CHAPTER6
Most everyone was downstairs when Megan finally walked into the kitchen in search of coffee and food. Rose was holding court with the other bridesmaids in the breakfast nook. Theresa and Rebecca had only coffee mugs in front of them, and Ainsley was eating some fruit out of a bowl.
Unfortunately, Ainsley spotted Megan first and called across the room, “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“Morning, everyone.” Megan got her coffee and took the empty spot next to Rebecca. “I didn’t know there was a confab this morning. Rose, I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Oh, no. No confab. We’re hanging out.”
“Hold that thought, Rose,” Rebecca chimed in, her phone up to her ear.
“What now?” Worry creased Rose’s forehead. Megan didn’t miss the hint of annoyance in her tone, either.
“The florist has a few questions. They left a voicemail a few minutes ago.” Rebecca pressed the phone screen a few times and put it in Rose’s outstretched hand.
Rose put the phone to her ear and stepped away from the table, Rebecca following.
“So, Meg. We didn’t really get a chance to catch up yet. What have you been up to?” Ainsley leaned back in her seat, her bowl empty on the table.
Megan took a sip of coffee before she answered. The caffeine needed to kick in at least a little bit first. “Oh, you know. Work, sleep, repeat. The usual. You?”
“That’s not what Tucker said last night, after you went to bed. Is it true you’re going to open your own restaurant?”
“No, not a restaurant.”
“Something else, then?”
Megan didn’t appreciate the prying tone in Ainsley’s voice. “Nothing official.”
“You’re always so secretive. It’s just us. You can tell me.”
“There isn’t anything to tell.” Not exactly true. She did have a solid business plan and had even found a great location. The next step of securing funding was intimidating, and she hadn’t yet gathered the courage to make an appointment with a business advisor to even ask questions about the process.
“Tucker seemed to think there is. Maybe I’ll talk to him about it when he wakes up.”
Ainsley smiled and waved to someone behind Megan. “Come sit with us,” she called.
Megan’s stomach twisted as Caleb sat at the small table, in the seat Rose had vacated.
“Morning,” Ainsley practically crooned.
“Morning.” Caleb’s voice was still scratchy from sleep.
Megan nodded in greeting and took a sip of her coffee.
“Meg here was telling me that she doesn’t have plans to open her own business.”
Megan rolled her eyes but kept quiet. This week was about Rose. That was where she needed to focus. If Ainsley wanted to do whatever she was doing, that was up to her.
Caleb glanced at Megan, and she shrugged. She couldn’t control what Ainsley said.
“That’s interesting, because Megan and I were up talking a little bit more last night and came up with some thrilling ideas for both our businesses. But if she’s not ready to share anything yet, that’s her call.”
Ainsley glanced between Megan and Caleb. “Really? When was this?”
“He just said last night.” Megan couldn’t help the sharpness in her tone.
“I was the last one to go up to bed last night and didn’t see you two talking.” Ainsley’s eyes bore into Megan.
