by Robyn Neeley
“I see.” He pointed to Miles who had his hand dripped all over the male bartender. “How’s that working out for you?”
She let out a groan. “Who I spend time with is none of your business.”
“You’re right, it’s not.” He smiled. “Listen, Kate. I know we got off on the wrong foot and I’m to blame.”
“You got that right.”
“I’m a jerk. I want to make things right and I want to give Lauren the best wedding imaginable. I think we both want that, yes?”
She shook her head. “I’m committed to your wedding. As I told you earlier, my future is riding on it.”
“I was thinking. I have to run to the airport tomorrow to pick up my brother.”
“There’s more of you?”
He let that sarcastic comment go. “I’d like you to come with me.”
“Why?” Kate asked, shifting on her stool. It killed Luke that he couldn’t pick her up and take her upstairs to his suite right then and there. To uncover with his hands if the lacy blue bra and thong were still there from earlier.
He took a deep breath. “It’s a good opportunity for us to start fresh and get to know one another. I also want to talk to you about some special surprises I have planned for Lauren that I’d like to have included in the wedding. I’ll need your help.”
“I don’t know.” She raked her fingers through her hair, pulling the flower out and setting it on the bar. “I guess it would probably be good for us to be on the same page on what those surprises are.”
“Good, it’s settled. Meet me in the lobby at noon. We’ll swing by the airport and then I’ll drop you off at your next appointment. My brother, Luke, is a great guy. You’ll like him. He’s better looking than me.”
“Kate! Kate!” Miles was motioning for her to join him.
She stood. “Fine. I’ll go with you tomorrow. I don’t know what your game is Drew Cannon, but I like Lauren. Don’t break her heart.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Luke called out. He paid his tab and reached for his wallet. Next to it was the pink flower from Kate’s hair. Smiling, he picked it up and tucked it into his pocket. Tomorrow, Kate Ashby would meet Luke Cannon for the first time. He hoped to God she liked him.
Chapter Seven
Kate and Miles sat on a chic blue sofa, flipping through a bridal book on her lap. It was nearly eleven A.M., and Lauren was trying on her fifth dress. They had the run of the bridal shop that operated by appointment.
“Oh … my … God!” Miles pointed. “She’d look absolutely fabulous in that one. Let’s show her.”
Kate stifled a laugh. The dress on the page was unquestionably hideous with its long train of white feathers. She shut the book. “I don’t think so.”
“What? After their vows, Lauren could take flight down the aisle.” Miles jumped up and flapped his arms, imitating a bird. “Soaring along the ocean.” He landed back on the couch in a fit of giggles.
“Oh, Miles, you’re such a comedian.” Kate placed the book back on the coffee table and stood to check on Lauren. She didn’t really need to. She already knew what was going on inside the dressing room.
Lauren displayed typical wide-eyed bride behavior. This was the fifth dress that before trying on, she proclaimed would be “the one.” Kate knew better. Frustration would soon take over. The tears were about to come. She was actually a little surprised they hadn’t already. Lauren was a determined one.
She hated this part; nevertheless, it was important to let Lauren pick out the first few dresses on her own. It helped them get a quick understanding what she might like if they needed to intervene.
Perhaps this latest dress was the one. Kate smirked at her own optimism. Who was she kidding? They always needed to intervene.
So far, Lauren had selected tight, flashy dresses with long trains that were completely wrong for a beach wedding. Kate squared her shoulders and walked toward the fitting room stall, ready to provide wedding dress nine-one-one assistance.
Lauren’s mother, Aubrey Kincaid, stood outside the burgundy dressing room curtain with a mimosa in hand. The drink nearly gone. The Kincaid women certainly liked their cocktails. Aubrey was just as vibrant and bubbly as her daughter. Between the two, Kate and Miles had spent the morning in absolute stitches.
Kate liked Lauren … a lot. With her fun and witty personality, she could have been any one of Kate’s friends back home. She also had a brain. Kate and Miles learned that Lauren was a marketing executive with over ten years in the business.
