“After what she’s been through, it must be really hard for her to trust men.”
“That’s obvious.”
“From what Lexi tells me, she doesn’t trust herself either.”
Eric hadn’t thought of that, but it ought to have been obvious, too. Some part of her blamed herself for what had happened, so, of course, she’d have trouble trusting herself with men and relationships.
Taylor went on. “If the two of you are going to have a chance, one of you is going to have to give up everything and move across the country, right? We both know you’d dry up and die if you moved away from the mountains, so it has to be Vic. That’s a lot to ask of her, especially when she believes she can’t tell a good guy from a bad one. If you want her to trust you, you need to trust her. You need to be the first one to say it.”
“To say what?”
“I love you.”
“Whoa. Wait.” Moretti’s voice came from behind them. “Are we interrupting something, man?”
* * *
Britta, still in her bathrobe, squealed from her post at the window. “The guys are here! Oh, wow, Lexi. Austin looks sharp. They all do.”
Winona hurried over to see, already looking lovely in her dress. “Before this week, I’d never seen my brother in a tux. This is the second time now.”
“Your brother is hot, if you don’t mind my saying so,” Britta said.
Winona laughed. “I don’t mind. It’s true. He’s also a geek.”
Lexi sat at the table, getting doused with hairspray and looking remarkably calm for a woman who was about to walk down the aisle. The stylist, whose name was Shawna, had put her hair in a low chignon, weaving thick plaits in and out to make a beautiful, elegant knot.
“There you go. What do you think?” Shawna stepped back.
“It’s beautiful.” Vic handed Lexi a small mirror.
Lexi stared at her reflection. “I love it. I want to see the back.”
She got up and ran to the bathroom, her voice calling back to them after a moment. “Oh, wow! It’s perfect.”
Shawna basked in the praise, her own hair in a messy bun, her makeup flawless, her nails long and red. “Now, should we do the dress first or the flowers?”
“The dress,” Vic answered. “We don’t want to damage the flowers.”
She crossed the room and took down the garment bag that held Lexi’s wedding gown, tugging down the zipper and carefully removing it from the hanger. “Are you ready for your gown, Lexi?”
“Is it time?” Lexi walked out of the bathroom, handing Shawna the mirror.
“We’ve got twenty minutes till you need to be downstairs.”
“Then I’m ready.” Lexi walked over to her and held up her arms as Vic carefully lowered the dress over her, Shawna helping to make sure the layers of white fabric didn’t snag in her hair or brush against her makeup.
Vic zipped it, straightened out the skirts, then stepped back. A lump lodged itself in her throat, and her hands found their way to her face. “Oh, Lexi, you’re so beautiful.”
The off-the-shoulder bodice had a twisted sweetheart neckline that fit snuggly around her breasts, the midriff accented with beading, the skirts made of the lightest silk chiffon, which would catch the breeze and flow around her as she walked.
The others gathered around.
“Don’t you start!” Britta jabbed a finger at Vic. “She’s right, Lex. You look amazing. Austin won’t be able to take his eyes off you.”
“Beautiful,” Winona said simply.
Shawna motioned to Lexi to sit down again. “Okay, let’s get these flowers in your hair.”