“This promises to be a really uncomfortable week, you know that, right? I don’t want to put a damper on Sara’s wedding with things being the way they are between Dalton and me. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.” Lacey bit her lip as she drove the car into Wilson’s Hollow.

“You know as well as I do that Sara would be heartbroken if you weren’t part of her wedding with the rest of us. Suck it up, buttercup. This week is about Sara and Nate, not Lacey and Dalton.” Jesse knew just how to put Sara in her place.

“Ouch. You don’t have to be so brutal.” Lacey whined.

“Tough love, sweetheart. It works. You should practice it this week if you get my drift.”

Lacey rolled her eyes. “I really wish I had a date for this weekend. At least I could pretend I was enjoying myself. You’ll be up on stage. I’ll just blend into the wallpaper like the wallflower that I am.”

“Do you even hear yourself? Since when did you become a self-made martyr? This from a woman who had the guts to turn her life upside down, start a new job in a very competitive business and is quickly becoming the favorite amongst Milestone’s clients?” Jesse laughed at the wide-eyed look she received from Lacey.

“You don’t think we all talk. You, my dear friend, are all the latest office buzz. You wouldn’t have had to look hard to have brought a date this weekend. You just aren’t looking. That’s the problem.”

“Jess, you know I’m not interested in dating right now. I’m too busy.”

“Is that the reason we’re going with. Good to know so we make sure we have the same story when someone asks.”

“I swear sometimes I wonder why I am friends with you.” Lacey grumbled.

Jesse jumped across the passenger seat and pulled Lacey into a bear hug. “Betuz you luv me.”

The car swerved slightly. “Stop it, Jess. You want us to spend the week in the hospital and miss the wedding?”

“Now who’s the drama queen.” This time it was Jesse who rolled her eyes.

Lacey’s exuberant laughter filled the vehicle. “I do love you. I’ve missed you. Hard to believe it’s already been two months. You go back on the road in three weeks…without me.” Sadness filled her words.

“Alright. None of that. This week is all about a wedding, a group of friends and lots and lots of alcohol. No work talk. Period. Deal?” Jesse spit on her hand and held it out to Lacey.

“Deal.” Lacey in turn removed one hand from the steering wheel, spit and clasped her hand with Jesse’s. She wiped her hand on her jean pant leg, wincing. “That really is disgusting. Remind me again why we do that?”

“Because it’s more personal and binding.”

“I’d settle for swapping lipsticks next time.” Lacey wasn’t entirely joking.

“Look! Isn’t she beautiful? God, I love it here.” Lacey smiled as she pulled up the mountaintop road and crested with Sara’s B&B sitting on the top of the hill, its dark wood shining in the summer sunlight.

She parked the car, and helped Jesse get their bags out of the trunk. “Guess it’s now or never.” Lacey’s shoulders straightened as she pushed the Inn’s front doors open and pulled her suitcase through.

“Knock! Knock! Any soon-to-be brides at home?” A squeal from the kitchen turned Lacey’s attention to the left. Sara, Dalton’s cousin was running around the counter towards them.

“Lacey! Jesse! You’re finally here. Nate! Look who’s here.” Sara practically knocked Lacey over in her excitement to hug her.

“Easy, honey. You don’t want to break any bones before the ceremony. You’d ruin the wedding photos.” Nate, her fiancé teased.

Sara swatted at him with the dishtowel she held in one hand. She was always baking something.

“Welcome back, you two. We’re all glad you’re here.” Nate hugged them both as well.

“What’s it been, seven months now, Jesse? You’re looking no worse for wear having been out on the road.”

“Uh uh. No work talk this week.” Jesse started.

“Trust me.” Lacey broke in. “You don’t want to have to swap spit with her.”

“Now that sounds like a conversation I might want to get in on.” Luke came in from the back room.

“Luke, honey, I’d swap spit with you anytime.” Jesse teased as the big burly, bearded man picked Jesse up and swung her around. She kissed him soundly right on the mouth.

“Come here, you sweet little thing. I haven’t seen you in way too long, Lacey. How the heck are you?” He scooped her right up in his arms and swung her around, not leaving her out of the welcome peck just as Dalton and Beau walked through the front door.

