“Sarah is a magician.”
Hannah had noticed a gift bag on the front doorstep when she’d backed her car out of the garage this afternoon. Bet Boone had left one of those wedding bags on her front step. “Thanks for the tip and the tour bookings. I’ll sit down tonight and figure out my schedule and book the rest of my tours after the fishing trip.”
“Sounds good. I won’t be here tomorrow—it’s Poppy’s play day with my youngest kiddo and grandson—but my manager will be happy to fix you up.”
Hannah let him coax her into taking one more cookie on her way out, and she decided to make a stop at the Angel’s Rest Boutique for something to wear to this wedding before she shopped for groceries and returned to Hummingbird Lake. If she needed to build a shopping trip to a larger town into her schedule, better learn that now before she made any more plans.
A few minutes later, she pulled into the crowded Angel’s Rest parking lot and searched vainly for a space before following a sign directing visitors to overflow parking. Based on the parking situation alone, Boone had been telling her the truth about occupancy rates. After parking, she followed a path toward the large Victorian mansion that appeared to be the resort’s headquarters. It was a beautiful, gingerbread-bedecked building painted a cheerful lemon yellow and trimmed in white. Wicker rockers and bistro sets lined the wraparound porches on the first and second floors. She heard metal wind chimes tinkling and, from off in the distance, the sound of children’s laughter. The fragrance of roses perfumed the air. Hannah’s steps slowed as she took in her surroundings, enjoying the moment. This place had a good vibe.
Just ahead of her where the single path split into three, she paused to read the resort map on display. The boutique was in the same building as the spa, off to the right and down near the creek. Hannah took the proper path, and moments later a door chime pealed as she stepped into the shop.
A woman of indeterminate age looked up from the pages of a magazine behind a sleek, modern checkout counter. She wore her silver hair short. Gold earrings shaped like angel’s wings dangled from her ears, and her blue eyes and brilliant smile signaled warmth and welcome. “Hello. Welcome to the Boutique at Angel’s Rest.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you looking for something in particular?”
“I was told to ask for Lisa?”
“Ah. I’m afraid Lisa is out this afternoon. I’m Celeste. I’ll be happy to assist you.”
She was the friend Boone had mentioned, Hannah deduced. “I’m Hannah. I’ve been invited to a wedding here this weekend. I don’t have my go-to little black dress with me, so I need a replacement. Unless black is inappropriate for weddings in this locale. Do you know? Can you help me?”
“I’ll be thrilled to help you, Hannah. I’m sure we have something you’ll love. I assume you’re speaking of the McBride/Carruthers nuptials?” Hannah nodded, and Celeste continued, “It’s going to be a beautiful wedding. Are you a friend of the bride or the groom?”
Hannah gave an embarrassed smile. “I haven’t met either of them, I’m afraid. I’m going as the groom’s cousin’s date.”
“Not Tucker, I’m sure. So, Boone? You are dating Boone McBride?”
“No. No. I’m not dating him. I’m just going with him to this wedding. As a favor.”
“Ah.”
Celeste’s friendly eyes gleamed with speculative interest, and Hannah wished she’d kept the whole date thing to herself. She braced for more questions, but Celeste surprised her. “Well, you’ll have a wonderful time. Boone will make sure you enjoy yourself. Aside from being a handsome devil, he truly is a special man and a treasure for our community. We’re fortunate he decided to move to Eternity Springs.”
“He’s been very nice to me, but I don’t know him well.”
“That sounds like an invitation to dish,” Celeste said, the speculation in her eyes warming to a mischievous twinkle. “What would you like to know about our little mountain town’s most eligible bachelor?”
Hannah held up her hand, palm out. “To be clear, eligible doesn’t matter to me. I’m only a visitor to town. I’m not in the market for a relationship.” Been there, done that. Total devastation.
“But you are curious about Boone?”
She shrugged. “He’s interesting. I don’t think he understands the word no.”
Celeste laughed. “A force of nature, that’s our Boone. When he sets his mind to something, there’s no naysaying him.”
“I can see that.”
“He loves nothing better than a good argument, but he’s one of the most generous people I’ve ever met. The man truly has a heart of gold. He’s loving and loyal and dedicated to his causes. But just so you don’t think I’m the president of the Boone McBride fan club, I will add that he has a reputation as a ladies’ man.”
“That doesn’t surprise me.”
“I don’t think it’s exactly fair. He’s a healthy, single, social man who enjoys spending time with women. Why wouldn’t he invite a similarly unattached woman on a date? To a person, they said he was nothing but a gentleman—even if he is a bit of a scoundrel.”
“Can a guy be both a scoundrel and a gentleman?” Hannah asked.
“Boone can,” Celeste said, moving out from behind the counter. “Now, enough gossip. Let’s see what we have that might suit you.” Her gaze skimmed Hannah up and down. “You’re a size four?”
Hannah shook her head. “Eight.” Although she had lost weight. “Maybe a six.”
Celeste clicked her tongue. “We will see. Now, do you need something for both the rehearsal and the wedding?”
“Probably. Again, I’m not sure what’s appropriate.”
Celeste launched into a vivid description of what Hannah could expect on Friday night. She spoke about award-winning barbecue and Texans and a “lovable old codger” named Branch and a private concert by Coco.
“The Coco?” Hannah repeated. “The pop star?”
“Her roots are in country music, but yes. She’s Jackson’s ex-wife, and they share a child. A sweetheart of a little girl. Haley. She’s the flower girl.”
“Oh! Of course. That terrible plane crash.” Hannah wasn’t much of a celebrity follower, but she did read the front page of tabloids and magazine covers while standing in line at the grocery store. “And Coco is singing at her ex-husband’s wedding? I thought theirs was an acrimonious divorce.”
“Oh, it was, but tragedies have a way of changing people.”
Hannah couldn’t argue with that. She’d seen it firsthand in work she’d done as a licensed therapist a million years ago, back before Sophie had been born.
“Coco has come a long way, and she and Jackson work hard to work together as Haley’s parents. She’ll be singing at the rehearsal barbecue in a gesture of goodwill. She won’t sing at the wedding. The wedding is Caroline’s day.”
“That’s nice,” Hannah murmured. Her attention was on the word barbecue. “What does one wear to a rehearsal barbecue in Eternity Springs, Colorado, that includes a private performance from a Grammy winner?”