April did it. She pulled off the perfect wedding in under two weeks. The wedding under the old white oak tree had been picture perfect. Our guests had arrived on time and without incident, for which I’m grateful. Belinda was a beautiful bride, and I handed her over to Wes with my blessing and maybe a tear or two. Paparazzi had caused a minimal issue, but the security detail had kept them at bay.

The meal was delicious, earning compliments from Chef Derrick George, whom Belinda and I have known for years as simply Ric. The wedding cake was stunning and just as tasty. Rachael did an incredible job. White’s Manor Event Center is going to be a hit with April as the event planner and Rachael handling all the food.

My gaze falls on Belinda as she slow dances with Wes. She looks so happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for her. I search the crowd for April and find her flittering around like she’s been doing all evening. She’s kept everything moving smoothly. I want to dance with her, but I have to respect that she’s at work. I push off the wall and head toward the newlyweds instead.

“May I cut in?” I ask my new brother-in-law as he holds his bride close and they sway to the music under the twinkle lights in the barn’s rafters.

“Of course.” Wes gently kisses his new bride and puts her hand in mine.

My sister looks radiant. The DJ changes to another slow song. “You make a beautiful bride.”

Belinda smiles and I have a moment of nostalgia, seeing the smile of the twelve-year-old girl she used to be. “Thank you, E. Today has simply been the best day of my life. You and April really came through.”

We start to sway in time to the music. “It was all April. I was just the muscle.”

She chuckles, “You forget I know how controlling you are. I’m sure you had a big part in creating all this, too.”

“Mom and Dad would have loved seeing you so happy.”

Some of the joy in her eyes dims. “I miss them, but I was so young when they died. You’ve been so much more to me than just a big brother. I know all you gave up for me, Elias, and I don’t have the words to tell you how much I thank you for that.”

I tip her chin up with my finger. “There’s no need to thank me. I would do the same thing all over again. Seeing you happy today, with Wes, makes me so proud.” I tweak her nose and smile. “Have you and Wes decided what you’re going to do while he’s deployed?”

“Yeah. I’m going to come back to California while he’s gone, then we’ll decide. He’s actually thinking of not re-upping next year.”

I’m glad to hear that. I wish they had waited to get married, but young love and all that. “I’m sure you’ll figure it all out. I’m glad you’ll still be close for a while longer.”

“I noticed that you and April seem to be getting along very well. I’m getting a vibe that you think she’s a little bit more than ‘nice.’”

My sister’s eyes see a little too much sometimes. “What are you getting at, brat?”

She looks up at me with a mischievous grin. “I went into the house to check my makeup, and you two were lip locked. So, I’m thinking whatever blip you two were having isn’t an issue anymore.”

Right after the wedding, I cornered April in the house. She’d been so busy that I’d only had brief glances of her since we arrived, and I needed to get my hands and lips on her. Belinda already thinks she’s onto something, and I’m not going to give her any more encouragement. “She’s a beautiful woman.”

She chuckles. “Hum. Refusing to answer the question. Now I’m thinking it may be serious.”

“Come on, Belinda. You know me. I don’t do serious. You just want everyone married because you are. I don’t have to be married or in a relationship to be happy.”

“So, she’s just a friend. You’ll go back home tomorrow, and you’ll never see her again.”

I stumble, but I catch myself before I drag Belinda down. “You know me so well. I’ve already told you. I really like April. Where that goes, I’m not sure. She’s so invested here.”

“But you’d like for it to go somewhere.” She grins, taking pleasure in my silence.

I give her an exasperated look. She just keeps poking. “I’d like to explore the possibility. I can see a future with April. She’s the only woman I’ve ever wanted to take a chance on.”

She pauses, and I know what she’s thinking. “Elias. Not all women are like Celeste. She used you to get ahead in the business. You were never romantically involved with her. Trust your feelings for April.”

“I don’t judge all women based on Celeste,” I deny, but I’m not quite sure that’s true. Celeste had used my newly-acquired fame and inexperience to further herself in the show business world. I’d trusted her to have my best interests at heart, and she’d used me. “I’ve just never felt the need to put myself out there, until April.”

Her bright smile shines up at me. “I hope it works out. I think she’s perfect for you.”

