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She felt the tension leave her, as it so often did when she was with Dan.
“I’m sure we left a few.” She grabbed his hand, walked back to the table and loaded up a plate. “While we have a moment alone, I wanted to say that I’m so sorry about last night. I know Katie went over the top, but she only did it because she loves me.”
“I know that.” He added blueberries to the plate she was holding. “You don’t have anything to apologize for.”
“You’re not mad with her? Tell me you don’t hate my sister.”
He took the plate from her and set it down on the table. Then he pulled her into his arms. “I definitely don’t hate your sister. I love that she cares about you. You’re lucky to have her.”
And she was lucky to have him. Why couldn’t Katie see that?
They didn’t have a chance to talk further because his mother joined them to talk wedding details.
Dan ate while they talked, and after breakfast they made their way to the back of the hotel where the snowmobile tours were arranged.
Catherine had arranged down suits and helmets for everyone. “You may think these are unflattering, but you’ll be thanking me when you’re out in the cold and wind.”
Katie pulled hers on. “Where are we going?”
“To the Maroon Bells.” Dan helped her with her helmet. “Mountains. You’ll want to bring your camera.”
“Am I driving my own snowmobile? Don’t I need a license or something?”
“No license. We thought you might prefer to be a passenger this time around.” Dan tightened the strap. “That way you can have all the fun of the ride and the views, without any of the responsibility.”
“Sounds good. Who is the best driver?”
Catherine laughed. “My Dan. Jordan is good, of course, but he drives too fast for me. Leaves my stomach somewhere behind on the mountain every time I partner up with him.”
“I’ll go
with Dan,” Katie said and Rosie opened her mouth to say that she was going with Dan, but her sister was already sliding her leg over the back of the snowmobile and resting her hands on Dan’s waist.
Was Katie choosing him because she thought he was the safest driver, or was this another of her “getting to know you” activities?
On the other hand, maybe it would be good for them to spend time together. At least then Katie would see what a great person Dan was and ease up on the questioning. They were going to be related. She loved them both. She wanted them to get along.
She saw her parents climb awkwardly onto a snowmobile, her mother driving, and turned away, intending to ride by herself.
Jordan gestured to her. “Come with me. You look tired. Bad night?”
“Didn’t sleep well.” She strolled across to him, her feet crunching on the snow. “This should wake me up.”
“Maybe you should stay with Dan tonight. We can’t have the bride showing up with dark circles under her eyes.”
“I can’t. I haven’t seen my sister since the summer. I really want to catch up, but last night she was—”
“—like a dog with a bone?”
“I was going to say protective. She wants to know I’m doing the right thing. We need to talk, that’s all.”
“This is your relationship, Rosie, not hers.” He spoke gently. “Your opinion is the only one that matters here. As long as you’re sure you’re doing the right thing, that’s the important thing.”
She was sure. Wasn’t she? Was she sure? She wished people would stop asking her that. The more she thought about it, the less sure she became.
“I’m sure.” Had he sensed her hesitation? What if he said something to Dan? She should be discussing this whole thing with Dan, but she had no idea how to broach it. Plans for the wedding were almost done. In a few days the florists would arrive to transform the dining room of Snowfall Lodge into a magical winter wonderland, fit for a fairy-tale wedding.
Nowhere in that scenario was there room for the bride to have a panic attack.