“Well look watch else the cat drug in. If it isn’t mighty D. and Mr. B. How the hell are ya, man?” he went to shake Dalton’s hand, but his arms were still full of Lacey as he hadn’t set her back on her feet.

Luke laughed as he planted her firmly upright. “Sorry. Got a little carried away. Easy to do with a pretty little thing like you, Lacey. Maybe I’ll get a few more chances to sweep you off your feet this weekend. Weddings bring out the romantic in me.” Luke was teasing of course, but Dalton’s frowned deepened just the same.

“You look a little travel weary. We have just the remedy for that. Four whiskeys coming right up. I know Sara already has that fruity wine chilling for the ladies. Let’s leave ‘em to it.” Luke headed toward the den while Nate, Beau and Dalton followed.

Dalton paused at the double doors before closing them, looking at Lacey directly. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as they both paused and had a moment. Then he closed the door.

Lacey exhaled, her chest hurting.

“Okayyyy…it looks like we have more than my wedding going on, so I’ll get the wine, and you gals make yourself comfortable on the sofas. I want to know what that look was all about. Dalton almost set my Persian rug on fire. What gives?”

Sara returned with three glasses of wine and a fruit and cheese platter.

“We did not come here to talk about Dalton. You are getting married in five days. Can you believe it? I’m so excited for you and Nate.” Lacey’s genuine smile spread across her lovely face.

“And you are so not telling me something, but okay. We’ll get to that eventually. Dalton never could keep anything from me for too long. Anyway, the wedding. Oh Em Gee! I am so excited to become Mrs. Nate Daniels. I was ready six months ago.”

“Said like a true bride-to-be.” Jesse teased. “And to think, we were part of making it all happen.”

“This is true. Oh, what a story we will have to tell our children, won’t we? Listen to me. We aren’t even married yet, and I’m talking about children.”

“Well as your maid of honor and bride’s maid, we are here to serve, so whatever you need done, you just point us in that direction. You’ll be happy to know I planned the bachelorette party, and not Lacey. If it were left up to her, we’d be in our pajamas, eating pizza and singing Sandra Dee songs.” Jesse caught a throw pillow launched at her by Lacey before it hit her in the face.

“Come on. You watch that movie with me every time it came on.”

“If we don’t need bail money, and I make it to the church on time, I’m game.” Sara chimed in.

Their squeals of delight carried into the den where the men were pouring their own drinks.

******

Nate smirked at the sound of his woman so giddy. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

“Probably you, but I’m sure it will circle around to this clown.” Luke said as he lifted his glass in Dalton’s direction.

“Why Dalton? Because all the women swoon at his feet?” Nate ribbed.

Dalton’s frown deepened as he downed his whiskey.

“I’d say it had more to do with that pretty little thing I held in my arms a little while ago, and the look you shot me when you walked in the door and saw her there. Or maybe it was the I want to lay you down look you shared before you came in here to drink with us.” Luke’s eyes watched over the rim of his glass as he finished his own drink off.

“You’re an asshole sometimes, you know that Luke?” Dalton poured another two-fingered whiskey.

“Same as I ever was. You just don’t like hearing what I have to say, especially when it’s the truth.”

“Damn, he’s good.” Beau said to Dalton. Dalton shot Beau a look of disdain.

“What gives, Dalton? Something going on between you and Lacey? Did you finally open your eyes and see what was right in front of you?” Nate was joking, but realized he must have said something terribly wrong by the guttural growl Dalton let roll out.

“We had a thing. Now we don’t. End of discussion.”

“Whoa. That must make for one uncomfortable bus ride.” Nate replied.

“Lacey isn’t our assistant anymore. She took a job with the record label when we got back to Nashville.” Beau chimed in, but backed off when Dalton narrowed his eyes. “What? She was my assistant too.”

“Yeah, but he was the one sleeping with her, weren’t’ you?  That trumps.” Luke crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Must say, that’s a mighty fine piece of ass you let get away. Mind if I take a shot at it since your done with it?” Luke didn’t flinch went Dalton charged him, bunching up his t-shirt in his fists.

“Don’t make me shove my fist down your throat, you son-of-a-bitch!” Dalton gritted out with clenched teeth.

“” I thought so. Just wanted to be sure. Sorry. Didn’t mean to insult your lady. You know I love Lacey like a sister. When are you going to figure out how you feel about her?”

