Hers to Marry: A Sweet Second Chance Romance (Sisters of Springfield Book 2)

by Eliza Ellis

  “Look down on people who work from home?” Kat said bluntly. “Like it’s not a real job.”

  “But I know it is. That’s what’s so crazy! I don’t know why I feel like there’s less accountability.”

  None of what she said made sense, but that was Parker. She hung out on the dramatic side of the spectrum.

  “Well, what do you mean, ‘while you’re here’? I thought you two were moving back.”

  Parker bellowed. “Who told you that? Drew? He’s wrong. We are not moving here, and that’s a fact.”

  Kat took a long sip of the water the waiter had brought, keeping her eyes down on her empty plate until they were handed a basket of bread.

  “Thank goodness, I’m starving. I’m so busy I forget to eat,” Parker said, tearing off a large chunk of bread and then ravenously munching on it.

  “I thought you said you were avoiding carbs.”

  “You work in a bakery, shut up.”

  Kat giggled. “But I don’t eat everything I cook. I only sample.”

  “Fair enough.”

  The land Drew had bought for their home came to Kat’s mind. “Well, have you two discussed where you’re going to live?”

  “We’re going back to Boston. Done deal.”

  “Is that where you met?”

  “Mmm-hmm. He was there for some convention. My company was hosting one in the same hotel. We met, and the rest is history.” Parker leaned forward, her voice low. “He was a mess when I met him. If it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t be nearly as desirable.”

  “Parker!” Kat felt uneasy hearing this about her friend. Drew undesirable? How was he a mess? Strangely enough, she could relate. Her life had been messy the last year. She wanted details, and she didn’t have to ask.

  Parker shrugged and relaxed back in her chair. “It’s true. He’d just come back from Afghanistan and was dealing with all of that. I listened and provided support”—she put a hand over her heart—“I’m not above doing that. But the only thing saving him was his looks.” She rushed to say, “He is a sweetheart, don’t get me wrong. So thoughtful. But this idea that we’re moving to Springfield to raise a family and be lazy is a pipe dream and not happening. This girl”—she pointed a finger at herself—“is never leaving the city. Too much to do, so much culture to experience. Why leave all of that?”

  “Because that’s what the two of you agreed on?” Kat said hesitantly.

  Parker snorted. “I didn’t agree to that. If Drew thinks that’s what’s going to happen, then he’s been misinformed.” The waiter delivered the soup and salad. Parker stabbed her salad with a fork. “I mean, the only reason I agreed to do the wedding here is because of his grandmother. She doesn’t want to travel and is sick or something. If it were up to me, I’d do it back in Boston. Fly my family there.”

  Muriel was ill? Kat sipped on her leek and potato soup, thinking about her mother, who relied heavily on Muriel’s friendship. Did she know the snarky woman was sick? “It isn’t serious, is it? Her illness.”

  Parker waved a hand. “Maybe terminal, I’m not sure. I half think Drew lied to get me to come here.” She chomped on her salad.

  Kat shook her head to clear the heavy fog that had begun to settle. Parker had to be exaggerating. Muriel sick and Drew lying about it? She would never believe her old friend was a liar. That didn’t sound like him at all. And he hadn’t mentioned his grandmother’s illness. “Drew said you’re staying in a hotel? Why not stay with your parents?”

  Parker narrowed her gaze. “Because I know they’ll want me to go here and there and do stuff and, Kat…I have this major project I’m working on. I barely have time for this lunch, which was why I was late.” She groaned and put a hand to her head. She stirred her soup. “I feel like I’m so behind—for weeks now, and I don’t feel like I can catch up.” Her intense gaze met Kat’s. “When I say ‘major,’ I mean if this deal falls through, it’ll hurt our profit share. As the VP, I can’t let that happen. My head is on the chopping block.”

  “Parker…I didn’t know.”

  “No one does, really. Not even Drew, at least, not how important it is to me. I don’t want him to worry about me when he’s still so emotionally fragile.”

