“You’ve got it all covered.”
“This isn’t our first rodeo,” Sam agreed. “I’ve done weddings out here as late as November. We should be fine.”
She wrapped her hand around Darian’s arm, drawing his attention to her. “Sounds like they know what they’re doing,” she whispered.
His fingers closed over hers in a brief touch before she let her hand drop. It was all she could do to not wipe away the phantom caress on her skirt. The simple touch shouldn’t bring her such pleasure.
Focus, she chided herself. You’re here to do a job.
Not daydream about unattainable men.
“It seems like you’re in the wedding business rather than the wine one,” Darian said, pulling her from her thoughts.
“We’re a small winery,” Sam agreed. “The wine we produce is mostly sold at our events or to the local community. It’s not enough to sell to major retailers.”
That caught her attention. “So do you pair your wines with any dining options here?”
“We do have a chef onsite during our events,” Sam said.
“If we booked this spot for the wedding, would your team be able to handle the catering, too?”
Sam hesitated. “I’d have to check with our schedule and get back to you. Managing a wedding this high profile would be a huge boast for us in terms of word-of-mouth and exposure. We want to accommodate you in any way we can.”
“I appreciate that,” Darian said. “Contact your people and let us know as soon as possible. If you can fit us in, we’d have to sit down and discuss a menu. We’d insist on a tasting, too, of course.”
“Not a problem. I’ll have the answer to you by Friday.”
Allison stared out at the beautiful view and felt hope swell within her. This was the place, she just knew it. They could throw a perfect wedding here.
“Sam, could you give us a few minutes to confer?” Darian asked.
“Of course. I’ll be by the front desk if you have any other questions.”
She waited till Sam was out of hearing distance before asking, “What do you think?”
Darian said nothing, merely walked down the three steps to the stone-tiled path.
“I’d vote yes,” she said, catching up to him as he paced down the aisle toward the gazebo. “The pictures will be breathtaking with this backdrop. I know the weather might be a concern but it sounds like Sam’s crew knows how to handle things. Worse comes to worse, we can move the ceremony into the reception hall. Those windows were incredible.”
He stopped, and she realized they’d reached the gazebo.
“Darian?”
“Give me your hand.”
With a sigh, she set down her bag and moved into position, knowing he was trying to get a better sense of what Jenny would see on the wedding day.
“We stand here,” she said, pushing him into place under the archway.
He held out his hands, and without a word she slid hers into his.
His fingers were warm and sure as they closed around hers.
Electricity shot down her spine. Breathe, she told herself. This is simply play acting. Your not actually a couple planning their dream wedding. But standing under a gazebo in a spectacularly romantic setting, all she could think about was how close he stood and how good he smelled. Sandalwood paired with something more earthy and uniquely Darian.
Because after all, he really was one of a kind.
She cleared her throat, trying to think of anything other than the romantic setting in which they stood.
“This is where they say the ‘till death do us part’ bit,” she said.
“Or at least till something better comes along,” he added, his thumb gliding across her knuckles.
“How cynical of you,” she said, trying to ignore the absentminded caress.
He arched a brow. “Are you telling me you believe in true love? You spend as much time chained to a desk as I do.”
Careful, she thought. Don’t let those lines blur even more. “For Jenny’s sake I hope there can be something lasting between two people.”
“It’s a nice fairytale,” he agreed.
She tilted her head to the side. “This is why confirmed bachelors shouldn’t plan highly romantic events.”
He scoffed at her words. “I can be objective about all this. It makes me the perfect planner.”
“If you ever end up married, make sure you warn your wife about that imminently practical heart of yours.”
He looked down at their clasped hands, quiet for a moment. “I doubt I’ll ever end up in a gazebo like this, but I’m sure you will.”
A curious pain stabbed her chest. He’d never marry, but she would. She’d have to be blind to miss the implication there. Swallowing the unexpected lump in her throat, she shook her head. “I’d never need something this elaborate.”
“You’re a simple girl at heart.”
She lifted her chin, telling herself the words weren’t meant as an insult. “Yes,” she said. “I wouldn’t need to spend thousands on a single day to be happy. I’d be fine with a trip to city hall and a promise to spend our lives together. At the end of the day, it’s our commitment that would matter, not any third party’s opinion or blessing.”
A soft smile shaped his mouth. “I’ve said it before. You’re one in a million, Ali.”
“I’m not that special.”
His hands tightened on hers. “Now there I have to disagree.”
Startled, she glanced up to find his gaze boring into her eyes.
Standing with him, their surroundings fell away. With his hands on hers, her mind stopped cycling through all the dozens of things they needed to do. Instead, stillness filled her. Anticipation she had no business feeling.
His gaze dropped to her mouth and she couldn’t help darting her tongue out to wet her lips. The blue in his eyes darkened at the action.
He can’t, she thought. We can’t.
She wasn’t the kind of woman he wanted. That truth had been the foundation of their relationship for years. Surely the tension in the air was just in her head.
But what if it wasn’t?
Her heart rate quickened.
It was one thing to have a secret fantasy or two, but it was quite another to think that dreams might actually come true.
Did he just lean closer? She held still, eyes on his mouth, too nervous to even breathe.
Kissing Darian was nothing if not a bad idea. It would change everything between them. She wouldn’t be able to rely on their professional relationship to keep him at arm’s length anymore.
You’re leaving, a wicked part of her whispered. Where was the harm in one taste of the forbidden before she quit?
The thought wasn’t as insane as it should be. In a month they’d be over anyways. If there was ever a time to act on reckless desires, wasn’t it now, when the clock was already ticking?
All she had to do was rise onto her tip toes, tilt her lips up to his, and—
“Well, aren’t you two pretty as a picture.”
Allison jerked back at the interrupting voice. Darian’s hands left hers as they both spun to see Sam in the path.
She didn’t know what the winery owner read in their faces, but his cheerful smile dropped away.