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“Of the name, yes. You’re THE Marshall Blackwood? As in Texas’ richest, most eligible bachelor?”Well, how do you like that?She rested against the back of her chair, taken aback by her complete ignorance. In her defense, she was a little too busy to worry about a name or where her client got his money.
He cringed. “Yeah, I had hoped we could have blown right over that one, but yes. That’s me. Or so says the magazines and internet. I’m just trying to run a business and take care of my family.”
“I get that.”
“We’re the second-largest in the country and working to make that number one. It was my father’s dream, now mine I guess you could say.” He pegged her with a wry smile and a curious stare. “I’m surprised you didn’t Google me the second my sister and I left your shop.”
He looked at her with a curious smile on his face.
She paused with the mug halfway to her lips. “Sister?” And come to think of it he’d said sister when referencing Banners phone call too, but she’d paid no mind.
He sat forward and placed his coffee on the knee-high table between them.
“Juniper, about that.”
Dread filled her.
He paused for a long minute as if to gather his words. The tiny crinkle lines around his eyes deepened with what she assumed was indecision or worry.
“It’s Stella.” He finally continued. “She’s not my bride, she’s my sister. I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you and I’m sorry I let the lie go on for so long. I shoulda told you earlier. I was afraid you would walk the second you found out there was no brideandhad to plan a wedding in two weeks.”
Wow. Ok. Well, she never saw that one coming.
He pushed to his feet and shoved his hands in his pockets. He could not stand in the middle of the aisle without hunching over a little, but his head still grazed the low ceiling of the cabin.
She followed him to his feet. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand. Sister? Why would you lie to me? What about the wedding? Then it’s off? I’m confused.” She peppered him with one question after another.
“Technically I didn’t—my sister did.”
She stiffened. “Technically doesn’t count.” She could feel the heat in her cheeks, this time not out of any sort of shyness. No, this was pure disappointment and ire. He was wasting her time. And now she would need to find another client to save her shop.
“I need to return to LA. I have things I need to take care of.” An office to pack up and employees to break the bad news to. She retrieved her phone and punched in the shop’s number.
“Wait. You’re not giving me a chance here, sweetheart.” Marshall put a hand on her arm trying to slow her roll in packing up all her work gear.
Her gaze shot to his and she narrowed her eyes to tiny slits. It didn’t seem to bother him in the least, though.
“I need you to hear me out, Juniper.”
“You don’t get it, Mr. Blackwood.” She visibly watched him stiffen at the ice in her voice. Well good. Served him right. “No bride, no wedding, no contract. I need to get home. This leaves me in some hot water and so you know, no refund. My time is worth money. A lot more than what you paid, but frankly I don’t care enough to take your ass to court for breaking the contract.”
Besides, she hated legal anything and taking anyone to court just wasn’t her style.
He glanced at his watch. “We’re only a couple of hours outside of Houston. Take a seat, stop huffing at me long enough for me to explain.”
He gestured to the chair and his eyes pleaded with the part of her that wanted to not be so calm and collected.
Her gaze was drawn to his chest as the white cotton of his shirt clung to his broad chest. He took a deep breath and the cloth tightened further. Why did she have to be attracted to the wrong man? Every. Single. Time.
“I guess I am your captive, Mr. Blackwood. By all means, please explain. And then once we land, I’ll catch a plane back home.”
“We’ll see about that.”
He slid her a look that told her she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. “First, tell me something. At the coffee shop this morning, before all the interruptions, you were about to say something. What was it?” He angled his head in a way that made the sun peeking through the cabin window catch every shade of brown in his hair. Fascinating.
“Huh?”
“You said something about my shoulders and the tic in my jaw made you what? You didn’t finish.”
