Maggie stood in the middle of the barn, waiting for Ben to catch up to her. He’d stopped to take a call from someone at his office. For some reason, she found herself hoping he wouldn’t have to leave to deal with something back at home. The thought was silly, really.

Ben was the enemy. She could see him doing budget cuts in his head every time she tried to show him something about the lodge. She needed to keep her eye on the prize and protect Valerie from the hatchet job he was clearly planning to do on their business plan.

As much as she wanted to keep her distance, Maggie found herself enjoying Ben’s company more than she should.

Maggie shook off the thoughts and stared up at the new beams that stabilized the barn. Their intricately patterned design was truly a work of art, dreamed up by John in his original restoration plans. He had been a masterful architect.

Had been.

Maggie swallowed down the lump that threatened to break her and tucked away the memories, focusing on the here and now instead. And the here and now was Ben Sumner.

He’d grown up since high school. No more shy nerd, he’d ditched his glasses and pocket protector for well-worn jeans that fit snugly in all the right places and T-shirts that stretched taut across his broad chest.

If Maggie were being honest, she’d admit that she’d always seen the potential of Ben’s hotness perpetually hidden under his quiet exterior in high school. He’d always intimidated her too much to do anything about her attraction back then. She would bet most people saw her as the cool girl who wasn’t afraid of anything in high school, but they would have been wrong. She never could have approached him in anything more than friendship.

Despite the cool air blowing through the open barn doors, Maggie fanned herself at the images his hardened body had elicited last night in her dreams.

“Hey, Maggie.”

Maggie jumped and glanced up at the voice, laughing when she saw Shawn Braddock, their general contractor, hanging from the rafters. He was able to build almost anything she, Valerie, or John had asked of him.

“What are you doing up there?” she asked.

“Just finishing up the joist work.” He pointed to the beams intersecting the roof. “I finally sheered up all the seams on the roof yesterday.”

Maggie watched as Shawn shimmied down the side of the barn and jumped, his booted feet landing with a thud on the packed dirt. He brushed back his shaggy dark hair, revealing a cover-model-worthy face and blue eyes that could outshine any Colorado sky. As Maggie studied Shawn’s long lean form, she was surprised to feel nothing, no stirring of arousal, no longing for his embrace. Nothing like the unease and unwarranted desire she felt anytime she was around Ben.

Maggie focused harder on Shawn and wondered why she couldn’t fall for a laid-back, easy guy like him. She knew women found Shawn outrageously gorgeous. Aunt Sally had even encouraged him to make a “Hot Men with Wood” calendar. Her daughter, Lily had nearly choked on her coffee when her mother had come up with the idea. But all the other women in town were on Aunt Sally’s side of that particular debate.

Shawn had unfortunately declined.

He straightened the tool belt around his waist, the weight of it pulling his already low-slung jeans to dangerous levels.

Nothing. Maggie felt nothing as she stood staring at this man. Although she could appreciate Shawn’s male form, it was another man she pictured. A man she didn’t even consider a friend, yet.

“So, how’s it going with the Sumner boys?” Shawn asked sarcastically. It was no secret that he wasn’t a fan of the Sumner brothers. Shawn lived and breathed loyalty and didn’t approve of the absence of the boys over the past few years. “Have they put a ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard yet?”

“Surprisingly, no.” Maggie smiled.

Shawn stepped closer. “Are you for real? I’d kind of slowed down my men’s work, half expecting the guys to swoop in and sell the place after their father’s death.”

Maggie side-stepped Shawn and surveyed the barn. The walls were redone, the roof patched and solid. It was all coming together. She sighed. “I’m taking Ben on a tour. I showed him the cabins. I wanted him to see what we’re doing here instead of just the numbers on a computer screen.”

“And?”

Maggie grasped one of the posts and swirled around to face him, smiling bright. “And…he agreed.”

“Shit, are you kidding me, Maggie?”

“Nope.” She said no, but she didn’t want to put too much assurance in her tone. She honestly wasn’t ready to believe Ben herself. It seemed a little too good to be true. “I don’t know if I’m ready to believe him, but he’ll be here to look at the barn soon.”

Shawn advanced, scooping her up before she could protest, and swinging her around. “That’s awesome news, Maggie. This barn has really become special to me.” He released her and set her on the ground, staring up at the ceiling. “I can’t explain it.”

Maggie steadied herself on his shoulders. Broad shoulders, muscular shoulders.

Nope. Nothing.

Shawn leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Still nothing.

“Way to go, Maggie girl.” Shawn’s blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

Zilch. Zero. Nada.

