I really, really want to grab a coffee and possibly squeeze in some gossip with Rachel first. I glance at the clock and see that I still have a good half hour to spare. That should give me plenty of time to enjoy a drink and a quick chin-wag. “Oh no, finish your lunch. There’s no rush.”
“Actually…” Nathaniel pipes up from behind his now almost finished sandwich and eyes me cheerfully, “I’m a man on a mission today. I hate to be a pain, but if we could start now, that would be perfect.”
Flaming Nora. It’s a bloody good job I like him. This isn’t the first time I’ve ended up rearranging stuff for him and I’m beginning to see the faint hint of a pattern forming. However, he is my client and I guess keeping him happy is key if I still want to be part of his big day. So long as he doesn’t start taking the piss. “Of course,” I smile back at them both, all innocent and nice.
“Excellent,” they both beam in unison and then Nathaniel adds, “I knew I was blessed to have someone like you around to organise our big day.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere.” Personally, it’s a bit deep, but I’ll take it. “But first, I must get my coffee.”
“No need, it’s already done.” I spin around and see Rachel coming towards us, laden with a tray full of coffee and cake. I must say, for two very athletic looking people they sure know how to put it away. I have a sudden urge like no other to find out their secrets. Maybe they’ll let me in on them as our working relationship grows stronger and stronger. Maybe then they’ll allow me into their fit club.
“Furious sex drive, and lots of it,” Nathaniel says spookily as if reading my mind.
“Come again,” I spit out, totally flabbergasted.
“Oh darling, if only you knew.” Lawrence laughs as he plays along. It’s safe to say I don’t think I’ve been this embarrassed since my vag-wax and we all know how that ended. I struggle to meet their eyes as a sudden surge of heat rushes through my body and intensifies at my cheeks.
I literally have no words. None, zilch, zero.
“Yes, I definitely like this one. She’s so easy to tease.” I look at Lawrence as he grins a wicked grin back at me, while Rachel is watching me too, her eyes wide and laced full of concern. I give her a small nod and a discreet smile to signal that I’m okay and that I can handle this, before mumbling a quiet thanks to her and I forget this is the first time that she’s met Nathaniel and his dramatic and over the top personality. It seems that Lawrence is the one who can top him though and if you’d have asked me that a few days ago then I would have never have believed you. I look at them both again and I seriously hope that I can handle this. For my business and my sanity.
“This is what I have come up with so far,” I say, finally fully caffeinated and raring to go. I still can’t bring myself to look Lawrence square in the eye, especially when I lay down the pristine laminated venue sheets on the table. Personally, I’m a little scared to acknowledge him, especially now he knows how easily he can embarrass me. I don’t know why though because his sense of humour is wicked and just the type I like. I guess it’s just not what I need while I’m trying to remain professional.
“Well, look at you,” Nathaniel sounds impressed, and he looks it too. “You’ve certainly done your homework, that’s for sure. It’s not often people tend to take on board what I’ve asked of them and it makes a nice, welcome change.”
“That it does.” Without wanting to, my eyes shoot up to Lawrence and he surprises me. He has a look of something written there. Now I could be mistaken, but to me it looks a little like awe.
“I did find a couple more,” I continue, deciding it’s best to stick to the task at hand and not allow my wayward thoughts to wander off, “but I thought these three were by far the best fit and tick all of your boxes. Also, what’s more, you won’t believe this but all three have some availability for December.”
“They do?” Both Lawrence and Nathaniel say and look at each other, equally as pleased. A look of excitement passes over their faces and I feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside because I did that. Little old me making people’s dreams come true, one day at a time.
All too soon, the excitement seems to fade away from Nathaniel’s face and very slowly, his eyes rise up to meet mine. “Maybe that’s a bad sign?”
“I’m not following?” I say, totally dumbfounded with where he’s going with this? The fact is I have found not one, but three more than perfect locations for him and he thinks it’s a bad sign? A bloody bad sign for what? He specifically said he wanted a winter wedding, preferably in December even though that was likely to be one hell of a long shot and he wanted it to take place in a vintage venue and that is what I have found. Thrice over. I really don’t see what the problem could be. “I thought you’d be overjoyed with these?” I say before I can stop myself, my disappointment seeping through my voice thick and fast. God, I guess you really can’t win them all, no matter how much you try.
