“I picked my dress!” she gushed as she ran her hands down her tight black skirt. She had left work to come to the dress shop and was wearing her regular work wear. Pencil black skirt, with a flashy top. Today’s color was purple. She was a breath of fresh air, so stunning. Since opening her wine cellar in the Assassins’ arena, she had been insanely busy, not only with her own business but also with the operations at Rocky Top Wines, their family’s wine company. Fallon needed a break and Audrey was beyond excited that she would be leaving for a week after the wedding.

Putting a fake smile on her face, Audrey said, “You did! Yay! With only a day to spare!”

Fallon giggled as a dreamy look came across her face. She looked over at Audrey, taking her hand in hers, “You think Lucas will love it?”

Audrey’s bad mood faltered and she gave Fallon a small reassuring smile, “He’s gonna flip at your gorgeousness, Fal. You’re stunning, babe.”

Fallon squeezed her hand before leaning over and kissing her cheek. She flashed Audrey a grin before passing by her to the gallery. Since she didn’t call Audrey to come with her, Audrey sat in the plush chair and waited. When Fallon came with two workers, each holding a different dress, Audrey cocked an eyebrow at Fallon.

“What’s this?”

Fallon gave her a sneaky grin, “The two dresses I picked to go with mine.”

Audrey eyed both dresses before shaking her head, “Um, no ma’am. Neither one of those are my dress.”

“You’re right, they are better.”

Audrey looked back at the dresses. She took in the beauty of the champagne sheath dress, which would come to mid-thigh. It had gold jewels covering the bodice of the tube-top, and then a pretty little white sash. It was nice, but the other one was better. It was again a champagne colored dress, but this one had a tutu skirt, and was more Audrey’s style. It had a lacey tube-top that was cut down the middle where her breast would be on display. Around the waist was a white lacey sash.

“Where’s the other lace dress, you don’t like it anymore?” Audrey asked. She knew Fallon would change her mind; she had done it about everything, well, except for the theme. Which Audrey had to admit was pretty stinking sweet and even she wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I think it matched mine too much. I want you to stand out,” she said with a bright grin.

“Okay,” Audrey said skeptically.

“What, you don’t like them?” Fallon asked with a concern in her eyes.

“No, I do,” Audrey assured, “I love the lace one. Let me try it on and it’s a done deal.”

Fallon clapped her hands together as Audrey went into the dressing room. Audrey was to the point where she didn’t give two shits what she wore. The damn wedding was going to be the death of her and they still had the rehearsal dinner to get through.

Lord, help her.

Everyone loved Red Velvet cupcakes.

How could they not? They were delicious and succulent in your mouth. The perfect combination of buttercream and cake, they were also Audrey’s favorite. Not only to make, but to eat. Audrey turned off her mixer before setting each of her cooled cupcakes in a row along the bar. After filling her piping bag with the cream cheese buttercream, she frosted each cupcake with a flair she had mastered. She loved the way the frosting would ripple and after she topped each one with a little red heart, she took a step back, and smiled.

She had done well.

Hopefully, her neighbor would like them. Not that Audrey stalked him, because really, she hadn’t even seen him, but she noticed that he was a big sweets kind of guy. His trashcan was always filled with donut boxes, and candy wrappers. She figured that he would appreciate a good cupcake, and since she knew she could make a mean Red Velvet one, she decided to make him a batch.

It was a great welcoming gift, she thought.

After packing the cupcakes in a cute little brown box, she went to the bathroom to make sure she looked alright. She did, she decided once she looked at her reflection. Audrey looked fierce in the short caramel brown, flowery one shoulder dress that she had paired with a pair of lace caramel brown heels. She loved the way the dress hugged her curves and the shoes made her legs look fantastic. She knew it was too much to wear to meet her neighbor, but afterwards Audrey had to go to the rehearsal dinner for Fallon and Lucas.

As Audrey made her way back to the kitchen, she wiggled her teal pearl bracelets up and down her wrist. She was jittery, and she didn’t know why. Maybe it was because she was going to Fallon’s rehearsal dinner alone. She hadn’t been to a family function alone, since…hell, she couldn’t remember. Audrey always had a date, it kept her mother out of her hair, but now she had no one and she knew she would have to deal with her mother’s sympathetic looks. Nora Parker wanted both her babies to marry and since Fallon was doing what their mother wanted, Audrey was going to be Nora’s sole concern now.

Wonderful.

Audrey rolled her eyes and picked up the box of cupcakes before heading for the door. Once out in the cool November air, Audrey ran her hands down the front of her skirt before walking slowly to the neighbor’s door. With a winning smile on her face, she knocked on the door.

But no one answered.

Hmm…she could have sworn he was there.

Audrey looked back at the drive and there sat his big black truck. She turned back to the door and knocked again, but again, no answer. Frustrated, Audrey turned and went back into her own condo. She was never going to meet this guy! After laying the cupcakes on the back of the couch, she went to the kitchen for a Post-It note. After writing a quick note and sticking it to the top of the box, she wrapped the box in a plastic bag and went back out the door to lay them on his doormat. Hopefully, she would meet him tomorrow at the wedding because Audrey didn’t have time to wait for him, she had to go.