Page 11 of Two Hearts' Subterfuge

Returning to the driver’s seat, he waited momentarily for her to step inside the breezeway and head into the lobby.

It was the midday lull before the festivities would be begin at one o’clock, so it still wasn’t terribly busy yet.

Now that he’d made a decision regarding his sister, he could think a little more clearly about what Dad had asked earlier.

Who is she?

Ben grinned. Dad’s senses were uncanny. Yesterday afternoon, Ben had called a friend who worked at the formal wear rental place in town asking if he could switch out his tux for one that was traditional. After thinking about the girl he’d seen at Rene’s, he’d decided to step it up a notch in case he ran into her today.

Ben rolled his eyes as he parked Dad’s truck in the lot reserved for management. He was thinking kind of stupidly though since he wasn’t exactly experienced at hitting on women. What would he even say to someone he’d never met?

Chapter Six

It was kind of crazy how the entire Inn had been transformed in a matter of hours for this gala event today, Aylin decided. How could they plan something so complex and still manage to provide great service to guests? Somehow, the owners of the Dragonfly Pointe Inn had managed to find a way, and Aylin was surprised to realize that she was interested in learning how an operation like this ran so efficiently.

As she stood and surveyed Camille’s wedding gown after stitching a few final details, someone rapped on the front door of the boutique, which was closed for a couple of hours while Rene was at home taking a break.

Peeking into the showroom, Aylin blinked when she caught a glimpse of the girl who was knocking. In garb that was all out goth, complete with spiky black hair and a dog collar with small sterling spikes, she appeared to be dressed for Halloween rather than Christmas.

Aylin hesitated, but once she realized that the girl was asking for Rene, she unlocked the door, letting her inside.

“Hi,” Aylin said. “Rene went home for a few hours to take a break in case it gets busy this afternoon. I’m not an actual employee, so I can’t really help you with anything, but I can give her a message if you’d like.”

“No, that’s okay,” the girl answered, looking uncertain. “I had some gowns that I was supposed to drop off this morning, but I forgot. As long as you don’t mind, I’ll go hang them up in the workroom so she can decide what she wants to do with them.”

That’s when Aylin realized that the girl was carrying a clothing bag.

“I’m not sure I’m supposed to…” Aylin replied before the girl cut her off with a sweeping hand.

“Don’t worry. It’s okay. I’m Lara Loughlin. My mom and dad own the Inn.”

Aylin blinked.

When the girl suddenly smiled, Aylin was taken aback.

“I get that a lot,” Lara said dryly. “I don’t look much like my mom or my sister, do I?”

“Oh. I’m not sure about that. You kind of do when you smile.”

This time Lara was the one who looked taken aback.

“Come along with me then,” Aylin said, locking the door before turning and heading back into the workroom. “Let’s go hang up that clothing bag.”

But after Lara hung up the bag, she didn’t appear to be in much of a hurry to depart.

When she noticed the wedding gown and bridesmaid’s dresses lined up on dress forms, she began studying each of the gowns intently.

She reached for the drawing that Aylin had hanging nearby.

“Wow. Did you draw this?” Lara asked, looking sincerely awed.

“I did,” Aylin replied, studying the wedding gown one final time. “What do you think? I just finished sewing in the alterations. It belongs to my sister-in-law, Camille, and was once worn by her mother.”

Lara walked around the entire gown, even studying the train.

“I think it’s perfect,” she said in a breathless voice.

Aylin grinned. “It really is, isn’t it?”

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