“You came to the wedding. I wasn’t expecting to see you until after.”
His shrug rippled the fabric of his suit. “I’m your plus-one for the entire event. It didn’t seem right to enjoy the food and the party without celebrating the actual ceremony.”
Oh, how was she supposed to resist him? “I’m glad you’re here,” she admitted.
“As am I. You look lovely,” he said.
She felt flustered and in disarray after rushing around for the past few hours making sure the flowers were ready and then helping Lydia into her flower girl dress and doing her hair. She did wear one of her favorite dresses, emerald green with a rose print and a matching rose bolero jacket.
“I was going to say the same thing to you. You found a suit.”
“A jacket, anyway. My dad and I are similar in size. I picked up some dress pants and borrowed a jacket of his.”
His shoulders were slightly broader than Douglas Caldwell’s, she couldn’t help but notice, his arms more muscled. The jacket was taut in a few areas but somehow it worked.
“Thank you again for doing this.” For some reason, herthroat felt tight and achy. Probably a normal wedding reaction, she told herself. Tears at the impending happy moment of someone she cared about. “I still can’t believe Hannah asked you that day in the grocery store but I’m so very grateful you agreed.”
His gaze met hers, an intensity in his expression. “From this point on, let’s forget this was ever a bargain. I’m happy to be here, Holly. I mean it. I’m very much looking forward to spending time with you and your cute flower girl. How is she, by the way? Is she nervous?”
“Not a bit,” she said with a laugh. “She’s leaning hard into her princess era.”
He smiled. “I can only imagine. I’m sure she’ll be the best flower girl ever.”
Before she could answer, the organist began playing and the reverend officiating the ceremony spoke into the microphone.
“Will the groom please come forward? And will the congregation please rise for the processional?”
Holly watched Matt Reilly and his best man move to the reverend’s side, the groom trying to look solemn but unable to hide either his nerves or his obvious elation.
She and Ryan both stood and she was intensely aware of him beside her. The subtle, masculine notes of his cologne, amber and musk, teased and tantalized her.
He leaned down to murmur into her ear. “The flowers are gorgeous, by the way. I’m not an expert on flowers, as you well know, but to my untrained eye, everything looks absolutely stunning.”
It was the perfect thing for him to say. Like any woman, she supposed, she appreciated a compliment about her own appearances. That he would remark about her hard work and creative effort meant even more.
The three groomsmen and bridesmaids came down theaisle first, arm in arm, their red spray-rose boutonnieres and bouquets Holly had fashioned looking perfect. Then it was Lydia’s turn, paired with one of Matt’s nephews to walk down the aisle.
By the exclamations of delight, Holly knew she wasn’t the only one who appreciated the cuteness overload as a beaming Lydia skipped down the aisle, tossing petals into the aisle with abandon.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said in a stage whisper as she passed Troy, who was standing about three rows behind them.
Her ex-husband looked as proud as Holly felt as he smiled at their daughter and waved back.
How could she stand in the way of that relationship? If Troy and Brittany wanted Lydia to spend Christmas Eve with them, was Holly being selfish to want to hold her daughter close?
She had her daughter full-time most of the year. How could she begrudge them this time with Lydia?
When Lydia reached her side, she jumped into Holly’s arms. “Hi, Mommy,” she said in that same stage whisper. “Hi, Ry. Did you see me?”
“We did,” Holly answered in a low voice. “You were wonderful, honey. Perfect!”
“The best flower girl I’ve ever seen,” Ryan assured her.
“I know,” Lydia said with a confidence Holly hoped she would never lose.
And then Kristine walked into the chapel on the arm of her father, the bride stunning in a simple gown of ecru satin and carrying the bouquet Holly had worked so hard to make perfect.
She turned her attention to the ceremony, determined to enjoy the moment and not worry about what the future held.
