The Wedding Truce

by Kerri Carpenter

  “What did you do?”

  “I freaked out for a while. When that didn’t help matters, I tried your trick of banging on the door. Eventually, a waiter heard me and let me out. My boss was none too pleased, as if the whole thing had been my fault.” She laughed again. “Yet another reason to go into business for myself.”

  He leaned back against the door. “You’re a good wedding planner, Grace.”

  Her cheeks turned an appealing pink color that matched her blouse. “That was nice of you to say.”

  He shrugged.

  She glanced down at her hands and then back up at him. “Since we’re alone, I wanted to...thank you.”

  He couldn’t imagine what this was about. “For what?”

  “For getting your friend to donate this beautiful space.” She sighed. “You didn’t see Emerson crying the other night.”

  Thank God. “I can handle a lot, but seeing someone I care about crying undoes me.”

  She nodded. “It was awful. But then you dropped everything and rushed over to help.”

  He shrugged and crossed the small space to join her on the desk. “It was no big deal.”

  She squeezed his hand. “Yes, it was, Xander. You really saved the day. And I can’t thank you enough.”

  He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t used to such sincerity from her. Instead, he changed the direction of the conversation. “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Look at what you’re doing.”

  “I’m the wedding planner and I’m the maid of honor.”

  “And you’re the best friend.”

  A smile blossomed, lighting up her face with more power than the meager lamp could ever provide.

  “You impress me, Grace.” He leaned toward her.

  “It must not take much to impress you.”

  “Don’t do that. Don’t downplay your talent.” He paused. “You’re not a princess.”

  She sighed in a very princess way. “Sadly, I am not.”

  He chuckled. “That’s what I thought of you before. That you were some beautiful, optimistic princess with unrealistic expectations and no grasp on reality. Then I watched you with your clients and how you handled yourself at that party, and realized you are so much more.”

  Silence permeated the small space. Had he gone too far? Said too much? Overstepped his bounds?

  She stayed quiet for a long time. Finally, she smiled and simply said, “Thank you.”

  Yet another surprise from her.

  Her smile faded slightly. “If we’re sharing confessions... I have to admit something to you. I always assumed you were just this hard-ass, insensitive guy. Seeing the way you made my best friend smile when she thought her wedding was ruined, well, it meant the world to me.” She paused, collecting herself. “Maybe I was wrong about you, too.”

  He didn’t know what to say. Her words, and the feelings behind them, shocked him.

  “I mean, I know you hate weddings,” she continued.

  He rose, stretching for a moment. “Hey, I like weddings.”

  “What!”

  “I mean, I think people spend way too much money throwing them. But overall, they’re fun. Open bar, a little dancing, sometimes something fun like a photo booth.”

  “Photo booths are so fun. I always get excited when my bride wants one at the reception.”

  “You plan fun weddings, too?”

  She peered at him. “Um, yes. I plan all kinds of weddings. What did you think I did?”

  He shrugged again. “I don’t know. I figured you for the fancy, black-tie weddings.”

  “I do whatever makes the couple happy.”

  “You like making people happy.” It wasn’t a question. But she nodded, anyway. “You care about people.”

  “I try to.”

  That was the caring, feeling, sensitive Grace Harris. But she was also independent, capable, intelligent and brave.

  He looked into her eyes. Into the depths of those dark, mysterious eyes. She was drop-dead gorgeous. And each day that he spent more time with her she seemed to become even more beautiful. Both inside and out.

  He couldn’t stop himself. Not even if he tried. And he wasn’t trying.

  He reached for her hands and pulled her to her feet. “Thank you for what you said.” He spoke softly.

  “Back at you,” she whispered. “I’m glad you see me differently.”

  He pulled her even closer. They stood almost nose-to-nose. “I think we both had the wrong impression.”

  She nodded. Her lips parted, drawing his attention there.

  “First impressions aren’t always right.”

  He pushed an errant strand of hair, which must have come loose from that sexy braid that ran across her head, behind her ear.

  “Mine was,” he said.

  Confused eyes met his. “I thought you hated me.”

  “I kind of did.” He gave in and ran a finger over that braid. Then he drew his hand down to cup her cheek, feeling her soft, silky skin. “But only because I was scared.”

  She brought her hands to his chest. At first, he thought she was going to push him away. But then she splayed her fingers across his pecs, as if making sure he was real and solid.

  “You were scared of me?” she asked.

  He leaned down to press a soft kiss at the edge of her mouth. She sucked in a breath. “I was scared of the reaction I had to you. I’d never seen a woman so together, so attractive, before.”

  She pushed her hands up to wind around his neck. “I was attracted to you, too.” Her voice was barely louder than a murmur. But he caught each and every word.

  “We finally agree on something.”

  “Xander?” she said.

  He looked at the woman in his arms. He realized that he’d been fighting his attraction to her since the first second he ran into her. But when he allowed himself to be honest, he’d wanted her like this, in his arms, since that first moment.

  “Yes?” he said.

  “Just kiss me,” she said breathlessly.

