Caroline waved her hand in the air, as if brushing aside the words. “I have everything all in hand. You know what a control freak I am. No, this week is to relax and have fun, before the crazy stress of the wedding. I have a few things, but they’ll be fun, I promise.”
Delaney narrowed her gaze. She wasn’t fooled by Caroline’s nonchalance. “Right. I knew you’d have everything under control. But I didn’t expect you to be pulling double duty this week.” She quirked her eyebrow, taking a stab in the dark. “Bride and matchmaker?”
Caroline’s gaze shifted toward the garment bag, confirming Delaney’s deduction. Caroline unzipped the garment bag, pulling out the ice-blue maid of honor dress. She held it up to Delaney and leaned back. “I knew this would be the perfect dress for you. Perfect color and cut.” She turned and hung it in the closet. “So what if I’m playing matchmaker? You hurt Ethan when you left. You hurt all of us, but him most of all. How could you do that?” The words ended on a soft catch.
Delaney sunk down on the edge of the soft bed, tears blinding her to everything. “I’m sorry, Caroline. I honestly didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to drag you all down with me.”
“It hurt, Laney.” Caroline sat next to her and enfolded Delaney’s icy hands in her warm ones. “We would have stood by you. It wouldn’t have brought us down, as you think. And anyone who thought that, well, screw them.”
Delaney laughed and sniffed. “You never could swear worth a damn.”
“And your family has no idea that you can.” Caroline teased, laughing through her tears. “We loved you, Laney. I’ve really missed my best friend these past few years. The occasional lunch wasn’t quite enough. I know things changed for you, but did you really think I’d cut you off like you were trash?”
Delaney shook her head and wrapped an arm around Caroline, pulling her against her shoulder. “No, of course I never thought that. But it was ugly, Caro. Someone practically attacked my mother outside the courthouse, and no one did anything to help her, as if she deserved it. Then my father died. My life was a wreck, completely out of control, and it was all I could do to keep things together. I couldn’t ask anyone else to be involved in that. Never mind the money.”
“I wouldn’t care if you were rich or poor. None of us would.”
“It’s not that.” Delaney pulled her hand back and buried it in her lap with her other hand. “My father took money from so many people, so many of our friends. And Ethan’s father ran an investment firm. Several of his clients had invested in the scheme. Can you imagine the scandal if I’d stayed with him? I couldn’t put Ethan or his family through that. I didn’t want to be responsible for them losing business because of their association with me. At least now it’s in the past, rarely brought up. I can finally move on.”
Caroline studied her. “And I pulled you back in by asking you to be my maid of honor. Oh my God, you must have wanted to say no.”
“So many times,” Delaney admitted. “But I couldn’t say no to you.”
Caroline squeezed her in a breath-stopping hug. “I’m glad you didn’t, because I’d have to hunt you down and drag you here.”
Caroline stood, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Now, let’s get you settled in and then have a glass of wine on the porch. I know this really excellent vintage.” She stopped and arched an eyebrow at Delaney. “By the way, what the hell did you do to your hair one week before my wedding?”
Delaney laughed at the mock outrage and also stood. “You noticed? Do you like it?” She flipped her hands through the short layers in the back, not missing the longer layers.
Another part of her wondered what Ethan thought of her new look. He’d always loved her longer hair, burying his fingers in the long strands, wrapping them around his fists when they made love. She mentally shook her head. No more thoughts of that.
Caroline flicked a few strands. “You’re lucky I love you and am an understanding bride. Thirty minutes, then wine time!”
Caroline opened the door, but before she left the room, she turned. “Talk to Ethan, Delaney. You owe him that.”
Delaney nodded. “Stop playing matchmaker.”
Caroline grinned, a glint of mischief in her eyes. “I can’t promise that. I’m the bride. We want everyone to be as happy as we are right now. And it’s a tradition for the maid of honor to hook up with the best man at weddings. It’s practically in the etiquette book.”
“Ms. Manners never spoke about that.”
Caroline laughed and closed the door quietly behind her, leaving Delaney with the ghosts of her past. She had lifted one ghost from her shoulders. Just maybe the week would be okay, if she could dodge the romantically obsessed Caroline and protect her own heart.
* * *
Delaney opened the French doors onto the small balcony. This was another favorite spot. Curled up on a wicker chair with a cup of coffee, watching the waves roll in, especially during storms. It was an oasis for her when duty and obligation got too much, even among friends. The chair remained, with a new blue and white cushion, and a small wicker table. She debated relaxing there, avoiding everyone really, but a sound from the room next door had her realizing the time.
She slipped out of the room and slammed into a wall of male chest. Her hands reflexively went up and braced herself against the muscular body. Ethan, his body once as familiar as her own. Her hands itched to curve around and draw him closer, but her head screamed to back away. Protect yourself, danger. She listened to her head, of course, and stepped back, banging into the wall. Ethan seemed to take up the whole hallway, his presence dominating the small space. He remained still, a bemused smile playing about his lips.
She shoved against him with her hands, pushing him back. “Back off.”
He grunted but didn’t move, barely even rocked. Damn, she really needed to get back to a gym. She pushed again, putting her full weight into it, and he staggered against the other wall. He laughed and grabbed her arms as he fell back, pulling her flush against his body. The temperature in the corridor spiked and her breathing sped up, heart pounding in her chest. It felt so natural, nestled against him, her hands clasped in his, braced against a chest that was warm, solid, real. The buttons from his shirt had been loosened, revealing a glimpse of the golden skin that she itched to touch, to caress, to kiss. Before she could act, she yanked her hands free and stepped back.
She started to walk away, but he grabbed her, hand loosely caging her wrist, making sure not to hurt her but stopping her dead in her tracks. She glanced at the hand and then up at him, arching her eyebrow in her best old-time haughty manner. He only laughed. Damn it.
“Delaney, that never worked before, and it won’t work now.” He tugged her close and leaned down, his words lowering to a whisper. “I know who you really are.”
A stab of fear crossed her. He had no idea who she really was, the selfish daughter of a criminal, alleged, if not convicted, and a spoiled princess. The accusations from their former circle of friends coursed through her mind, reminding her of her guilt, of what she’d made her father do. Ethan knew her back then, professed to even love her. But how could he love such a person? Even Delaney couldn’t love that woman.