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Sterling’s entire life had been spent catering to other people, and Finn knew his brother would make sure everything about their wedding was what she wanted, not what she thought anyone else expected.
“I understand your thinking, Sterling,” Veronica said. “Many people only come to weddings for the food and drink. It’s natural to want to please your guests.”
Sterling nodded. “Exactly.”
“So then what do we do?” Finn asked. Like Jack, he refused to let Sterling pick something that wasn’t her favorite. “We need to pick one.”
“Not necessarily.” Veronica sifted through her briefcase and pulled out a pad of lined paper. She drew a square—the outside walls of the barn where the wedding was going to be held—then added a rectangle at the back wall, most likely the riser where the ceremony would be held. “The barn is big enough to accommodate one hundred and fifty people, plus a dance floor, and the ceremony space. You’ve only invited half that number. There is a lot of room to work with. I’m thinking we should do stations.”
“Stations?”
She quickly sketched the layout they had agreed upon, then added a few more areas. “We can have pasta set up at this table. A meat-carving table over here. Essentially, we could have every main course Finn has offered. The wedding dinner won’t be sit-down, which I know Jack will like.”
He winked at her. Jack had been quiet for most of the planning with the exception of saying he didn’t want to be sitting down for hours eating a big meal, when there was lots of partying to be had.
“Oh, I like that idea.” Sterling straightened in her seat, her eyes sparkling. “Can we do this, Finn?”
“Of course we can.” He should kick himself. Veronica had just proven why he should have invited her in the first place. “I wish I would have thought of it.”
The I-told-you-so look that blossomed over her face would forever haunt him. He had been so wrong to leave her out of the planning process. Not that he’d ever admit it out loud.
“Then I think we’re all set,” she said. “Right?”
She packed up her things and stood, smoothing her blazer into place.
/> “Thank you so much, Veronica. You saved the day again.” Sterling rose and pulled her into a hug.
“I’ll see you on Sunday, and if you need anything in the meantime, just give me a call.” She smiled at Jack and Sterling, then turned to walk away.
She stopped after a step, and turned. “For the record, my favorite was the steak.”
The frizzy strands of her air-dried hair whipped around as she walked away, an extra spring in her step.
Had he just been put in his place? He couldn’t help but grin.
“Well, that was”—Jack clapped his hands on the tabletop—“interesting?”
Sterling leaned forward and whispered to Finn, “What’s going on between you two?”
He shrugged. He wasn’t about to tell anyone about their deal. Or even that they were getting together in addition to discussing wedding plans. Not because he was ashamed—quite the opposite. He just wasn’t ready to put his feelings into words.
Hell, he wasn’t even sure what his feelings were. All he knew was he wanted to spend as much time with Veronica as he could. As much time as she would let him.
“Come on, Finn. Penn told me all about what she walked in on the other day.”
Jack turned and smacked him on the shoulder. “Why don’t I know about this? What did she walk in on?”
So Sterling hadn’t spilled the beans to Jack. Finn made a pleased mental note that Sterling could definitely be trusted.
“Penn’s vivid imagination got the best of her again,” he insisted. “It was nothing.”
“Finn, you have to—”
“I’ve got all of your options in my head.” He tapped his temple with his finger. “I’ll put in the order for all of the food tomorrow.”
He stood up from the table and, with a wave, left his suspicious brother and Sterling to their speculations.
He walked into his kitchen where his staff was working diligently, prepping for the evening ahead. Cal, who had come a long way in the very short time he’d been working at Carmel, stood off to the side prepping garnish.