  He wouldn’t have been able to wait another moment. He pressed his lips to hers and everything felt right.

  His arms came around her waist, drawing her even closer. Her lips were so soft, her body so warm. He wanted to lose himself in her.

  She was making the most enticing little noises. He ran his hands up and down her back. Her fingers were tangling in his hair. She tilted her head and opened her mouth, inviting his tongue to mingle with hers.

  This was the most intoxicating kiss of his life. He’d never felt so connected to someone. He wanted to stay like this, with her, forever.

  They didn’t stop until the sound of voices came from the hallway. They’d tilted their heads to the side, but their arms remained entwined around each other. Something had changed. Something significant. But Xander wasn’t anywhere near ready to investigate its meaning.

  Grace lifted a hand to cup his cheek. He couldn’t read the expression on her face or the look in those eyes.

  She nodded, as if agreeing with him about the enormity of what had just happened. It was also like she didn’t want to talk about it. Not quite yet.

  Slowly, they untangled, straightened their clothes and went to the door. They knocked against it until, finally, Max opened it and let them out.

  Chapter Nine

  Grace spent the entire weekend working. There were so many details she was handling at once, that she was just waiting for the moment when her overcrowded brain would shut down. Or when her head would explode.

  She’d moved from her office on the first floor to the upstairs living room and had an abundance of binders, lists and catalogs spread over the coffee table and floor, where she was sitting and multitasking. She was reviewing the seating chart for one wedding while texti
ng with a different bride. She was trying to get the bride to climb back off the ledge after she’d gotten in a fight with one of her bridesmaids. She still had an addendum to a contract to go over, a meeting that was happening tomorrow morning to prep for and centerpieces to present to one bride so she could make her final decision.

  Then there was the other thing. The thing she was trying desperately not to think about. The thing that was pervading every thought she had anyway, so her attempts at ignoring it were futile.

  Xander.

  She put her head in her hands and sighed deeply. What had that been between them the other day? She’d never been kissed like that in her entire life. Since she couldn’t seem to concentrate on anything else, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to remember how it felt to have his lips on hers and his strong arms holding her tight. She shivered.

  “Gracie!”

  Her eyes flew open at the sound of Emerson’s voice. “Uh, hey, what’s up?”

  All happiness and excited energy, Emerson plopped herself down on the couch and looked over Grace’s mountain of work-related supplies. She frowned. “Still working?”

  She knew Em felt incredibly guilty about adding to her workload. But she didn’t want her best friend to agonize. She wanted her to enjoy her prewedding time, short as it was.

  “Oh, it’s nothing.” Grace waved her phone. “One of my brides is having a meltdown. You know how it is. And I wanted to work on this seating chart up here, where I’m comfortable.”

  Emerson scrunched up her nose. She wasn’t completely convinced. “Well, can I at least make you something to eat?”

  “That would be great. Thank you.”

  Thirty minutes later, Grace and Emerson enjoyed grilled chicken, couscous and a salad, while Emerson helped her with the seating chart.

  “See, if you just move these two guests over to table nine, then you can put the coworkers here and the two cousins who can’t be at the same table will actually go in separate corners of the room. Perfect.”

  Grace shoveled the last bite of couscous in her mouth and studied Emerson’s changes. “You’re an angel. You have just saved my sanity.”

  “All in a day’s work.”

  Emerson took Grace’s empty plate into the kitchen while she cleaned up the mess in the living room. Then they reconvened to watch an episode of one of their favorite reality shows, Say Yes to the Dress.

  “So it looks like the alterations on my dress will be ready in time,” Emerson said during a commercial, beaming.

  “Your mom has some killer connections. We owe her big-time.”

  “So-o-o...” Emerson began.

  Grace glanced toward her and waited. Emerson wiggled her eyebrows. Grace asked, “What?”

  “I spent most of the weekend with Jack, so you and I didn’t get to talk about, you know.”

  Grace had no idea. They’d exhaustively discussed Hart of the Hills after their meeting via phone, text and email. Grace racked her brain but she couldn’t remember any TV shows they’d wanted to watch. “What are you talking about, Em?”

  Emerson was wearing her most innocent expression. “Well, I noticed on Friday when we were at the winery that your attitude toward Xander seemed to thaw.”

  Grace couldn’t help but roll her eyes. Out of principle. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You and Xander.”

  “Me and Xander nothing. He’s still...”

  “Yes?”

  “He’s, well, you know...”

  “No.” Emerson crossed her arms over her chest and waited. “Please tell me.” Her eyebrows rose in anticipation.

  “He’s...” A great kisser. Hot as all get out. “He’s stubborn,” she finally responded, defiantly.

  “So are you, Princess Grace. All I know is that when we got back from our tour and bailed you two out of the storage closet, something seemed different.”

  Grace turned to the TV and muted the bride with the unlimited budget, then faced her friend head-on. “What are you asking me, Em?”

  “What exactly happened in that storage room?”

  “Nothing.” Wow, she hated lying. Especially since she was so bad at it.

