He told himself he would get through the wedding, then he would head up into the mountains for a few days and figure out what was going on. He would either get over Pallas or surrender, because being where he was—so close and yet so incredibly far from what she offered—was impossible.
* * *
THE PANELS LINED the ballroom, creating the illusion of an off-world location. With the subdued lighting, every reflective surface shimmered. The glass orbs seemed to glow from a mysterious power source and the origami masks added to the otherworldly air.
Pallas stood by the door, waiting for the music cue. Next to her was Atsuko in slim black pants and a traditional Chinese jacket in purple and teal. The unexpected combination blended perfectly with all the decorations and colors.
Behind her were the bridesmaids in deep purple and teal dresses. The gowns themselves were simple, but the gauzy, floating overlays added dimension to the style. Beads lined the V-neck and tiny stars dotted the skirts.
Their bouquets were traditional earth flowers, enhanced by Violet’s buttons. Their headpieces were small, simpler versions of Nova’s hair.
Nova and Tim were last in line. Tim had gone with a tuxedo while Nova stunned in her amazing, painted gown. Even in the unflattering light of the hallway, she was a vision of color and beauty. As she moved, the gown seemed to twist and glow with a life of its own.
The music quieted, then the first of three songs started. Pallas nodded at Atsuko, who started down the center aisle. The bridesmaids followed. Right before Nova and Tim started for the archway, Nova reached out her hand.
“I can never thank you enough.”
Pallas blinked away tears. “You already have.”
* * *
THE CEREMONY WAS FLAWLESS, the dinner delicious and the sun set right on time. Pallas allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief. There was still the first dance by the bride and groom, the father-daughter dance, which should make everyone cry, then cutting the cake. Only a couple more hours until she could know everything had gone perfectly.
Pallas was about to relax when she saw Alan heading toward her. His purposeful stride made her want to whimper.
“What?” she demanded. “Just say it. Don’t hint, don’t try to make me feel better, just come clean.”
“You can be very bossy.”
“Alan!”
“Your mother is here, and your grandpa Frank.”
Her mother? What on earth?
“Your look of shock tells me you didn’t know. Nova invited Grandpa Frank and I’m guessing Libby’s his plus-one. That’s all I can think of.”
“It’s been three hours. How could I not have seen them before?”
Alan patted her arm. “You’ve been busy. It’s all right. We’re all here. You’ll be fine.”
Her mother at the wedding? Her mother had never come to one of her weddings before. Why now? Why this one?
She pushed the questions from her mind. She had enough to deal with. The last of the details, the fact that Nick was still here and making her want to fling herself at him every time she saw him. Not that she wanted him to go. She liked knowing he was in the room even if they weren’t together anymore. Which probably made her in need of therapy, but it was true.
“Thank you for the warning,” she said. “I’ll do my best to stay out of her way until all this is over.”
“Good plan. If I see her heading your way, I’ll try to run interference.” Alan flashed her a smile. “I’ll ask her to tango.”
“That will certainly get her attention.”
The music quieted, then the first dance song began. Joel and Nova walked to the wooden floor put down by the front of the open space. Behind them twinkle lights flashed and the orbs Ronan had created glowed. Everyone collected to watch the happy couple.
When they were done, Tim approached his daughter. But instead of starting to dance, he picked up a nearby microphone and began to speak.
“Thank you all for being here to witness my daughter’s marriage to Joel.” He looked around at the guests. “I know what you’re thinking. How awful you feel because I’m dying. But you’re wrong. It’s not awful. I have the gift of knowing how much time I have left. I have the privilege of knowing nothing will go unsaid. I tell my daughter I love her every day. I hear the words from her. I spend time with my friends. We talk about our passions and loves. We talk about life. I am blessed in every way possible.”
He turned to Pallas and smiled. “I want to give a special thank-you to everyone who worked so hard to make this wedding come true exactly how Joel and Nova imagined it. Pallas, you’re a miracle worker and I will always be grateful for the privilege of walking my daughter down the aisle. You’ve made our dreams come true.”
Pallas mouthed, “You’re welcome,” all the while fighting tears. Tim was right. Love was what mattered most. Caring and being cared for—knowing there were those who needed you in their day to make things better.
“Thank you all for being a part of this special day,” Tim concluded, then handed the microphone to Joel and began to dance with his daughter.
Pallas cleared her throat, then went to check on the cake. What a wonderful family, she thought. Thank goodness she’d taken on the project. How very sad if she’d refused the challenge—she wouldn’t have known this was what she was meant to do. In her own small way, she would spend the rest of her life making dreams come true.
“Pallas?”
She turned and saw her mother approaching. Alan hurried up behind her, waving his arms as if he was going to distract Libby, but it was too late.
