He tried to understand the feelings that washed over him as he watched her go. Desire, never far from the surface, was there, for sure. But there was also longing. For the first time in recent memory, he wanted something that he was almost convinced was just within reach: a woman who would love him unconditionally. Could he trust his heart? Or maybe, more important, did he dare trust Samantha, a woman destined to leave and return to a far more glamorous life?
* * *
The reception was being held outside at Boone’s home. A tent had been erected near the water and filled with tables. A band was playing in a temporary gazebo with a dance floor set up in front. Flowers were everywhere, a mix of white roses and blue hydrangeas. Small arrangements of the same flowers served as centerpieces, set on periwinkle-blue tablecloths. Candles were ready to be lit as soon as dusk fell. Twinkling white lights in the shrubbery and trees would add a fairy-tale element as the guests danced under the stars. Boone and Emily were clearly expecting the party to go on forever.
Samantha sought out her grandmother. “It’s absolutely beautiful,” she told Cora Jane, giving her a huge hug. “You outdid yourself with everything. You gave Emily her dream wedding.”
Cora Jane smiled with pleasure at the compliment. “I think she’s happy with the way it all turned out.”
“Of course she is. Who wouldn’t be?”
“Even when she didn’t say it, I knew your sister thought some fancy Hollywood wedding planner would make it better.”
“No way could this have been any better,” Samantha reassured her, just as Emily’s friend Sophia Grayson joined them.
Apparently she’d overheard Cora Jane’s lament, because she beamed at her and said, “I’ve done my share of elegant Hollywood parties, Mrs. Castle. None have ever been more elegant than this.”
Cora Jane gave her a startled look. “You sound as if you mean that.”
Sophia laughed. “I may be from Los Angeles, but I’m not an actress. When I say something, it’s sincere.”
“Thank you,” Cora Jane said.
“Now tell me how much longer I’m going to be able to claim Emily’s time before you all lure her back here permanently,” Sophia said.
“That’s up to her,” Cora Jane replied, “but I can’t deny I’d like to see her and Boone raise their family here.”
“She told me just yesterday that she’d like to do the same work she’s doing in Los Angeles but closer to home,” Sophia said. “She’s meant to do something meaningful with her life. Where she does it hardly matters. I promised her I’d help in any way I can.” She glanced around. “I might even spend a little time on this coast myself to help her get things off the ground.”
“What a generous offer,” Cora Jane said. “I know that will mean the world to my granddaughter. She admires you.”
“As I do her,” Sophia said. “Something tells me she takes after you. I look forward to getting to know you better. Now I’d better circulate a bit. I saw a very handsome man earlier who caught my eye.”
To Samantha’s shock, when she walked away, she gravitated directly toward Sam Castle.
“Well, I’ll be,” Cora Jane said, her eyes round. “You don’t suppose...?”
Samantha laughed. “Well, it is a magical night. And something tells me if Dad is in Sophia’s sights, he’ll never know what hit him.”
Cora Jane nodded, clearly pleased. “Just exactly what he needs. She’s the kind of woman who could make him think about something other than work.” She faced Samantha. “Where’s your young man?”
“Ethan’s avoiding me, more than likely. I cut a little too close to the truth earlier, and it scared him. He doesn’t like thinking he’s not that big a mystery.”
“Men never do. Find him, honey bun. Keep him on his toes. If anyone ever needed to have his life shaken up, it’s Ethan. It’s pained me to see him keeping to himself since that awful woman broke their engagement.” She leveled a look at Samantha. “Wouldn’t hurt for you to take a few risks, either.”
Since staying out of Ethan’s path wasn’t nearly as much fun as butting heads with him, Samantha took her grandmother’s advice and went looking for him. If nothing else, he owed her a dance.
* * *
Ethan stayed on the move during the reception, convinced that he’d be less of a target for the Castle meddlers if he always appeared to be on a mission. Samantha’s comments earlier had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. She’d seen through him, something few others had taken the time to do. In fact, she’d seen something he hadn’t wanted to admit, even to himself, that he wanted someone in his life, after all. Maybe even Samantha.
Unfortunately, letting go of the stubborn posture he’d taken since the breakup was going to provide entertainment for a lot of people. Greg and Boone, for two, would laugh themselves silly if they found out they’d been right all along.
“You can’t avoid me forever,” a voice filled with amusement whispered in his ear just then.
He whirled around to find that the very woman in question had slipped up behind him. She’d kicked off the high heels she’d worn for the ceremony and was barefoot in the grass. Her dress, which was an utterly feminine shade of peach, brought out the color in her cheeks and made her eyes sparkle. Or maybe that was the mischief he thought he detected.
“I wasn’t trying to avoid you,” he claimed. “I’ve been busy. You know what they say, a best man’s duties are never done.”
She looked skeptical. “Then shouldn’t it also be true that neither are the maid of honor’s? Nobody’s given me any duties, other than the toast I’ll have to make in a bit.”
“Ah, but your side of the equation doesn’t include Felicity and Martin,” he reminded her. “Boone wants me on high alert, and that’s even without his knowing about last night’s turn of events.”
Samantha glanced
