IT HAD TAKEN everything within Erin to muster up the courage to come outside and greet her guests. Fortunately, her sisters had surrounded her, as well as her parents. She’d fully expected to have to do a round of “Oh my God, Erin, what happened?” explanations, along with having to endure hours of “I’m so sorry” and “How could he do that to you,” but, shockingly, no one had said a word other than to tell her she looked beautiful, the vineyard and barn looked amazing and they were happy to be there.
Something was up. She didn’t know what it was, but someone had gotten to all the guests in advance and told them not to say anything to her about Owen. Not that she minded. In fact, she was utterly relieved.
“Where did you get that dress?”
She smiled at her friend Alice Weatherford. Erin and Alice had become fast friends after Alice had been snowbound at their house last winter. And then Alice had fallen in love with Clay Henry, who’d also ended up stuck in the house along with them during the snowstorm. The two of them had had a whirlwind romance, and even though Alice had a matchmaking business in LA, she commuted back and forth between LA and Clay’s neighboring ranch.
“I found it at a shop online, fell madly in love with it and ordered it about six months ago. It fit me perfectly and I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
“This is a great occasion to wear it, because you look like a sex-bomb queen lording it over your subjects tonight.”
Sex-bomb queen? That wasn’t her intent, but she appreciated Alice’s take on it. “Ooh, thanks. Now I feel even better.”
Alice laid her hand on Erin’s arm. “You should feel better. It looks like half the town showed up for you. And the place looks incredible. I love the colorful lights. And the barn. And those lobster crostinis were to die for.”
“We had a great caterer.” She’d spent months testing out various caterers to find the best one, trying out various appetizers and main courses to make sure they’d end up with one both she and Owen liked. Of course, Owen didn’t care. He’d told her he just wanted her to be happy.
Am I happy now, Owen? How did that work out?
She brushed the thought aside. Not tonight. Tonight Owen Stone didn’t exist. He might never exist again.
She needed more champagne. Fortunately, they’d thought ahead. No, she’d thought ahead, since she’d done all the planning for this wed— this event, and didn’t want people waiting in line at a single bar, which was why there were several. So she walked to the one only a few feet away and grabbed another glass. So convenient. She wandered around with the glass in her hand and visited with several of her friends, some family members, all who were being so friendly and polite and no doubt wondering what was going to happen now that she and Owen were no longer going to get married.
She knew exactly what was going to happen. She was going to move on with her life and put this all behind her, because what good would it do to dwell on it? She couldn’t change what had happened, and thinking incessantly about it would only make her miserable. Erin didn’t believe in being miserable. She believed in being active and happy and planning for the future. The past didn’t belong in the future. She was busy with the business aspect of both the winery and the weddings at the vineyard, and come Monday, when she wouldn’t be on her honeymoon, she’d go back to being busy again.
Life would go on. And while her heart hurt like crazy right now, eventually it wouldn’t hurt anymore.
Simple, right?
“How’s it going?” Brenna asked, coming up to walk with her.
“It’s going about like I expected it to go, except no one’s asking me any questions.”
“That’s good. Did you see that Joaquin Gonzales brought Amber Redmond as his date tonight?”
Erin’s eyes widened. “He did not.”
“He did. And his ex-girlfriend, Beatrice, is here with Carver Armstrong.”
“Shut the front door.” She’d been so wrapped up in herself she hadn’t even paid attention to the typical party drama, which was always the best thing about a big bash like this.
Joaquin and Beatrice had just broken up last week after two years of dating. So there had to be some serious revenge dating going on tonight.
Brenna slipped her arm in Erin’s. “Let me show you.”
“Okay.” She could use some drama that wasn’t about her.
Brenna led her into the barn and around the side wall. “We’ll stop here. They’re over at tables five and seven.”
Erin’s gaze traveled right over to where Beatrice was currently shooting daggers at Amber so hard that Erin was surprised actual flames weren’t flying out from her eyes. And Joaquin’s shoulders were so tensed up it appeared as if he might climb over his table and leap onto Carver’s.
“I think that maybe Joaquin and Beatrice aren’t over each other yet,” Erin said.
Brenna laughed. “You think? My guess is one of two things will happen. By the end of the night Amber and Carver will end up leaving together and Beatrice and Joaquin will reconcile, or there’s going to be a huge fight.”
Erin’s lips lifted. “The fight would be more entertaining, but probably not the best thing for either couple.”
“And potentially way more expensive for us.”
“True.” Erin looked over at Brenna. “This is just like high school. Beatrice could always get a guy riled up. I don’t know that she’ll ever settle down.”
Brenna nodded. “She does like the drama.”
Erin finished her champagne. “That she does. But she can also be super sweet, so I don’t know. Joaquin’s a hothead, but he’s adorable. Who wouldn’t fall madly in love with those dark brown eyes and that long hair?”
“They are a well-matched couple. I don’t know why they broke up in the first place.”
“Beatrice told me she’s tired of waiting for Joaquin to commit. But you know how she is.”
Brenna nodded. “Impatient. She wants what she wants when she wants it.”
“Yes. So I guess we’ll see what happens.”
Erin hoped her friends would be able to work things out. In the meantime, she was on the hunt for another champagne. Brenna went to check on the wine for dinner.
The champagne had certainly helped to alleviate any jitters Erin had earlier. Now she felt like she was floating on a cloud of numbness, exactly where she wanted to be. She wandered outside to enjoy the fresh air, which was where she noticed Clay and Finn greeting some incoming guests.
That was nice of them. She also noticed them talking to them for a while, as if explaining something, and then her friends nodded and smiled and shook the guys’ hands before wandering down the walkway toward the barn.
Then the realization hit her. Oh. That’s why no one was asking her about Owen. They’d been given a debriefing before being allowed into the party.
Interesting. And she’d bet money she knew who had organized this little greeting party.
“You lost?”
She turned to see Jason standing there. In the torchlight, he looked magnificent. Then again, when didn’t he look that way? He was tall, lean and utterly gorgeous, with raven black hair that was always a little shaggy and in need of a trim. His face was smooth, his jaw angular, and his eyes so dark and mysterious. And those lips, full and extremely kissable. How had she missed how sexy he was?