Page 4 of Picture This

Emily had been trying to set us up for weeks, and every time I told her no, it only seemed to encourage her.

Whatever. All I had to do was survive this wedding weekend. Then after my show, I’d leave New York, and with any luck, I’d never see Peter or Jake or any of these other men again.

“Please.” She took my hand, clasping it with both of hers. “Give him one more chance. And if you still don’t like him, I can at least say I tried. But how romantic would it be if you fell in love this weekend? At my wedding.”

“So romantic,” I deadpanned as Jake came to stand at my side.

I angled my body away from him, hoping he’d get the hint.

He didn’t.

Jake leaned in for a kiss on my cheek. “Hey, Del.”

I backed away, nearly tripping over the suitcase at my feet.

“Delylah,” I corrected, grabbing his hand for a shake. The scent of his cologne was overpowering and stung my nose. “I don’t like the nickname Del. Remember?”

“That’s right. Sorry.”

No, he wasn’t. That was the third time I’d had to remind him not to call me Del.

I liked one and only one nickname. The nickname Noah had given me when I was ten. Everyone else called me Delylah.

Jake brushed an invisible piece of lint from his white shirt. He was dressed like Luca’s other friends. Designer jeans. New, polished boots. Crisp button-down with the sleeves rolled up his forearms. Not a dark-blond hair out of place. “Maybe we could hang out. Sit together at dinner tonight.”

“Maybe.” Never. I was going to avoid him at all costs.

“I hear we’re going camping tomorrow.”

Shit. I swallowed a groan. “Glamping. Can’t wait.”

Chapter 2

Noah

One of life’s great injustices was Delylah Banks.

The girl next door, and Emily’s best friend. Untouchable. But damn, she was gorgeous. Not just pretty—stunning.

Delylah had the kind of beauty that you only found in the wild. Untamed and striking. The type that made a man forget how to breathe. I’d taken a single glance at her in the lobby and nearly given myself whiplash.

Was she dating anyone at the moment? How pissed would Emily be if I chased her best friend around the resort this weekend? Maybe my sister would be too busy to even notice. Maybe Delylah and I could catch up on this impromptu glamping trip.

Camping, I loved. Glamping? Not my thing. But with Delylah along, it might not be so bad.

I crossed the gravel parking lot for my truck, hauling out the last box of decorations from the back. From the moment I’d arrived this morning, I’d been taking orders from Emily and my mother, hauling boxes of party favors and lights and flowers all over the resort. This last box had the guest book and framed photos for the reception. As soon as I delivered it to the barn, I was making a break for it.

Maybe I’d head to the stables and borrow a horse to go for a ride. Some of my favorite trails were on the ranch. When I was in high school and college, I’d worked at the resort as a summer guide and knew these mountains like the back of my hand.

These days, I didn’t get up here as often as I used to, and I missed it.

Haven River Ranch was special, and when Emily had asked Mom and me if we could call in a few favors to secure the resort for her wedding, I hadn’t hesitated. We all wanted her big day to go off without a hitch.

I hauled the box to the barn and left it on a table inside the carved double doors. But my plan to cut loose for a few hours died a quick death when I retreated outside and spotted my sister standing on the lodge’s porch.

The moment she saw me, she waved, so I headed to the lodge, meeting her at the steps.

“I need a favor.” She gave me an exaggerated frown that meant I was going to hate this favor.