Page 67 of One Sweet Day is Never Enough

Sixteen

Seth did a quick shake of his head and blinked a few times. “Stacey?” This couldn’t be happening, could it?

Stacey hurried over. “There you are! Oh, Seth! I’ve missed you so much!” She threw her arms around his neck.

Seth’s eyes went wide. He hugged her back stiffly, in shock.

Gia was right. This was no place to make a scene. But the porch was far enough removed from the banquet lawn that they’d mostly go unnoticed unless something highly unusual went on.

He pulled back and stared at Stacey. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean? I’m here toseeyou! I just flew into Milwaukee this morning.”

Seth turned around to glance at Gia. She was standing just a few steps behind him, still clutching her clipboard, her eyes still as wide as his.

He turned back to look at Stacey. He couldn’t let Gia get the wrong idea. He’d had absolutely no idea that Stacey was going to do this. Gia had better hear him say it right away, just for the record.

“But you didn’t tell me—anything.” Their conversation wouldn’t be heard over the hum of the party and the music as long as he kept it cool. “What’s this about? What are you doing here?”

Stacey tilted her head to one side and reached up to play with his tie. “That’s no way to greet a girl who just flew two thousand miles to see you. I missed you, babe—and I wanted to show you what it would be like if I were here. You said you couldn’t imagine me in Wisconsin, on your farm. So now—I’m here.” She held out her arms to demonstrate. “You don’t have to imagine anymore.”

Seth’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He cleared his throat and feigned another smile.

“I’m one hundred percent serious.” Stacey threw her arms around his neck again and pulled herself toward him, planting a kiss on his lips before he knew what was happening.

He pulled away just in time to see Gia turn and flee.Uh-oh.He glanced around, trying to think straight.

What should he do? Stacey should know better than this. She’d worked enough weddings and parties at the Henderson Estates to know you didn’t go putting your personal life front and center while you were working. She had to realize he was working tonight, even though he was also a party guest.

He cast his gaze off into the distance and back again, contemplating.

Just then, Ryan Trewet walked up. Ryan was well-dressed, in his early forties—Tim and Abigail’s oldest son. The restrooms for the party guests were accessible around the side of the store building. Ryan seemed to be headed in that direction.

Ryan owned a popular fleet of speedboats on the bay in Anderson Cove that he rented out by the day and by the hour. It was big business, especially in the summertime.

“Hey, Ryan.” Seth nodded politely.

Seth had met Ryan a few years ago and had caught up with him earlier this evening. He said he was looking for somewhere to hold his wife’s fortieth birthday party next month and asked if Seth would rent out the wine-tasting room for such an occasion. Ryan was definitely not someone Seth could allow to see the drama that might unfold with Stacey.

Ryan slapped him on the back. “Hey, Seth. My father mentioned you’re running the place now. Very impressive. I didn’t realize that when we talked.”

Seth nodded vigorously. “Yeah, I’m trying to hold it all together.”In more ways than one.

“Good for you.” Ryan looked at Stacey, who was smiling up at him. “And who’s this?” He stuck out a hand. “Hi. Ryan Trewet.”

Stacey smiled and held out a hand with a wrist full of bracelets. “Stacey Lochner, Seth’s girlfriend.”

Seth’s eyes shot wide again and he ran a hand over his mouth a few times to keep himself from making an outburst.

“Really? Well, that’s wonderful. It’s so nice to meet you. He’s been keeping you a secret, I see.” Ryan punched Seth lightly on the arm. “I’m going to have to spread the word when I get back to the table.”

Seth’s face fell, but he recovered with a grin. “No, you don’t have to—”

“Has he now?” Stacey interrupted, not allowing the comment to bother her. “Well, I just got here from California, so I’m afraid he almost forgot about me. I would love it if you’d spread the word for us.” She laughed like it was an inside joke and tossed her hair. “It’s so nice to meet you, Ryan.”

Seth had forgotten how easily she could charm a stranger.

“Likewise.” Ryan wiggled a few fingers at them. “All right, well I’ll catch you two lovebirds later. I’m sure you have a lot of catching-up to do. And Seth, I’ll give you a call about the barn.”

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