by Krista Lakes
“Oh, right.” Gwen blushed and set her very full glass down. “They're over here.”
While the two women were occupied opening and pouring a fresh bottle of champagne, Jace tried to figure out what was happening on the other side of the bedroom door. It was pretty apparent that Ella wasn't going to come back out while he was here, but he wanted to know why.
“I'm so sorry...” Ella's voice was muffled by the door, but she sounded absolutely mortified. “I know it's bad luck for him to see the dress before the wedding and I-”
“It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding,” Madelyn corrected. “Jace is not supposed to be up here anyway. There's no way you could have known that he was going to just walk in.”
Clarissa cleared her throat. “You planning on staying to try on tiaras with us?”
“No, no.” Jace shook his head and backed toward the exit. Tiaras were not on his to-do list today. “I'll go find my own lunch. You girls have fun playing pretty, pretty princess.”
Gwen rolled her eyes at the comment, but didn't say anything. Clarissa raised her eyebrow, waiting for him to leave.
“Tell Madelyn I stopped by,” Jace said. He was stalling now, and he knew it. But he wanted just a few more minutes, just in case Ella decided to come back out.
“Goodbye, Jace.” Clarissa stepped forward and opened the door for him, holding it open.
Jace knew it was time to leave, yet his feet didn't seem to get the memo. It took him a second to make himself move away from the door and where he knew Ella was and out into the hallway. He had no idea why Madelyn had Ella wearing a wedding dress, but he certainly thought it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
The door to the bridal suite slammed shut behind him, making him shake his head. He'd seen plenty of women in wedding dresses, but for some reason, seeing Ella in one made him obscenely happy. The thought of her in white, hiding from him because it would be bad luck for him to see her made his chest tight and heart thump.
He may not understand why she was dressed in white, but he did know one thing. He had to see her again. This brief moment and the way his feet kept trying to turn him around to go back just proved it. He wanted to see her more than anything.
He needed a plan, a way to surprise her and make her smile. Flowers? No. Too simple, he decided. Maybe something with horses? Was there a way to combine horses with romance novels?
With his thoughts up on the girl hiding in the bedroom, Jace wasn't paying attention to the world around him. As such, it came as a total surprise when he nearly ran into Delores Phillips. He stumbled to the side, managing to avoid a full collision, but only barely.
“Mr. Connor, how are you this morning?” the older woman asked. Every gold-digging alarm went off in Jace's head at her sweet tone. She was certainly well preserved, but not anywhere near his type.
“I'm well,” he replied. “I'm sorry for almost running you over, Ms. Phillips. I'm afraid my thoughts were elsewhere.”
“Delores, please. It certainly looked like you had pleasant things on your mind,” she purred and fluttered fake eyelashes. “May I ask, who is the lucky lady?”
“A lady? Who said anything about a lady?” Jace did his best to look innocent. “Can't I just be happy my little sister is getting married?”
He fidgeted slightly, wanting to get back to work. As much as he was excited for Madelyn's wedding to Jason, he still had responsibilities. His company didn't stop running just because his little sister was getting married.
“Oh, Mr. Connor, your sister Madelyn is a lucky woman, but a man doesn't go around with his feet floating on a cloud and a smile on his face for anything but a woman.” Delores smiled widely. “So, I have to ask. Is it anyone I know?”
“Someone who works for you, actually,” Jace said slowly, unsure of what exactly to say. “She's made my day considerably brighter.”
“Oh, that is what we strive for here at Blue Lake Inn,” Delores agreed, nodding with each word. “I do hope that Allison continues to make your stay even more pleasurable.”
The way she said “pleasurable” made the hairs on Jace's neck stand up. It was creepy and almost inappropriate.
“Um, thank you?” Jace frowned, unsure why Allison was being brought up.
“Allison is incredibly accommodating,” Delores continued. The tone of her voice suggested that Allison was more than just accommodating. It made Jace's stomach twist a little. “I hope that you'll be able to spend more time with her.”
