Saved by the Bride

chapter Sixteen

Annika leaned over to turn off her office computer and knocked a stack of folders off the desk. “Damn it.” She’d been clumsy all morning and after spilling coffee on two shirts, she’d resorted to wearing one of Esther’s aprons. With a sigh, she slid off her chair and started pulling the papers back into the correct folders.

Finn, having ended his phone call, bent down to help her. When all the folders were back in a neat pile, he hauled her to her feet. Gently holding her by her upper arms, he hooked her gaze. “Breathe, Legs.”

She bit her lip. “Everything hinges on my meeting with Ty Dennison going well. I lost Ellery’s guy to Superior-Duluth because of the port and I need this industry. Without it, Whitetail will die.”

Finn frowned the way he always did when she talked about Whitetail. “You didn’t lose Kugals. They did their sums and the port won because it offered them exactly what they needed. That’s business. You’ve done your preparation for Long River. You’ve put in the long hours and that’s all you can do because you can’t control Ty Dennison’s decision.”

“I wish I could.” She stepped into him, wrapping her arms around him, and needing to feel his heartbeat against hers. Loving him way too much.

He stroked her back. “Life doesn’t work that way, Annika.”

I wish it did. She looked up into those fathomless dark eyes and tried to read them, but once again he’d carefully hidden away all his emotions like he always did. Almost always did. The memory of his meltdown after the campout stayed strong.

He traced his thumb along her cheek. “Do you want me to come with?”

She shook her head, even though part of her wanted him there by her side. “Thanks anyway, but Whitetail has to do this on its own. We organized who’s doing what at the town meeting and Ellery’s representing your interests.”

“That he is.”

“I’m meeting Ty at the airport, giving him a tour of the town, calling into a few stores where everyone will make a huge fuss of him, and they’ll showcase true Whitetail spirit. Afterward, we’ll meet Ellery at the warehouses.”

“Sounds like a plan.” His phone rang and he gave her arm a squeeze, released it and then took the call. “Finn Callahan.”

She heard the pause and saw the moment he became the CEO he was destined to be. “There’s a flaw in that plan, Henrico. Let’s talk it through so it’s visible to you.”

Annika watched him stare out the window as he listened intently and knew that even though he was standing looking at one of the country’s prettiest lakes, he wasn’t seeing it. He was in another world where he belonged and she was firmly in Whitetail. Her town. Her place. A town that after today would hopefully have a new industry and new jobs.

She was acting mayor and she must look the part so instead of arriving windblown from the motorboat, she’d brought the truck back yesterday. She picked up the keys.

Finn turned at the jangle and mouthed, Good luck.

His support made her heart roll idiotically in her chest. It doesn’t mean what you want it to mean. All it meant was that Finn was a caring man. A caring man who didn’t love her. She forced a smile onto her face, gave him the thumbs-up sign and carefully made her way down the stairs.

An hour later she turned the truck onto Main Street with Mr. Dennison sitting next to her. She was looking forward to seeing his reaction to the banner she’d organized—the one that said Welcome Long River Electronics. But the banner strung between the post office and Peterson’s Market read Whitetail Welcomes the Callahan-Neiquest Wedding.

What? Every instinct had her foot slamming down hard on the brake, but somehow she managed to hold back, which was just as well because giving a potential town investor whiplash wasn’t a good idea. Bridey and Hank are getting married in Whitetail? She couldn’t believe it. Why didn’t she know this? After all, she was the one designing invitations for a Chicago wedding which was a year away. She racked her brains for clues or snippets she might have heard to indicate their change of plan, but she came up blank. The last time she’d seen Bridey and Hank was at the party. The bulk of her weekend had been spent on the island with Finn, pretending the real world wasn’t just across the lake. The only time they’d had any real contact with his family was when Logan had come to visit after his and Finn’s kayaking adventure.

The brothers had lit a fire and then she and Logan had enjoyed a great time teasing Finn about getting sticky marshmallows everywhere except between the graham crackers when he was making s’mores. It had been Annika who’d taken Logan home when Finn had suddenly needed to make a vital phone call—one she was certain wasn’t very vital at all, but got him out of having to see Sean. When she’d arrived at Kylemore it was Esther who’d received Logan with a hug and had told her that everyone was in Whitetail. Annika assumed they’d gone berry picking as Marion had been talking about it on Friday night.

On Monday morning, when she and Finn had been cuddled up in the post-dawn chill, they’d heard the helicopter leaving. Finn had mentioned that Bridey was heading back to Chicago for a few days with Hank. Nothing had been mentioned about the wedding being moved forward a year or that the venue had been changed to Whitetail. Surely she’d know if it had?

