Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
"Then you're not moving too fast," Emma said gently. "You're just nervous. Which is completely normal three weeks before your wedding."
I watched Emma guide the conversation, drawing out Jessica's real fears. Not about her fiancé, it turned out, but about living up to his family's expectations.
"My parents were farmers," Jessica admitted. "His family... they summer in the Hamptons. Whatever that means."
"It means they're probably incredibly boring," I said, making her laugh. "But you know who isn't boring? Their son. Who chose you exactly because you're not like the country club crowd."
By the time Jessica left, she was smiling. Emma waited until the door closed before crawling into my lap.
"You're getting good at this," she said.
"I had a good teacher." I pressed a kiss to her temple. "Who knew wedding wrecking skills would translate so well to wedding saving?"
"Speaking of saving..." She toyed with my collar. "Maggie called. She wants us to invest in her new coffee shop expansion."
"The one in Denver or the one in Savannah? I’m starting to lose track."
"Denver. Marcus already approved the business plan, but she wants us as silent partners." She pulled back to study my face. "What do you think?"
I thought about how far we'd all come in the past year and a half. Maggie's coffee empire was taking off, thanks to Marcus's guidance. She still sold her flavor bombs, but now guests could buy them in brick-and-mortar stores and combine them with her custom blends of coffee, too. Lily had just opened her fourth Pawsh Pets location. Even Derek, my old business partner, seemed to have really found his calling working as our intensive cases counselor.
"I think," I said carefully, "that we should probably discuss it over dinner. Maybe somewhere special?"
Emma's eyes narrowed. "How special?"
"The kind of special that requires that blue dress I like."
"James Carter." She poked my chest. "Are you planning something?"
"Always." I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Pick you up at seven?"
"We live together."
"Humor me."
She studied my face for a long moment, then smiled. "Fine. But only because you're cute when you're being mysterious."
“Good,” I said, “I’ve got a few things to handle before dinner tonight. I’ll see you at seven?”
Emma narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re leaving the office before me? Something is definitely up.”
I smiled, kissed her on the cheek, and thought about the first time I saw her in that castle in Ireland. She'd been so focused on perfection then, and I'd been so determined to see the worst in every relationship.
Now here we were, building something real together. Something beautifully imperfect.
I drove off from the office with the engagement ring’s box still straining against my pocket. It had been months since I got this thing, but tonight was finally the night. I’d even gone the traditional route and asked her parents for their blessing a few weeks back.
After that, I called my own parents. That conversation had been... complicated. But necessary.
"You're sure about this?" my mother had asked. "After Katie..."
"Emma's nothing like Katie," I had said. "She makes me want to be better. To believe in something real."
There had been a long pause before my father said, "Then don't screw it up like your brother did."
It wasn't exactly a warm blessing, but it was something. A bridge, maybe, to whatever came next. I knew they had recently fallen out with Chase because he tricked them into lending money that was actually meant for Katie. It had been a final straw after so many that let them see how far gone he was. As much as I hated it for him, I wondered if it was finally an open door to start fixing things in my own family.
My phone buzzed with a text from Emma:
Emma: The blue dress you like is making my boobs look huge tonight. Are you sure you’re going to be able to control yourself around me?
Me: Absolutely not. Even more reason for you to wear it.
Emma: What’s the restaurant?
Me: It's a surprise. Trust me?
Emma: Always. Even if you did ruin my career that one time.
I laughed out loud, earning curious looks from our staff. That joke had become something of a running gag between us—a reminder of how far we'd come.
When I met Emma in Ireland, she was just starting out as a wedding photographer turned planner. In Breckenridge, she was a small-time wedding planner who was coming out of her comfort zone for the sake of her sister’s wedding. And now?
Our businesses had merged in an unexpected pairing that was shockingly successful. Turns out there was a huge market for couples who wanted more than just a perfect wedding. They wanted tools to build a lasting marriage.
My phone buzzed again:
Emma: Speaking of trust... Derek just walked by my office whistling and looking very suspicious. Should I be worried?
I made a mental note to kill Derek later. He had one job: get everything set up at the restaurant without being suspicious. But apparently, my oldest friend was incapable of acting normal.