AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I get calls at all kinds of crazy hours. Especially when I’m consulting for a movie. The director wakes up in the middle of the night and wants to know whether Christmas trees had angels or stars on them in the seventeen hundreds.” There was a trace of laughter in her voice.
“What’s the answer?” he asked, intrigued.
“Neither. The Christmas tree didn’t make it over here until the 1850s. There wasn’t one in the White House until 1853.” She let out a deep breath. “Sorry, this must be boring as hell for you. I get all kinds of geeky about stuff like this.”
“You don’t need to be sorry. It’s interesting. You really love your job, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do. I’m a Christmas freak; everybody thinks I’m crazy. Good thing it pays well.”
“I bet your mom doesn’t think you’re crazy.” He tried to imagine Deenie’s indignation if she heard anybody insulting Caitie like that.
“No she doesn’t. She’s my biggest cheerleader, thank goodness. She was really supportive when I started up the business, even if everybody else told me it would never work.”
“I bet she was. Your mom’s amazing.”
“She is.” Her voice was soft. “I’m lucky to have her.”
“I owe your folks a lot. They really took care of Daniel and me.” He blinked, staring out at the ocean. “You did, too.”
“You both deserved to be looked after.” Her voice cracked. “After all you’d been through.”
It felt like she was tugging at a zipper on his skin, trying to open him up. But he couldn’t expose himself – not even to the girl with a heart of gold. He took a deep breath. “Anyway, there was a point in my phone call,” he said, deftly changing the subject.
“Do tell.”
“I was talking to Lucas and he said you haven’t found a wedding venue yet.”
“He’s right, I haven’t.” She sighed, her breath gentle down the phone line. “I’ve tried everywhere but it’s too short notice. They’re all fully booked. I hate to say it, but I’m thinking of invading the Beach Club and refusing to leave until the two of them are married.”
“Well, I might have found somewhere for you.”
“You have?” she asked, her voice rising up with surprise. “Where?”
Breck leaned his head back on the bungalow behind him. “I called an old friend up in Golden Hills. We worked on their hotel a few years back. They’ve had an event canceled on the twenty-third of December. If you want to book it, it’s yours.”
Her voice rose with excitement. “That sounds too good to be true.”
“It’s for real. They said they could hold the date open until Friday. After that, they’ll have to release it to the market. Juan – he’s the owner – said you can go over and take a look whenever you like. If you’re free tomorrow I can take you up there. I’ve got some business to do over that way.”
“Brecken Miller, you’re a miracle worker.” The silkiness of her voice made his skin heat up. “And Golden Hills really isn’t that far. What is it, a couple of hours?”
“Yeah, and there’s plenty of accommodation if people want to stay the night. Plus it’s miles away from the ocean.”
Caitie laughed. “In that case, I’m sold. But honestly, you might’ve just saved my life. And Lucas’s. Quite possibly Ember’s, too. Are you really okay to take me over there tomorrow? Otherwise I can drive myself.”
He bit his lip, trying not to think about the meetings he was supposed to have at the Silver Sands Resort the next day. His foreman could take care of those.
“It would be my pleasure. I’ll pick you up right after nine.”
“That would be great. Thank you so much, Breck. I owe you big time.”
For some reason, he liked the sound of that.
* * *
Le Chateau Des Tournesols stood proudly at the top of a steep hill, the castle towering over the valley below. The slopes surrounding it were carved with terraces housing bungalows and swimming pools, as well as the beautiful sunflowers the hotel was named after, which were reaching the end of their growth. Built in a French-renaissance style, with a grey-stone façade and rounded turrets so typical of that era, it looked as though a tiny piece of the Loire Valley had been transported into the Californian hills. Caitie stared at it again, narrowing her eyes as she took in the majesty of the estate. Picturing her brother’s wedding here didn’t take much effort at all.
“It’s perfect.” Caitie turned to look at Breck, her eyes glowing. “Are you sure it’s in their price range? They’re already stretched as it is.”
