Almost enough to turn the biggest of cynics into a believer.
She frowned on that thought as she sensed the man coming to stand beside her. His suit was light grey, his tie was pink, and his eyes were full of light, and dare she say, hope.
“Doug?” Her mouth was dry. She swallowed hard, not trusting herself to say anything more until she’d figured out what exactly he was doing here. “I didn’t think you were still coming.”
“I can leave,” he offered, even though he made no indication of doing that, much to her relief.
“No,” she rushed to say. “No, please stay. You should be here. I…invited you.”
He peered at her, his grin turning playful. “More like bribed me.”
She laughed, if only to cover the nerves she felt, because this was unchartered territory. Up until now, she’d seen Doug as the enemy, and then, maybe as a friend. She hadn’t needed to think of what she would say when she was around him—she’d just been herself.
He’d brought out the worst side of her—and the best, too.
“I’m not interrupting anything then?” He looked at her frankly, but she could tell by the look in his eyes that he already knew the answer. Maybe he just needed to hear her say it.
“Candy arranged for that guy to be there last night, as you know. And he checked a lot of boxes. But…I’ve started to learn that sometimes what we think we want isn’t what’s best for us at all.”
“I’m not a doctor,” he said, cocking an eyebrow.
“No, but you are an attorney,” she joked.
“A divorce attorney,” he reminded her.
True, all true, but she’d come around to that idea, understood his side of things. Saw that the facts weren’t always as they appeared, that there was sometimes more, beneath the surface.
A lot more, she thought, looking up into his dark eyes.
“And you do like to argue,” she pointed out.
He grinned as he turned to face her, his gaze traveling over her face. “Only with you, Gabby. Only with you.”
“And why is that?” she asked, even though she knew. Her mother had been right. Of course. And she…she had been, so very wrong.
He gave a little shrug. “It’s no fun with anyone else.”
She pulled in a breath because she knew it was true. He got under her skin, he made life interesting, and he made her laugh. Made her live life to the fullest. Made her voice her passions. Made her speak her mind.
Because he wanted to hear it.
“I thought you didn’t believe in all this stuff,” she said, waving a hand at the wedding reception. The flowers, the music, the cake, the crowd. “All this romance and coupling off. I thought you didn’t believe that relationships could last a lifetime.”
“Ah, but that’s where I have you on a technicality.” He inched closer to her until she could feel the heat of his body, until he was so close that she could reach out and touch him, but she didn’t, not yet, because she had to be sure. “I said I didn’t believe that it could happen to me. And…I was wrong about that.”
She gave him a knowing smirk, even as her heart soared. “You admit that you were wrong then?”
He pulled a face, clearly having fun with her, not that she was arguing. “Do you need me to say that you were right? Do you need to hear it?”
She thought about it for about half a second and said, “No. I’d like to think that both of us come out the winner in this situation.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” he said softly, reaching down to take her hand.
It was warm and strong, soft yet secure. And more than anything, it felt right. So, so right.
From behind his back, he retrieved his other hand. One that held a single rose. A Juliet rose, to be precise.
“My favorite,” she whispered taking it from him. She vaguely recalled telling him in passing, that first time he came into her shop. “You remembered that?”
“I pay close attention to you, Gabby. I always did. And…I always will.”
“You’re a good listener,” she agreed. “And you’re the first man who ever brought me my favorite flower. Just because.”
“It won’t last forever,” he warned her, and sure enough, it was already starting to wilt. “But this could. You and me. What do you think?” His gaze was steady as he dropped her hand, sliding his arms around her waist instead.
She looked up into his eyes, into that devilish grin that had always stirred her up and still did. “I think,” she said slowly, “that my days of sitting at the singles table have come to an end.”
“Does that mean I’m going to be your plus one for every wedding this summer?”
“Only if you let me eat your cake,” she said, laughing.
“It’s a deal,” he said, grinning widely.
“Kiss her already!” someone called out, and Gabby and Doug looked at each other in surprise before turning to see Candy watching them with obvious impatience.
“It’s the bride’s wish,” Doug said, tipping his head. “And aren’t we supposed to do everything she wants on her special day?”
Special day. It was a very special day, and not just for Candy. Because this was the day that Gabby found her happy ending, her prince charming, her rogue, and her best surprise ever.
And did she mention that kiss? The man could kiss. And when his mouth met hers as he pulled her tight against his chest, Gabby didn’t even care who was watching.
Or, in the instance of Candy,