“I'm sorry, you must be confused,” Jace said, looking down the hallway and hoping someone would come along that could distract her. “I wasn't referencing Allison. She's done a fabulous job as liaison, though. We've been very pleased with her.”
“Not Allison?” Delores's joy dropped quickly out of her eyes, leaving her smile hollow and fake. “Which one of my employees can I reward for making your stay so memorable then?”
Jace hesitated. There was something about the owner of the inn that set his teeth on edge. It was probably just that she was a known gold-digger, but she displayed the false interest that drove him nuts. Yet, he wanted Ella to get the praised she deserved.
“Please, Mr. Connor,” she begged, putting on a charming smile. “If one of my employees is making your stay all that it can be, I want to know so I can encourage the behavior. We're big on positive reinforcement here. I believe it's what makes this place work so well.”
“Ella.” He smiled a little at her name, just saying making his day brighter.
“Ella? Of course it would be Ella.” Ms. Phillips blinked twice before resuming her smile. “She's one of our best, you know.”
“I certainly agree,” Jace said. He took a step forward, but Delores put a hand on his chest to stop him.
“Oh, you must work out.” The older woman managed a blush. “What I mean to say is, I'm not surprised she's gone above and beyond with this wedding. She's just so excited for her own that it spills into everything.”
“I'm sorry, her wedding?” Jace's heart stalled in his chest. Delores couldn't possibly mean what he thought she did.
“She hasn't said anything?” Delores's eyes were wide. “What a dear, not wanting to impose on your family's special day. That's just like her.”
“What do you mean 'wedding'?” Jace asked again, his voice taking more of an edge than he meant to give.
“She's engaged.” Delores smiled and fluttered her eyelashes again. “The wedding is next week. It's very romantic. High school sweethearts, a big public proposal. She's been over the moon with excitement, but I asked her to tone it down so as not to overshadow your sister's big day. This weekend is supposed to be all about Madelyn, not Ella.”
“Ella's wedding is next week?” Jace repeated, saying the words but not comprehending. It was too horrible.
“Yes.” Delores nodded.
It hit him like a ton of bricks. Of course. That's why she kept pulling away. It's why she kept her distance at the gazebo and why she fled so quickly. It certainly explained the sadness and look of guilt that he caught in her eyes.
Something in his chest cracked. It was hard to breathe.
“Did I mention he's a war hero?” Delores put her hand on his arm, but he was in too much of a shock to pull away. “A very valiant young man. He saved his whole platoon in Afghanistan.”
“Oh.” Jace could just see Ella standing next to a handsome soldier, smiling up at him with those hazel eyes, her smile so warm and sweet. “Ella must be very proud of him.”
“Oh, she is. More than she knows,” Delores agreed. “I'm so glad to hear that she's made your stay special, though.”
“Yes.” Jace felt like his ceiling was falling down around him. All thoughts of flowers, horses, and romance novels were long gone.
“You look a little pale. Perhaps you could use some lunch,” Delores observed. “I'll have Allison bring up up some.”
“That's really not necessary,” he assured her. All he wanted to do now was go ba
ck to his room and be alone. “I need to get some work done.”
With that, he turned from her and headed back up the main staircase and up to the master suite. He'd made sure that Madelyn and Jason had the two best suites, but his room was still just as good as any he'd ever had. This place had great potential for higher end clients.
He locked the door behind him, hating that he was thinking of Ella and her dream of making the inn better. She wasn't his. Couldn't be his.
He was such a fool for even thinking she wasn't taken. She deserved to have someone amazing, and no matter how much he was tempted to use his wealth and status to woo her, he couldn't do it. Not to her.
Jace sighed, running his hands through his hair as he went to the window and stared outside. Sitting on the windowsill was a small bouquet of fresh flowers, accenting the beauty of the lake outside.
Flowers were a stupid idea, anyway, he told himself.
A knock on the door didn't even pull his attention from the lake. He wished he could go back in time and not have tried to kiss her. She was engaged. What kind of person was he, trying to kiss soon-to-be married women? A terrible one.
