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Melissa greeted the other women with smiles and hellos, then briefly hugged her sister before heading into the dressing room. The bridesmaid dress was hanging on the back of the door. Melissa’s eyes widened as she checked it out. It looked even more beautiful in person than it had in photos. The lavender dress was a floor-length, one-shoulder stunner. The charmeuse fabric was soft and shimmery. The bodice of the dress was covered with a layer of lace, and a ribbon of satin surrounded the dress’s waist.
A lump of emotion suddenly formed in Melissa’s throat. She’d always thought that by thirty, she would either be married or on her way to being married. Yet here she was, single with no prospects, while her twenty-seven-year-old cousin had found the love of her life.
Melissa disrobed and put the dress on. It was meant to be fitted from the waist up and flowed elegantly from the waist down. There was a slit in the dress that came to midthigh.
“Do you need any help?” the attendant asked.
Melissa opened the door. “If you could zip me up...”
The attendant eased forward and zipped the dress at the back, then Melissa fully exited the dressing room and moved to stand in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror. The rest of the bridesmaids gathered around her. Through the mirror, Melissa could see their eyes lighting up. That was when she fully took note of her outfit, giving it a slow gaze from the top of the one shoulder, along the lace-covered bodice that somehow managed to make her breasts look more shapely, and down to the length of the flowing skirt. A smile spread on her face. It fit her perfectly. And she looked beautiful.
Tasha came up behind her, and her eyes filled with fresh tears. She had already cried a lot, given how puffy and red her eyes were. But at least these tears were happy ones.
A bubble of laughter escaped Tasha’s throat. “It’s perfect. You look gorgeous. Just stunning.”
“I told you not to worry,” Melissa said.
“You look so beautiful.”
Melissa turned and faced her cousin, the gown swooshing around her bare feet. “But not nearly as beautiful as you’ll be. The picture you sent me of you in your dress...you’re going to knock Ryan off his feet.”
“You think so?” Tasha asked, a hitch in her voice.
“I know so.” Melissa reached out and tucked a strand of her cousin’s curly hair behind her ear. “How could you not?”
Tasha beamed. “Everything’s going to be fine, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is,” Melissa said. “Why wouldn’t it be? You’re marrying the love of your life, and he absolutely adores you. Everything is going to be perfect.”
Tasha wiped at her eyes. “You’re right.” Then she glanced at the rest of the bridal party. “I’m sorry I’ve been such an emotional mess.”
Maxine looped an arm through her sister’s. “You’ve just got the prewedding jitters. It’s perfectly normal.”
“But Bonnie’s dress—” Tasha said.
“Will be fine,” Enid said, stepping forward. “There’s enough room to let the dress out at the sides so that it zips up. I’ll be working as long as necessary to make sure that everything is just right.”
Tasha inhaled and exhaled deeply. “You’ve been so good to me, Enid. Working overtime to make sure that all is perfect.”
“I’m happy that you gave our boutique the opportunity,” Enid said, smiling. “A big wedding like yours... I thought for sure you’d find a boutique in Buffalo or New York City.”
“Never,” Tasha said. “You and I go way back. Fourth grade. Of course I’d give you the business.” She squeezed Enid’s hands, then glanced at her wristwatch. “Ooh, we only have a couple of hours before the welcome dinner. We should really get out of here so we can get ready.”
Melissa glanced at Enid, seeing relief wash over her face. “The alterations will be started immediately,” she said in an effort to allay any possible concerns that Tasha might have.
Melissa waved a dismissive hand. “No worries. We’ll be back tomorrow for the dresses.”
Tasha wandered back over to the armchair where she’d been sitting, lifted the champagne glass from the table beside it and finished off the contents. “Okay, ladies. My meltdown is over. Let’s get ready for tonight’s dinner.”
Chapter 3 (#u9414bf9d-fb63-5444-971d-d8423f7a2047)
Tasha was marrying Ryan Burke, part of the Burke family dynasty in Sheridan Falls. He was Aaron’s first cousin, which explained why Aaron—and his brothers—were in the wedding party.
Melissa slowed her car as she approached the sprawling house where the welcome dinner was to be held. The Burke estate.
She had never been there before, but she’d driven past it when she was a teenager. She and her friends had marveled at the mansion where the town’s most famous family lived.
The Burke home was in an exclusive neighborhood in the city’s west end. There were only three homes on this court, and the Burkes’ house, in the center of the court, was the largest. It was arguably the largest house in town.
Though Ryan was Cynthia and Cyrus Burke’s nephew, the welcome dinner was being held at their home because of its large size, plus its location on the lake, which made it an ideal spot.
Melissa pulled up behind a silver Lexus SUV. Her pulse was racing as she exited her car and made her way to the massive cobblestone driveway leading to the house. It was a Georgian colonial-style home with a gray stone and white wood exterior. There were two stately pillars standing on each side of the red front door, which provided a pop of color in the center of the house. The four pillars held up a rectangular balcony on the second floor.