  Drew was still fragile? She recalled how he went silent when she asked about Afghanistan and then changed the subject. It didn’t surprise her that he wouldn’t want to talk about what happened to him in the war. He might’ve seen and done things that would stay with him for many years—if the memories would ever leave.

  Kat’s heart squeezed uncomfortably for Drew. She wished he had relied on her for comfort, and she silently prayed he was getting better.

  “That’s why I’ve put off wedding planning for so long. I didn’t even have time to announce my engagement. This project could literally double the size of the company and bring in major players to partner not long after. I feel like I’ve been training for this my whole life, and now it’s the Olympics. I can’t bring home anything less than the gold, or I’d be a loser.”

  Kat ate her meal in silence, taking everything in. She’d never seen her friend so stressed, but now she understood why she hadn’t been told about the engagement nor had really heard from her friend in weeks. “I get it. You’re under a lot of pressure.”

  “Exactly. Staying downtown keeps me away from the parents, and I can be near the office and do my job. Plus, I don’t want to be influenced by Muriel. Have you met her? She’s got her own ideas about life—particularly mine—and how it ought to be lived. Like she can even relate! She’s like, a hundred years old. Ancient.”

  Kat sputtered. “Parker! You’re exaggerating. She’s not that old.”

  “No, I’m not!” she countered firmly. She leaned close, her lips thinning. “I made some excuse about work to cut our visit short. I could tell Drew was ticked, but I didn’t care. I did have work to do, and his grandmother isn’t going to tell me what to do or how to live my life. I haven’t gotten that from his own mother, why would I take it from Muriel?”

  “You’ve met his parents?”

  “Just over the phone. They’re flying in next week for the wedding. Oh my goodness!” She cried and put her hands to her head. Kat felt the eyes of the other patrons on them. “I can’t do it, I can’t do it, Kat! You’ve got to help me.” She grabbed Kat’s hand, the soup on the spoon spilling onto the table. “Please, please say you’ll help me.”

  “I’m making the cake, don’t worry.”

  Parker shook her head furiously. “No, I mean do the whole thing. Get the venue booked, make sure Drew dresses in a tux, and find a place for the reception. We need flowers, and music, and—”

  “Parker! Have you planned anything for this wedding?”

  Parker folded into herself. “Just the dress,” she said meekly.

  Kat’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding. The wedding is…?”

  “Next week. Plenty of time.”

  Next week! Kat didn’t know where to look. She figured she had months maybe, but two weeks? Drew is going to be someone else’s husband in two weeks… Despite the hot sun beating down on their heads, Kat shivered.

  “I mean, this place…how busy could it be?” Parker looked around, her expression chagrined. “It’s not like it can’t happen. And you’ve planned weddings before, right?”

  Kat cocked her head to one side. “I’m not a wedding planner. I’ve baked cakes for—”

  “Close enough. You’ve seen weddings and you know what I like. Please, Katrina, I’m begging you. You know you’re my maid of honor, right?”

  Kat narrowed her eyes on Parker. “Am I? Or did you just say that so I’d have to plan the wedding?”

  Parker feigned innocence by smiling pleasantly. “Is it working?”

  Kat sighed and moved a few pieces of lettuce around with her fork. She didn’t want to do this. Be the maid of honor? Sure. Plan the wedding of her best friend with her childhood best friend and fast-becoming crush? Hard pass. What could be more tedious? “Give
me one good reason.”

  Parked leaned in close. “So, I’m really busy with this work project.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know. You’re always busy. Not good enough.”

  She waved a hand. “I’m not finished! Okay, so if this deal goes through—get ready—this would set me up to be president of the international firm.”

  Kat’s mouth dropped. That was a good reason. “Parker, are you serious? What does that mean?”

  “It’s one step away from being president of the whole company.” She squealed for a couple of seconds and then turned serious. “It would mean working at an international corporate office. London.”

  “London…” Kat breathed. She’d never been anywhere outside of the continental United States. To visit London would be amazing.

  “Exactly. Then it would be quarterly trips all over the world. Monthly trips. I’ll be going to China, Taiwan, Brazil, South Africa… Kat! Kat, I would bring you with me. You could be on retainer for parties and anything I’d need pastries and desserts for.”