“They’re perfect, really they are. But only on paper.” When I don’t say anything further, he takes it upon himself to break it down for me. “For any venue to have a vast amount of availability shows that something is wrong. It must be. There has to be some kind of underlying issue at hand here. I mean, why else would they have that to play with without multiple cancellations?” He sighs and looks at Lawrence with a hint of sadness in his eyes. “Maybe it’s the service, the reliability of the staff…” he trails off deep in thought and I want to scream at him and then whack both of their heads together.
Unable to keep my mouth shut any longer, I finally say something. “Sorry, I don’t think I explained it correctly.” My voice is a lot calmer than what I feel in my head and no one is more surprised at my composure than myself. “Look, I won’t lie, I was a little concerned about that too, but they have assured me that the amount of availability is by no means a reflection on whether or not people want to get married there. In actual fact, it’s quite the opposite.”
“How so?” Lawrence asks, his brown eyes burning eagerly into mine as if he’s silently praying that I have a way to make this all possible and I do.
“Apparently, they reserve their December dates until July and release half of their availability and then the remaining half in October. They said it’s their way of trying to avoid disappointment — to be sure they can be equal and fair on a first come, first serve basis.”
“Oh…” they both gasp in unison and let out their breaths, and I very slowly start to breathe again too. I’d be totally lying if I said I didn’t think I was going to be a goner then.
I almost lost it there and I didn’t like that feeling at all, “but it looks like now there’s just the little issue of the date?
“Darling, what are we waiting for. Let’s get the bugger booked.”
I’m happy to say that both Nathaniel and Lawrence leave our meeting in high spirits and I promise to email everything over to them this evening, including a viewing date for their short-listed venues.
“Good going, Parker,” Lawrence whispered just before he left, with an added promise of, “Now that we’ve officially met, don’t expect me to go as easy on you next time.”
Fucking hell, if that was easy then I’d hate to see what he’s got up his sleeve for our next appointment. I don’t think I’m going to be able to meet him on a professional basis again — like, ever again.
“They seemed nice,” Rachel chimes as I walk over to her.
“Yeah, they are,” I agree, “but there’s no denying that they’re one of a kind. Honestly, Rach, those two would give us a right bloody good run for our money, let me tell you.”
“You’re telling me. I didn’t know how to handle all that before,” she confesses, referring to Lawrence’s dirty innuendos.
“You know, something tells me that won’t be the last of those comments. But, on the plus side, at least they like to have a laugh. Can you imagine what I’d be like with a stuck-up couple? God, I’d want to claw my eyes out and then potentially go back for theirs
too.”
“So, they didn’t make you uncomfortable?” Trust Rachel to go all protective on my arse. Looking at the bigger picture though, she’s only doing what’s best. After all, her best friend is meeting strangers for a living, not knowing who they are or what they do. Again, my business sounds like a sordid little affair, or that could just be my mind and a result of Lawrence awakening my own innuendos.
No, he didn’t make me feel uncomfortable. Scared yes, worried yes, the list is endless but uncomfortable in a bad way wasn’t one of them. “At the end of the day it’s all banter. Don’t forget, they’re trying to work out who I am too. So long as I manage to remain professional on the job then it’s all good in the hood.”
My phone chimes to life alerting me to my scheduled event this evening. A bloody scheduled event I’d forgotten all about. As I look down at the screen, I begin to panic a little on the inside. “Shit, shit, shit.”
“What’s gone wrong now?” Rachel asks and then I realised that I’ve just verbally panicked on the outside too.
“I bloody love how you always go straight for the negatives these days,” I reply, my head swimming. How the hell did I manage to forget about this? I put it in my phone for that sole purpose — so I’d remember.
“What?” She exclaims, trying her best to act all innocent. “Don’t tell me that surprises you? You tell me the last time something happened with you that didn’t lead down the path to a whopping drama-llama.” She’s right, of course, but right now I don’t feel like admitting that to her. This though, this beats any kind of drama. Everything’s going to go tits up. Fucking hell, I’ve got so much to do too.
“Rach, you’ve not made any plans for tonight, have you?” I ask ever so sweetly.
“No, why?” Her face is full of suspicion and curiosity. “Oh, wait, what day is it?”
