Once Upon a Bride. Helen Lacey

      “No problem.” He took the garment and smiled. “Well, good night.”

      “Ah—and thanks again for freeing Jed.... Your saving me from disaster is becoming something of a habit.”

      “No harm in being neighborly,” he said casually.

      Too casually. She knew he was as aware of her as she was of him. But they were skirting around it. Denying it.

      “I guess not. Good night, Gabe.”

      He left, and Lauren closed the door, pressing her back against it as she let out a heavy sigh. Being around Gabe was wreaking havoc with her usual common sense. He wasn’t what she wanted. Sure, she could invite him into her bed for the night. But that was all it would be. He’d called her Commitment 101, and he was right. He’d told her he didn’t do serious. He didn’t want a relationship. They were too different.

      * * *

      When she arrived at The Wedding House the following morning, her mother was there before her, as was their part-time worker, Dawn.

      “You look terrible,” her mother remarked, clearly taking in her paler-than-usual skin and dark smudges beneath her eyes. Lauren wasn’t surprised she looked so haggard—she hadn’t slept well. Instead, she’d spent the night fighting the bedsheets, dreaming old dreams, feeling an old, familiar pain that left her weary and exhausted.

      “Gee—thanks,” she said with a grin. “Just a little sleep deprived because of Jed, but I’ll tell you about that later.”

      Irene smiled. “Are you heading to the surf club this afternoon? Or do you want me to go? We have to have the measurements for the stage and runway to the prop people by Monday, remember?”