Why Drew felt the urge to cheat on this smart and beautiful woman still baffled Kate.
“Aubrey, let me refill your glass.” She took the flute and reached for a nearby pitcher that the bridal shop staff had left for them.
Kate turned to the sofa. “Hey, Miles, could you see if we could get a plate of little sandwiches?” It would probably be wise to get some food in both mother and daughter. She suspected that given their size-four figures, they didn’t make it a practice to have a hearty breakfast.
Miles stood. “You got it.”
“Thank you, Miles,” Aubrey called out and blew him a kiss.
He caught it and pretended to put it in his pocket. “You’re welcome, love. Be right back.”
“You have such a wonderful assistant,” Aubrey remarked.
Kate shook her head and refreshed her glass. “I know. I’m very lucky.” She handed it back. “Let’s not tell him, though. His head is big enough. I don’t need him asking for any more money.”
Aubrey laughed and sipped her drink. “Dear, come out and show us the dress.” She tugged on the curtain.
Lauren held onto it from the other side. “I’m not coming out,” she wailed. “Ever!”
Kate and Aubrey looked at each other in alarm. “Everything okay, Lauren?” Kate asked.
“No.” Lauren moaned. “I look like a beached whale.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating,” Aubrey said. “Let’s see it.” She yanked the curtain back, this time with success.
Lauren faced them in a tight mermaid gown with an excessive amount of bubble tulle circling her ankles. It covered the entire fitting room floor.
Aubrey burst out laughing.
“Mom!”
“Sorry, honey.” She put her hand over her mouth. “It’s not that bad. Kate, what do you think?”
Kate reached down and scooped up the tulle, helping Lauren waddle out of the fitting room. “The top is beautiful, but this train I’m afraid won’t be practical on the beach. Sand will easily fill up the bottom, causing you to — ”
“Sink!” Lauren shrieked. “I am a beached whale. Drew is marrying a beached whale. She waddled over to the sofa and fell backwards. “This is hopeless.”
Kate rushed over and sat on the coffee table. She grabbed Lauren’s tiny hands and gave a reassuring squeeze. “No, it’s not. Wedding dress shopping is like dating. You kiss a lot of frogs before you find the one. Believe it or not, these hideous dresses have a purpose.”
Lauren looked up. “They do?” The tears were now flowing down her cheek.
Kate reached for a tissue in her purse and handed it to her. “Yes, they do. They’re getting you one step closer to finding your dress. Trust me. Your dress is here.”
“It is?” Lauren blew her nose. “How do you know?”
“I just do. I can help you find it, but first I need you to do something for your mother and me.”
“What?”
“Close your eyes.” Kate waited until Lauren’s eyes were shut. She motioned for Aubrey to join her daughter on the couch. “Now, tell us, what is the very first thing you see when you envision your wedding?”
Lauren smiled. “That’s easy. I see Drew, standing on the beach in a white shirt and khakis. No shoes.”
Aubrey raised an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t he be wearing a tux? He’d look much better in photos.”
Lauren brought a finger to her lips. “Shhh, Mom. It’s my fantasy.”
Kate frowned, rememb
ering her own fantasy yesterday with the groom. She mentally swatted the thought out of her mind. “What else do you see?”
“We’re in this beautiful isolated cove. All of our family and friends are with us.”
“In Maui?” Kate pressed.
“Drew really wants to get married where we first met, but if I could have my first choice, it would be Maui.” Lauren smiled widely. “I’m walking down a white aisle runner with beautiful Hawaiian flower petals strewn everywhere. Drew is directly in front of me. The ocean is behind him.”
Kate listened. What she was hearing was that Lauren really wanted an intimate seaside wedding on a private beach. The Aolani wasn’t quite that setting. Sure Lauren would have the ocean as her backdrop but everywhere else she looked, she’d see high-rise hotels.
She’d have to think of something. Maybe they could find an isolated part of the beach to have the ceremony. She pressed on. “Now, talk to me about your dress. How does it feel on you?”