  “I don’t believe you. I saw the two of you when you emerged from the room.” She fixed Grace with a calculating look. “There was something there.”

  “We were, um, talking about your couples’ shower. That’s all.” Guilt washed over her.

  Emerson sighed. “Actually, we’re going to nix the shower.”

  “What? Why? You were so excited about it.”

  Emerson smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Grace knew she was trying to put on a brave face. “There just isn’t time now. Jack already told Xander. It would have been fun, but there’s no way we can do it now.” She bit her lip. “Seriously, it’s fine, Gracie.”

  Obviously, it wasn’t fine. But Grace didn’t want to push. She knew Em was right. There really wasn’t time. Unless she wanted to give up sleep altogether. Or, have Xander plan the whole thing. She almost laughed at that. She could just see a hypnotist holding a tray of pigs in a blanket.

  Something else occurred to her, and she really, really hated that it did. Not planning a shower with Xander meant she wouldn’t get to spend that time with him. Funny how she went from dreading working with him to actually wanting to see him.

  Grace unmuted the TV. She wanted to tell Em about what had gone down between her and Xander, but she wasn’t sure herself.

  A commercial for a local real-estate company came on the television. Grace decided to use it as her way out of this uncomfortable situation. She pointed at the TV.

  “There is something we haven’t discussed yet.” Grace bit her lip as anxiety filled her. She really, really didn’t want to have this conversation, either, and had been putting it off for far too long. But if she had to choose between discussing their living arrangement and her feelings for Xander, she was definitely going for the former.

  Emerson sighed. “I know. The town house.”

  Emerson owned the town house where they lived and worked. Surely she wouldn’t be staying there once she and Jack were married. As it was, she already spent half her nights at Jack’s place, which was much better for a newlywed couple.

  “You’re going to sell, aren’t you?”

  Emerson sat back in her chair, indecision all over her face. “To be honest, I don’t want to. I like working out of it. It’s right in the heart of Old Town, close to so many of the vendors I use in my business.”

  “But...”

  “But the mortgage is expensive.”

  “I can pay more,” Grace said, desperation in her voice. “You haven’t raised the rent since I moved in.”

  Emerson squeezed her hand. “And I’m not going to. Besides, I would have to double your rent in order to make my monthly payments.”

  “What if I paid rent?”

  Grace and Emerson both turned toward the source of the statement. Amelia, Emerson’s sister, stood at the top of the stairs, clasping her hands tightly together.

  “Mia, what are you saying?” Emerson asked, using her nickname for her little sister.

  Amelia sat down next to Grace. “I mean, I don’t have a lot of references. I went from living at home to the sorority house and then back to Mom and Dad’s before Charlie and I got married. Then, of course, back home again after Charlie and I separated.” She looked down. “But I’m hoping you might still let me move in here.”

  Emerson’s mouth fell open. “Are you serious?”

  Amelia turned to Grace. “What do you say?”

  Grace couldn’t contain the smile. “Are you kidding? I would love to be roomies.”

  “Really? Seriously?” Amelia was beaming.

  “Totally,” Grace confirmed. “This is awesome. Now we can continue working downstairs and
Amelia can move into your room, Em.”

  Emerson hugged her sister. “Everything is working out so well.”

  * * *

  Xander had been hearing about weddings all week. When he wasn’t with Jack talking about his upcoming nuptials, he was hearing about Rachel, his recently engaged assistant, and her Pinterest page.

  Then there was his newest client, Delilah Bagley, nee Richmond, soon to be Delilah Richmond again, if he did his job. Delilah, who has been married less than a year, found out that her husband cheated on her during their “amazing, lavish, fairy-tale” wedding with one of her bridesmaids. Pretty clichéd, in Xander’s opinion. Interestingly, he’d heard more about this fairy-tale wedding than the actual marriage and relationship, but in any case, his client had a strong leg to stand on legally.

  It was the end of the day and Xander walked Delilah out into the reception area. After their goodbyes, he turned to Rachel. “Anything else on the plate for today?”

  Rachel was hardworking, organized and knew his schedule and to-do list better than he did. She glanced up from her laptop with a distracted expression. Completely unlike her.

  “Sorry, boss, what was that?”

  He sauntered over to her. “Anything left for us to do today or can we make an early night of it?”

  Rachel offered him a blank stare.

  “Rach?”

  “Do you think I should have a tiered clause in the contract for my reception site?”

  Ah, more wedding madness. He cringed on the inside, but tried to stay calm on the outside.

  “Because I don’t even know what that is, but I’m on this really amazing wedding site called Something True and there are articles and even an entire chat room devoted to tiered clauses. Also, how many colors are too many to have as official wedding colors? I wanted to go with blue since that’s both mine and Dre’s favorite color. But should I have an accent color? Because this bride’s Pinterest page talks about a main color and then three accent colors.” She pointed at her computer screen.

  Rachel’s demeanor was serious. This was obviously important to her. For his part, Xander’s pulse had picked up, and not in a good way. He took a step backward.