Maggie’s stomach didn’t dip like it did when graced with one of Ben’s rare smiles. Her heart didn’t race, her hands didn’t sweat, her lady parts didn’t pulsate and beg to be stroked like they did when Ben Sumner was around. Dammit. This attraction was so inconvenient.

“Hey, Maggie! You here?” A familiar female voice rang from outside the barn door just as one of Sally’s six daughters, Lily Sumner, stepped inside.

Maggie turned, still balanced against Shawn’s shoulders, and smiled at Lily. “Hey girl.”

Lily froze mid-stride, her own smile falling as her eyes darted between her and Shawn. She quickly diverted her gaze, staring down at the dirt floor.

Maggie studied her in confusion. “What’s wrong, Lily?”

Lily raised her head but remained silent.

Maggie walked toward her.

Lily stared past her at Shawn, brows knitted, before turning aback to Maggie, shaking her head. “Nothing.” She laughed with no amusement.

Maggie reached Lily and touched her arm. “Are you sure?”

Lily’s gaze remained on Shawn, eyes narrowed. “Positive.” Her tone was unusually cold, void of emotion.

Maggie glanced over her shoulder just as Shawn turned his back on both women and walked toward the opposite barn door, shoulders slumped.

Ahhh.

“Lily, you know there’s nothing going on between me and Shawn, right?” Maggie spoke quietly, even though Shawn was out of sight and not likely to overhear. Maggie would never jeopardize her friendship with Lily, especially not for a man. Besides, she’d never had those kinds of feelings for Shawn.

Her friend’s gaze finally met Maggie’s, the sadness evident, but only for a heartbeat. “I know. Shawn’s a big flirt. Everyone knows that.” Lily laughed nervously but the humor didn’t reach her eyes.

Maggie opened her mouth to say more but Lily cut her off. “Mom and Aunt Valerie are on their way here.”

“Now?”

“Yep.”

Oh crap. “Why?” Maggie asked.

“Because,” Lily drew out, “they’re bringing a potential bride to show her the barn…as a possible venue,” Lily practically shrieked.

“What? But, they can’t. The wedding barn won’t be ready for at least another three months.” Maggie moved toward the barn door like she might be able to block the bride from coming in.

“I know, I know, I told them,” Lily said. “But neither of those crazy women would listen. I even threatened to tear up Mom’s Journey poster in the bakery but she didn’t budge.” She giggled.

“For someone who hates love so much, your mother sure is excited about converting this barn into a wedding venue.”

The whole town knew how Sally Sumner felt about love and marriage. For her, they did not go together like a horse and carriage. Her ex-husband had left her over twenty years ago and her daughters had hoped Sally would recover from his indiscretions and eventually find a new love. She hadn’t.

“My mom refuses to say wedding barn—she calls it an event venue.” Lily used air quotes, rolling her eyes. “I think she just wants me to have more events so I’ll stay in town. She’s doing whatever she can to push business my way.” Lily had moved back to Canyon Creek a year ago, leaving a high-profile position with a prestigious event planning company in Denver. She’d never said why, and Maggie had never asked.

“You know,” Maggie said, tilting her head at Lily, “it’s odd. Your mom is so anti-marriage, but if you think about it, all her daughters are involved in the wedding industry in some way.”

Lily scoffed. “Are not.”

“You sound like a three-year-old.” Maggie grinned, shaking her head. “And, you’re wrong. You’re an event planner, Ivy is a chef, Mia is a makeup artist.”

Lily studied her like she was crazy.

“Holly’s a fashion designer, Daisy’s a florist, and Vee is a photographer.” She ticked off the girls on her fingers, making sure she hadn’t missed any.

“But none of us do those things for weddings. Well,” Lily frowned, “Daisy does, but only because every florist has to do a wedding now and again. It’s not like Holly is designing wedding gowns or Mia is doing bridal makeup. She works in Hollywood on movies, for heaven’s sake.”

Maggie only shrugged in the face of Lily’s denials. “But you all could. I’m just saying, it’s a little ironic.” She grabbed Lily’s hand so they could cut Valerie and Sally off before they had a chance to get to the barn—showing it to a potential bride wasn’t an option right now. Before they took two steps, Valerie rounded the barn doors.

“And this is the wedding barn.” Valerie’s voice rang through the cavernous area.

Maggie stared at the opened doors.

Sally and Valerie stood next to a tall, thin woman wrapped in an ivory wool coat, blonde hair slicked back in a high ponytail. Maggie wondered how she could have walked on the rocky trail leading out to the barn in her four-inch designer heels.

