Toss the Bouquet by Ruth Logan Herne Page A

clients are deeply indebted to him. He will be in our daily prayers, for certain.”
    â€œGreg helped your mission?” Tara tried to do the math and failed. “When?”
    â€œThese past two weeks, once he saw we’d been closed down. Oh, he is tireless, that one! They’ve got a big write-up in the paper today, but I didn’t want him just to read about savin’ us. I wanted to tell him myself. I’ll come by again once he’s back home.”
    Awareness flooded Tara.
    Greg hadn’t been working night and day to impress New York. He’d been working to save a homeless shelter and food kitchen. Shame bit deep. She had jumped to conclusions and never given Greg a minute to explain himself, or his work. “Yes, please. Do that. I’m sure he’d love to hear this from you. You know, Ms. Johnson—”
    â€œOh, now, I’m just Nettie to everyone. It’s simpler that way.”
    â€œNettie, we’re having a party tonight to celebrate the reopening of Elena’s Bridal,” Tara told her. “Why don’t you stay and eat with us? Meet some other people with shops here in Old City?”
    â€œI’m not dressed for partyin’.” Her round, brown eyes glanced down. “Though I am right partial to this dress.”
    Tara scanned Nettie’s polka-dot dress and broad-brimmed hat, then smiled. “I think you look perfect for partying, and we’d love to have you.”
    Kathy glided by wearing her ridiculous and endearing medieval gown with the matching high, cone-shaped hat. “Do stay. I’m Kathy, and I just heard on the news what Greg did. I have to say I’m absolutely delighted, proud, and not one bit surprised.” She let her gaze rest on Tara, but she spoke to Nettie. “Things started changing around here the first weekend of January, and they’ve just gotten better every week. Come with me, Nettie. We can hang your coat back here.”
    Kathy guided Nettie to the coatrack they’d tucked at the back of the media room, an area staged to showcase the bridal store’s ideas. Soon this would be a prom room, but for tonight, Truly had put together rolling media presentations on Donna’s big-screen TV to show aspiring business partners the potential of linking to the newly renovated and renamed Elena’s Weddings and Bridal, Inc.
    Tara watched Kathy take Nettie under her wing while she tried to digest this new information about Greg, but the arrival of the first guests took precedence. Smiling bridal servers emerged to take coats and offer refreshments to the local business partners.
    Compliments flowed. Conversation buzzed. And about thirty minutes in, Tara turned and spotted Greg, talking with a tall man in an expensive gray suit.
    Her heart fluttered, then sank.
    He’d made it. He’d come back in time for the gala. And there he was, talking to another suit without even saying hello to her.
    As I recall, you’ve given him the cold shoulder lately. Kind of rude, cupcake.
    Quick happiness turned into quicker self-recrimination. She turned when the wedding planner from a line of distinctive hotels asked about the newness of their program and projected success ratios.
    â€œWhile the specifics of this wedding program are new . . .”
    Tara’s heart went into overdrive as Greg answered the question from directly behind her. And when he put a firm hand on her waist?
    Total heart-spin.
    â€œElena’s Bridal is steeped in a history of tradition and service. That was my mother’s goal from the beginning, and now?” He took a step forward, smiled down at Tara, and reached out to shake the hotel executive’s hand. “It’s ours.” He gave Tara and the scattered staff a look of approval. “I’m Greg Elizondo, the owner of Elena’s Weddings and Bridal.”
    â€œGood to meet you.” Several other industry professionals stepped up to meet Greg.
    Tara