Page 76 of Peach Blossom Hollow

Daisy-Mae quickly dabbed a finger under her lashes, trying to collect the tears before they ruined her carefully applied makeup. “You’re making me cry!”

Violet scrambled to collect tissues, passing her a handful. “I can’t believe you’re getting married.”

Daisy-Mae’s watery smile filled with happiness. “I know. Me, either.”

“I predicted this back in September!”

“I totally didn’t believe you.”

“I know.” Violet had lost track of when the fake relationship had become real for Daisy-Mae and Maverick, but was elated her friend was getting the man she’d crushed on for so many years.

“Things are good. No,morethan good.”

“I’m so glad.”

“How about you? You haven’t been yourself lately.”

“Oh. I’m fine.” Violet waved her off.

“What did I miss?” Daisy-Mae grabbed Violet’s hands, holding them as she peered at her, searching for the truth.

“Nothing,” she insisted. “You’ve been busy falling in love and getting engaged in the most public way possible.” Violet laughed. “Trend alert. Daisy-Mae is in the house!”

Her friend looked heavenward and sighed. “Who knew I’d be the one to suggest eloping?”

“All is wrong with the world: Daisy-Mae is willing to elope!” Violet teased.

Eager to get them moving toward the beach for the small, private ceremony, she started to pull her hands away, but her friend tightened her grip.

“Maverick’s witness is Leo.”

“I know,” Violet replied lightly. She’d heard that Brant Wylder, who’d set up Leo with an older rescued dog, was dog-sitting so Leo could come to the Indigo Bay beach wedding between game nights. It was a whirlwind, hush-hush trip, Maverick and Daisy-Mae so eager to wed that they were eloping. But they needed two witnesses. Violet was one, and for some reason Maverick had wrangled Leo to come as the second.

However, the need for witnesses turned out to be a mistake. It was North Carolina, not South Carolina where they needed wedding witnesses, but by then the tickets had been purchased for Indigo Bay, South Carolina and everyone was ready to go. Violet’s slightly superstitious side felt that it was all a sign—especially with having Leo as the other witness.

But most of all, it was an opportunity for her to get brave and tell him how she really felt about him. She just hoped she wouldn’t chicken out, or that Leo didn’t shatter her heart, because her control was already long gone when it came to him.

“I tried to convince Mav to ask someone else, because I know you two are going through something, but everyone’s so crazy busy. Dak’s on his honeymoon, the Wylder men have calving or spring football or who knows what, etcetera, etcetera. You get the point.”

“It’s fine, really.”

“Are you sure?” Daisy-Mae asked.

“Yes. Certain. Thank you for inviting him.”

“You’re up to something.”

“No. Yes.” She sighed.

“You love him!”

“No!” Violet covered her face. “I mean…”

“Tell me how he makes you feel.”

“It’s like you’re standing at a cocktail party all alone with a drink in your hand. You join a conversation, but you don’t know what everyone’s laughing about. Thenhecomes along and suddenly you’re comfortable and laughing and a part of things. But now he’s gone again and I’m back at theparty standing there awkwardly, hoping somebody will include me and it’ll all turn into fun again.”

Daisy-Mae sighed, her expression full of sympathy and confusion. “Oh, hon.”

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