“Well, I had to get a little unconventional,” she said, taking a seat before the desk.
“How unconventional?”
Her lips twitched, though she fought to bite back her smile. His tone did not sound very reassuring.
“Three possibilities. One is a tea garden downtown, but it might be too small. There is a brewery on the west side that’s available, and before you say anything”—she held up her hand as he was about to object—“they have a lovely event space with exposed brick and redesigned salvaged lights. City rustic chic.”
“Hipster chic maybe. What’s the third place?”
“A hobby vineyard outside the city. They’ve got incredible gardens and a space large enough to house the reception.”
He let out a long sigh. “You really think these are our best options?”
“I do. Unless you want me to try and bump someone. I’m sure with the weight of King Enterprises behind you some venue would—”
“I’m not ruining someone else’s wedding day just because Jenny is impulsive.”
Her heart fluttered at the words in a way she did not appreciate. How did he manage to be as successful as he was in business and hold on to that firm sense of honor? But that was Darian. He always tried to find the right way for as many people as he could.
“Show me the pictures of the brewery.”
She handed over the papers and waited.
“I’d rather keep this as a backup unless the other two places fall through. Shall we go see them?”
“Now?” she asked.
“I have no more meetings today, and I can catch up on the work I miss tonight. Unless you aren’t free?”
She shrugged. “You’re the boss. Let me grab my purse and the rest of the details I’ve collected.”
“I’ll call up a car.”
Allison dashed back to her office to grab her messenger bag and the binder she’d started organizing her research in. She shrugged into her coat before heading to Gillian’s office next door.
“I’m heading out to see venues with Darian. Can you cover me if anything comes up?” she asked.
Gillian nodded. “No problemo. Have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She twirled in her chair. “To be fair that doesn’t leave out much.”
“I owe you,” she said with a wave before making her way to the elevators.
Darian was already there when she arrived. His overcoat hung open, with a blue scarf tossed around his neck. She smiled at the sight. Though the weather wasn’t yet cold enough to warrant such an accessory it wasn’t the first year it had made an early appearance. In fact, that particular scarf had a habit of appearing the second the calendar hit fall and stayed in place well into spring.
Ever since she’d given it to him for Christmas her first year here.
He’s just wearing it to be polite, she reasoned.
For four years? a devilish inner voice asked.
“Ready?” he asked her.
She gave herself a mental shake. “Absolutely.”
They rode down to the underground car park in silence. A car would no doubt be waiting for them when they stepped out of the elevator, ready to whisk them away to the vineyard.
“Might be a forty-five minute drive or so,” Darian said as the doors opened.
“That’s fine,” she replied, following him to the car. “I’ve got my tablet with me. I can work off that.”
He cast her a quizzical look. “I just meant your afternoon might be a write off.”
“Oh.”
Opening the back door, he gestured for her to get inside.
Allison folded into the back seat and pulled her binder from her bag as she waited for Darian to walk around to his side.
In no time they were out on the bustling city streets, weaving their way through traffic.
“I appreciate the company,” he said, hooking an ankle over his knee.
“We’re in this together, right?”
His eyes warmed. “Right.”
Swallowing hard, she tried to calm her nerves. It shouldn’t feel intimate just sitting in the backseat with him, but with the divider up between them and the driver it did. Like they were in their own little world. It’s not as if this was the first time they’d ever shared a car together, but for some reason, with the weight of her decision to leave the company in the back of her mind, everything felt different.
Urgent in a way it hadn’t felt before.
You’re letting Gillian get to you.
Nothing had changed between her and Darian. It never would.
“What’s in the binder?”
She shook her head, coming back to the present. “Research,” she said. Her fingers curled around the plastic cover. Work was something she could take haven in. Flipping it open, she passed it over to him to peruse. “Once we lock in a location we need to get the invitations out ASAP. I have some samples arriving tomorrow that you can choose from.”
“Urgh,” he said, reviewing the pictures of possible stationary she’d printed out. “We’re going to have a conversation about white, aren’t we? I’ll fall in love with the polished pearl and you’ll fight to the death for the silver snow tint.”
“If such words ever leave my mouth you’ve my permission to fire me,” she quipped.
A rough chuckle escaped him. “Never.” He reached over to pat her hand. “What would I ever do without you?”
Her heart twisted even as her smile stayed in place.
Just another month and you can tell him, she told herself. There was no reason to add more stress to his plate right now.
She cleared her throat, shaking off the guilt. “Once the invitations are out we can worry about the rest of it. We’ll need food, flowers, music, etc. Basically everything you’ve ever seen at anyone else’s wedding.”
“I’ve only been to two, actually,” he said, flipping through the binder. “Both friends from college. One was on a beach and the other was a city hall affair. I doubt my personal experience will be of much help here.”
“Well, Jenny’s beau is a musician. I assumed he’d do the music himself or if not, he’d at least have an idea of who to substitute in.”
“I’ll call her tonight.”
“Do we need to throw a bachelorette party?” The idea of coming up with a wild night for Darian’s free spirit of a sister sounded like a monumental task.
“Knowing my sister, that’s taken care of.”
She breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. Then I suggest we tackle venue, invites, and flowers this week. There’s a flower market that’s open on Saturday. If we get there early we might find some nice picks.”
“You’d give up your Saturday for me?”
Blue eyes pinned her, and she resisted the urge to drop her gaze. “Planning a wedding isn’t a nine-to-five kind of task. Besides, when have you ever complained about me working odd hours?”
“True enough. You are ever the reliable assistant.”
“Of course I am.”
Reliable. Dedicated. The woman you called when you had a problem that needed fixing. That’s what her role in Darian’s life was.
It never bothered me before.
Allison gazed out the window. It’s the only role she’d ever tried to play. Gillian’s teasing was really getting to her if she was mooning over a life she’d never have. When Darian looked at her, he saw a work partner. Not a desirable woman. That reality wouldn’t change. Even if, in her secret heart of hearts, she might wish it would.