Staring at that chair, I sat down at the desk, across from Ruby, who was busy making what looked to be a new paper garland for the shop. In my peripheral, I saw she’d raised her head, and that’s when she said, “You know, it’s crazy how those two got together.” She meant Tori and Cam.

“Yeah, it sure is,” I agreed.

“He basically stalked her. I was scared for her at first because, you know, my whole psycho ex-boyfriend thing.”

I looked at her, and, when her eyes met mine, I said, “Listen, let’s all get together. You, me, Dee. We should plan something for when Tor gets back. I’m not sure what the appropriate welcome home gift is when you’ve been honeymoon-camping for four weeks.” I chuckled.

Ruby had a great dry humor that zinged ya when you were least expecting it. “A shower?”

“Yeah,” I said. “What are you making? It looks killer.”

She held up the shape of a bride about three inches high, pearlescent paper, with fine details cut out with one of her tiny tools.

“Wow, Ruby. That is awesome.”

“Thanks. I’ve done all the orders for invitations. I have a party package for a baby shower, but I don’t need to start that until next week. And I took two orders today for another baby shower and a Christmas party. But those are months away.”

“So, you’re making decorations for the shop?” I asked. She made these beautiful paper garlands that hung across the windows. So pretty, so girly, and deep down, I loved that bright pink chair and those garlands. I was also a crafter, so coming here, in the safety of Paper Petal, I was allowed to express my inner Martha Stewart without committing to the four tackle boxes of various tools that Ruby used on a daily basis.

Ruby’s phone chimed. “Dee,” she informed me. “She says we need to come over ASAP. I’ll put the sign on the door. If anyone comes by, I’ll take the phone with me.”

“Right.” She began to pack up, so I said, “Listen, before we go, I have to tell you a couple things. The most important, Goya-slash-Mark and I broke up…”

“I’ve been praying for that,” she admitted dryly.

“Apparently, your prayers were answered.” I grinned. “And…”

She stared at me, her face blank.

“I saw Holst naked,” I blurted. “It was good, and there’s tension. So, I’m gonna wait until he and Drew are done making a mess while they finish the coffee shop. That’ll give the tension some time to ease. Then I’ll go and clean it up. In the meantime, I’m gonna concentrate on buying shit for the coffee shop, and I need your help to come up with a logo for Bear Claw.”

“Here.” She reached into one of her tackle boxes and pulled out a notebook. “Done. I heard Frodo talking to Holst about the name. That was the first thing that popped into my head.”

I held the sketch in my hand and gave her a big-ass smile. “Wow! That’s perfect.” And it was. A black silhouette of a grizzly paw on a cream-colored coffee mug, the image set against a chocolate brown circle with the words Bear above the image and Claw below. “I’ll show Holst later. Let’s motor.”

Armed with chocolate chip cookies, we walked into Beachy Bride. Remember how I said I secretly loved girly crap? Well, when I was little, I had a really expensive doll that came with five outfits. One for horseback riding, though my mother informed me it was “dressage”…with the tall black boots, fitted pants, a jacket, and a little black hat. Everyday casual with a sweater set with—I shit you not—a sundress, and a ball gown for formal events. But it was the wedding gown I adored. The entire doll came inside a travel case that also served as her wardrobe closet. A client gave it to my dad as a thank you for telling him exactly how much higher he needed to go on a property bid.

I locked my bedroom door and created a world for my doll. She was my best and only friend for such a long time, and, because of that, I gave her a grand wedding on an almost daily basis. She had a little, gold crown on top of her head, a flowing veil that covered her long golden locks, and the dress was satin with a gold, swirling brocade design throughout.

And the minute I walked into Beachy Bride, I saw that dress was displayed in the window.

“Oh my God,” I whispered as I stared at the gown.

“You okay?” Dee asked.

“That dress is awesome,” I told her, still on a whisper.

“Wanna try it on? I can break out the champagne and doll you up.”

“Okay,” I quickly agreed, because, apparently, I’d lost my mind.

“Really?” Dee asked, clearly thinking I had lost my mind.

“Do it,” Ruby agreed. Then her deep blue eyes blocked my view of the dress. “You are the antithesis of bride, weddings, lovey-dovey, and happily-ever-after stuff. Seeing you in a wedding dress might actually give the rest of us hope.”

Dee came and grabbed my arm, scowling at Ruby. “Shut up, Ruby. You’re scaring her.”

I was actually shaking, though I really couldn’t tell you why. I wasn’t feeling fear or excitement. Maybe nervousness, but it was more like that time I had four Red Bulls in two hours; I kinda wanted to jump out of my skin.

“Ruby, lock the door and close up The Petal. We have work to do,” Dee snapped.

I loved when she morphed into a Bridal Power Ranger.

“Hang on,” I said, trying to break into the sudden activity around me. The shop was being locked down, shades drawn, and I just stood there like a cookie-holding statue.

Just then, the box was snatched from my hands, followed by my purse, and before I could object, there was Dee. “So, I don’t think I have a strapless to fit your big knockers.”

“They aren’t that big. For my height I think they’re kinda small.” I was a C and always thought I could use a half a cup more.

“Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “I have a bustier that’ll be perfect. And you’re tall so I don’t think the dress’ll be too long.”

“Since I don’t plan on ever wearing a wedding dress unless I’m modeling it, or maybe having dinner at the Danish Consulate, there is nowhere I would ever wear that dress.”

The two women just stared at me. I’d rained on their parade, but they needed to know this was all fiction. I wasn’t Tori. I wouldn’t have my own personal stalker who would make me fall in love with him. Not in a million, trillion, kabillion years.

But I really did want to try that dress on.

***

One hour later.

There was fussing and lacing and zipping and pinning. This was followed by tucking and hair-primping, and, even though I was flying dry these days, I’d had two glasses of champagne.

Then there was knocking.

“I’ll get it,” Ruby offered.

I stood in the middle of the room. There were two walls lined with dresses. Two small couches in the middle with a coffee table between them, and, behind that, a carpeted dais with a three-way mirror. I could see the dress glimmer out of the corner of my eye, caught in the warm afternoon sun peeking through the pulled window shades.

The door opened, the air changed in the room, and there stood Holst.

I wasn’t an idiot. I knew immediately that, at some point, Dee had been texting with Frodo. Frodo had likely crossed paths with Holst, and the rest was playing out before me.

“I heard you were up here,” he said, even and calm, but also careful. He closed and locked the door behind him, never taking his eyes from me.

Ruby followed Dee into the kitchen without a word. Then it was me and him.

Alone.

I hadn’t even noticed before; he was now in jeans, dark denim that hung on his hips, no belt. A thin, white v-neck tee that might as well have been invisible since it showed the same incredible body I’d seen earlier.

I suppose he’d need some kind of excuse to just show up here, and I thought he did well with his. “I’ve narrowed down our baked goods to two bakeries in town that’ll do a delivery every day, seven in the morning. They’ll send us a sample box, or we can go in ourselves. I thought you might like to do that.”