Violet Bentley stood beside the reception desk at Blue Heron Cottages. “You sure you’ve got this?”
Aspen nodded. “I’ve got this. We have three cottages of guests checking in. You want the bride-to-be and maid of honor in the yellow cottage, the groom and best man in the mint green cottage next door. The bride’s family in the pink cottage. If any other guests show up early, I have those cottages written out here on your list.” Aspen grinned. “All color-coded by cottage.”
Violet laughed. She was a tiny bit of an over-organizer. “Well, it’s easy for the guests to remember which cottage they’re in since I named each cottage by their color.”
“Really, you should go into town and run your errands. I’ve got this.” Aspen’s eyes flashed with confidence.
Violet didn’t know what she’d done before hiring Aspen to help her here at the cottages. It was so nice to be able to run errands knowing the resort was in capable hands. Aspen had picked up on everything so quickly.
She wavered, still uncertain if she should really leave. “I should go check the cottages to make sure they’re ready before I leave.”
“I already did that. And yes, before you ask, I put the bouquets of flowers in each one.”
“I just want this wedding to go off without a hitch. I’m still not great with doing the whole run the resort and making sure the setup for the wedding is ready all at one time.”
“That’s why you should give me more to do.” Aspen’s brow furrowed. “No, seriously. I can do more. I want to do more.”
“I’m not much of a delegator.” It was one of her less charming traits. She always thought she had to do everything. Make sure everything was just right. But sometimes it overwhelmed her to be the only one in charge.
Her brother, Rob, walked into the reception area from the attached owner’s suite they shared. “Hey, I thought you were headed into town an hour ago.”
“I was. I mean, I am.” She glanced at her watch. Had it really been an hour?
“She’s busy double-checking that everything is ready for the wedding this week.” Aspen defended her.
“You mean she’s looking over your shoulder and double-checking any little task she’s given you to do?” Rob rolled his
eyes. “She’s got double-checking anything you help her with down to an art form.”
“I do not,” she said indignantly. Though, to be honest, she did.
“Go to town. How about even grabbing a cup of coffee with Melody? Take a little break, sis.”
“I don’t have time for that.”
“Yes, you do. I’ve got everything here covered,” Aspen insisted. “I really do.”
She let out a long sigh. “Okay, okay. You two quit nagging me. I’m outta here.” And she knew they weren’t nagging. Not exactly. But she doubted she’d take time to have coffee with Melody. She wanted to get back here and make sure all the guests were settled in and check and see if they needed anything.
“What’s the use of hiring Aspen if you don’t let her actually do anything? And she seems to have picked up on everything quickly. Let her work.”
Okay, that was nagging.
“I do let her work.”
Rob rolled his eyes yet again. It annoyed her when he did that. Which was probably why he did it so often.
“If I see you back before two hours have passed, I’m throwing you out,” he threatened.
“You can’t do that. I own the place.” She glared at him.
“Just watch me.” He shook his head as he disappeared back into the owner’s suite.
“He’s so bossy,” she muttered under her breath as she gave Aspen a weak smile and headed out to her car.
***
Jill Sawyer tugged her suitcase from the trunk of her car and headed to the yellow cottage that waited cheerfully for her as if this wasn’t going to be a long, drawn-out week. Aspen, the woman at the front desk, had told her she was the first to arrive from the wedding party. Fine by her. She wasn’t sure she was ready for all of this, anyway. She’d just slip inside and hang out there as much as possible this week. Somehow she’d make it through this wedding and escape back home. Besides, she had a big business meeting next week. An important one. Maybe she could leave early on Sunday and head out. Yes, that was a great plan.
Oh, she was glad Christie and Tony were getting married. Well, kind of glad. She was happy for her best friend, but couldn’t she have picked a different man to marry? One whose best buddy wasn’t Scott Kenner?
Christie had been very straightforward when she’d asked her to be the maid of honor in the wedding. She said Scott would be the best man and asked if that would be a problem.
Jill, of course, had insisted it was no problem at all. Not even a little bit. Didn’t bother her. Really, it was fine. Just fine.
All of that Scott drama was in the ancient past.
Christie had looked doubtful but hugged her with gratitude.
She figured she’d just avoid Scott as much as possible. Christie had always talked about having a big wedding at some fancy place. Surely there would be lots of room to avoid Scott.
But then—after she’d already said yes—she found out Christie was having a small wedding. Forty people for a destination wedding at a small resort in Moonbeam, Florida. And the wedding party would be staying at the cottages at the resort. All of the wedding party. Which included Scott.
Forty people. Hard to avoid a person when there would only be forty people.
She swept her gaze around the courtyard surrounded by cottages. The cottages were, let’s just say, not very far apart. And Aspen had cheerfully told her the groom and best man were staying at the mint green cottage right next door. She looked over and glared at the cottage that wasn’t even a stone’s throw away from hers.
She paused, wondering if she could go back and ask Aspen to move them to a different cottage. She raised her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sun and looked across the distance.
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