The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp

Author:Therese Heckenkamp
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ivory Tower Press
Published: 2019-08-13T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

I’m so sorry.” Not really wanting to, I shifted my gaze to face Jay. “I—”

“Don’t apologize.” The corner of his mouth quirked, revealing the hint of a dimple. “I think she’s on to something. I’d love to be your date to the reception. Besides”—he gave a conspiratorial smile—“we can’t disappoint the bride on her wedding day, can we?”

Why did he have to put it like that? I tried not to stutter. “I’m flattered, really, but I came with someone.”

“Oh?” Curiosity and mild surprise crossed his face. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.” He glanced around. “Where is he?”

My eyes searched too, willing Harvey to appear and prove me right. Not that I had to prove anything, but I didn’t want Jay thinking I was brushing him off with a lie.

“He’s in the wedding party. Brother of the bride, so he’s busy with family and pictures and . . . other things.”

I bent to retrieve the butterfly habitat, now empty, then performed the tricky twists required to reduce it into a flat, folded square. “But thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it. They were being so stubborn, I was afraid I’d never get them out.”

“I knew you would.”

Harvey’s voice made my head snap up. He stood at my side, his tie loosened, his jacket draped casually over his shoulder.

He smiled broadly. “If it were up to me, I would’ve just shaken the things out.”

Appalled, I heard a gasp escape my throat.

This is your date? Jay’s eyes seemed to question, and I really didn’t like the fact that I felt I could read his thoughts. Disapproving. Judging. You and him? I don’t see it. But he smiled politely and offered Harvey his hand. “Jay, nice to meet you.”

“Harvey.” He shook Jay’s hand and released it just as quickly, turning back to me. “Hey, so listen. I guess I should’ve figured this all out beforehand, but about getting to the reception . . .” He glanced toward the road, and I spotted a long, sleek white limo parked at the curb, waiting.

Anticipation bloomed inside me.

Harvey cleared his throat. “I didn’t realize I wouldn’t be driving you.”

“That’s okay.” Totally. I’d never ridden in a limo before, couldn’t even imagine what it would be like, but it would be fun to find out.

Harvey glanced from me to the vehicle and rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to do this to you, to put you in this spot, but the limo only has room for the wedding party. And we have to make some pit stops for pictures.”

“Okay.”

“So I was hoping you could drive my car to the reception. It’s not far, The Blue Spruce Hall. You could GPS it, and there’s a card in my car with directions.”

He touched my bare arm, sending a cool zing through me despite the hot day.

“Is that okay?”

I blinked, processing. What he was asking of me was small, simple, reasonable. Again, something one would happily do for a friend.

A warm breeze blew my skirt around my ankles and pulled at my twisted shawl.

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