CHAPTER ONE
Twenty-Two Years later
Scarlet Lindquist struggled to hold back tears as she lifted her champagne flute in a salute to her sister and her fiancé. She hated public displays of emotion, especially when she was the one whose emotions were on display. But as maid of honor, she was expected to give a toast to the bride and groom at their rehearsal dinner and welcome Ethan Hainstock into her family.
“Please join me in toasting the happy couple. I wish you many years of love and wedded bliss. To Harper and Ethan.”
The small gathering of family and friends of both the bride and groom rose together and lifted their glasses. “To Harper and Ethan.”
She clinked her glass against her sister Maggie’s and then turned to her left to touch Ethan’s brother’s flute, though she noticed the best man had passed on the champagne. A shiver trembled down her spine when her gaze locked with Cameron Hainstock’s. His dark eyes openly assessed her. She was used to men’s scrutiny; males had been staring at her since she was fourteen and developed breasts. But she sensed more in Cameron’s gaze than simple sexual appreciation. It was as if he was trying to look inside her soul to determine what kind of person she was. She wondered what conclusions he’d made.
With the toast over, Scarlet tore her gaze away from Cameron’s and gratefully resumed her seat. Her thoughts returned to the reason they were all gathered at Miller’s, the resort down the road from their fishing lodge on Solace Lake in north central Minnesota. She and her sisters had inherited the lodge from their grandparents and were currently renovating it. Harper’s relationship and subsequent engagement to Ethan Hainstock had happened so quickly. At first, Scarlet been suspicious of Ethan, but she’d come to like him, mainly because she could see how much he loved her sister. She was happy for Harper, she really was.
But to marry so soon? Scarlet hoped she was doing the right thing. Nobody deserved happiness more than Harper.
When they’d announced their engagement and said they wanted to get married right away, she’d been pleased, but cautious. They didn’t have to rush into marriage. They’d only met a few months ago. It wouldn’t hurt to wait. She had no doubt they loved each other, but was it enough? It certainly hadn’t been enough for her parents. And she wasn’t exactly a shining example of the power of love. She prayed Harper and Ethan would be the exception to the rule.
Ethan’s sister Lydia got to her feet. “It’s been a lovely evening, but it’s time for us to go. Tomorrow’s a big day, isn’t it, Tessa?”
Cameron’s five-year-old daughter nodded solemnly. “I get to be flower girl tomorrow.”
Cameron leaned over to kiss his daughter’s hair, the color the same deep chocolate brown as his own. An unwelcome emotion caused a lump to form in Scarlet’s throat at the tenderness in his touch. “You’re going to be the best flower girl ever.”
“I know.”
Everyone laughed at Tessa’s earnest reply. Cameron lifted her out the booster seat and held her in his arms. “Come on, pumpkin. Time for this flower girl to hit the sack.”
Pumpkin. Scarlet had a sudden flashback of being carried in her father’s arms in the same way, her head resting against his shoulder in complete trust.
She swallowed and pushed the memory from her mind.
Cameron turned to face her. “Ethan said you needed help decorating the wedding tent tomorrow. What time did you want me to be there?”
She blinked in surprise. “I didn’t know you’d volunteered to help.”
Harper touched her arm. “I know you, Scarlet. You’re planning some decorating extravaganza, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” Her sister really did know her. She wanted Harper’s wedding to be beautiful, and very special. Besides, she loved decorating.
Ethan put his arm around Harper’s shoulders. “I thought maybe Cam and Drew could give you a hand.”
Scarlet glanced over at Drew, Ethan’s twenty-one-year-old nephew. He was acting as Ethan’s groomsman and had been paired with Maggie in the wedding party. He flashed her a smile and a thumbs-up, and she smiled back. She enjoyed working alone, liked making the ideas in her head come to life. But there was a lot to do and, though she hated to admit it, she could use some help. She only wished Cameron’s presence didn’t make her feel so…unsettled.
She forced a smile. “I appreciate the help. I’ll be at the tent around nine a.m. The tables and chairs we’re renting are supposed to be delivered between ten and eleven, and I’d like to get most of the decorating finished before then.”
Cameron nodded. “We’ll be at the lodge at nine.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you then.”
Ethan clapped his brother on the back. “Good. Thanks, Cam.”
Scarlet smiled as she watched her sister and her soon-to-be husband cross the room. He was dark to her fair, tall to her petite, brown eyed to her blue. But in every way that was important, Harper and Ethan were a match. A perfect team. Ethan had made Harper’s dream to bring the fishing lodge back to life his dream as well. Together, they were turning the old lodge into an eco-friendly resort the whole family could be proud of.
To have someone to share her dreams, someone to have her back and love her no matter what seemed like a fairy tale to Scarlet.
“They’re a good-looking couple, aren’t they?”
Cameron’s deep voice broke into her thoughts, chasing away her fanciful notions. Nothing but wishful thinking.
“Yes, they are.”
He adjusted a limp, nearly asleep Tessa in his arms. Her head lay against his broad shoulder, while one hand rested on his chest, as if she wanted to feel the beat of her father’s heart. For some reason, the thought made her heart ache.
“Is Harper pregnant?”
She jerked her head up at his whispered question. “What? No, of course not!” In her surprise, her voice was louder than she’d intended.
“I had to ask. They’re getting married in a hell of a hurry.”
At least, she didn’t think Harper was pregnant. She and her sisters often withheld the truth about their lives from each other, especially when the truth was unpleasant, but she’d hoped they’d put those days behind them. Surely if Harper was pregnant, she would have shared the news with her and Maggie.
Harper had turned to give her a puzzled stare, alerted by sound of her raised voice. Scarlet flashed her a phony smile before speaking to Cameron again, this time in a lowered tone. “Do you think that’s the only reason he’d marry her? Call me sentimental, but I believe they’re marrying for love.”
“They barely know each other. What would be the harm in waiting a few months? I don’t want Ethan to get hurt.”
She, too, had concerns, but she was too insulted on behalf of her sister to admit to them. He better not be suggesting Harper was only marrying Ethan for his money. Five years ago, Ethan won over a hundred and seventy-five million dollars in a lottery, though Harper hadn’t been aware of that when they first met. Because of painful past experiences, he’d kept the secret far longer than he should have, afraid it would alter the way she saw him.
Scarlet straightened and looked Cameron in the eye. “I don’t want Harper to get hurt again. He lied to her about the money and she’s the one who walked away.”
He leaned in close, his voice low and his eyes glittering. “But she came back, didn’t she?”
Before she could respond, he turned and walked across the room. A moment later, he left the dining room of Miller’s Resort with his family, Tessa still in his arms.
Anger swirled in her gut. Was Cameron Hainstock planning to make trouble for Harper?
Her hands fisted at her sides. Not on my watch, he won’t.