“This isn’t about mom and dad.”
“Everything is about them when it comes to you.” She reached out and grabbed his hand. “Why do you think I first started following Matt around the world? It was an excuse to live in the now and forget about the past. I never had to worry about the future. I mean, what life could I have with a nomadic musician with more groupies than I could count?” A soft smile lit her face. “But Matt was patient. He knew I was using him as an escape, and he let me do it until the idea of creating a new family wasn’t quite as scary as it’d once been.” She squeezed his hand. “Allison’s been waiting four years for you.”
“You don’t know that.”
The knowing smile was back. “I watched her watch you every time I visited. She may have wanted a different job, but I’d bet you the bill for my wedding she didn’t want a different man.”
I love you. Why can’t you just let me?
Because something was broken in him. Something not even his sister could understand.
The car pulled to a stop in his driveway and he was quick to escape the confines of the car.
“Go on in,” Jenny said when he lifted her suitcase. “I’ve got a quick call to make. I’ll meet you inside.”
He was more than happy to take the reprieve. “I’ll get the delivery menus out for you,” he said, retreating into his house.
They’d order some food and he’d pour wine down his sister’s throat to ensure she focused on happy wedding plans and forgot about grilling him over the mistake that haunted his dreams every damn night.
…
What am I doing here? Allison wondered. It had been a common question flashing through her mind since the day she’d picked up the phone to see Jenny King’s number.
Now she sat in a hipster café, waiting for the sister of the love of her life.
There’s probably some wedding detail she needs, she reasoned. Maybe something was wrong with the dress.
She reached for her coffee as she waited. She could do this. Be Darian’s assistant one last time and fix whatever problem Jenny was having.
“You made it!”
She looked up to see the grinning blonde bound toward her.
“Jenny,” she murmured, rising to her feet. “Welcome back to the city.” She offered her hand, which the other woman shook with enthusiasm.
“Sorry, I’m late. I’m sure you can imagine what my week has been like.”
“Of course.” She took her seat. “What can I help you with? Is something wrong with the dress?”
“No, no, nothing of the sort,” Jenny said, sitting opposite her. “In fact it fits like a glove. You were a perfect stand-in.”
She thought of the beautiful gown with a wistful sigh. “It will look wonderful on you, I’m sure.”
“Fingers crossed.” She fished into her bag and withdrew a box tied with a bow. “First things first, this is a little thank you for everything you did for me. I know Darian couldn’t have pulled it off alone.”
“You underestimate him,” she said, accepting the box.
“Chocolates,” Jenny said helpfully. “From the south of France.”
“I can’t wait to try them.” She folded her hands over the box and waited.
The other woman puffed on her bangs. “You’ve got that reserved thing down pat, you know.”
“Thank you.”
“I get it. I’m sure I’m not super high on your list of people to talk to right now.”
“I’m happy to help.” One last wedding task and she could wash her hands of the Kings.
“That’s the thing. I’m not here for your help. I’m here to assist you for a change.”
She arched a brow.
“I’ve been talking to my brother.”
Humiliation coursed through her. “Oh.”
“Which is a good thing,” Jenny said in a rush, reaching for her.
“This is none of your business.” She started to rise.
“But you love him, don’t you?”
Allison fell back into her seat, hard. “He told you that?” she asked, aghast.
A slow smile tipped Jenny’s lips. “No. But it’s nice to see I wasn’t wrong.”
“My love life has nothing to do with you. If you have a problem with the wedding, I’ll see if I can help. Otherwise my association with your family is at an end.”
“I wanted to explain,” she said. “I can tell you about the childhood Darian and I lived through. There’s a reason he is the way he is. You see our parents—”
“I know about your parents.”
It was Jenny’s turn to look surprised. “You do?”