There was a circular fountain in the center of the driveway, around which was a bed of colorful flowers. A myriad of luxury cars filled the space. Mercedes sedans and SUVs. BMWs. A classic Corvette was parked at the front of the house, before the main door. Canary yellow. That was Cyrus’s vehicle. Melissa remembered him driving around in that sports car when she was young. The paint was shiny and polished, and there wasn’t a blemish on it. If she hadn’t known it was an older car, she would’ve thought it was brand-new.
Melissa counted approximately thirteen cars in the driveway, not including the ones parked on the street. The place was clearly packed. There were more people here than she’d expected for a welcome dinner, but she’d heard that the extended Burke family was vast.
Melissa took her time heading up to the house, acutely aware of the fact that she would be seeing Aaron any minute now. She wished more than anything that she had a man on her arm. It was silly, she knew. But she wished she could look outrageously happy with a gorgeous and affectionate man when she saw Aaron for the first time in years.
“You have nothing to prove to him,” she told herself as she made her way along the stone path that led to the front door.
She could hear music coming from the back of the house and hoped that someone would be able to hear the door. She rang the doorbell and waited.
Less than a minute later, a man dressed in a black suit, white shirt and black bow tie answered the door. “Good afternoon,” he said, greeting her with a warm smile.
“Hello,” Melissa responded. “I’m here for the party.”
“Of course. Take this hallway on the right, then take a left when you reach the kitchen. When you walk through the kitchen, you’ll see the patio doors that lead to the backyard.”
“Thank you.” Melissa made her way to the right, following the instructions. She looked around in awe at the vivid paintings of landscapes on the walls, along with some African-inspired art, and wondered what it was like to live this kind of life. Everything about the house was grandiose. From the double staircase in the home’s entryway to the wainscoting on the walls and the absolutely massive kitchen filled with gray-and-black marble, this place was absolutely gorgeous, and immaculately decorated.
To their credit, Cynthia and Cyrus Burke did not seem pretentious, even though they were clearly living the dream.
Melissa passed staff in the kitchen preparing trays of hors d’oeuvres. The waiter pouring champagne into flutes caught her eye, and she offered him a smile before continuing on to the patio doors, where she paused and looked outside. She exhaled softly.
Wow.
She stood with her hand on the doorknob, taking it all in. Just outside the doors was a massive deck. Palm trees—yes, palm trees—stood in all corners of the deck, providing a contrast to the white wood. The tree trunks were decked out in strings of tiny white lights. Happy people congregated on the deck, drinks and plates of appetizers in hand.
Melissa opened the door and stepped outside. She made her way to the back of the deck, where a staircase led to the lawn below. The yard was massive. There was no other word to describe it. The lawn extended for at least a couple hundred yards, where it ended at the lake. There was a dock there, with a pleasure boat moored to it. Melissa remembered that years ago when they’d watched his parents cruising on the lake one summer day, Aaron had said the boat was a Boston Whaler.
A huge white tent was set up in the middle of the backyard, and inside it Melissa could see tables and chairs. Just within the entrance to the tent was a table with a giant silver punch bowl, from which punch was flowing as if it were a fountain. Well-dressed people were mingling outside the tent, some inside. Classical music played through the speakers, creating a lovely ambience.
Melissa started down the steps. Most of the people here she either didn’t know or hadn’t seen in years. Where were the members of the bridal party?
And then she spotted Carlton Burke, Aaron’s older brother. He was walking across the lawn on the far right side of the tent with a couple of other people. Melissa swallowed.
“Hello, there.”
At the sound of the warm female voice behind her, Melissa turned. She saw Cynthia Burke, wearing a simple white dress with flowing sleeves, moving toward her with the grace of an angel.
“Is that you, Melissa?” Cynthia continued, her eyes lighting up. “All grown up?”
Melissa smiled at the friendly face she hadn’t seen in years. “Yes, Mrs. Burke. It’s me. How are you?”
Cynthia pulled her into an impromptu hug. “It’s so good to see you again.” Releasing her, she took Melissa’s hand in both of hers. “My, you’ve grown up so much since your days working with Aaron as a camp counselor.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Melissa said.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Cynthia beamed as she released her hand. Then she looked up at the sky. “And I’m very happy that the weather cooperated for this dinner.”
“Yes, it’s a beautiful day,” Melissa agreed, glancing around. She felt an odd sensation and knew that it was the fear of seeing Aaron. He could appear at any moment, and she wasn’t prepared for that.
“Help yourself to some punch,” Cynthia said, pointing toward the tent. “Or if you’d like something from the bar, you can get a drink right there.” She gestured behind her to the left. There was a patio area along the entire back of the house, complete with a number of white wrought iron tables and chairs. A full-service bar was set up. Two bartenders, a man and a woman, were busy making drinks.
The walk-out lower level of the house boasted floor-to-ceiling windows, and Melissa could only imagine how lovely it was to wake up each morning and start your day with a cup of tea or coffee while enjoying the view here.
“Thank you,” she said to Cynthia. “I think I will get a drink.”