Why? You’re not family. She bit her lip against the truth. She’d fallen in love with Finn and she adored his family, but she wasn’t part of it. A shot of acid burned her stomach, making her feel ill.

A rogue thought suddenly pinged her. Late on Saturday, Nicole had texted the first of two messages. Messages she’d ignored because she’d either been having fun with Finn or frantically preparing for today. Had the Callahans and Neiquests been in Whitetail on Saturday planning the wedding?

“...pretty big event.” Ty’s Southern drawl brought her back with a jolt.

“Excuse me?”

“This wedding.” He pointed to the shop front of Whitetail Market and Video, which had hearts all over the windows, and Nicole’s salon, which had white tulle with tiny golden hearts filling the display area.

“Ah, yes, the wedding.” She smiled tightly as she pulled into a parking space in front of the imposing town hall. “But today’s all about Long River Electronics. Please come and enjoy a tour of the town and meet some of the business leaders.”

Ty waited for her to alight and then met her on the sidewalk. The plan had been for the aldermen to meet her here, and then together they’d escort Ty and introduce him to the more prominent business owners. The aldermen were there and so was half the town. Relief flooded her. She had no clue what had happened to the banner but it seemed that Whitetail was on track after all.

Mrs. Norell was the first person to notice her. “Anni.” She waved and walked over. “This is marvelous news, isn’t it?”

Annika was aware of Ty standing next to her and as nothing had been decided she carefully said, “We mustn’t get ahead of ourselves. Mr. Dennison hasn’t even seen the town yet.”

Ella beamed at Ty. “It’s wonderful that you’re spending some extra time in our town before the wedding. Which side are you on?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I’m not part of the wedding.” Ty glanced at Annika with a questioning look.

Annika tried not to grind her teeth and frantically used her eyes to signal everything they’d discussed at the town meeting. “Mrs. Norell, Ty represents Long River Electronics.”

The woman nodded and looked slightly disappointed that Ty wasn’t connected with the wedding. “Pleased to meet you. If you’ll excuse me I have to run. Miss Bridget Callahan wants to have some of her wedding photos taken in my garden and I’ve got my work cut out for me to have it looking perfect for our bride.”

Ella hurried away and Annika hastily called out to John Ackerman who came over beaming. Before she could introduce Ty, John said, “Anni, can you believe it? The Callahan wedding has ordered all their fresh produce through me. The times they are a-changing.”

If it had been possible to shoot daggers through her eyes she would have done it. “That’s great, John. This is Ty Dennison of Long River Electronics and if they choose to expand in Whitetail then your market will prosper as a result.”

John shook Ty’s hand. “Good to meet you, Ty. Are you married?”

Ty looked taken aback. “Ah, no, sir, I’m not, but I’m considering it.”

“Well, you keep us in mind when you pop the question to your girl. You couldn’t choose a better place than Whitetail to tie the knot and we can take care of all your wedding needs. Bridget Callahan has chosen us ahead of all those swanky Chicago hotels because we give our brides the key to the town for their day.”

Annika silently groaned and was about to steer Ty away when Nicole rushed up, gripped her arm and with an accusing tone said, “I thought you’d sorted out your phone problems, Anni? We need an urgent meeting. There’s so much to do in such a short time and the invitations have to go out yesterday.”

Annika stifled her scream of frustration. Had everyone forgotten how important today’s meeting was? That Ty Dennison held the future of Whitetail in his hand with the offer of jobs. Real jobs. She couldn’t believe the town would risk jobs because of a wedding.

She shook off Nicole’s hand. “I’ll call you later when I’ve finished meeting with,” she emphasized the words, “Long River Electronics.”

Nicole’s chin shot up. “Make sure you do.” She extended her hand to Ty. “I’m Nicole Lindquist and my salon’s across the street. However, I’m also the coordinator of Whitetail—Weddings That WOW. Annika probably hasn’t told you but,” she threw her hands out to encompass the town, “we’ve just scored a major wedding and the publicity it’s going to generate will cement Whitetail as ‘the’ place to get married.”

Ty shook Nicole’s hand. “Congratulations, ma’am.”

Annika heard the tightness in his Southern hospitality. If she’d had a flue as a body part, smoke would be pouring out of her. She was fuming with Nicole’s grandstanding and so furious with the town for letting her down that she was ready to spit. She frantically glanced around trying to find someone who would focus on Ty instead of Bridey’s wedding. Someone who would help her rescue what was starting to look like a runaway disaster.

