“You’re right,” James said. The sentiment might sound superstitious, but she believed in it just as much as I did. “Wait…which one is Tommy again?”

Shit. More than just my cheeks heated this time, my whole body flushed. “You know…the one who stayed with me for a while when they were in college? He lives in Chicago, too. Owns an architectural firm there. Very successful. He was on the cover of Architectural Digest a few months ago.”

“Oh, wow. I remember him now. He was a pretty one. So, he and Jared have remained close?”

“Very. Tomás is Jared’s best friend, and he’s his best man.” Shame dampened the desire that had awakened inside of me when I saw that heated look in Tommy’s eyes. I’d joked about taking a young lover at lunch, but I’d mostly done that to wind Jared up. In truth, it wasn’t something I’d ever considered — not seriously, anyway. And not until Tommy pressed that kiss to the inside of my wrist.

But even if I did take a lover, my son’s best friend was not an option.

No matter how beseeching those dark brown eyes of his were.

More than that, Tommy has always been a charmer. I was probably reading far too much into that exchange. Sure, it was a little flirty and suggestive, but it didn’t mean he was really interested in me that way, right?

4

Darcy

After we left the dress shop, James and I walked up the block to have some drinks. We chatted about this or that until my phone started throwing off alerts for the rest of the errands I had to run. I met and paid the deposit for the band, swung by the caterers to make sure they didn’t have any issues with my order, then headed back to the house to meet the guy with my liquor delivery.

“Hey, Darcy,” Minerva greeted as I came in the back door. “You look flushed!”

“Everyone keeps saying that as if it’s not hot out there,” I muttered, hanging my bag on the coat rack in the mudroom. “Has Amos been by to deliver our liquor order yet?”

“He dropped off the spirits but had to double back to get the crates of champagne.”

“Seriously? He did say he was coming back, right? I need that champagne for family brunch tomorrow.”

“I’ll give him a call,” Minerva said, plucking her smartphone from the pocket of her practical dress. “In the meantime, have a seat. I’ll pour you some lemonade.”

“Make it a Lynchburg lemonade, and I’ll pour for both of us,” I said playfully.

The older woman winked. “I’ll take a nip or two if you’re offering.”

“Oh, you’ll take more than a nip, Minnie.”

She chuckled huskily, shoulders shaking. “You know all my secrets.”

“You know mine, too.”