but her slight stature didn’t stop her from being the bossiest member of the Ford clan. “Very funny.” But even she couldn’t help laughing.
The easy warmth comforted Mal. This was what she wanted out of life. A happy family and a devoted relationship. She let her parents wrap her up in the security of their love; she reveled in it. Just for a minute. And when they all stepped back, she felt better. Less fragile. “Thanks.”
“For what?” Her mother reached up to pat her cheek.
“For being my parents.” It was a little sappy. Okay, it was a lot sappy, but that didn’t make it any less true.
Her mother hugged her again and her dad’s voice sounded a little tight. “We love you, sweetheart. You know that.”
She did, and it was good.
They chatted a few more minutes, talking about whether they should get up early and take the first ferry back home to Vancouver or stay a little longer and explore Salt Spring. The three of them, plus her older brother, Donovan, and his wife, Julia, were all staying in a huge farmhouse about ten minutes away. The place had eight bedrooms and an enormous kitchen that Julia had already called dibs on. Since Julia was a professional chef, and an excellent one at that, they were more than happy to let her take over the space.
When her parents headed off to go and talk to some friends, Mal was feeling much better. And when Grace slipped up to stand beside her, Mal felt better yet.
The two of them had become friends a few months ago. It was a friendship that Mal was grateful to have. Somehow, she’d allowed most of her personal life to fall by the wayside this last year. Instead of turning to her loved ones, she’d held herself apart, filling her time with work and not much else.
But with Grace it had been different. Maybe because Grace didn’t know her from before and had no preconceived notions of what Mal should be like. Whatever it was, Mal appreciated what they had.
“Hello beautiful bride.” She wasn’t just saying it, either. Grace, with her long legs and silky blond hair was attractive at any time, but glowing with love and being loved? She was stunning.
“Everything okay?” Grace’s tone was gentle. Obviously she was still concerned after Mal’s little fit at the side of the house.
“Of course. A small overreaction for which I apologize.”
“It wasn’t an overreaction.” Grace shook her head. “Your brother, my husband, doesn’t always know when to mind his own business.” But she smiled when she said it.
“Anyway, I’m fine.” Mal pasted on a smile. Her issues were her own and not something she would unload on a friend on her wedding day. Talk about a downer.
But Grace merely lifted a pale blond eyebrow. “Right. So the way you’re so obviously not looking anywhere to your left has nothing to do with the fact that a handsome and tanned man just happens to be standing over there studying you?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mal tried to lift her nose, but not before curiosity got the best of her and she risked a peek to her left. What better way to show Grace and herself that she wasn’t afraid to look anywhere than by checking out just what Grace was talking about?
She immediately wished she hadn’t.
Travis stared back at her, a soft smile that she remembered all too well on his lips and heat in his eyes. Even thirty feet away with small groups of other guests between them, Mal could feel the sizzle rock the length of her spine. She shuddered.
“That’s what I thought.” Grace’s voice broke into Mal’s thoughts. “You still want to tell me you’re fine?”
“Yes.” Because she sure wasn’t going to admit that she wasn’t. “What else would I be?”
“Upset, rattled, confused.” Grace counted them off on her fingers. “I could go on.”
“You could, but I’m fine.” Though she’d been more fine before she became aware of Travis’s eyes on her. Didn’t he have somewhere else to look?
“Maybe you should talk to him.”
“I have talked to him.” Okay, so she hadn’t unloaded the thoughts rattling around in her head, making her stomach tight. Thoughts like: How could you not be there when I needed you the most? How could you choose the business over me? How could you let me go without a fight?
Grace nodded, her eyes probing for another moment. “Mal, if you—”
“I’m fine, Grace. This is your day. You’re not supposed to be worrying about me.”
“Of course I’m going to worry about you. You’re family and I love you.” Grace put an arm around Mal. “And I just want to be clear that should you need to talk, I’m here. Or if you need a shoulder to cry on, mine are pretty big.”
Mal smiled through the prickling behind her eyes. “Owen doesn’t know how lucky he is to have you.”
“He does.” Grace leaned forward so their heads were nearly touching. “I tell him regularly.”
Mal laughed. Grace had been good for her brother in so many ways. In fact, Grace had been good for her, too. “Thanks.” Mallory felt a little better.
“And when you’re up to it, remind me to tell you about my failed attempts at dating via matchmaker.”
Mal craned her neck to look at her. There was a twinkle in Grace’s eye, but not one that indicated she was joking. “Oh, I’m up to it, and that’s an awfully juicy piece of intel to keep from me, one of your nearest and dearest friends. Tell me.”
Grace smiled. “It was before Owen. Well, actually, it was between Owen. It did not go well. Except that it made clear to me that the only man I wanted to be with was your brother.”
“Something I still don’t understand.”
Grace squeezed her. “Be nice, because I’m about to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
“Shouldn’t I hear it first?”
Grace gave her another hard squeeze. “Anyway, it was my failed attempt at getting over your brother. I only went on one date, but I’d paid for the full service. Social dinners, one-on-one dates, personalized matches.”
Mal met Grace’s expectant look. “Are you trying to gift me your matchmaking services?” Because while she was coming to the realization that her work-life balance was completely off, she wasn’t sure she wanted to dive into the deep end of the dating pool. Maybe wiggle her toes around and wade in slowly. “I’m not sure.”
“No pressure, but I think you should consider it.” Grace slowly turned her head, shot a pointed look over Mal’s shoulder. Mal knew she was looking at Travis. “Unless you’ve got your eye on someone else?”
“I don’t.” Mal felt she needed to be clear on that. “But not having my eye on someone else and joining a matchmaking service don’t exactly go together.”
But she’d be lying if she said she didn’t feel at least a spark of interest.
