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No, staring at the new life she’s built, all I can think is…
How?
How can she just dive in again, thinking it will all work out? Is she kidding herself hoping it will be any different this time around?
Or am I?
“Do we need to get the engine running?”
Dash meets me on the path to the water, his tie askew and a smudge of lipstick on his neck. I shake my head, still processing that unexpected run-in.
“Nah. Dylan’s rock solid. But you need to freshen up.” I gesture. “That wedding planner must be good at multitasking.”
He grins. “She’s good at all kinds of things.” He pops some gum in his mouth and offers me a stick.
I take it, glad of the distraction. Dash’s playboy shenanigans? That’s safe territory. “Are any of them making a discreet exit? Because you know how women get at these things.”
“Discretion is her middle name,” Dash says with a laugh. “We’re single and ready to mingle.”
“You say that now,” I warn him, “But I bet you, come tomorrow morning, you’re going be begging me to wingman you out of a sticky situation.”
“I don’t know, sticky sounds like fun.” Dash smirks.
“Well, just know you can always use Grace as your swift exit. She’s got the tactful interference down cold.”
He raises an eyebrow. “I thought she was on your arm today.”
“Sure, but I’m sure she’d pull double-duty if you ask nicely. Girlfriend for hire, and all that.”
“Huh.” Dash pauses. “Watching the two of you… I would have figured things were getting serious. You’ve been walking around the bar like an idiot these past couple of weeks.”
I feel a chill of unease. Has it really been so obvious?
“What? No way.” I say, playing it off. “We’re just having fun, I won’t deny it, but you know me. Serious isn’t on the cards.”
“You so sure about that?” Dash levels me with that look again.
“Positive.” I say firmly, my failed marriage still fresh in my mind. “I don’t want that commitment shit ever again. We’re just having a good time.”
“Huh. OK. Just make sure Grace is on the same page,” Dash advises me. “She seems great. You don’t want her getting hurt.”
“Grace gets it,” I say quickly, hoping it’s true. “Besides, I haven’t made any promises. She always knew the deal.”
Dash shrugs. “If you say so.” He looks around. “This thing should be starting soon. We should get going.”
We head towards the lodge, and climb the staircase up to the deck—
Oh shit.
Grace is standing there by the railings, in that drop-dead gorgeous dress of hers. But her jaw is clenched, and her hands are curled into fists by her side.
“Grace,” I gulp, feeling guilty as fuck. “Did you…”
“Hear what you just said?” she replies, icy. “Yes. Every word of it.”
22
GRACE