Valerie walked further into the barn. “I know it’s nothing to look at now,” she said, waving her arm like Vanna White, “but just envision it. Lights strung along the rafters, tea light candles glowing in antique lanterns. And here,” Valerie brushed past Maggie and Lily as she walked to the center of the barn, “you could have tables set up and covered in white linen topped with Mason jars filled with wildflowers. A very shabby chic look.”

Maggie pressed her lips together. She had told Valerie they needed a strict no candles policy in the barn. They could allow battery-powered tea lights, but for safety’s sake, nothing with a real flame.

The woman drew back her head as if offended and tossed her ponytail behind her shoulder. “Shabby chic?”

Everyone went silent, studying the woman. She was definitely chic, but shabby? No.

“Or anything you can envision really,” Valerie said, her eyes wide, her silent plea for help almost comical.

Sally stepped closer. “Yes, of course, anything you want, Daphne.”

Daphne glanced around the room, her gaze moving to the ceiling.

“There will be a loft and a balcony along that side of the barn.” Valerie pointed to the far wall. “You can wrap the railings with lights.”

Daphne frowned, obviously unable to picture it.

Sally glanced at the woman then stepped toward Lily and Maggie, seemingly ignoring the bride. “Sorry, Maggie,” she whispered, giving her an impish smile.

Maggie saw no evidence of a genuine apology. She raised one skeptical brow. What was Sally Sumner up to now?

“I know you weren’t ready for us to show the barn yet,” Sally spoke softly, keeping one eye on the would-be bride. “but we’ve got people lining up to see it. We just couldn’t turn them away any longer.”

Sally moved closer to the bride. “We’ve got two other brides looking at the same dates as you, Daphne. One is bringing her parents tomorrow afternoon to tour the facility before they put down a deposit.”

Maggie narrowed her eyes but remained silent, not wanting to blow Sally’s cover. Her statement to the bride was a flat-out lie.

Valerie stared at Sally like she’d sprouted two heads before turning to the bride with an apologetic smile.

Maggie and Lily shrugged. Again. What in the world were these women doing?

“Did I mention you’ll get the best event planner in all of Colorado, at a discounted rate?” Sally added, walking toward her daughter. She slipped her arm around Lily’s waist and dragged her closer to Daphne. “Right, Lily?” Sally said through gritted teeth.

“Um…” Lily stuttered.

Maggie knew Sally was blowing smoke up this girl’s ass, but she also recognized a chance to show the Sumner brothers that it was possible for them to pay off their loan on time. If Valerie could book out the barn’s calendar with events, it would prove to Ben that she and Valerie would be fine without him slashing their budget, and their dreams.

Maggie stepped forward. “Yes, that’s right. Lily Sumner was an event coordinator for Mirabella Events in New York and L.A.” She glanced back at Lily with a huge grin. That wasn’t a lie, although Lily had never worked in either location. The events company also had an office in Denver where Lily had worked.

“Really?” Daphne sighed, a gloved hand playing with the simple pendant necklace she wore. Maggie pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the overly dramatic response.

“Yes, that’s right,” Sally stepped in. “She’s planned events for all kinds of celebrities.”

Maggie wasn’t certain that was true, but hey, she’d go with it.

“Ben!” Daphne shouted, glancing over her shoulder.

Maggie cut her gaze from Daphne to Sally and Valerie who were both staring anxiously at the front of the barn.

She followed their gaze and sucked in a breath.

Ben stood just inside the doorway, leaning against the doorframe, an amused smile on his face as he took them all in. He’d taken off his jacket and now she could see that a tight, gray thermal Henley showcased his strong upper body. Heat bloomed from her belly and sweat beaded along her brow despite the cool January air. What would all those muscles feel like under her hands, she wondered, his hard body pressing into her while her legs wrapped—

“Ben!” Daphne’s shrill voice cut through Maggie’s thoughts, “Why didn’t you tell me there was a wedding planner here in your hometown that worked with Beyoncé.”

Lily spoke, “Uh, not really Beyon—”

Maggie elbowed Lily. If this woman wanted to believe Lily had planned Liza Minnelli’s and Elton John’s weddings, let her. They needed the business.

“Ow,” Lily said, rubbing her side.

“Sorry, but we need the business,” Maggie said. “And so do you, right?”

The bigger question was, how did little Miss Bride-to-Be know Ben?

“Yeah, Ben.” Maggie cocked a brow, letting her lips curve into a playful smirk as she planted a hand on her hip, ignoring the way her chest tightened at the idea that this woman might be with Ben. “Why didn’t you tell Daphne? And how is it exactly that you know her?”

Daphne looped her arm through Ben’s. “Oh, Ben and I go way back.”

Ben glanced down at Daphne then raised his head, his hazel eyes wide, easy smile gone as he visibly gulped.

Oh, yeah, this explanation was going to be good.