Sophia stood inside of Madame Tremonte’s wedding dress shop the next day, staring at a giddy Kari, who was grabbing dress after dress off the rack and stacking them into the hands of their very enthusiastic stylist, Kirk. He was oohing and ahhing over everything Kari picked out.

Sophia had tried to tell Kari that this was a simple wedding. She had in fact used the phrase “not that big of a deal.” Kari had just tsked her and told her to move out of the way, she had shopping to do.

So here Sophia stood, rapidly losing control of her fake wedding.

“Come,” Kari commanded, leading the way over to the dressing room.

Once all the dresses were hung, she motioned for Sophia to take off her clothes.

Thankfully, Kirk told Kari to leave, that this part was his job. Sophia was grateful for some peace and quiet. If she were honest with herself, she needed to try on dresses alone.

Noah had been so aloof and distant last night that she wasn’t sure where she stood with him. He’d begun to open up to her at the ice cream shop only to shut down when he talked about Judy.

Judy.

Something had happened there. She was beginning to piece the information together. She’d wanted him to continue yesterday, but she’d seen that it was causing him physical pain, so she stopped him. Every time she came into town after her mom and Benny died, everyone asked her how she was doing. It had drained her more than anything.

So, to save him that, she’d told him to stop, that she didn’t need to know more.

“Honey, you ready?” Kirk asked, holding the dress open as he knelt down at her feet.

Her skin flushed with embarrassment as she stepped into the dress. The feeling of vulnerability rose up in her chest. How was she ever going to survive this? Every step they took toward the wedding was one step closer to seeing her father and caring for Noah. She was having to face fears that she’d held on to for so long.

But her inner turmoil didn’t stop Kirk. He slid the dress up and zipped it closed.

It was a mermaid cut with a plunging neckline. Definitely not her style.

“Kare,” she scolded, her voice loud enough to carry through the door.

“What?” Kari asked. Sophia could hear the laughter in her voice. “How are you ever going to show off that awesome body of yours if you never wear anything sexy,” Kari called back.

Sophia rolled her eyes and shifted the top of the dress up. “There’s a difference between hinting and just plain showing,” Sophia said as Kirk opened the door.

Kari’s eyes bugged when Sophia stepped out. “Soph, you look amazing.”

After turning a few times in front of the mirror, Sophia had to admit, it did accentuate all the right things. Heat raced across her skin as she thought about how Noah would feel if she wore this.

Would he like it? Hate it? Even though she tried to tell herself that he would be impartial, this was a fake marriage after all, she couldn’t help but think that he would appreciate it.

And that thought made her heart swell.

She chewed her lips as she closed her eyes for a moment. She shook her head. “I can’t, Kari. This is too much.” Grabbing her skirt and lifting the hem, she made her way back into the dressing room. She shut the door and took a few breaths.

“Are you okay?” Kirk called.

Sophia fought the tears that threatened to spill as she kept her hand resting on the door. She needed a minute to gather her thoughts before she could face the world. Pressing her hand against her stomach, she closed her eyes.

Breathe, Sophia, she told herself.

She could do this. She could be strong. If her father really did work for a bad man who was going to hurt a lot of people, it was her duty to stop him. After all, she would never be able to live with herself if she didn’t.

“I’ll get you some water,” Kirk said, his voice fading.

She nodded—to no one in particular—as she made her way over to the chair and sat down.

When Kirk returned, she felt better. Enough to allow him inside. After he helped her out of the dress, she asked him to find a simple, satin dress.

Kirk raised his eyebrows but didn’t protest. He left the room, and a few minutes later, he was back with a dress draped over his arm.

Once he zipped it up, she held her breath.

This was the dress. The dress she’d dreamed about since she was a girl. It was flattering yet modest. It hinted at her figure without exposing any of it. The soft, satin material fitted her at the chest, but then flowed down to the floor. The neckline was higher and covered her shoulders with small, capped sleeves. She turned a few times in the mirror to get a look at every angle.

Kirk said it looked like it was meant for her, and Sophia had to agree.

When she stepped out of the room, Kari’s smile widened as it spread across her face. “Soph,” she said, standing to walk around her.

Sophia laughed. “What are you doing?”

Kari stopped in front of her. It looked like she had tears in her eyes.

“Are you crying?” Sophia asked.

Kari just stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Sophia. “I’m just so happy for you. It’s time you started opening yourself up to people. Noah seems like a good guy.” She pulled back. “Even if it’s kind of a fake wedding, I think there’s something there.”

Sophia hated the hope that rose up in her chest at Kari’s words. In an effort to push it down, she raised her eyebrows and let out a nervous chuckle. “You got that all from his one appointment at Gentle Dentists?”

Kari’s cheeks reddened as she glanced down to the ground.

Sophia studied Kari. “Kare. What’s going on?”

Kari met her gaze with an unsure expression. “I may have encouraged Noah to go after you.”

