A Week Till the Wedding by Linda Winstead Jones Page A

worst scheme I ever agreed to participate in, and if I could take it back I would do it in a heartbeat. Daisy’s miserable, I’m miserable and Grandma Eunice seems to forget about everything else but the wedding plans, which remain clear as a bell. I wanted to give her a few good days, I wanted to see her not so upset, but what’s going to happen when the reunion rolls around and she’s still set on this wedding?” Had he just made matters worse by trying to do something nice for his grandmother? Maybe he should’ve left well enough alone. Too late, now.
    Daisy still had his rental car. He hadn’t bothered to try to collect it because it wasn’t like the Tasker family was lacking in modes of transportation. There was a separate four-car garage out back and every bay housed a vehicle of some sort. Besides, Daisy had been so upset when she’d left the house a couple of days ago. She seemed better on the phone, but she was still cautious where he was concerned. And the days without her slipped by.
    As soon as the reunion was over, he had to get back to San Francisco and back to work. He’d been trying to keep up by cell and computer, but it wasn’t the same as being there in the thick of things.
    “I talked to Daisy this morning,” Jacob said. “Grandma Eunice has been asking for her, so she’ll be here tomorrow for lunch.” He didn’t mention that he’d had to gently twist her arm.
    “Good! I’ve gotten used to seeing her on the other side of the dining room table.”
    Jacob stared at his little brother. “I noticed that. Stare at her boobs the way you did the last time she was here, and I’ll kick your ass.”
    Ben laughed. “You can try.” His laughter faded. “Seriously, you can ditch the macho act anytime, bro. This isn’t the real thing, remember? You aren’t supposed to get possessive about a woman you’re not actually involved with. It’s all pretend, remember?”
    “Yeah, I remember,” Jacob said then he gave his brother a level glare. “But that doesn’t change what I said. I will kick your ass.”
    Maybe Ben was right and he had no right to feel possessive about Daisy, but that didn’t do a thing to squash what he was feeling. Regret and frustration...with a little bit of unexpected hope thrown into the mix.
    * * *
    Mari swiped her hand back, trying to move a stubborn strand of hair out of her eyes, and ended up smearing grease across her cheek. Daisy smiled as she looked on. This was Mari’s normal weekend look. Coveralls, a crooked ponytail and grease. When it came to repairing engines she was as messy in the shop as Daisy was in the kitchen.
    There were some repairs Daisy could handle, but for the more complicated jobs she needed Marigold. The youngest Bell sister had always had a magic touch with engines large and small. She could’ve made a career of it without going to college, but she’d decided to pursue a nursing degree, instead.
    Always the fixer.
    “So, what’s up?” Mari’s eyes were on her work, but repairing engines came so naturally to her she had no problem multitasking.
    Oh, where to begin. Jacob is home. He kissed me. His grandmother thinks we’re getting married . I want him so badly I can barely keep my hands off of him . “Same ol’ same ol’. You?”
    “You remember that guy I met at that thing? He asked me out.”
    “Did you say yes?”
    Mari shrugged. “I said maybe. He’s cute, but who has time for dating? Between school, my part-time job and coming home on weekends, my calendar is full. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with making him work for me if we do end up dating.” Mari smiled. Grease and all she was a princess, the baby girl of the family, the charmer who could do no wrong. She shifted her attention away from the engine on the workbench and settled it squarely on Daisy. “Are you dating? Please say yes. You need a man, big sister. If you can’t find one in Bell Grove then we’ll get you to Atlanta and do some shopping for a suitable