Luke Anderson—bless him—was crossing the street toward them. After college and spending five years working for an agricultural company, Luke had returned to Whitetail and taken over the running of the family dairy farm. He loved the farm and the town in that order and could trace his ancestors back to the first Swedes who settled in the district in 1846.

“Luke, may I introduce you to Ty Dennison of Long River Electronics.”

Luke gripped the Southerner’s hand firmly. “Welcome to Whitetail. We might be small but we’re big on service.”

Ty returned the greeting. “That’s good to hear. I grew up in a small town and my company has small-town values which I won’t compromise on. My staff’s like family.”

“Then you’ll fit right in here.” Luke smiled. He gestured to the town hall. “My forefathers arrived here to make a new life and community has always been a strong part of Whitetail. We’re keen to expand that to encompass new ventures.”

The three of them strolled along the street with Luke calmly and quietly adding important details to Annika’s commentary about Whitetail. This was fortunate because as they passed each shop and she saw yet another wedding window display with a sticker that said Official Supplier to the Callahan-Neiquest Wedding, she was having trouble keeping her mind on selling Whitetail when Whitetail had sold out on her.

It was a relief to finally meet Ellery at the warehouses.

As they stepped through the doorway with the now-finished mural, Ty stopped short and stared at the bridal wonderland.

“I was under the impression the warehouses were empty.”

Annika rushed to reassure him. “Technically they are. This is just a goodwill gesture for Whitetail—Weddings That WOW.”

“The town’s business?”

“I’d hardly call it that. They have a couple of weddings booked is all.”

Ty shot her a look. “It feels more than that, Ms. Jacobson.” He turned to Ellery. “If I choose Whitetail, I’d want the entire space.”

“Absolutely.”

Ellery started talking square footage and Annika went ahead thankful she’d closed the door on her studio, and she headed down the corridor to the actual warehouse. She hauled open the heavy door and stopped short. Al Larson’s carriage and limousine were parked inside. Huge metal poles lay on the ground along with a sea of white industrial PVC that she’d swear was a massive marquee.

Ty strode past her, pointedly walking around the marquee frames before zigzagging between the vehicles, and then he kept on walking. The rigid set of his shoulders clearly stated that he wasn’t happy.

Ellery pressed the big, red loading dock switch and, with a clank, the large door started to roll up. A truck was parked in the loading zone, and a deliveryman with a sign machine walked directly to Ty.

“Chairs for the Callahan-Neiquest wedding. Where do you want them?”

“I don’t,” Ty ground out.

The delivery guy looked confused and Annika ran over. “I’ll sign for them.”

Ellery quickly walked Ty down the stairs to show him the other warehouse, pointing out the features of the truck bay and the possibility to extend. She heard their receding voices and stretched her hand out for the signing tablet.

“Miss, I need you to count the chairs as I unload them.”

“What? Can’t I just sign for them?”

“No. Count first, sign last.”

“But I don’t even know how many...”

But the guy had disappeared behind the truck where his buddy had already started unloading.

Inwardly seething, she started counting. Where was Al or anyone else from the town? Seventy-five. Why weren’t they here doing this job? Damn it, but she picked up the slack for everyone in this town. One hundred and twenty. If they were so convinced that this wedding business was Whitetail’s savior then why weren’t they here to accept a delivery?

The men put down the last two stacks of chairs. “Did you get two hundred, Miss?”

“I did.” She quickly signed the liquid display on the machine and ran down the steps. She found Ellery and Ty deep in conversation on the blacktop that stretched between the two warehouses.

Panting, she gasped out, “I’m so sorry about that, Mr. Dennison.”

He merely raised one brow but the action spoke volumes. “Miz Jacobson. If Long River was to establish itself here, what sort of incentives would Whitetail be offering?”

Annika thought about how empty the Whitetail coffers were and chewed on her lip. “What sort of incentives did you have in mind?”

Ty tapped his foot and squinted at the warehouses. “A significant decrease in the rent.”

Annika glanced at Ellery who shook his head. “Mr. Dennison, I’m sorry but the warehouses are privately owned.”

The businessman frowned. “I was under the impression from your correspondence, Miz Jacobson, that the town owned the warehouses outright and that you were in a position to negotiate.”

Annika looked imploringly at Ellery.

“There’s some room to move on the leasing details,” Ellery said, and named a figure.

Ty immediately lowered it.

Ellery shook his head and added a thousand dollars to Ty’s figure.

The CEO of Long River Electronics didn’t even consider the counteroffer. “Then I’ll be saying no thanks and goodbye. I’m just not feeling the love, which is ironic given this town’s fixation on weddings.”