Just as she spoke the words, the waiter she’d seen in the kitchen filling champagne flutes appeared. He extended the tray, and Melissa took a glass.
Slowly, Melissa walked in the direction of the lake, continuing to survey the massive property. Every tree on the property also had angel lights wrapped around the trunk. There was the fragrant scent of roses in the air, coming from several strategically placed pots filled with lavender-colored roses, which matched the color scheme for the wedding.
In the distance, the lake shimmered beneath the sun’s rays. The beauty of this place was breathtaking. It would be a perfect spot for the wedding, if Tasha and Ryan had wanted to have it here.
Melissa took a sip of her champagne and gazed out at the lake again. In the distance, there were other homes that backed onto it. The lake bent and veered to the right a few hundred feet in the distance, and it was around that bend that the campground was.
The camp where Melissa and Aaron had worked as counselors the summer they’d fallen in love.
Well, she had fallen in love with him. She doubted that Aaron had ever been in love with her.
She sipped more champagne, needing something to help take the edge off her nerves. No matter how pleasant the view and the music, Melissa hated that she had to be here at the Burke residence right now. She wished she could skip this welcome dinner, but that wasn’t an option.
“This is certainly going to be one interesting weekend,” she muttered.
“It sure is.”
A jolt hit Melissa’s body with the force of a soccer ball slamming into her chest. That voice... A tingling sensation spread across her shoulder blades. It was a voice she hadn’t heard in a long time. Deeper than she remembered, but it most definitely belonged to him.
Holding her breath, she turned. And there he was. Aaron Burke. Looking down at her with a smile on his face and a teasing glint in his eyes.
“I thought that was you,” he said, his smile deepening.
Melissa stood there looking up at him from wide eyes, unsure what to say. Why was he grinning at her as though he was happy to see her?
“It’s good to see you, Melissa.”
Aaron spread his arms wide, an invitation. But Melissa stood still, as if paralyzed. With a little chuckle, Aaron stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Melissa’s heart pounded wildly. Why was he doing this? Hugging her as if they were old friends? As if he hadn’t taken her virginity and then broken her heart.
“So we’re paired off for the wedding,” Aaron said as he broke the hug.
“So we are,” Melissa said tersely. She was surprised that she’d found her voice. Her entire body was taut, her head light. She was mad at herself for having any reaction to this man.
“You’re right, it’s going to be a very interesting weekend indeed,” Aaron said, echoing her earlier comment.
He looked good. More than good. He looked...delectable. Six feet two inches of pure Adonis, his body honed to perfection. Wide shoulders, a muscular chest and brawny arms fully visible in his short-sleeved dress shirt. His strong upper body tapered to a narrow waist. A wave of heat flowed through Melissa’s veins, and she swallowed at the uncomfortable sensation. She quickly averted her eyes from his body and took a sip of champagne, trying to ignore the heat pulsing inside.
Good grief, what was wrong with her? She should be immune to Aaron’s good looks. And yet she couldn’t deny the visceral response that had shot through her body at seeing him again.
It was simply the reaction of a woman toward a man who was amazingly gorgeous. She wasn’t dead, after all. She could find him physically attractive even if she despised him.
Although despised was too strong a word. He didn’t matter to her enough for her to despise him.
Still, she couldn’t help giving him another surreptitious once-over. He had filled out—everywhere. His arms were bigger, his shoulders wider, his legs more muscular. His lips were full and surrounded by a thin goatee—and good Lord, did they ever look kissable...
“I can’t believe it’s been ten years,” Aaron said.
He didn’t even remember. Why was she surprised? And worse, why was she irked?
“Closer to twelve,” Melissa corrected him. “Eleven years, nine months. Something like that.” She shrugged, hoping he didn’t think that she had kept track of the exact date that they’d stopped talking.
“You’re right,” Aaron said, nodding. “It is almost twelve years. Wow, time flies.”
“It sure does.”
Melissa could hardly stand this. She glanced away, and relief flooded her when she saw her sister and Tasha. They were chatting with a group of guests about thirty feet away.
“You look good,” Aaron said. “Amazing, actually.”
His eyes roamed over her face, then her dress, and heat erupted inside her. Oh, how Melissa wished she could pretend the heat was simply anger, but it was more than that. She could see in Aaron’s eyes that he thought she was beautiful, and her body was reacting to that reality.
Betraying her was more like it.
“It really is good to see you again.”
Somehow, Melissa stopped herself from snorting. Was it really nice, she wondered. If he was so happy to see her now, why had he cut off all communication with her years ago?
Melissa looked in Arlene’s direction, and finally her sister saw her. Arlene’s eyes lit up, and she waved.
Melissa waved back. Arlene was a lifeline at this moment, and Melissa took it. “Ah, there’s my sister. I have to talk to her about something.”
“Oh—”
“Later, Aaron,” Melissa interjected, then strode off without giving him a chance to say another word.
She didn’t dare look over her shoulder. Her heart was still pounding, a ridiculous reaction. So what if she’d seen Aaron Burke again? He didn’t have the power to hurt her anymore. Her feelings for him had died years ago.