“Hi, Mom.”
Pallas told herself she would give her mother exactly two minutes to tell her everything that was wrong with her, then excuse herself to see about the cake. “Did Grandpa Frank bring you?”
Her mother nodded, then surprised Pallas by blinking away tears. “That man...Tim...what he said. It was so wonderful. I’m sure your grandfather cared about me, but never like that. He had seven daughters. We had to be interchangeable.”
“Mom, no. Grandpa Frank loves you. He’s a good guy.”
“Oh, I know that, it’s just...I never felt special. Not with him and not with—”
She stopped speaking but Pallas could fill in the rest of the sentence. Not with your father. Because he hadn’t married Libby for the right reasons. He’d wanted an in with the bank.
“I always thought if I did better,” Libby continued, “if I was smarter or more successful, then I would have his attention. If I was everything I was supposed to be. But it was never enough for him.”
Pallas didn’t know which “him” they were talking about. Grandpa Frank or her father. Then she realized it didn’t matter. Libby had suffered at the hands of all the men who were supposed to love her best. Perhaps intentionally, perhaps not. At the end of the day, the pain was still there.
“That’s why I was so hard on you,” her mother told her. “To make sure you were everything you could be. But what you said before, about how I was supposed to love you unconditionally, that hurt me. Only I began to wonder if you were right.”
They stared at each other. Pallas sensed she was supposed to say something but she had no idea what.
“I do love you, Pallas.”
Unexpected words that were oddly comforting. “I love you, too, Mom.”
“Maybe if you came to work at the bank we could—”
Pallas shook her head. “That’s not going to happen. T
his is what I do. I love my work and I make people happy. There’s not going to be any bank for me.”
Her mother pressed her lips together. “You’re probably right. We’d fight all the time anyway and Drew would take your side, which I would find annoying.”
Pallas smiled. “I’m one of his favorite cousins.”
“So he tells me on a regular basis.” Libby studied her. “Are we okay?”
“We are. Will you try the zip line?”
“No, but your grandfather will, I’m sure. The man thinks he’s seventeen. He’s going to break his neck one day.”
Before Pallas could say anything, her mother pulled her close and hugged her. Pallas hugged her back. She didn’t think their relationship was magically fixed but they’d made a start and for now that was enough.
* * *
NICK KEPT TELLING himself he should leave, but here he was—still at the wedding as the happy couple cut the cake.
Everything had gone according to plan. Pallas and her team had done a hell of a job. He’d only played a small part and didn’t think he deserved any credit. He’d painted the dress and made a few flowers, but Pallas had done so much more.
Nova and Joel were practically floating with happiness. Grandpa Frank had been the first down the zip line and in a move that was both confusing and unsettling, Tim and Libby were sharing their third slow dance.
Nick circled the party, unable to shake the restlessness that drove him to keep moving. He was looking for something and didn’t know what. Or who. For maybe the millionth time, he sought out Pallas, watching her chat with a guest.
She was amazing. The way she’d handled everything, how she’d totally been there for Nova and her family. She cared about people and they cared about her. How could they not?
He thought about what Tim had said earlier. The man had been all about the love. For him passion didn’t consume, it was his reason for hanging on. He supposed it was like his art. When he didn’t give 100 percent, the piece had no soul. It was simply inert. But when he put himself into it, then there was a chance it would live and breathe. He had to be willing to take the chance or he was just wasting his time.
He stopped and watched Pallas talking to Silver. The two women laughed together, then Silver handed Pallas a drink.
He liked looking at her, he thought. Being with her. He missed her desperately and wished...
What? That he wasn’t afraid? That he could believe? That he was willing to take a chance on them? Because it was all right there, waiting. Pallas had offered her heart and he’d walked away. Walked away from the one person he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.
The truth slammed into him where it stabbed his soul and left him gasping for air. He wanted to be with Pallas always. He loved her and he trusted her. She was... She was everything!
He crossed the grass, took the drink from her hands, then cupped her face and kissed her. When he drew back he stared into her eyes.
“I love you. I’m sorry I’ve been such a jackass. I love you, Pallas. Please give me another chance.”
Her gaze searched his, then she smiled. “I told you there weren’t any conditions. I’m all in, Nick. I have been from the first.”
The tight band around his chest loosened and he knew they’d been damned lucky to find each other. No. He’d been the lucky one. For reasons he would never understand, Pallas had chosen him. He only knew one thing to do—hang on and never let go.
“I’m all in, too,” he told her. “For always.”
They walked to the dance floor and held on to each other as they swayed to the music. Certainty washed over him—certainty that this was the best thing he’d ever been a part of. Loving Pallas, being loved by her—it was right.
