A Convenient Proposal(71)



Griff turned to Arden. “Are you okay?”

“Are you?” He’d told her about talking to Zelda and Al at their new house, with a humorous slant that seemed to prove he’d recovered from the betrayal.

“I’m great.” They made their way outside through the press of people, sharing the standard “Wasn’t it a lovely wedding?” comments as they went.

On the front steps of the church, however, the conversations changed abruptly. “Look at that,” Griff said. “There’s your snow, Arden.”

After a cloudy day of cold rain mixed with ice and a few snowflakes, nightfall had brought about a change in the precipitation. In the short time they’d been inside the church, a thin layer of white had coated the grass and shrubs. Like a heavy fall of powdered sugar, snow coated the bare tree branches and the individual needles of the pine trees.

She clapped her hands in appreciation. “Beautiful. What a breathtaking scene—everything draped in white for the wedding.”

“Except the roads,” Griff pointed out. “Safe driving and a winter wonderland. That’s the advantage of a Southern snowfall. No shoveling.”

They were the only people still standing on the steps; the rest had hurried through the falling snow to their cars, heading toward the wedding reception at the country club. A limousine pulled up at the curb to collect the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and in the general confusion, Arden and Griff headed for the Jaguar.

“We’ll party for a little while,” he promised as they drove. “But I want a few minutes alone with you during the evening. We need to talk.”

“Yes,” Arden said quietly. “We do.”





Chapter Fourteen





“One thing you can always count on at the club,” Jake Campbell announced at dinner. “Decent food.”

Arden smiled, and the rest of the family signaled their agreement. They had all been seated together again, but not at a table tucked into a corner this time.

“A ringside seat,” Griff had commented as they sat down. “Right on the dance floor and with a direct line of sight to the head table. I guess it pays to be nice to the bride and groom.”

The wedding reception was everything Zelda could have hoped for, Arden thought—beautiful, delicious and crowded. Red and white flowers emerged from tall vases on the tables and a red rose lay across each dinner plate. Confetti made up of tiny red and white foil hearts had been sprinkled across the white tablecloths. The new Mr. and Mrs. McPherson had given all their guests a memorable Valentine’s Day evening at no charge. Their wedding would, Arden suspected, be remembered for years.

She knew she would remember laughing with the Campbell family all during the meal, dancing with Griff and pretending—just for a couple of hours—that she could share the rest of his life.

Her final dance with his father would not be easily forgotten. He had asked and she had hesitated.

“Afraid of me?” he said, with a challenge in his eyes.

“Of course not.” But she was, and he probably knew it when she put her cold fingers into his warm hand.

He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, leading her with his expert grace through some fairly complicated steps. Then he drew back so they could see each other. “You’ve improved.”

“There have been several dances since that first one,” she reminded him. “Griff and I have practiced.”

“And, of course, you have a natural sense of rhythm. You would have to, in order to play so well.”

“Yes.” Here we go, she thought.

“I’m sorry to hear you’re losing your hearing,” he said. “That’s a tragedy for your fans, as well as a personal loss.”

“Thank you.” She looked over his shoulder, trying to hide her surprise.

But he could read her as easily as Griff did, it seemed. “Didn’t think I could be human, did you?”

“I wasn’t sure. But Rosalie married you, so I knew you must have a soft spot somewhere.”

“Touché.” He sent her into a spin and brought her back again. “You’ve been good for Griff.”

“I’m glad.”

“I know he’s been restless. Small town veterinary practice isn’t the most exciting life path, being composed of hard work and never enough time off.”

“But there are rewards in helping the animals and their owners.” She had driven with Griff out to check on Rajah one afternoon. Though the stallion’s wound was still healing, he was back to his energetic, magnificent self.

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