“Amazing.” Lauren’s eyes remained closed. “It’s elegant but simple. Sheer.” She moved her hand to her shoulder. Almost flowery up top. My arms are sleeveless.” She opened her eyes. “Oh, this is ridiculous. I should just wear a white sack and staple flowers onto it.”
Kate cupped Lauren’s face with her hands. “You’ve told me all I need to know.” She crossed the room to the nearby dress racks. “I’m thinking you need something flowery, romantic, and whimsical. It has to be sexy though, to show off those tanned arms.” She maneuvered through the first rack, touching each dress. “Hmm … something you can easily glide in.”
Lauren sighed. “Does such a dress exist?”
Miles returned with a plate of tiny sandwiches and offered them to Lauren and Aubrey. “It does, and Kate will find it. Sit back and watch her do her magic.”
Kate disappeared deep into the racks. There was nothing she enjoyed more than the challenge of finding her client the perfect wedding dress. A few minutes later, she emerged, cradling a dress in her hands. “Found it!”
Lauren looked up. Her tear-stained eyes widened. “Oh my goodness. It’s … it’s beautiful.”
“I know, right?” Kate ran her hands across the sheer fabric. “I bet it’s going to look simply gorgeous on you. Let’s go try it on.”
Miles helped Lauren up and she waddled back into the fitting room. Aubrey went in with her daughter to help.
“Nice job. You saved the day, per usual.” Miles laughed. “Here, have a sandwich for your hard work.”
Kate picked up one of the mini ham and cream cheese sandwiches and took a bite. “Yum.” She shoved the rest in her mouth and grabbed another. She didn’t realize how hungry she was. “You would have done the same thing. Cross your fingers she likes it and it won’t need too many alterations.”
After what seemed like an eternity, Aubrey pulled back the curtain.
Lauren emerged and floated over to the three-way mirror. A big smile brightened her face. She motioned for Kate. “Can you help me? Mom was having trouble with this zipper.”
“Of course.” Kate approached. The one-shoulder gown was simply made for Lauren’s body, accentuating both of her long, toned arms.
Kate paused, remembering Drew’s offer to help her with her own zipper.
“Everything okay?” Lauren looked behind her shoulder.
“Super-duper,” Kate replied and tugged the zipper up.
Lauren swirled her train. The soft white dress was breathtaking in its simplicity. The sheer organza petals along her hips were exquisite. The gown’s train flowed from her waist. It was the perfect length to glide across sand.
Miles was the first to speak. “Lauren, you look stunning.”
“It’s absolutely what I envisioned.” She grinned from ear to ear. “Kate, how did you know?”
She chuckled. “I’ve been at this for a while.”
Lauren twirled in her dress. “Well, you certainly earned every penny of your commission today. Thank you.”
“Oh, dear, you look so beautiful.” Aubrey choked back tears.
Miles sprung immediately to the rescue, handing her a tissue. Kate knew he had a load of them in his pocket precisely for this expected outcome. He handed one to Kate as well.
As mother and daughter admired the details of the dress, Kate went over to the couch and fetched her bag. It had to be time to meet Drew. A glance at her phone confirmed that she had fifteen minutes to get back to the Aolani. She’d need to leave now.
While she wasn’t looking forward to being alone with him, there was something regarding the wedding that they needed to discuss privately.
“Ladies, I have to run back to the hotel for a meeting. Miles will arrange for any alterations.” She glanced at Lauren one last time. “I doubt they’ll need to do many.”
“What meeting do you have?” Miles asked. “I didn’t book anything for noon.”
Kate stammered. “I’m … um … meeting the hotel staff. Nothing major. Wanted to give them a little background on the expected guests.”
“Do you need me to go with you?” Miles reached for his briefcase.
“No!” She composed herself. “I mean, it would be great if you could wrap up here. Tell you what. Since we finished much earlier than we planned, why don’t you three enjoy some sun? That dress is going to require a nice dark tan.”
Lauren clapped her hands. “Oh, goodie! I was hoping we’d have some time for the beach. Is that okay with you, Mom?”