“What?”

Kari sighed as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt. “I may have given your number to Noah after the appointment. Told him to call you.” She held up her hands. “I didn’t know at the time that you two had a history.” She wrinkled her nose. “Can you forgive me?”

Sophia loved her crazy, meddling friend. Besides, she knew that Noah would have met with her again regardless, so she smiled and wrapped Kari into a hug. Out of all the people in her life, Kari had always stuck with her. She’d never abandoned her.

And she needed that strength as much as she needed air to breathe. She needed her friend. “It’s okay,” she whispered as she pulled back.

Kari studied her and then reached up and wiped a tear off her cheek. “Whew. That was emotional,” she said, smiling at Sophia.

She stepped back and ran her gaze over the dress. “I think this is the one. Even if it’s fake, you have to get married in this dress. It’s like it was made for you.”

Sophia turned to study her reflection in the mirror. She couldn’t deny the excitement that rose in her chest. Sure, she wasn’t marrying Noah because she loved him, but that didn’t mean that she couldn’t look good, or have a blast, while doing it.

She forced out her fear and smiled over at Kari. “I’ll buy it.”

After the dress was purchased and inside Kari’s car, Kari pulled into the parking lot of Tasty Cakes. After she turned off the engine, she glanced over at Sophia.

“Ready to eat some cake?” Sophia asked.

Kari nodded and they both got out.

There were only a few vehicles in the parking lot. Sophia glanced at them, wondering who else was here.

When they got to the door, Kari opened it and waved Sophia inside.

Rebecca was standing at the register, and her face was flushed as she was speaking to…Noah?

They must have not noticed Sophia and Kari, because they continued their conversation without halting.

Sophia took a moment to watch them. Noah looked remorseful, and Rebecca kept nodding as she reached out and patted his hand on the counter.

It looked so easy—forgiving Noah. From the expression on Rebecca’s face, she held no ill will toward him. If anything, she looked relieved and grateful.

Noah said something, and they both laughed.

Sophia cleared her throat and approached the cake case. Noah glanced over at her, and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Hey,” he said as his gaze swept over her.

She tried to push out the butterflies that took flight in her stomach. “Hey. What are you doing here?” she asked. She winced at how accusatory her question sounded.

Noah glanced over at Rebecca. She nodded.

“I’ll let you two talk while I go get the cake samples.” Rebecca glanced behind Sophia and said, “Can you help me, Kari?”

“Get cake? Oh, yeah.” Kari walked past Sophia and followed Rebecca into the back room.

Sophia glanced over at Noah. “So you talked to Rebecca?” That felt stupid to say, but she wasn’t sure how to approach this.

Noah leaned against the counter and folded his arms. “Yeah. I realized I couldn’t run forever.” He hesitated. “I’m tired of running.”

The depth of his voice sent shivers down her back. Or perhaps, it was the way he was studying her that caused her to swallow.

He straightened and pushed his hands through his hair. “Sorry. I just figured Rebecca deserved something after everything she went through.”

Sophia reached out and fiddled with a stack of candles hanging from a hook on the wall. “And she forgave you?”

When Noah didn’t respond, she glanced over at him. He had a contemplative look on his face.

“Yes,” he said.

Sophia nodded as she dropped her hand. “Good for her.” Where was she going with this? Why couldn’t she just let the past go?

A worry grew in her gut. She knew that Noah wasn’t planning to stick around forever. He had every intention of leaving. Once he got what he wanted, he’d be gone, and she’d be left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Again.

He parted his lips and stepped forward. She could see there were so many things that he wanted to say, but fear pounded through her veins. There was no way she could listen to him tell her how much he respected her and didn’t mean to hurt her. They were words meant to encourage, but they just hurt.

And she didn’t want to hear them.

“Let’s pick out a cake,” she said, moving to slide the folder of cake designs over to him.

Noah hesitated as he glanced down and then back to Sophia. She could see the internal struggle going on inside of him.

She met his gaze and gave him a soft smile.

He swallowed, hard. And then turned to study the book she’d opened. “A cake, huh?”

Relieved, she nodded. “Yes, a cake.”

They flipped through some interesting designs that ranged from one with the Beatles dressed in tuxes to a pineapple-decorated one.

They laughed at a few racy ones and wrinkled their noses at a few stuffy ones. Sophia could feel the tension leaving her shoulders as she relaxed. Noah must have felt the same, because the air between them eased.

Rebecca walked in with a tray full of cake slices. Kari followed, eating a chocolate-frosted cupcake. Sophia shook her head as she laughed.

“Really, Kari?”

Kari shrugged. “Sue me.”

Sophia snorted. Then she nodded at Rebecca as she set the tray down in front of them.

They spent the rest of the afternoon tasting cakes. For a moment, the stress of their past faded into the background. For a moment, Sophia began to remember why she’d fallen in love with Noah in the first place.