“You’re not really engaged to Finn.”
“No.”
“This is just . . . what’s the word . . . playacting?”
“Si.”
Dad rolled his eyes and wandered off, muttering in Italian.
That went well. She didn’t think Mom would be so easy.
She explained the situation to her mother while sitting in her office. Her mother stared at her for a full minute before replying.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“No. It’s a well-thought-out plan.”
“Brenna. It’s ridiculous. First, you and Finn aren’t even dating.”
“He did ask me out.”
That caused her mother’s brows to lift. “He did? And what did you say?”
“I said yes. We haven’t actually gone out on a date yet, but we will. Eventually.”
Mom shook her head. “Well, I like that idea. Your other idea is stupid. You’ve lost your mind. Who the hell cares what Allison thinks? Or what Mitchell thinks. You should tell them both to go to hell.”
“Mom. Remember, this is Esther’s wedding. Allison has stepped in as last-minute matron of honor and Esther is already stressed. We don’t need any ruffled feathers, so I won’t be telling anyone to go to hell.”
Much as that would make her happy.
Her mother blew out a breath. “You’re right, of course. Keeping the bride happy is paramount. But doing it at the expense of your comfort doesn’t please me at all.”
She loved that her mother thought of her first, even over the family business. “I appreciate that. But it’s only four days, and having Finn by my side to run interference with Allison will alleviate any stress I might have. Then it’ll be over and everything can go back to normal.”
“If you say so. But I wonder if you aren’t complicating things.”
Brenna cocked her head to the side. “In what way?”
“Between you and Finn?”
“Finn and I are just friends.”
“Who are going on a date.”
She waved her hand back and forth. “That’s nothing.” At her mother’s look, she said, “Really, it’s nothing. Just a friendly date.”
“Uh-huh. You know I think of Finn as my family, Brenna. Like a son. But the way he’s always looked at you . . .”
She let the sentence trail off.
“What? How does he look at me?”
“Just take the blinders off, Brenna. That’s all I’m asking. And don’t play games with Finn.”
“It’s not a game. He’s helping me out. For just four days, Mom. Nothing more than that.”
“Okay. I just don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”
“I promise. No one is going to get hurt. Which is why I’m doing this in the first place. To protect myself from Allison constantly haranguing me. I’ll get through being in this wedding, and after, everything will go back to normal.”
“If you say so.” Her mom let out a slight sigh. Brenna knew very well what that sigh meant. Her mother was concerned.
She’d just have to wait and see because it was all going to turn out fine.
Just. Fine.
In the meantime, she still had to figure out what she was going to wear for the tour and the wine tasting tonight.
At least she’d gotten the worst part over with and told her parents about her fake engagement to Finn. Now everyone knew about it.
Let the charade begin.
* * *
• • • • • •
FINN WAS GLAD he didn’t have to put on a suit every day for the next four days. Not that he minded dressing up for Brenna, but wearing a suit in late August wasn’t his idea of a good time.
He’d asked Brenna about what to wear tonight. She’d said jeans and a button-down shirt would be fine. He had two types of jeans in his closet—his work jeans, which tended to be relaxed and worn. And then his going-out jeans, which were crisp and new.
He took out a pair of the crisp dark jeans, added a white button-down shirt and slid into his good boots, because a man had to have a nice pair of boots, too.
“What do you think?” He looked over at Murphy, who was way more interested in the rope he was chewing than he was in Finn’s attire. But he did give Finn the once-over, then resumed playing with his toy.
He went to the top drawer of his dresser and opened the ring box for a few seconds, then pulled out the ring and shoved it in his pocket.
If they were going to do this, even if it wasn’t for real, they were going to do it right.
Brenna had wanted to meet up ahead of the bridal party’s arrival to go over any last-minute details. As if he needed coaching. He’d known her for twelve years. He knew how her eyes sparkled when she was happy, and shot out flares of heat when she was pissed off. He knew each of her attitudes and her moods, and what brought out the best and worst in her.
He knew he was the right guy for her. It was only a matter of time before she figured it out.
Since he didn’t want to leave his new pup alone, he brought Murphy over to the main house and dropped him off with Johnny, who had already fallen in love with the pup when Finn introduced them that morning. The feeling had been mutual.
“You sure you don’t mind?” he asked.
“We’ll watch TV. We’ll take a stroll to see the horses. Go have fun. Murphy and me will be fine.” Johnny waved his hand in dismissal.
He knew his dog would be in good hands, so he left. The wine tasting had been set up in the barn. He walked in to see it decorated in shades of black and gold, with touches of pink here and there. Must be the wedding colors, because there were flowers in matching colors everywhere, along with wineglasses and wine bottles on all the tables.
Fancy. Not really his thing, but he knew a lot of couples got into this.
For Finn, give him a nice whiskey and a beautiful woman by his side and he could be happy.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned around, smiling as he saw Brenna walk in. She had on a blue short-sleeved dress that seemed to float across her skin as she walked. She had heels on that made her legs look amazing, and the dress caressed her hips and made him wonder just how his hands would feel on her beautiful curves. Her hair was down, red waves falling like a flaming-hot ocean over her shoulders.
And her bracelets chimed like magical bells, the sweetest sound he’d ever heard.