  Kat put two hands on her chest. “Me? How would you be able to—”

  “I would be president. I could hire whomever I wanted. In fact, I could probably start now, now that I think about it. Retainer means you’d be paid regardless of whether or not we would need you on any type of regular basis. Guaranteed payment. It would be big. Huge. And you’d come with me, and we’d travel the world just like we had always dreamed. Remember those dreams, Kat?”

  Kat looked off into the distance, seeing the beautiful old-town city she had come to love so much. It was home, and she couldn’t imagine herself anywhere else.

  Until now.

  She did remember those dreams. When they had built tents out of blankets in Parker’s bedroom on the nights Kat was allowed to sleep over. They’d stare at Parker’s paper map and plot the adventures they’d have once they were old enough to get away from their parents. Traveling around the world, experiencing different foods and clothes, and—of course—marrying princes of some royal houses.

  When had she forgotten about those dreams? It seemed Parker had made plans to actually realize her dreams. Kat suddenly felt anxious and a little irritated that she was stuck at Susie’s bakery. There was a whole world outside of home that she hadn’t explored. Was she going to live here forever and then die without seeing what else was out there?

  Short answer: yes.

  Unless she took Parker up on her offer.

  “Okay…” Kat began, “so, let me get this straight. I help plan your wedding so you can focus on nailing down this deal?”

  Parker nodded once. “Exactly. Once the deal goes through, we’ll be on a plane back to Boston and then straight on to London. Shouldn’t take long for my promotion to go through. There’s a quarterly meeting in London for the international firm in a few weeks. I’ll be there as the new president of our company’s joint firm.”

  Kat blew out a breath. “That’s a lot to think about. What about Drew? He wants to stay here.”

  “Drew doesn’t know yet. I wanted to surprise him. We had talked about doing a world tour for our honeymoon, and what better way to start it off than actually moving to London?”

  All three of them in London at the same time? The bottom of the appeal bucket dropped suddenly. “I don’t want to feel like a third wheel.”

  “No, no, no. You won’t. We won’t go on our honeymoon until after I’ve finished with the meeting. Conference, actually. It’ll last a week. Then you can fly back while we’re on our honeymoon and wait until I need you again.” She wagged her brows and smiled like she had an ace up her sleeve. “South Africa next month. What do you think?”

  It was a chance of a lifetime. Recently, her mother had been telling her that she needed to get out and experience more of the world—and life.

  And the money would help eliminate her debt. She could be free from the bank in way less time.

  Kat shrugged, her heart lighter. “How could I say no?”

  “Exactly.” Parker looked at her watch. “Shoot. I’m late. I’ve gotta go. Don’t worry about lunch, it’s on me.”

  “No, I’ve got this.”

  “You sure? Oh, thank you, Kat, you’re a lifesaver. And I’m counting on you.” Her gaze held Kat’s. Her thumb nearly touched her index finger. “I’m this close to having it all. The perfect job, the man, the travel… Please help me. Whatever you need, promise. Like always.”

  “Like always.”

  “Good.” Parker shot her a smile, hopped the fence, and waved before rushing off to whatever else she had to do.

  Kat took her time eating the rest of her salad and soup. She too could be traveling and be the boss of her own bakery—albeit a traveling one—if she helped her friend get married. Then she’d have enough money to pay the bank off.

  All Kat wouldn’t get was the man.

  Her friend already had him.

  Chapter 6

  Drew sent another text to Parker asking where she was. He’d been sitting at the tailor’s for ten minutes, and she was nowhere to be found.

  Typical Parker.

  He was amazed they still communicated enough to get married. Well, if she wasn’t around, she might miss the wedding. A few of his guys already had a pool going about that. Odds were against Drew that he’d get Parker down the aisle.

  It frustrated him that Parker wasn’t taking this as seriously as he thought all brides did. Sure, she agreed to the wedding in his hometown, and he actually got her on the plane, but since they had arrived, she’d been virtually M.I.A. Would she be that way during marriage? What would happen when they had kids? Would he be raising them alone?

  “Hi, Drew.”

