“You realize our wedding is in a month? I’veonly been able to reserve the venue because you said that was thebest day for you. I can’t plan this wedding alone.”
She sighed. “Does it matter who plans it aslong as we’re together?”
“I thought you’d want some input, atleast.”
“I do, but this gig is huge. Come on, Lance.You know this is important to me.”
Andrea had told him before how she wanted tobreak from her mother’s shadow. Within the first month of themdating, Andrea had told Lance that she didn’t want to be known justas Shannon Hall’s daughter. Lance had seen a few of her mother’smovies. His future-mother-in-law had talent, but his wife-to-bewanted to make a name for herself. Now that she’d found her niche,she couldn’t let it go.
“I get it.”
“Do you?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I supportyour career, but it’s not just you anymore.”
“I know that.”
Silence muffled with faint music.
“Andrea?”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll callyou tomorrow after the reporter shows.”
“That would be great.”
“Cool.” He hung up since she wasn’t payingattention to him.
Chapter 6
Manicured hedges framed the entrance asChantelle drove along the long circular driveway. Cutting theengine, she stepped out of her rented Chevrolet Malibu. She took inthe outwork stonework patio. She lifted her chin, shielding hereyes from the sun despite her sunglasses, to see the expansivebalcony. Then her eyes diverted to the flower garden and fountain.Approaching the wide steps, she came to Lance’s front door.
Moment of truth. She had enough pep talks inthe car, on top of Mary Mary’s song “Go Get It.” It pumped herblood, but did nothing for her prickling skin. Rolling hershoulders back, she fluffed her hair. How would it look if shedashed back to her car now? Did Lance’s home have cameras?
When she lifted her chin and spotted one, sherolled her eyes. He did. The man was rich. He came from money andhis career was skyrocketing. Chantelle shut her eyes. What did shelook like standing outside his home, bouncing on her toes? She hadto get a grip.
She knocked, wetting her lips. Step onecomplete. This was just another interview. Blowing out her cheeks,she forced a smile when a middle-aged woman opened the door.
“May I help you, dear?” she asked.
“Yes, my name is Chantelle Woods. I’m fromThe Wedding Report and I’m here to interview Lance Taylor.”She extended her hand.
The woman bobbed her head and returned thehandshake. “I’m Dottie. Mr. Taylor has been expecting you. Comeinside.”
Chantelle adjusted her crossbody purse, andDottie led her into the foyer. The entryway was open with highceilings along with the expensive marble floors under her heeledfeet. Leather along with furniture polish flooded her nostrils,while designer pieces and paintings decorated the space.
“Give me a second.” Lance descended thecurved stairway. He stopped fiddling with the cuff of his buttoneddown dress shirt once he locked eyes with her. “Chantelle? What areyou doing here?”
She inched closer, hearing the click of herheels on the floor. “I’m the reporter.”
His lips parted, but he didn’t respond yet.Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he inched closer to face her. “Idon’t remember them mentioning your name.”
She didn’t answer.
Lance squinted his eyes. “Why?”
“I’m here for the story.”
“They couldn’t send someone else? Whyyou?”
His words stung. Sucking her cheeks in,Chantelle fixed her stare on him. “Because I’m an employee atThe Wedding Report who has proven her writing. I have mymaster’s in journalism—”
He held up his hand. “This won’t work,Chantelle, and you know it.” He stalked off, but she followed himthrough the living room to the kitchen.
A shiny black-handled kettle rested on thestainless steel stove. A rack of metal pots dangled overhead, andLance reached for what looked like his coffee mug on the island.Chantelle tapped one foot on the tiled floor.
She’d worked too hard and risked too much forher current position. Could she profile him and his fiancé with nohard feelings? “Lance? I can get past the fact that we—”
“I’m marrying another woman in a month,Chantelle. I don’t want my ex following me around. Would you wantme following you? It’s asking for trouble.”
His ex? That’s all she was? All the timethey’d spent together. The long conversations they had on thephone. He’d told her he was in love with her. At eighteen, she’dthought they’d be high school sweethearts. Chantelle wrung herhands together. This wasn’t the time for reminiscing.
With a grim face like a carved mask, Lancedidn’t take his eyes off her. He was different. This was not theboy she knew in high school. He had changed. Better to know nowthan later. Perhaps it was a good idea to leave Delta Heights.
Chantelle squared her shoulders. Nosurrender. She had a job to do. “I understand, but we’re adults. Myboss assigned this story to me because of my history with thistown. Delta Heights’ own celebrity is getting married. They want toknow the details. I’m here to do that.”
“So you can keep this professional?”
She cocked her head to the side. “I am.”
He sipped his coffee before answering. “I’llthink about it.”
That wasn’t what she was expecting to hear.“What?”
“You heard me. Now I have another importantbusiness meeting so I’ll be in touch. You haven’t changed yournumber, have you?” His voice had a hint of sarcasm.
“No, have you?”
“No.”
She swallowed the snarky comments threateningto escape her lips. “I understand your concern, but I’m on adeadline.”
He bowed as a gentleman would before a queen.“I wouldn’t dream of making you wait.”
She ignored the sarcasm in his voice. “Canyou give me a time frame?”
“I’ll let you know,” he said.
Chantelle narrowed her eyes. “Fine. I’ll seeyou around.” With that, she walked to the door. Stalking to hercar, she plucked at her suit jacket. Who did he think he was? Justbecause he came from a wealthy family didn’t give him the right to…she sighed.
Perhaps someone else should profile thewedding. Was there too much bad blood between them? He’d won herheart at eighteen but had also broken it. Sliding into the driver’sseat, she pulled out of Lance’s driveway. She didn’t plan onvisiting the cemetery this soon, but today Chantelle