I’m beginning to think that, too. I relinquish Belinda back into the arms of her husband and scan the crowd. The barn looks like a fairytale set. Everyone is either dancing or just having a good time visiting. I see Kyle and the guys getting ready to play another set. John, my show’s producer, catches my eye at the same time I see April. It’s not a difficult decision to choose between the two. Unfortunately, John catches up to me just as I reach April. I send her an apologetic smile and hold up a finger asking her to give me one minute. I wait for her nod, then turn back to John.

“Elias,” John says as he draws near.

I send another smile April’s way. “John. Glad you could make it.”

He slaps me on the back. “I wouldn’t miss sharing Belinda’s wedding. Plus, I’m glad I got to see White’s Manor in person. The pictures just didn’t do it justice.”

“Pictures?” My head tips and I try to make sense of what he is saying. What pictures?

John looks at me, just as confused. “From their application.”

I still have no clue what he means. “John, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Sorry, I thought you knew. Kent was supposed to tell you. The owners applied for a spot on our show.”

That can’t be true. She said… My eyes go to April, but my smile doesn’t reach my eyes. A desperate feeling begins to grip my heart. I can hear her voice so clearly telling me she would never want her house on the show. “Really? When?”

“Well, let’s see. Two weeks ago, maybe? I know. I know. We don’t usually move this fast, but once we realized the Manor house was where Belinda’s wedding was going to be, we took another look, liked what we saw, and pushed it forward. I guess it pays to know the host.” He chuckles and my heart starts to crumble. “We’re looking at schedule placement now. I must say, this estate is going to look great on camera. And I can tell by the pictures hitting social media that you and April have plenty of chemistry going on? You know the fans love that.”

I should grasp what John said about pictures on social media, but I can’t get past his statement that April applied for a spot on the show two weeks ago. We met two weeks ago. But April claimed she didn’t know who Belinda was. My stomach rolls. Celeste. It’s happening again. Is that all I’ve been to April since I’ve been here? Was getting close to me part of her plan to get her house on the show? She did a huge favor for Belinda, is this return payback. No. There has to be another explanation.

“Is that the owner?” John nods toward someone behind me, and I turn to see April. Beautiful April, who lied to me. I need to talk to her. I can’t believe what I’m thinking.

I’m having trouble catching my breath. “Yeah. That’s her,” I answer.

“Introduce us.” John moves forward.

I watch her face closely—she doesn’t act as if she knows who John is. “April, this is the show’s producer, John Williams.”

She holds out her hand, and John takes it in his for a polite handshake. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Williams.”

“Please, call me John. You’ve done a wonderful job with the Manor remodel so far.”

April smiles. “Thank you. We still have a way to go.”

“That you do, and we’re excited about that. I wondered if I could take a look at the inside while I’m here.”

She looks like she wants to say no, but she smiles and nods. “Of course. I’ll be happy to give you a tour.”

I take her by the arm, preventing her from leaving. I look into her eyes because I need to see the truth when I ask, “You know why John wants to see the house?”

At first, she looks confused, but then she smiles at John, “Of course, Elias. He wants to see the house because of the show.” She turns to John and my heart breaks into pieces. “John, if you’ll just come with me, we’ll start the tour at the front. I think you get a bigger impact seeing White’s Manor in all her stately glory. It won’t be long before the insides match the outsides.”

So, it’s true. April lied. She didn’t question John’s motives for seeing the manor before production. I watch them walk up the brick pavers to the house with a heavy weight on my heart. I wish I had another explanation. Had the past two weeks been a lie? All along, she’d planned to use me to have her home remodeled. That would be a big boost to their business. I feel sick to my stomach. I don’t stop to think—I just need to leave. Leave White’s Manor, leave Treemont, leave North Carolina. I jump in the first limousine I come to and tell them to take me to my B&B. Even though most of my clothes are now at April’s house, I don’t care about leaving them. Once I get to my room, I text Belinda and let her know that something came up in Cali and I’m heading out, and I’ll see her when she gets back. Kyle will make sure she gets home after Wes leaves for base tomorrow.

I start packing because even if I have to sleep at the airport until I can get on a flight west, I’m not staying to hear any more lies. I only keep my mind focused on the next step. Thinking about anything else can’t happen.