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“...did you last hear from Mr. Cade?”
“Ten years ago.”
“Pardon?”
Trina lifted her chin slightly higher and repeated herself. “Ten years ago.”
When he’d declared his love.
When she’d done the same.
And then he’d vanished without so much as a goodbye.
“Willow Creek Road isn’t the busiest—"
“I’m sorry, did you say Willow Creek Road?” Her hand was also up pausing whatever else the doctor was going to say.
There were only two houses on Willow Creek Road. One belonged to her parents, and the other... oh, the other was the place she’d first laid eyes on the boy who stole her heart.
***
“Thanks for being myplus one,” Emily said as she hugged Katrina before locking arms with her. “I can’t believe my new stepmonster has demanded a wedding. An actual wedding, here on the estate.” Emily’s voice was low as she steered her best friend around other milling guests.
“Yes, well what the bride wants,” Katrina began, then grinned, her slight dimples showing in her tanned cheeks.
“Well, that bride is hardly old enough to drink let alone marry my father.” Emily paused her tirade. “Thank you also for dressing country club style,” she added, her voice even lower as other members of the country club were present. “Stepmummy dearest will appreciate not being shown up.”
“Not too dowdy?” Katrina asked, and Emily smirked.
“Love the ponytail. Oh, and the ribbons. Very schoolgirl.”
Katrina reached up to check, and right there were the ribbons she’d had to wear for the cheerleading squad’s pictures that morning. “Give me a quick moment, okay? I need to go take these out before the ceremony starts.”
“Yeah, well don’t be startled by the wait staff, or my new foster brother, if he ever decides to come out of hiding.”
“Another one?”
“Yeah, well the last two have been such grand successes that my father couldn’t wait to add one after they were gone.”
“It’s not like they need the money.”
“No, but they sure like to look like they’re giving back to the community in some way that isn’t avoiding taxes. Be back quick, okay? I have to stay out here.”
“But you’ll save my seat.”
“That’s what best friends are for.”
Katrina weaved her way through still-arriving guests into the back of the house, where the wait staff was scattered about ensuring everything would be ready. She knew the home well and was able to find the nearest bathroom without a problem, when she noticed a young man unfamiliar to her dressed in formal wear. He stood in the shadows, his head down, his hair disheveled as if he’d just run his fingers through it. His shoulders were broad and his neck thicker, one that showed there was probably muscles beneath the suit and tie. One corner of her mouth lifted as she watched him crook his neck from side to side before he inhaled sharply and turned to walk in her direction.
“Shit,” she muttered, realizing she’d passed the bathroom, which now had a small line forming at the door.
“Problems?”
He was beside her then, his voice smooth as butter as he peered down through her with dark brown eyes and lashes Katrina would die to have. His skin was darker as well, though he wasn’t quite as tan as she. And his hands... large, probably strong, and...
“I guess not,” he said with one raised shoulder, but before he could walk away from her, she opened her mouth.
And inserted her foot.
