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It only took a few more seconds to spot Daisy, standing alone at the railing on the edge of the patio, staring out over the expanse of the forest beyond. She looked so graceful, peaceful even, that he almost hated to disturb her. Almost.
“There you are. Thought you might be thirsty.”
Her smile was relaxed and easy as she turned to him. “Thanks,” she said, taking the drink he held out to her.
“It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it?” she asked, turning her attention back to the natural beauty of the Tahoe landscape; he, however, wasn’t in any rush to pull his gaze from her. Admiring the graceful arch of her neck, the curve of her jawline, the full, rosy color of her lips, the way her chest rose and fell with every breath she took…
“Beautiful.”
“You know, I bet they hold weddings right out there.” Reluctantly, he followed her gaze to where the group of trees broke to a meadow. “I can almost imagine standing there, under the massive pines, their branches stretched overhead as you make a promise before God, your friends and family, to love someone forever. It would be something special.”
There was so much wistfulness in her tone that it made his heart ache. She deserved something like that. Someday. Even if the thought if it being with someone other than him didn’t sit so well. “What was your wedding like?”
“Ugh.” She closed her eyes as if trying not to remember. “I’m almost embarrassed to admit this, but…we got married in Vegas. Mind you, I’d just found out I was pregnant so when Leo proposed, declaring we should make it official straightaway, Vegas seemed the logical choice. We didn’t tell anyone until we came home. I’m pretty sure, subconsciously, I knew if I told them ahead of time they would have listed all the reasons marrying Leo was a bad idea. Especially since they all know that I used to play bride as a little girl, walking down the aisle in my First Communion dress and a sheet as a veil. I would force Benny, to be the flower girl and Dominic to play the groom—at least until Dominic revolted when he was nine and Benny followed suit.”
She smiled at that memory while Jack tried to picture a much smaller Daisy. The same dark eyes and long hair with a heart filled with hope and optimism that one day she’d have her own happily ever after.
“I think it broke my mom’s heart a little that we didn’t have it in a church with everyone there to see it.”
There was a ping from his phone and he pulled it from his pocket.
“Is that the kids?” she asked.
For convenience, since there weren’t any pockets in her dress, they had given Glenda and the kids his number if anyone needed to reach them.
“It is.” He read the text and smiled. “They wanted to share a picture with us.”
Jack handed the phone to her and watched as her face broke into a grin. They’d all decided it was a good idea to give Ollie another bath and they were knee-deep in suds in the tub trying to restrain the pup, who was trying to escape.
“Paul was persistent about our getting a dog before the trip.” She shook her head. “I can’t imagine how he’s going to be when we get back. My guess is he’ll probably try to sneak Ollie in his suitcase.”
She handed him the phone, their fingers touching for a moment, before he pocketed it. “How you holding up? It can’t be easy being in a place where you don’t know anyone.” Not that he really knew anyone himself, but he was used to it, not to mention other people always knew him. Or thought they did.
“Are you kidding? Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve been out without one or all three kids in tow? Just going to the restroom alone was practically decadent. Oh, and you’re wrong. The food is actually pretty good. I’ve had three of those shrimp thingies and something else I’m trying not to think too hard about what it was made of, not to mention this”—she held up her glass—“is actually my third drink. So you could say that I’m having fun.”
He grinned. “Am I intruding then? I could leave you alone if you wanted some more ‘me time’?”
“Nah. I might need you to fetch me another drink later.”
“Glad I could be of service.” They smiled, staring at the other, a spell seeming to have fallen over them before she shivered suddenly and rubbed her hand along her arm.
“Are you cold? Do you need my jacket? We could go inside?”
She tilted her face up toward the sky. “No, I’m fine. In fact, I could stay out here all night.” She took in a deep breath and let it out. Her face was radiant under the glow of the lamps, her lips rosy and aching to be kissed.
Too bad he’d already decided that would be a bad idea.
“Excuse me for interrupting,” came a female voice from behind them. He turned to find an older woman, maybe somewhere in her midfifties with short brown hair and a curious smile, smiling at them. “But my husband told me you were here and I just wanted to see for myself. I’m Julia Daniels.” She held her hand out to him. “I’m married to Stan Daniels of Outdoor Living.”
Right, the owner of the retail stores he’d just been speaking with a few minutes before. He smiled, accepting her hand. “Jack Harrison, but I guess you already knew that. And this,” he said, turning to Daisy, “is Daisy Sorensen. My fiancée.”
He liked the sound of it, realizing for the first time he hadn’t before said those words out loud.
His fiancée.
“Nice to meet you,” Daisy said a little more shyly and took the woman’s hand.
“You, too, although, I have to admit I’m well aware of who you are and it’s an honor to meet you. I heard that you two might be here tonight and I almost couldn’t believe my luck. Stan and I are both from Salt Lake, but we usually head to Tahoe every year for the holiday. My Lord! Is that your engagement ring? May I,” she asked, already reaching for Daisy’s hand, who had a bewildered expression at the woman’s forwardness. Julia cast a sly grin at Jack. “That is absolutely stunning. You sure are a lucky woman. Now, I know it’s a little off the cuff, Daisy, but I’m on the board of the Salt Lake Preservation Society and would love to arrange a meeting to talk about whether you’d like to join.”