“Mr. Connor?” A quiet voice on the other side of the door called out. For a moment, Jace thought it might be Ella and his stomach lurched. “Jace? It's Allison. I brought you lunch.”
His heart sunk further. “I'm not hungry.”
“Oh. Um...” He could practically hear her thinking of what she should do next. “You sure? I can get you anything you want. Just open the door and let me in.”
The obviousness of her mother annoyed him. Allison probably had two buttons undone on her blouse to reveal as much cleavage as possible. It wouldn't be the first time mothers sent their daughters up to him for “anything he wanted.”
For a moment, he considered the easy conquest. It would take his mind off of Ella. But just the thought made him nauseous. He would hate himself. All he really wanted was Ella, not a substitute.
“That isn't necessary. Thank you, Allison.” He turned from the lake and sat at the big desk, staring at his closed computer. He would just stay here for the rest of the day and work through the night. “I'm working right now.”
There was a long pause on the other side of the door. “Okay. If you need a break, just let me know. Anything you want, Mr. Connor.”
Anything I want? thought Jace.
I want Ella.
Chapter Nine
“Are you sure I should be wearing this?” Ella asked, straightening one of the oversized purple sequins on the dress Madelyn had her wearing. The bride had insisted that Ella join them on her bachelorette party.
“Yes,” Gwen answered, putting the finishing touches on her lipstick in the bathroom mirror beside her. “You're coming with us, so you need to dress like it.”
“It's just so... sparkly.” Ella looked in the mirror and needed sunglasses. Purple sequins the size of silver dollars flashed and gleamed on the strapless, tight dress. “I feel like a disco ball.”
“A sexy disco ball,” Gwen corrected. She handed Ella a tube of lipstick. “Here, put this on. It'll look great on you.”
“It's a bachelorette party,” Clarissa added stepping into the bathroom. Her hair and makeup was already flawless, but she messed with it anyway. “We're all supposed to look like sexy objects tonight.”
“What sexy object are you?” Gwen asked, looking at her in the mirror. “A wine glass?”
Clarissa's dress was bright red, skin tight and her legs looked about a million miles long. Her dark hair spilled around her shoulders and her lashes looked long enough to start a windstorm.
“Yup, and you in that gold dress and red hair are a sexy, sexy Christmas tree ornament,” Clarissa replied with a grin.
“What does that make me?” Madelyn asked, putting in a pair of sparkly earrings as she walked in. She wore a short white lace dress that showed off every single inch of her curves. It was a good thing the bathroom was huge. All four of them barely fit in the mirror.
“A sexy cloud,” Gwen answered. Clarissa laughed.
“So, we have a cloud, a disco ball, a wine glass, and an ornament,” Madelyn said, ticking off each one on her fingers. “All those lampshades and shoes better watch out.”
Ella giggled. She felt honored to be included among these friends. Technically, this was a second bachelorette party, as Madelyn had one last week in the city. That event had made the papers. This was a low-key celebration just for friends. They were going to a local bar and having a good time. The goal was to get tipsy, but not so drunk that any of them would be hung over tomorrow.
Ella was glad for the night out. It was the perfect excuse to get away from the inn for a little bit, and more importantly get her mind off of a certain soon-to-be-married gentleman. She still couldn't get over how embarrassed she was that the groom had caught her in a wedding dress.
The phone buzzed in the other room and Madelyn hurried to answer it.
“Okay girls, the car's here. Everyone ready?” she called out. “We're out of champagne here anyway.”
“As ready as we're going to be,” Gwen answered. She grabbed the lipstick out of Ella's hand and pursed her lips. “Let me help you.”
Ella held still as Gwen applied a hypnotic shade of red to her lips. It was far more than Ella usually wore and her lips began to feel heavy.
“Much better.” Gwen grinned at her. “Look.”
Ella turned to the mirror and gasped. The woman looking back at her was some sort of rich party girl, not a penny-saving maid. It was magic.