  Drew’s head snapped to the side, and there stood Kat, who shrugged and awkwardly smiled. Drew stood from his chair. “Kat! What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to help you get the perfect tux for your wedding.”

  “What?” he deadpanned.

  Kat’s gaze went up and to the side. “Yeah, yesterday Parker asked me to help fill in as the wedding planner. Something big is going on at work that needs her full attention right now.”

  “Well, her fiancé needs some attention,” Drew muttered.

  Kat pressed her lips into a tight line and frowned. Drew blasted a breath in frustration. “Okay, so what are you supposed to do?”

  “Everything. I’m the official wedding planner. We can get you in a tux today, and then we can go look at venues—”

  “Shouldn’t you be at work?”

  Kat shoved hair behind her right ear, and averted her gaze. Today she wore it down in spiral curls that touched her shoulders. She looked carefree and beautiful, but the woman he wanted to be here was Parker.

  “Um, I went in really early and baked the supply we needed for today. Typically Tuesdays are slower because everyone’s started their week off right with sweets. Susie said I could have a couple of hours since I never take any time off.”

  Drew figured being a wedding planner was a huge inconvenience to her and Susie. “Okay, no offense, but you bake cakes. You’re not a wedding planner, or do I have that wrong?”

  Her lips slanted down to one side. “You’re not wrong. I told Parker that. She thinks I’d probably have a better eye for this because I’ve baked cakes for weddings and, well, I know her. I have a pretty good idea of what she likes, and we could marriage that up with what you like.”

  Drew chuckled. Marriage. Was his even going to happen? “Right. That’s funny. If you really knew Parker, this is her show. I’m just supposed to show up and say ‘I do.’”

  Kat laughed to be polite. “No, you’re right. But…I think a wedding involves two people. If you want any say-so, then now’s the time to do it.”

  “Tap into my Marine training and assert my authority going into the marriage.” He slowly nodded. “I like that, Kat.”

  Kat touched her cheek. Were they warm? “I…I didn’t exactly mean it—”

  He winked. “Yeah, you
did. When did you become so meek? You used to have no problem asserting yourself when we were younger.”

  “Asserting herself?” A harsh laugh barked behind them. “Katrina? That’s funny.”

  Kat stiffened, her eyes shooting to Drew’s, her gaze crying out for help. Drew eyed the guy from head to toe. Shirt fitted too tightly underneath a jacket that was an inch too short at the wrists. His pants also looked like he picked them up at Baby Gap. He wore a slick expression, his sardonic gaze raking Kat. He didn’t recognize him at all, but apparently he knew Kat.

  Kat slowly faced him. “Marcus,” she said coolly.

  Marcus? Was that her ex?

  “Katrina,” he sneered. “Where have you been hiding? Still at that bakeshop?”

  “Would’ve been in my own bakery if it wasn’t for you.”

  Drew took a step forward, his gaze zeroed in on Marcus. He caused his best friend to lose her dream, to be this insecure person Drew didn’t know. Drew felt a growl shoot up his throat.

  Marcus shook his finger in the air. “No, no, no. That’s not how I remember it.”

  Kat’s fists were balled by her side, and she was physically shaking. “You backed out of our deal and left me holding the debt.”

  Marcus pointed his finger at her. “You signed the paperwork without getting all the proper inspections done.”

  “You said everything was good!”

  Drew wrapped a hand around her upper arm and moved her behind him. “Hi, I’m Drew.” He held out his hand instead of punching the guy in the face. “And you are?”

  “The new boyfriend, huh?” Marcus had to stand on the tips of his toes to cast a mocking stare over Drew’s shoulder to Kat. “That was fast. I figured you’d at least wait a couple of years.”

  “Kat’s an old friend.”

  Marcus nodded. “Exactly.” He shook Drew’s hand. “I’m her ex-boyfriend. The one she screwed over in a business deal. Now I’ve gotta clear my name.”

  “I did not!” Kat shouted.

  Drew turned around and placed two hands on her shoulders. “Kat. How about you go check out the tuxes for me, okay? I’ll handle this.” If he could just get Marcus to step outside…