Aubrey shook her head. “I’m going to meet your father for lunch. You and Miles go have some fun. I’ll meet you later and maybe bring your dad.”
Kate smiled. “Good, that settles it. You two go worship the Sun God. Miles, I’ll call you when I’m done.” She leaned in so only he could hear. “Only give her SPF Four and please make sure she pulls down her straps. Tan lines won’t work with that dress.”
“Ladies, chop, chop.” Miles clapped. “Lauren, our toes are going to be in the sand in one hour!”
Kate left the boutique and hailed a taxi for the quick trip back to the hotel. Wedding dress selected. Check. Happy bride and mother-of-the-bride. Double check. Things were going so smoothly. Her clients didn’t really need a full year to plan their wedding, not with her around. That promotion to partner was as good as hers.
Once in the cab, she reached for her compact and blotted her face with the tinted sponge. Her matte mauve lipstick was still on and gave some color to her silky beige slacks and white top.
She had purposely dressed in pants to cover her legs and selected a conservative top with no zippers. There would be no awkward encounters with Drew that involved her clothing if she could help it. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. Now, if she could just stop thinking about the kiss.
• • •
Kate squared her shoulders and moved through the revolving door. Her taxi had gotten stuck in traffic, causing her to be fifteen minutes late.
She spotted Drew immediately reading The Wall Street Journal. The same paper he’d been reading when they first met.
“I do, I do.” She whispered. Everything was going to be fine. It was a short car ride to and from the airport. This should only take an hour, tops. Hopefully his brother’s flight was on time.
Drew looked up. “Hi, Kate.”
“Hi. I’m sorry I’m late.”
“No problem. You ready?” He folded his paper and stood, tucking it under his arm. He looked incredibly handsome in a casual red polo and khaki shorts.
She flashed her brightest smile. “Ready to get this over.”
He frowned. “My car should be out front. I asked the valet to bring it around a few minutes ago.”
“Great. Let’s go.” She followed him outside where a white BMW convertible waited for them. The valet greeted Kate and handed Drew his keys.
“Figures,” she muttered.
Drew opened the door for her. “Did you say something?”
“No.” She got in and ran her fingers through her hair, watching as Dr
ew moved to the driver’s side. He was checking his phone.
“If you’re checking on Lauren, she’s fine. She’s with Miles.”
“I wasn’t.” He set his phone down in the middle console. “I’ve been waiting for a text all morning. Some instructions.”
Kate fetched an elastic band from her purse and pulled her hair back in a long ponytail. Perhaps instructions on how to be a decent fiancé. “Well, in case you’re wondering, she looked amazing in her dress.”
“So she found one?”
Kate nodded. “It’s gorgeous.”
Drew hit the gas and headed away from the hotel. “I don’t doubt it. She’d be stunning in a white sack.”
“With flowers stapled onto it.” She laughed sarcastically. “I’m sure she would.”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. Just something she said earlier.”
They sat for a few minutes in silence. Drew turned on the radio. “You’ll like my brother, he’s a great guy.”
Kate smirked. “I’m sure he is.”
“No, really he is.”
Kate turned away and played with her ponytail. Conversing with her grooms had never been this hard. But she’d also never kissed any of them before. After a few more minutes of awkward silence, she decided to bring up their conversation from last night. “So why don’t we talk about these surprises you have in mind for the wedding?”
“Surprises?” He glanced over at her. “What do you mean?”
“Last night at the bar. You said you had some special surprises in store for Lauren to make your wedding day memorable. What are they? I need to know exactly what you’ve got in mind so we can coordinate.”
“Right. Right. I did say that.” He fidgeted with the buttons for the radio, landing on a country station. She didn’t figure Drew for a Rascal Flats kind of guy.
She studied him. Why did he now seem reluctant to talk about his surprise plans for Lauren? Had this been a trick of his to get her alone with him?
“I guess I’d like to … um … well.” His words stumbled over each other. “It would be kinda cool if I — ”
“You aren’t planning anything, are you?” She threw her hands up in the air. This was a trick.