“It didn’t occur to me until last night that I hadn’t made sure that you were invited,” he said. “I’m sorry.”
She moved her attention from the lovely invitation to him. “There’s no reason to be sorry. I’m just Trinity’s wedding coordinator. I’m not actually in Ben and Amanda’s wedding.”
“I’d like for you to come.”
“I—”
“I’m the one paying for the rehearsal dinner and you’re the one who helped me with the planning. You’re coming. All right?”
She bit the side of her lip. “If you like.”
“I would.”
“Then I’ll be there.” She examined the collection of things sitting in front of her door. “What’s all this?” A huge vase of flowers. Three flavors of ground coffee. A sheet cake from the caterer. (It had been her favorite, despite that apple pie had been a better fit for the rehearsal dinner.) Five packages of denture cleaner for Mrs. Chapel. And a twenty-four-pound bag of Meow Mix.
“A few thank-you gifts. And a few gifts to apologize for the fact that your invitation was delivered so late.”
Delighted laughter broke from her lips. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“Do you like any of it?”
“I like all of it.” She was so touched and surprised by his thoughtfulness that she almost wanted to cry over it. “Thank you.” Her voice emerged wobbly with emotion. “How did you know that Shadow eats Meow Mix?”
He lifted one masculine shoulder. “I remembered from eight years ago. I’ll help you carry it in, then I’ll get out of your way. I know your family’s in town.” He must have heard, of course, every syllable of her exchange with Mrs. Chapel.
She opened her door and dazedly tried to lend a hand, while he, in actuality, did all the work.
She stood in her small kitchen, the counters covered with his gifts, the invitation in her hand, quiet resting over them as they smiled at each other. Thank God she hadn’t left wadded up panties or something on her floor.
“I’ll see you tonight at the rehearsal,” he said.
“See you then.”
He held eye contact with her for a drawn-out second, then let himself out.
Holly blinked at the items. Did Josh like her? Hope, worry, and confusion battled for control of her mind. Hope, because she dearly wanted him to like her. Worry, because giving him power to hurt her terrified her. Confusion, because she didn’t know which was stronger.
The hope. Or the worry.
Where was Holly?
Ben and Amanda’s family and friends had arrived at the Texas Olive Oil Company and gathered on the patio for drinks and appetizers thirty minutes ago. Josh hadn’t joined them. He stood alone inside the barn, wearing a suit and watching the side door that had been left open for arriving guests.
He glanced at his watch, frowning. Concern tightened around his chest and lungs.
Earlier, at the rehearsal at the church, Holly had welcomed everyone to Trinity and offered a prayer. The minute she’d finished praying, Mitzi had taken over. Mitzi had made them run through the routine they’d follow during the ceremony three times.
Holly had stood off to the side the whole time, close enough that Mitzi or Amanda or Amanda’s mom could ask her questions. She’d been wearing business clothing instead of party clothing and holding a pen and the notebook she’d brought with her when they’d looked at venues together. Each time Josh had glanced at her during the rehearsal, she’d either been looking carefully elsewhere or down at her notebook.
Josh turned, taking in the view beyond the open sliding doors of the guests and the scenery. The stormy skies had disappeared around noon. They’d left behind clear, still weather ideal for everything Holly had imagined this night could be. He couldn’t accept that she wasn’t here to see it.
“Josh,” one of the bridesmaids called to him. “Come on out. I have some people to introduce you to.”
“Be there in a minute.”
He returned his gaze to the side door. Holly had told him she’d come tonight. But maybe she’d chosen to skip it at the last minute. She might be tired. Or maybe she’d made plans with Rob.
Should he call her to make sure she was coming?
He was an idiot. A ridiculous—
Holly appeared in the doorway.
He froze at the sight of her. She wore a dress of burgundy lace on a flesh-colored background fabric. She’d pulled her hair into some kind of loose bun at the back of her neck. High heels.
She looked like a princess.
Need, sharp and painful, broke open inside him. At eighteen, he’d been fatherless, poor, without influence, and sure of just one thing. His love for Holly. Years had passed, but that truth had not changed. The man who didn’t do anything halfway still loved her.
He made his way toward her. She approached him with a smile.
“I was worried you weren’t going to come,” he said.
“I took time to change and redo my hair after the rehearsal.”
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. Is everything going well so far?”