“That’s right. I didn’t even think of that. How are you feeling?”
She pressed a hand up against her chest like maybe it hurt, but she waved him off. “I’m fine. It’s just late and I’m tired. But I need to head over to the venue and see how it looks in the dark to double-check it’s all okay for the wedding tomorrow night. If you don’t want to go, I could take you home first, but it’d be easier to do on the way.”
“No, that’s fine. I’d like to see it.”
West Texas was a surprising hub for wineries in the country and they were taking advantage of the fact for the wedding. The vineyard was about five miles out of town.
Chris enjoyed being able to watch Julie by the glow of the dash as she drove his truck.
When they arrived, all was quiet. “How are we going to get in?” He looked around the empty parking lot.
“I have the key. I arranged it with them earlier this week because I knew I’d need to check out the set-up after dark.”
“So what’s so special that you couldn’t see it during the day?”
“You’ll see. Come on.”
Julie left Chris outside the door, while she went in and prepared whatever they were supposed to see. He leaned back against the wall and looked up at the stars glowing brightly in the sky. There’d been a time this past year when he didn’t think he’d ever see these stars again. A year ago tomorrow was when his jet had crashed. He’d honestly never thought he’d see West Texas or his family or Julie again. Gratitude swelled in his chest.
“What are you thinking about?” Julie’s soft, husky voice brushed over him in the dark. He hadn’t heard her come back out the door.
He gazed into her eyes reflecting the starlight from above. “Just about how lucky that I am to be here. I didn’t think I’d make it back.” He touched her cheek softly. “I thought I’d broken my promise to you and I almost missed all of this.” They’d never discussed that promise or that day since he’d come back. Everything had changed too much to go there.
He could see the tears well up in her eyes. It wasn’t fair to do this to her when she was still grieving over Aaron’s death, but he couldn’t resist the pull anymore. “I’m so sorry I broke my promise to you, Butterfly.” Gently he brushed his lips against hers. It was the lightest of kisses and he respected her too much to do anymore. “I’m so damn sorry.” He brushed his lips up against her hot temple and she shuddered. He drew his head back from hers with a frown. “You’re running a fever.”
She nodded her head. His stomach dropped. Not shudders of desire—she was shivering because she was sick. God, he was even lower than low. She was in love and mourning another guy, sick with a fever and he was out here in the dark, mauling her.
He wrapped an arm around her to share his warmth with her. “Come on. Let’s go see this room, so you can get home to get some rest.”
He started to push her into the building, but she stopped him. “I’m so glad you’re here.” Her voice had become more hoarse over the course of the evening. “It means so much to Cassie and Jake that you’re here for this.”
His heart sank. She was thankful he’d survived so that he could be here for Cassie and Jake, not for her own sake. That hurt. He knew she’d moved on, but that still hit him like a blow to the gut. He knew she didn’t mean it that way so he worked to keep his face neutral and to regulate his voice. “Let’s go see the magic.”
Even with the hurt spinning through his system, he couldn’t withhold the gasp as he entered the building. Somehow, someway, Julie had managed to recreate the sparkling sky from outside within. The entire room was canopied by twinkling lights and a sheer fabric that made the lights look like starlight in the clouds. As a guy he didn’t usually notice these types of things, but even he could see how magical and romantic the transformation made the room.
He spun back toward her. “Has Cassie seen this yet?”
She bit her lip and shook her head. “Do you think she’ll like it?” The tentative look in her eye melted his heart.