Tonight, of course, was the single exception to her rule, and it had been a frantic decision made without enough thought at the end of the stressful pre-wedding week, when she’d worked so hard to shoulder a lot of her sister’s burden.

She was grateful Cole had stepped in after Kevin let her down, and she’d lain awake last night pondering the ramifications of going out with one of her employees but had told herself she could handle it just fine.

Maybe she’d been wrong.

They didn’t speak on the walk to the truck. When they arrived, he helped her up into the passenger seat, and she almost succeeded in not noticing his strong, calloused, capable hands.

Once he closed her in, she took a deep, shaky breath and got things straight in her head. They weren’t a couple. This was a one-time thing that would end up with her going home alone. Cole was merely doing her a favor.

She shut her eyes for a moment and summoned her construction boss self, forgetting about the long column of silky material that said otherwise.

The driver’s door opened, Cole climbed up, and the space shrunk, but Sierra was determined now. Determined not to act awkward and determined not to make Cole uneasy. They had several more hours together, and it would be rough enough for Cole, having to meet extended family and longtime friends. She strived to act normal, as if they were working together on a project.

“Did you check out the architecture in there?” she asked, eyeing the majestic bell tower as he started the engine and pulled out.

“It was impressive.” He gave a half laugh. “I wondered if you had time to eyeball it. Bet you were itching to run your hands over those rails around the altar.”

“The details were incredible. And the columns…”

He nodded. “Did you notice the detail on the main doors?”

“The ones that must have weighed a hundred pounds each?”

“Had to be original. Mortise-and-tenon construction.”

“Agree,” she said as her phone dinged from inside her purse, signaling a text message. She dug it out as Cole turned into the parking garage at the Wentworth, a five-minute drive from the church.

The message was from Hayden, who’d been invited to the wedding but was out of town for a trade show on the East Coast.

Know you’re busy, but I need a full report on the wedding when you can.

Sierra typed out a reply. You caught me between the ceremony and reception. Kennedy is officially a missus!

Hayden replied with a bride and groom emoji and Tell her congrats from me and I hate that I’m missing it.

I will, even though she won’t remember it.

More importantly, how’s your date?

Sierra texted, Fake date. Next to me.

Send me a pic please. And drink champagne for me too.

Demanding wench! But okay times two.