She ignored the erratic thumping of her heart—which had little to do with her assignments—and instead focused on positive things. The flickering votives, the white twinkle lights, the jazz music flowing through the speakers, and the savory scents of grilled steak and fresh garlic.

In the eleven months they’d been engaged, Jenna and Grant had gone back and forth a dozen times on the menu, requiring Sophie to call the restaurant as many times. But all that was behind them now. The stage was perfectly set for a beautiful rehearsal dinner.

As she reached for a votive, the hair on her arms lifted. The oxygen was suddenly too thick to breathe. She didn’t have to turn around—Aiden had followed her outside.

“Hello, Sophie.” The sound of her name on his lips made something twist hard and tight inside. Anger, that’s what it was.

She stared into eyes that gazed at her with fondness. Fondness. As though he had any right to look at her that way. At least he wasn’t presuming to hug her as he had the others. Surely he knew she wouldn’t welcome an embrace.

“Aiden.” She crossed her arms. “I see you made it.”

“Were you counting down the minutes?”

“Somebody has to keep things on schedule. Your seat is there, beside Grant. Dinner will be served soon.” She turned to go.

“Wait, Sophie. I haven’t had a chance to tell you . . . I’m sorry about your mom. She was a wonderful lady. Closest thing I ever had to a mother.”

His words triggered that soft spot she’d always had for the motherless boy.

Do not feel sorry for him.

“Thank you.”

“You were good to her. And she was so proud of you.”

“Yes, well . . .” Sophie shuffled her feet. Toyed with the skirt of her sundress.

“Your dad must be devastated.”

She blinked at him. Her dad was the last person who had a right to be devastated. Hadn’t Aiden heard? Why had Grant never mentioned it?

Aiden looked back into the restaurant. “Hard to believe little Jenna’s getting married. Seems like yesterday she was begging us to drive her to the movies to meet some boy.”

“Well, she’s twenty-two now, and she’s found her perfect match. Grant will take good care of her.” If Aiden noticed the bite behind her words he ignored it.

“They’re good together.” Aiden shoved his hands into his pockets. “And Seth graduated from Appalachian State, I hear.”

“With his masters. He just got hired on as project manager at a consulting firm.” She glanced around for an escape, but the entire bridal party was still inside.

“And you, Sophie? What are you up to?”

She really didn’t want to talk to him about her dreams but decided to offer the bare minimum for civility’s sake. “I’m moving to Piper’s Cove. Going to open a bookshop.”