“Yes. But it’s still worth consideration. I’ve been doing some internet research into the legend of the bride. Like you said, there’s not much available. It isn’t exactly a well-known tale. But there were enough reports over the years to keep it from fading completely from local memory. Certainly worth looking into.”
“I can’t imagine you’d rather spend your time tracking down silly old ghost stories than working on an idea that’s already caught the interest of a film producer.”
He’d mostly been teasing when he’d mentioned researching the ghost, but something about her tone made his defenses rise. “You sound a lot like my parents—well, you would if they approved any more of me writing a screenplay than they do of me working for my cousin. They’re always reminding me that I’m not living up to my potential.”
Considering what little he’d told her about his parents, he supposed he couldn’t blame her for looking annoyed by the comparison. “Maybe they really do just want what’s best for you,” she suggested.
“That might mean something to me if I thought they really cared about what was best for me rather than what reflected best on them.”
Shaking his head, he reminded himself it was his parents who ignited his temper, not Kinley. Although there were times when she could get under his skin with that everything’s-gotta-be-perfect attitude of hers, he admitted. “This isn’t really the time to get into my issues. All I was asking is if you can take a little time off Sunday.”
“Maybe,” she said after a brief hesitation, though her shoulders were still a bit stiff. “I should probably just get through tonight and tomorrow before making any future plans.”
“Think about it.”
“I will.” She sounded as if she wouldn’t really have a choice about that. “Just one question?”
“Of course.”
“Why do you want to spend more time with me when I get the distinct impression that I occasionally irritate the hell out of you?” she asked with a slightly rueful smile.
He couldn’t help chuckling in response to her insight. “You do have a knack for pushing my buttons,” he conceded. “In lots of ways. I can’t quite explain it. I just know that from the moment I first met you, I wanted to get to know you better. That desire hasn’t changed. In fact, it’s only gotten stronger the more time I’ve spent with you.”
“Yes, well, maybe we should just call it quits before I end up pushing the wrong button,” she said bluntly. “It’s been fun and all, but why press our luck?”
He couldn’t resist reaching up to touch her soft hair, twisting a lock idly around one finger. “Still practicing risk aversion, Kinley? Hardly what I’d expect from someone so fearlessly ambitious when it comes to business.”
“My number-one rule of business—play to your strengths,” she reminded him. “That philosophy increases the odds of success.”
“And decreases the chances of failure,” he added. “The one outcome Kinley Carmichael simply won’t accept.”
“Maybe you are getting to know me a bit,” she quipped.
He laughed softly and lowered his head to brush his lips across hers. “Not nearly as well as I’d like to.”
For only a moment, her lips responded and the kiss deepened. Just enough to make him crave more. She drew back before he could do anything to satisfy that hunger. Looking quickly around, she moved away from him, smoothing her hair and straightening her clothes. It was obvious she didn’t want to be seen kissing him, and he could understand that. Not only would it potentially cause gossip about what she wouldn’t consider professional behavior, but there was always the specter of conflict of interest hanging over them. After all, he was here to write a review of her business.
The article had always been intended to have a positive slant, but he could see where kissing one of the owners might call into question his motives—or hers. At least in the minds of an outsider. As for himself, he’d never even considered that Kinley would stoop to flirting with him in an attempt to get a better write-up. As much as he still had to learn about her, he’d figured that out almost immediately.
“I have to get back. Eva’s probably had a chance to calm down by now. I’ll assure her Ninja is safely contained.”
He nodded. “He shouldn’t get out again as long as he doesn’t have any help.”
Casting one last look at the snoozing mutt, Kinley turned and started back toward the inn. Dan followed a bit more slowly. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do with himself for the next couple of days—but he knew he’d spend more time with Kinley if he got the chance. There was just something about her…
* * *
Members of the wedding party gathered on the deck, with a few out-of-town guests who were staying at the inn, for a casual cocktail hour before the rehearsal. Though it was still light out, Eva had insisted on having burning torches around the outside of the deck. Kinley lit them herself, and she had to admit they did look good. Garland with bows draped the railing, and clusters of helium-filled balloons in purple and shiny white floated above the guests.
The caterer had provided two servers for the rehearsal dinner; they mingled now with trays of champagne, lavender cosmopolitans and nonalcoholic purple grape drinks. Even the appetizers fit the lavender-and-white color scheme—sugar-frosted purple grapes with chunks of creamy white pear, cubes of soft white cheese on crisp white crackers. Soft music played from hidden speakers, low enough so as not to interfere with conversation. The photographer and videographer moved discreetly in the background, documenting the evening’s activities, and nearly everyone in attendance was snapping photos with their cell phones.
As over-the-top and borderline tacky as Eva had been at times during the months of planning, Kinley was satisfied that everything had come together well enough. She wasn’t sure there was really much of Serena’s personality on display here this evening, but maybe Serena was okay with that. Perhaps just having her parents foot the entire bill for the wedding made it worth putting up with her mother’s bossiness.
Though Kinley and Bonnie had intended to remain well out of sight during the wedding festivities unless they were needed, as they didn’t actually know the bridal couple other than as clients, Eva insisted on dragging them into the party. She seemed to take pride in introducing them as her “dear friends, the owners of Bride Mountain Inn.” Because Eva fulsomely praised their services—though usually with the subtle caveat that they’d simply followed her directions to the letter—Kinley allowed herself to be put on display, though Bonnie quickly excused herself with a murmured explanation that she was needed elsewhere. Kinley figured it was good for future business. She was drawn into a conversation with the wedding soloist about possibly hosting a fiftieth wedding anniversary party for her parents here, and the groom’s fortysomething aunt speculated that the inn would be the perfect setting for an annual weekend retreat for some of her sorority sisters.
Dan wasn’t able to escape attention, either. Eva caught him trying to slip upstairs and she pounced, delighted to introduce the journalist who was there to document her daughter’s wedding for a prestigious magazine. His expression somewhat resigned, Dan didn’t even waste time trying to correct her, simply meeting her friends with the courtesy and charm Kinley had come to expect from him. Their gazes met at one point and he gave her a quick wink, coaxing a soft laugh from her before she turned back to the nostalgic sorority sister. As many reasons as she had to resist him, he certainly made it hard for her to remember them when he smiled at her in just that way.
She kept a discreet eye on mischievous young G