Page 44 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

She pressed her palm to her chest. “How can you say such a thing? I’ve been nothing but supportive, James.”

He leaned in to her, almost bringing them nose to nose, his spearmint-scented breath warming her cheek. “You can fool some people, but you can’t fool me, Eva.”

She’d thought she had. This was a complication she didn’t need. If Lila really did have cold feet, this would be the perfect opportunity for a come-to-Jesus moment with her daughter.

Excellent timing, she thought when her sister joined them. She looped her arm through Gia’s. “James is going to take care of the car for us so we can enjoy our day with Lila without worrying Tim is going to gouge us.”

“I don’t think Tim would take advantage of us, Eva. He’s been trying to date you—” Eva pinched the underside of her sister’s forearm. “Ow. I mean oh. You’re right. She’s right,” Gia said to James. “The last time we brought the car in for bodywork, it took us months to pay off the bill.”

This was true, but not because Tim had overcharged them. He’d given them an excellent deal. It was just that they didn’t have money to spare.

“Come on, G.” Eva tugged on her sister’s arm and headed for the door, calling over her shoulder, “Thanks again, James. And don’t worry about Lila. I’ll find her the perfect wedding dress.” One that wouldn’t arrive in time for the wedding.

“What’s going on with you and James?” her sister whispered in Italian as Eva reached for the door.

“He thinks I’m trying to sabotage the wedding.”

“You are.”

“I know that, and you know that, but I thought I’d done an excellent job playing the part of doting mother of the bride.”

“Because you are a doting mother of the bride.”

“I mean acting like I’m excited and fully supportive of the wedding.”

“That’s the thing—you’reactingexcited and supportive, but even you can’t be on your game the entire time. If James watched you long enough, he’d know you were faking it. And trust me, all that man did at the dinner with the Westfields was look at you. Which brings me back to my original question: What is going on with you two?”

Eva told her sister what had happened on the deck.

Gia’s eyes went wide. “You kiss—”

“There’s nothing to talk about. It was an accident. A one-time thing. It won’t happen again,” Eva said, and opened the door.

Lila stood on a raised dais, looking seconds from bursting into tears. “Mom, where have you been?”

Jennifer and Willow, who were sitting on an antique-white sofa in front of the dais, turned to Eva withthank God you’re herelooks in their eyes.

“I don’t care if we want to ruin the wedding, she is not wearing that dress,” Gia said under her breath. “She looks like her head is sticking out of a four-tiered wedding cake.”

Eva pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at her sister’s apt description. “We had a little issue with the car, but I’m here now, darling. I’ll take care of everything.” Eva blew kisses to Jennifer and Willow as she walked past the sofa to the dais. She held out the layers of lace, lowering her voice in case Jennifer or Paloma, the owner of Wedding Bells, had picked out the dress. “This isn’t you. Go to the changing room and relax, and I’ll find you the perfect dress.”

Lila chewed the inside of her bottom lip, her eyes filling with tears. “I don’t want…” The words came out on a shuddered sob.

Eva held her breath.Just say it, darling.She’d seen the doubt on Lila’s face at the dinner with the Westfields.Just say it, and I’ll take you home and feed you, and everything will be all right.

Lila sniffed back tears and straightened her shoulders. “…a big wedding or a fancy dress. I just want to get married.”

Eva’s shoulders sagged, and she managed a smile. “I know. It’s been a lot. We can come back another day. You don’t have to do this now.”

Lila shook her head. “We can’t put it off. Paloma said we’ll be lucky to get the dress on time as it is.”

Eva helped Lila off the dais. “You let me worry about it. Go and relax. I’ll have Paloma make you a cup of tea.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Lila hugged her. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, darling.”

Lila gave her a watery grin. “Even though you hate weddings as much as I do?”

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