Page 55 of The Friendship Pact

The ushers stepped aside as Nick and the other groomsmen lined up and the bridesmaids joined them.

Chloe held on to Luke Reynolds, Ethan’s older brother and the best man, who had flown in from Boston for the nuptials and planned on staying through Christmas.

The violins started Canon in D, their cue. Nikki and Nora, Roman’s twin girls, started the procession down the aisle, dropping rose petals as they went. Nick held out his arm for Lily and whispered, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” She held on tight. “Don’t let me fall.”

The wedding planner gave them the go-ahead, and they walked toward Ethan and the officiant. Nick locked eyes with Kate and winked. Her smile was worth the bold move.

Each pew had a draping of red poinsettias and glittering white tulle and ribbon. The front of the church held dozens of red poinsettia plants. Nick wouldn’t be surprised if the bride and groom gave the Christmas plants to the guests attending.

He waited at the front of the church, observing Kate. When the rest of the bridal party was in place, the congregation stood. Paige appeared at the back of the church with her grandfather, Abe. Nick glanced at Ethan, whose smile never left Paige as she glided down the aisle in a simple but elegant white gown.

Nick pictured himself in Ethan’s place, awaiting Kate walking down the aisle with her dad. When he caught Kate glancing his way, he smiled. Instead of smiling back, Kate dabbed her eyes with a tissue and concentrated on the pastor.

Huh? Maybe Kate had been smiling at Lily earlier, not him. Nick didn’t hear the message or the vows as he pondered Kate’s reaction.

He was so lost in thought, he nearly missed everything, snapping back to attention only when Ethan and Paige were already kissing and the audience was standing and clapping.

* * *

Kate hated the way she’d reacted to Nick’s attention. Pettiness was so unbecoming, but she couldn’t help herself. He didn’t ask her to the wedding, and she hadn’t heard from him since he walked out of the Eagle’s Nest. She’d broken almost every one of the “Ten Ways to Keep a Guy in the Friend Zone” rules. Dumb teen magazine. She was an adult; the article was clearly meant for teenagers. Nick didn’t want a relationship. She’d been stupid and reckless to kiss him. She needed to focus on herself and her business. Hadn’t she made a pact with herself even before reading the ridiculous article?

Feeling like a coward, she snuck out after the wedding, planning to congratulate the bride and groom when they arrived at the reception. She faked the excuse of wanting to check on the cake when Henry and Michael asked why she was sneaking out.

Ethan and Paige had hired the Blue Ox to cater, so she made her way to the kitchen to see if they needed help. She was greeted with a controlled frenzy, as she and Regina used to call the chaos when they catered an event.

With nothing to do, she made her way to the ballroom. The doors were now open, and guests were filing in. Waiters glided through the room with one hand holding napkins and the other holding a tray of hors d’oeuvres.

The sexy usher who seated her at the wedding moved toward her with two champagne flutes and a grin. She looked up, noticing she stood under a sprig of mistletoe, and stepped to her right.

He approached and said, “You should have stayed where you were.”

“Nope. I’m avoiding being ambushed tonight. Thank you,” she added as he handed her a glass.

“You’re welcome. I’m Chris Duncan, I played ball with Ethan.”

“Kate Davis.”

“Are you a friend of the bride or groom?” Chris asked.

A fair question since Paige and Ethan didn’t seat their guests according to family. “I’d like to think both. I met them at Paige’s charity gala in New York.”

“Do you live in the Big Apple?”

“No. I’m from Chicago. I just moved here. I’m opening a coffee shop in town.”

“Congratulations, and too bad you’re not living in New York. It’s close to Boston,” he said with a wink. “Cheers.”

To think this handsome ball player would flirt with her made her blush. Too bad she only had eyes for the sheriff.

She and Chris chatted as the bridal party entered the ballroom, clapping at the appropriate times. Kate enjoyed Chris’s company. She found him funny and laughed at his silly stories. Chris was down-to-earth for being a big-shot pro pitcher.

“I remember seeing you play,” Kate finally admitted.

“And here I thought you didn’t recognize me.”

“I didn’t feel like catering to your ego,” she said and laughed.