“Woah,” Ella whispered.
“You clean up nicely,” Gwen commented, grinning widely. “Do not let me catch you wiping that off. It looks good.”
Ella nodded, still staring at the woman in the mirror.
“Are you two coming or what?” Clarissa asked, poking her head back into the bathroom. “The car's leaving with or without you.”
Gwen laughed and grabbed Ella's arm, and together the four women ran out to meet the car.
***
The four girls finished off the bottle of champagne in the limo on the way over to the small bar just a few miles from the inn. It was a local hot spot, but Ella doubted anyone would recognize any of them. It was a prefect place to celebrate and not worry too much about the paparazzi. It helped that she knew two security guards were shadowing their every move.
The bar was crowed and noisy, yet a path to a table magically parted for the four girls in short skirts and sparkles. Madelyn wore a short veil in her dark hair as well as a sash proclaiming she was a bride. Ella tried not to strut too much as she walked to the table, knowing that they were most certainly the hottest women in the bar that night. And given how much her dress was sparkling, she was going to at least act like she believed it.
A waitress took their drink orders quickly and hurried off to the bar to fill them as the four girls grinned at one another. The live band was just getting on stage to warm up, and Gwen looked ready to dance.
“I love this song!” Gwen cried as the band began their first piece. She grabbed Clarissa's hand and pulled her up. “You two, save our drinks. We'll be back!”
“We'll drink them and just order you more,” Ella quipped, the buzz of champagne from the limo in her head. If they kept drinking at this pace, their goal of just “tipsy” would quickly change into “just able to stand in the morning.”
Gwen laughed and tugged Clarissa out onto the dance floor, where the two of them began shaking their hips and having a grand time. Of course, the drinks arrived as soon as they were out dancing, but it looked like they didn't care.
“Ella, I want to thank you for coming tonight,” Madelyn said, sipping on her drink. Her eyes were glossy from alcohol, but her words were still clear. “I know we just met you, but it feels like I've known you forever.”
“It really is my pleasure,” Ella assured her. “And the feeling is mutual.”
Madelyn grinned widely and held up her drink for a toast. Their gl
asses clinked and they giggled as they took their sips.
“Can I buy you ladies a drink?” A man asked, leaning up against their table. He was cute, with blond hair and brown eyes. Ella was fairly sure she recognized him from somewhere in the area.
“Well, tonight's the last night you can for me,” Madelyn informed him. “But, you might have better luck with my friend here.”
“I thought this was a girl's only night?” Ella frowned slightly and then looked closer at the man. “Chris?”
The man studied her for a moment. “Ella? I didn't recognize you. You look hot.”
“Thanks.” Ella recognized him as the grocery clerk at the store Ella got her groceries from. He was nice enough, but Ella knew he wasn't her type.
“Buy you a drink?” Chris smiled. “Unless there's someone else buying your drinks.”
“I, uh...” Words slipped through Ella's brain like water through a sieve.
“No worries. Someone else is buying for you tonight,” Chris said with a shrug. “You two ladies have a good night.”
And with that he sauntered off to the very next table with women and asked if they wanted a drink.
“I don't feel quite as special now,” Madelyn remarked, watching him schmooze with another set of single ladies. “But, it does raise an interesting question. You falling in love with anyone?”
“Me?” Ella immediately thought of Jace and nearly choked on her drink. Jace was marrying Madelyn tomorrow. “No, no, no. Not falling for anyone. No.”
“Uh huh.” Madelyn sipped her drink. “You should work on that answer.”
“It's complicated. He's seeing someone else. It would never work anyway.” Ella took a bigger swig of her drink.
Madelyn watched her for a moment. “Well, I'm sure your Prince Charming is just around the corner.”
The table next to them erupted in shrieks as one of the girl's the other table threw her drink in Chris's face. Apparently his game wasn't going very smoothly tonight.
“I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's not that guy, though.” Madelyn sipped her drink and watched the mayhem as Chris stumbled away and the girl's friends consoled her.