep him waiting.”
She looked at her watch and froze, an expression of resignation washing over her.
“Actually, you’re early,” she said, so full of dread she felt sweat bead on her forehead. She stuck out her hand. “Darcy Kincaid, owner and exclusive planner for Belle Mont House. I believe the editor from Wedding Magazine said you’d be dropping by tomorrow.”
