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“I’m more of a Megan Markle fan myself,” Charlie grins. “But nope. I am who I am.”
I can’t imagine that kind of bachelor fortitude, being so certain that no one will ever change his mind. But before I can challenge him any further, he stands and holds out one hand to me. “Shall we?”
I shake my head. Go where people can stare at me and judge me? No thank you.
“Dancing is part of the gig,” he reminds me. He leads me between other couples and settles one arm around my waist. I flinch at the shock of his touch.
“You’re going to have to move a little closer,” he reminds me.
“Right. Close.”
I shift into his arms, so I’m pressed right up against his chest.
His solid, muscular chest.
I gulp.
“Everything OK?” he asks, lips brushing my earlobe.
“Mmhmmm!” I manage to blurt. I tell myself to cool down, but my body doesn’t get the memo. I figured I could keep my cool around him, but faced with the full, close-up magnetism of Charlie Fox, I fold like a bad poker hand.
His hand rests, warm against my waist. His body moves us effortlessly. His aftershave wafts in the air.
Dammit. I laughed off Olivia’s warnings, but twelve whole nights of this? Charlie looking at me, confidently moving our bodies just so? I almost forget that I’m annoyed with him.
Almost.
But then I see handsy Aunt Myra bustling through the crowd. I exhale in relief. There’s my exit strategy. Behind Charlie’s back, I wave her over. “If you’ll excuse me…” I tell him, backing away. “Bathroom break.”
“Perfect timing!” Myra announces, swooping in.
Charlie’s eyes bug out. “I should really show Grace where to go—” he starts, but I just flash him a sweet smile.
“No need, I can find my way. You have fun now!”
I whisk myself off to the cake table as Myra swoops in behind me, a flash of gold sequins. By the time I settle in the corner with my plate of cake, Charlie and Myra are in a slow dance formation as the band playsEndless Love.
The almond sponge is shot through with tart raspberry—delicious. On the dancefloor, Aunt Myra’s hands slide lower, and Charlie throws me a look of pure suffering.
I smile, and flutter him a wave. Not so smooth now, is he?
I take another massive bite of cake. Maybe this wedding gig will be fun, after all.
6
GRACE
“So,weird influencer shenanigans aside, it was pretty lovely,” I admit to my aunts. We’re taking a much-needed gossip break at the store the next morning. Between deliveries and customers, it’s been bustling since I opened this morning, and this is my first chance to give them the full wedding play-by-play. “I finally got to see the inside of the Boathouse, which is gorgeous, and the food was great. Which we all know is the most important thing.”
“More important than your dashing date?” Skye raises an eyebrow.
I busy myself tidying a rose quartz crystal display. “Only one of them wound up in my mouth!” I blurt, and we all laugh.
“I’m kind of loving this for you,” Jen announces, studying me. “A month of beautiful venues with good food and good company. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you out with people!”
“I’m not a total shut-in!” I protest. “I hang out with you guys, and… People.”
“So what’s this Charlie’s deal?’” Skye chimes in. “Is he a decent guy, do you think?”