Dalton dropped his fists to his sides as Beau and Nate relaxed a little.

“I need to make some phone calls.” Dalton tossed back his whiskey and slapped the glass on the table. “thanks for the drinks. Where am I bunking?”

“Sara’s put the guys in downstairs rooms. The ladies have the suites upstairs. Come on, you big oaf.” Luke grabbed Dalton in a choke-hold and scrubbed the top of his head with his fist.

“Get off me. You probably haven’t’ bathed today.” Dalton pushed against Luke playfully.

“What? Once a week isn’t enough?” He feigned shock as he smelled his shirt.

“And you wonder why the women aren’t flocking to you.” Dalton joked.

Luke slapped Dalton’s back, laughing as they exited the den. “It’s good to have you back, man. We’ve missed you.”

Sara acknowledged the men first. She stood as they came into the room. Nate automatically gravitated to her. He circled her waist and held her to him. Lacey smiled at the gesture. He didn’t even realize what he’d done. She could see it was as natural to him as breathing. She felt a small twinge in her chest area.

“I imagine you want to get settled in before dinner. It’s just us tonight. The flood of arrivals starts tomorrow, but we have tonight to enjoy and catch up. I’ve made brownies for desert.”

Dalton groaned with pleasure. “I’ve been looking forward to those all week.”

“If your nice, I might let you eat one. Only if you carry Lacey’s bags up for her. Luke, will you take Jesse’s bags up to her room for her, please?”

“Yes, ma’am. As you command.” He bowed and tipped his hat.

“I could get used to that.” Sara teased.

“Don’t.” Luke flung back over his shoulder as he picked up Jesse’s bags at the front door and carried them upstairs.

“I can get my own bags. Dalton doesn’t have too…” Lacey insisted.

Dalton ignored her as he followed Luke’s lead and took Lacey’s bags up the stairs. “Which one, Pip?”

“The Rose Room.” Sara turned back to Jesse and Lacey. “Dinner’s in an hour. Get yourselves settled and come back down. The wine will be waiting.”

Lacey took a deep break as she trailed behind Dalton up the grand staircase that opened to the entire great room below.

Dalton was juggling bags as he wrestled with the doorknob.

“Here. Let me.” Lacey’s hand brushed his as she reached for the knob.  His skin was warm. Her eyes met his as she opened the door and stepped back to let him set the bags down.

He put the bags by the closet and stuffed his hands in his pocket.

“Thanks.” She almost whispered.

They stood staring at each other, neither knowing what to say. Dalton made the first move. He sat down on her bed and patted the comforter, motioning for her to join him.

She hesitated briefly, pausing after her first step, then slowly walked over to the bed.

“Sit down, Lace. We need to talk. We’ve put it off long enough.”

She sat down beside him, her hands clasped in her lap.

“I’ve missed you, Lace. More than you know.” His voice was gruffer, as if it were painful to speak.

“’I’ve missed you, too, Dalton.”

He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. That was the last thing I wanted to happen. You mean to0 much to me, Lace. I don’t want to lose our friendship. I don’t want to lose you.” He squeezed her hands in his, willing her to listen.

“It’s not that simple for me, Dalton.” She felt like her lungs were squeezing the air out of her chest.

“I understand, but do you think for just this week we could call a truce for Sara’s sake? We’ve got to spend a lot of time together. I don’t want to ruin their big day. I also don’t want to fight with you, Lace. If you want to go back to hating me after the wedding, I’ll understand.”

“I don’t hate you, Dalton. That would make this so much easier if I did.” She muttered. “Okay. Truce. For Sara and Nate. I’m pretty sure I packed my big girl panties in one of those bags.” a slight smile crossed her face.

“There’s a glimpse of my Lacey. I’ve missed her so much.” His thumb ran across her bottom lip before he realized what he’d done. He snatched his hand back and stood up.

“Guess I better get my stuff and settle in. My stomach’s chewing on my backbone, I’m so hungry.”

Pausing at the door, he said “Thanks, Lacey.” Before he closed the door behind him.

She flung herself back on the bed, blowing her bangs out of her face.

Damn the man. Just when she thought she had built a strong wall around her heart, he goes and kicks out a brick without her even realizing it. Jerk.

“It would be so much easier if I hated him.” She said out loud to the empty room.