Empty Net Read online

  “Oh well, you’ll need adult action at my wedding,” Fallon gushed, clapping her hands. She could barely move in the dress she had on. More of a reason she should pick the lace one. “Let me hook you up with Phillip Anderson. Number 13, total hottie. Bright blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, good guy.”

  Audrey raised an eye brow, “I don’t know, Levi just left.”

  “More of a reason to hook up with Phillip, he’s a good guy.”

  Audrey shrugged her shoulder, “I don’t know.”

  “Well think about it, but think quick, cause I’ll need to have Lucas ask him.”

  Audrey rolled her eyes, “Yeah, yeah, come on, pick a dress.”

  Fallon placed her finger to her chin, obviously still thinking. Audrey rolled her eyes at her as Fallon said, “I know for a fact that if he were older, you would love him.”

  “Who?” Audrey asked as her eye brow quirked up.

  “Tate, your neighbor.”

  “Ahh, the infamous neighbor whom I have yet to meet. That dude is like a ninja. I only see his truck leave, and hear him playing his piano.”

  Fallon smiled, “He’s a super great guy. You should go over and introduce yourself.”

  “Maybe, but like you said, he’s too young.”

  “Yeah, he is, oh well,” Fallon said with a shake of her head.

  “Well, enough of that, what dress?” Audrey asked not only annoyed that Fallon hadn’t picked a dress, but that she hadn’t met her neighbor. Lucas and Fallon talked so highly of him, and Audrey felt like she should know him by now! It had been almost a month and half since he moved in. More than enough time to meet someone. She didn’t even know what he looked like! He was a goalie, so it was hard to tell what he looked like through all his gear. It was frustrating because she heard he was gorgeous! Audrey could have Googled him, but come on, he was her next-door neighbor, she should be able to go over and see him, for goodness sakes!

  When Fallon flashed her a winning smile, distracting her from an overactive brain, Audrey smiled back. Fallon then said, “The lace one, this one is tight as all get out.”

  Audrey giggled as she cheered inwardly. She never had to come back! Well, maybe to try on her dress, but maybe they could do that today? As Fallon changed back into her clothes, Audrey checked her Facebook while the workers moved around her. She made sure things were good, and that no one was dying before closing the app and looking up just as Fallon was coming out. Fallon looked so damn happy, it almost made Audrey sick. Her eyes were bright with excitement, she walked with a little more pep than usual in her step and anyone a mile away could see that she was the happiest person on earth.

  “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