Epilogue

I’m elbow deep in month-end reports when someone clears their throat in the doorway to my office. I glance up.

Luke’s holding a brown sack toward me like a white flag. “I come bearing food.”

The smell of Philly cheesesteak makes my mouth water. I glance at my clock. It’s almost two p.m. How well does he know me? “I never stopped for lunch.”

“What a huge shock,” he says.

I wave him in and clear a section of papers from the edge of my desk. “You’re going to eat with me?”

He nods.

“This is basically a date, then?”

He lifts one eyebrow. “Oh no you don’t. I’m a food delivery person who’s hungry himself. This does not count as one of the three dates per week you promised to make time for during tax season.”

“It’s food you paid for, and we’re chatting while we eat.”

He snatches the bag toward his chest. “I will take this bag and eat all the food myself, so help me.”

“Oh fine,” I say. “It’s not one of the dates.” I may act put out, but I actually love that he fiercely guards our time together. He knows me well enough, even with a whirlwind courtship, that he’ll advocate for what’s best for me. “Now give me a sandwich.”

He hands me one, and it’s still warm. My stomach growls embarrassingly.

“It’s January.” He frowns. “How are we supposed to plan a wedding if you’re already drowning in paperwork before people’s K-1s have even gone out?”

I laugh. “Do you mean 1099s? K-1s aren’t due until—” I realize he was kidding. He just threw out the name of a form. “Fine. Let’s talk wedding while we eat.”

“Have you picked colors yet?” Luke asks. “And we need to pick a venue. Plus an official date.”

I narrow my eyes. “Did you bring a list or something?”

“You’re the list maker, not me. I just know that if you do want to get married this spring, we’ll need to step on the gas with the planning.”

“It’s just such a bad time,” I say. “New job, tax season, and it turns out, with my old boss headed for the door, she let a few things slide. . .”

“Am I interrupting?” Paisley’s head is barely visible around the doorframe. The perky look on her face is familiar.

“You smelled the sandwiches, didn’t you?”

She smiles and steps into the doorway. “The thing is, without food for my belly, I can file a complaint about unsafe working conditions—”

Luke reaches into the bag and offers her a white-paper rolled cylinder. “I knew you’d have skipped lunch too.”

“He’s perfect,” Paisley says. “Painfully perfect. Did I say that already today? I’d like to order a man for myself who’s just like this.”

“Actually,” Luke says. “Speaking of ordering someone like me. . .”

I set my sandwich down and smooth the paper out flat, curious where this is going. “Someone like you? I thought we were going to try and set your brother up with Trudy—”

“Your sister’s not ready to date yet,” Luke says. “But yes, I think she’ll be perfect for Paul. There’s no rush there. That guy is clueless.”

Then who is he talking about? “If you don’t mean Paul—”

“Stop interrupting your amazing fiancé.” Paisley perches on a chair in the corner. “Let him tell me about my future husband.”

Luke chuckles. “I don’t know about that, but when Paul told me he doesn’t have time to be my best man, I called my best friend to see whether he can come out and visit so I can ask him in person. But when we spoke, Trig seemed so miserable. I realized that he hasn’t had a serious girlfriend in. . .well, ever, that I recall.”

“That’s not hugely promising.” Paisley frowns. “You want to set me up with your broken, unable-to-commit-to-anyone friend?”

“When was your last significant relationship?” I ask.

She grunts. “Not the point.”

“Trig is brilliant,” Luke says. “He’s hard working. The ladies seem to think he’s good looking, and he has his own company.”

“Then what’s wrong with him?” Paisley frowns. “Why hasn’t he already been snatched up?”

Luke shifts in his chair. “Yeah. The thing is, his parents are pretty intense. And well, messed up. His mom is like. . .the Steve Jobs of, uh, finance. His dad is a trust baby like no other who never quits spending. They don’t get along, and he’s understandably afraid of marriage and commitment because of their horrifying example.”

Paisley stands up. “After that glowing recommendation, let me be the first to say thanks, but no thanks. I appreciate the sandwich.” She darts for the door.

“So Paisley’s out,” Luke says, “but if you have any other friends, maybe one who’s super gorgeous and will attract his interest, but who’s guaranteed to shut him down, that would be great.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. “Did you mistake me for someone with a bunch of giggling girlfriends? I have exactly three friends. Paisley, Trudy, and Addy, but she’s married.”

Luke sighs.

Paisley stops in the doorway and turns around slowly. “Did you say amazing looking. . . and guaranteed to shut him down?” She’s got the sly look on her face that always precedes something ingenious.

Luke blinks. “Uh, yeah. I figured you’d fit that bill, but—”

“Aww,” Paisley says. “Thanks for thinking I’m great looking.” She crosses the room slowly and drops back into the corner chair. This time she leans against the wooden seat back slowly. Then she sighs dramatically. “I don’t have a gaggle of friends either, but. . .” She glances at me.

Ah! I’ve heard so much about her. I should have thought the same thing. “Your friend Geo.”

She points at me. “Exactly.” She pivots in her chair until she’s facing Luke. “My best friend since college is movie star, runway model, turn-around-and-slap-your-momma gorgeous. She makes me feel like I’ve been hit with the ugly stick. No lie.”

Luke’s brow furrows. “Okay.”

“And she’s sworn off dating. Permanently. The woman gets asked out a dozen times a week. Delivery guys. Parking attendants, men off the street, and she shuts them all down. Always. Without fail.”

Luke leans forward and rubs his hands together. “Now we’re talking.”

“She’s smart. She’s hard working, and the best part: she’s an event planner.”

I completely forgot about that. “I can’t believe you didn’t mention her before. I’m not going to have time to plan this wedding myself—and you’ll be too busy with work stuff to do much either.”

Luke catches my eye and beams. “And since Trig’s going to be my best man, they’ll have lots of reasons to spend time together.”

Paisley raises her hand.

I swear, she cracks me up. “Pais, you can just say what you want to say, you know. I’m not your third grade teacher.”

“There’s one tiny problem,” Paisley says. “Geo is the best. I’m sure she’d plan you a gorgeous wedding. Except. . .”

“Except what?” Luke asks. Bless him for being patient with Paisley’s melodrama.

“She never ever plans weddings. It’s a hard and fast rule of hers.”

“Which means there’s no way for them to meet,” I grumble. “That’s a stupid rule for her to have. Don’t weddings pay more than any other event?”

Paisley shrugs. “She has her reasons. It’s not really my place to share them.”

Luke looks utterly unconcerned. In fact, he’s smiling. “If I’ve learned anything in the last decade, it’s that people will always do something they say they won’t. . .if the price is right.” He takes a huge bite of his sandwich.

I sigh. Once Luke has set his mind on something, he’s hard to dissuade. “Set up a meeting Pais, and we’ll do the rest.”