Free Barefoot in Lace (Barefoot Bay Brides Book 2) by Roxanne St. Claire

styling for the pros out of my system and confirm that the Brides was absolutely the right move for me. He’s probably going to be a bear to work with, and I’ll realize that the job is not for me and I’m exactly where I’m happiest.”
    Ari stood and walked to the window that looked out at one corner of the Casa Blanca parking lot, thinking before answering, as she often did. “You know what I’m going to say.”
    This time, it was Gussie and Willow who exchanged the knowing look. “You are where the universe wants you to be,” they said in singsong harmony, imitating Ari.
    “No, that’s not what I was going to say at all.”
    “It’s not?” Willow laughed.
    “Then what?” Gussie asked.
    “I was going to say…is that him ?”
    “Who? Where?” Willow was up in a flash. “That guy?”
    Gussie didn’t move from the table, listening to them coo.
    “Look at that hair. It’s sexy,” Ari whispered. “I don’t usually like long hair, but…wow. It’s beautiful on him.”
    “Hair? Look at his face,” Willow said.
    “He has a face?” Ari asked, laughing. “I love a guy who rocks a plain white T-shirt and jeans.”
    “Especially with all that ink. Very nice arms, I might add.”
    Gussie fought the urge to join the ogling at the window. “Listen to you two. He’s just a guy.”
    “Well, you might not have stripped down and gone swimming last night,” Ari said, “but I would bet good candy you will tonight.”
    Gussie finally joined them at the window. “Bit-O-Honey?”
    “Doesn’t matter, I’m winning this one. Do you still have those Blue Raspberry Flipsticks? Put ’em on the table, woman.”
    Gussie let her jaw drop. “I’m not betting my Flipsticks!”
    “Why should you worry if you’re not going to lose? Keep your clothes on, and you’ll keep your ’Sticks.”
    Gussie shifted her gaze to the man striding across the parking lot. He did rock a white T-shirt and old, snug jeans. But there it was, forever on his arm: always alone.
    “Nah.” She attempted a shrug. “Not ’Stick-worthy.”
    Ari choked again. “He’s totally ’Stick-worthy. And who are you kidding? Wig’s been off. Clothes are next. Come on, Gus. Make the bet.”
    “Enough, you compulsive candy gamblers.” Willow held up her phone, indicating a message. “Rhonda and Hailey are on their way, too. It’s show time.”
    Ari nudged Gussie. “Wager’s on the table for the rest of the day. Bit-O-Honey for you if you say no, Blue Raspberry Flipsticks for me if you give in to what you obviously want.”
    Gussie narrowed her eyes in warning, then started to laugh. “Don’t you realize that either way, I win?”
    “Of course I do. Why do you think I made that bet?”
    * * *
    Gussie’s hair was black today, a deep blue-black that made her eyes look like emeralds and her skin milky, with bright pink lips. The effect was…feminine. Sexy. Even in jeans and a loose top cropped high enough to show off a narrow midriff—or maybe because of that choice—she completely snagged his attention.
    “You really don’t mind doing this?” she asked as they left the resort together, bound for some kind of gazebo-gathering errand.
    “Not at all.” Frankly, he wanted to spend time with her.
    Damn, boy. You better be careful.
    “Excuse me?” she asked as she slipped out the door he held open for her.
    Had he said that out loud?
    “You said be careful?”
    “Driving a van.” He covered by trying to tug the keys out of her hand. “I watched you on the road last night.”
    She laughed. “That was a video game.” She held tight to the keys, digging the edge of a persimmon-colored nail into his skin. “And your license is expired. Sit in the passenger seat and enjoy the scenery.”
    He snorted softly, giving up the fight.
    She pointed to a white industrial-style van with a stylized Barefoot Brides logo on the side. “Don’t judge,” she ordered.
    “Ah, the sweet life of a wedding photographer.”
    At the door, she stopped,