Three months later
“I HONESTLY DON’T know what to say,” Taylor breathed as she stared at the life-size—assuming Roman gods were six foot four—wood carving of Neptune in the center of the courtyard.
He dominated the space, his arm raised. The tips of the trident gleamed, probably because they were gold plated. His cape seemed to move in the breeze. At any second he would step down and join them for the upcoming party.
“The artist, Nick, he’s famous,” Taylor added in a whisper. “We can’t afford this.”
Pallas held in a grin. “You don’t have to. I told you—Nick’s loaning you this big guy for your wedding because you inspired him. Then Neptune is off to some hotel in Italy where he will find his forever home in the lobby.”
A fact that was exciting to her, mostly because Nick was overseeing the installation and she would be joining him for a two-week Italian vacation. She couldn’t wait to be alone with him somewhere that beautiful.
The summer had flown by in a flurry of weddings, work and being madly in love with the greatest guy ever. Nick was an incredible boyfriend. She’d thought he was good before but once he committed himself, he was focused, attentive and so sweet. The only surprises had been good ones. Like the time he’d...
She told herself this was not the time to daydream about her good fortune in the love department. Taylor’s wedding was in two days and the bride needed her full attention.
They walked through Weddings Out of the Box and went over every detail. The under-the-sea theme had played out beautifully.
“You’ve been to see Wynn?” Pallas asked.
“Yes. The panels.” Taylor’s voice was dreamy. “They’re wonderful. She’s so talented.”
“She did a great job. We’ll have them up in time for the rehearsal tomorrow night. I just love all the little touches.”
“Me, too.” Taylor hugged her. “You’ve been so wonderful. Thank you. Jake and I are getting our dream wedding and you’re the reason.”
“It takes a village.” Pallas glanced at her watch. “I believe you have a massage in half an hour. You need to head back to the hotel.”
Taylor shrieked. “I don’t want to be late for that. After I get my special manicure.”
Pallas had started coordinating with the local hotels to offer spa packages for her brides, including mani-pedis that included polish coordinated to the wedding colors.
Taylor hugged her one last time before dashing out. Pallas laughed as the other woman ran to her car. The few days before any wedding were always insane, but she loved every second of them. Of course these days she loved almost everything in her life.
She walked into the ballroom and watched as Nick assembled the lightweight wooden frames he’d constructed for her. The aluminum ones had been delivered, but he’d hated them on sight and insisted in making her something custom. Now she walked over to study the dark wood.
There was something on it, she realized. A pattern. She moved closer and saw that it wasn’t a pattern at all—at least not in the traditional sense. It was their initials looping together, along with tiny hearts.
She rubbed her fingers against the wood, then looked at him.
“You did this. It’s beautiful, but what were you thinking? You’re an important artist. You can’t waste your time decorating screen frames for me.”
“It wasn’t a waste of time, Pallas. The wood told me what it was supposed to be. I just did the work.”
She fought against tears. There had to be dozens of hours in the project. Maybe hundreds. “When did you find the time? You were supposed to be finishing Neptune.”
“I did both. I’ll admit I didn’t get a lot of sleep, but that’s okay. You’re worth it. Do you like them?”
She looked at the huge frames that would be filled with Wynn’s panels. “They’re wonderful. Just like you.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
He surprised her by dropping to one knee and taking her hand. Um, no. Surprised was not the word. Stunned was better. She stared at him.
“Nick?”
“I love you, Pallas. Thank you for taking a chance on me, on us. Being with you is the best part of my life. I want to make you happy and be with you for as long as possible. Marry me. Please.”
She couldn’t think or breathe or see anything but the amazing man she’d had the good fortune to fall in love with.
“Yes,” she breathed. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
He stood and drew her against him, then kissed her. They hung on to each other before he stepped back and pulled a small Tiffany box from his pocket and opened it. Inside a beautiful diamond solitaire winked hello, gorgeous.
Pallas’s hands were shaking as he slid the ring into place.
Nick kissed her again. “So, I was thinking. What are your thoughts on planning your own wedding?”
“No, thanks. I do that for a living.” She bit her lower lip. “Unless it’s important to you. I should have asked first. Whatever you want is fine.”
“I’m thinking elopement.”
“Really? Because that would be great.”
He smiled and touched her cheek. “It turns out Atsuko is friends with the US ambassador to Italy. He’s put me in touch with someone who can make all the arrangements. If you’d like to get married in Italy.”
She started to laugh. “Gee, let me think about that for a second.”
He kissed her. “So Italy, then.”
“Anytime, anywhere.”
“That’s my girl.”
He kissed her again and she hung on as if she would never let go. Which was kind of the plan.
* * * * *
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