They followed Lizzie into the room she used as an office, where a conference table was laden with flowers, mini cakes, place settings and other things he couldn’t easily identify. Chick stuff, he thought, keeping the sexist commentary to himself.

Jenny took a close look at all of it, and he was relieved to see her taking an interest in the wedding they’d been anticipating for more than a year now. Hell, Lizzie’s husband, Jared, had bought this place and turned it into a wedding venue primarily because he and Jenny couldn’t find a place on the island to hold their wedding. Jared had taken their distress and turned it into yet another gold mine.

Lizzie led them through every detail, from the ceremony that would be held on the back veranda overlooking the water to the pictures that would be taken in various locations around the estate, including their secret garden, to the reception that would be held in the downstairs rooms and on the back porch. It was a beautiful spot, and as Lizzie ran through the particulars, Alex could almost see it in his mind as it would unfold in three short weeks.

That didn’t give him much time to figure out what was troubling his bride-to-be, a thought that filled him with an urgent need for answers. Once they’d dealt with all of Lizzie’s questions and taken a taste of the cake they’d chosen to make sure they still loved it, Lizzie declared them finished.

“We’re in great shape with plenty of time for last-minute tweaks if you think of anything you’d like to change,” Lizzie said as she walked them out.

“Thanks for everything,” Alex said.

“Yes,” Jenny added, “thanks, Lizzie. You’ve made this so much easier than it would’ve been otherwise.”

“Happy to help and can’t wait for your big day. Jared and I are looking forward to it.”

“We’re still getting together this weekend, right?” Jenny asked her.

“Wouldn’t miss it. We’ll see you then.”

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Jenny and Alex walked outside, and the bright sunshine had Alex reaching for the shades he’d pushed to the top of his head while they were inside. “Let’s go home for lunch.”

She looked up at him. “How come?”

“Because I want some time alone with my fiancée.”

“We’re both working today.”

“So? Are we too busy for lunch?”

“Your mom and Hope are there and—”

“I want to go to our home.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Go on ahead. I’ll grab some food and meet you there.” He bent to kiss her and once again noted the slight hesitation before she returned his kiss. By the time this afternoon was over, he was going to get to the bottom of what was going on with her. If she told him she didn’t want to get married anymore—