Page 5 of The Replacement Fiance

"I did and his flight is grounded. I mean, I booked them so I know the flight number by heart. But beyond that, no one can tell me if he got on another flight this morning or not."

Logan thinks for a few moments before glancing at his watch. "You need to make a decision, Mariah. We have to leave soon if we want to miss the traffic getting out of LA."

I sigh. "Let's go then."

"You sure about that?"

I nod. "Yes, I'm sure."

As Logan eases the SUV into traffic, I look over the travel plans I'd written down on a piece of paper. It's only for three days. Barely two days with family and then we head back home so I can take care of the New Year's Eve wedding that will make or break my career.

For now, the plan is to take the I-5 all the way up to Sacramento and then to the I-80 toward Soda Springs. Logan will be driving for the first half of the trip although if he had his way, probably the whole trip himself. I actually don't mind it. If he wants to drive all the way to NorCal, I'm not going to stop him. I'm too nervous to take the wheel anyway.

But I'm also grateful that Logan is traveling with me. I feel comfortable around him and always have ever since I met him and Liam. Even though I'm comfortable around both brothers, I get along more with Logan because he's the one who picks up the floral arrangements I make for their mother every Friday. Liam also has a long-term girlfriend known to give any woman brave enough to look at her man for more than five seconds the death glare.

And I can't blame her. With their dark hair and steel-blue eyes, the Garrison brothers are gorgeous. They're originally from Mount Baldy, a small mountain community east of Los Angeles before their family moved to Culver City where their father ran the repair shop they now manage. When they're not running the shop, they're both into restoring vintage motorcycles. Last summer, the brothers took a road trip all the way up to Monterey Bay, taking their Triumph motorcycles on a secret route through an Army base. Logan showed me pictures he took along the way and the views were breathtaking.

"Why don't we start with getting to know more about each other?" Logan asks. "How'd a small town Northern California girl find her way to crazy LA? Did you attend college out here?"

"I attended UC Santa Barbara and worked in hotel management for three years which was great. Then while visiting friends down here, I saw this listing for a flower shop for sale and I figured since I love flowers so much, maybe I'd give it a try. And I've been doing it ever since."

"How long was that? When you saw the listing?"

"Four years ago," I reply. "It was hard work in the beginning, just me and one employee, but now I have four employees and a manager. I still make arrangements, of course."

"And can I just say that I love that you still make my mother's arrangements, Mariah," he says. "Liam and I really appreciate it."

"Thank you. I love doing them for you." I don't know much about their mother other than she lost her battle with breast cancer shortly after I met them. When she died, the brothers asked me to provide the flowers for the memorial and the funeral. A week later, Logan placed a standing order for a bouquet of flowers he'd pick up every Friday morning. He wrote a list of her favorite flowers and I even know them by heart.

We don't talk about personal stuff for the next two hours. In fact, we don't talk at all. We leave LA listening to a selection of songs streaming through the speakers, a mix of rock and roll, country, and holiday music. Sometimes we sing along and sometimes we don't, but I like the laid-back energy between us. It's the calm I need before the annual family Christmas visit officially begins.

"So tell me about your family. I need to know something about them if we're supposed to be engaged," Logan says when we stop at Kettleman City for gas and brunch three hours later. "Why don't we start with your parents?"

"My parents own a lodge in Soda Springs. Besides being a well-known stop for skiers on their way to Lake Tahoe, they hold yoga and meditation retreats and nature workshops a few times a year," I begin. "My mom's into all the wu-wu stuff while my dad's the businessman. He knows how to keep things running, balance sheets and all that while she runs some of the workshops."

"What exactly is this wu-wu thing?"

"Mom's into energy, crystals, bodywork, and all that. She'll probably assess your aura the moment you walk in to determine if you're good enough to be part of the family."

"I hope I pass."

I laugh. "Of course, you will."

"Do you believe in that stuff?"

"I don't know. I just know that she was always the quirky parent during PTA meetings with her tie-dye stuff and bangles and necklaces."

"And your dad? What do I need to know about him?"

"Dad's more practical. He's levelheaded which makes them the perfect pair, I guess. They balance each other out. But if there is one little thing… or rather obsession for him, he does like old trucks. He has one in the garage so he can restore it."

"Really? I'd love to see it. Any brothers and sisters?"

"Two sisters and one brother. Emily's the oldest. She's married to a college professor and they've got one kid, Jonathan, who should be two now. They live in Colorado. Then there's Forrest who lives on the property and does a lot of the repairs. He's into building and fixing things... except cars. And then there's Harper, the youngest. She's a fashion and lifestyle vlogger who also handles my flower shop's social media," I reply. "She helped get me that New Year's Eve wedding gig that, depending on whether or not I can pull it off, could determine whether I make it or not in the business."

He grins. "Oh, you'll knock it out of the park, Mariah. I just know you will."

"Thanks. It will be mayhem when I get back."

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