“Today? It’s Thursday.”
She takes a minute to think about it but to me it feels like an hour. Is she doing this deliberately? Every second counts right now, Jesus. I can practically see the cogs spinning in her head and finally she answers me. “Nope, I’m free as far as I know.”
“Good, and Doug? What’s he up to?”
“I’m not sure, but he’ll probably pop in at mine later if I’ve not heard from him. Emily, you’re acting weird and by that, I mean a hell of a lot more than usual. What’s going on?”
I take in a deep breath and hope she doesn’t give me the bollocking I thoroughly deserve. “Okay, I know I have no right whatsoever to ask this of you, especially seeing as though you do practically everything for me already, but…” I pause. All I need is for her to do this one last thing for me. I swear I won’t ask her to do anything for me again. We both know that that’s a total lie, but I promise that I’ll try to fend for myself that little bit more in future. I really hope that she doesn’t think I’m asking too much from her, even though deep down I know that I am.
“Spill it,” she demands, any form of patience has vanished from her completely which makes me feel even more nervous.
I decide to blurt it out, that way it’s done. She’s clearly not in the mood for me to start pussy footing around. “I need you and Doug to come to dinner with me tonight.” I smile hopefully at her but she doesn’t return my enthusiasm.
“What about Matt? Don’t tell me you two have had another barney. Disagreeing as much as you two do can’t be healthy.”
“Oh, give over. Of course, it is. We’re just passionate souls, that’s all. Bloody hell, you should have heard us go at each other when we used to work together. Trust me, that’s something that I don’t want to experience again.” Then it hits me. “Shit, I’ve only gone and forgotten to tell Matt too. This is going to end terribly, I can just see it now.”
“You know you’re not making any sense, none at all, Emily.”
“I know and I’m sorry. It’s all above board I promise, and its work related too.” I add, knowing how much of a sucker for work she is. I’m not exactly lying, either as Lyndsey is one of my clients.
“Are you kidding me? You’ve got no time for play anymore. Carry on like this and you’re going to burn yourself out until there’s nothing left.”
“It’s for part pleasure too.” I add, while hastily typing out a quick message to Matt. I bloody hope he reads it in time. He’s an absolute nightmare with technology and sometimes I wonder if it’s bloody worth him even having a phone. Right now, I’m thankful that he’s not got rid, I just really hope he sees it. “Lyndsey,” I say when I hit send and look up only to catch her blank expression. “She asked me a while ago now if we’d all fancy meeting up for dinner and meet her extremely socially shy fiancé and I kind of agreed on behalf of all of us that we’d be able to make it. So obviously in a massive bell-end move on my part because I forgot to check with all of you beforehand and it’s tonight.”
“Jesus Christ, Emily.” She shakes her head disapprovingly at me and she actually manages to make me feel worse than I already do. “I’ll give Doug a call now but I can’t make any promises for him. Just so you know,“ she adds sternly, “I’m only doing this for you because I don’t want you to look bad in front of a client.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I scream as I dive in and give her a good old squeeze. “In case I haven’t told you lately, you are the bomb dot com.”
“Fortunately for you, I’m too good natured.” A small laugh escapes her. Phew, I’m not too far in her bad books after all. “We really need to get you organised and pronto; which reminds me, we’re interviewing a potential candidate for your PA on Monday. Do not forget.”
“Really? That’s great and I won’t, I promise. But first, I need to find something to wear for tonight now that all systems are go. Be at mine for seven.” I shout back over my shoulder to my saviour before I grab my bag and make a mad dash for the door. I’m also going to have to try to convince Matt too. Something tells me he might need a little more persuading than Rachel.
I arrive home and I say a quick hello to Mr Jones as he’s busy pruning his flowers again. I’ll tell you what, if he gave his late wife half as much love as he gives his garden she would have no doubt spent her life an extremely happy lady.
He nods back and gives me a little wave and then I dash through my door, eager to get ready and try on my beautiful new jumpsuit. I know some people say it’s good for the soul to live on the wild side, but I’ve been running around in a daze, a bit like a bloody headless chicken far too frequently and I know that Rachel’s right when she says that I’m only going to end up running myself into the ground. However, if I want to arrive at Lyndsey’s on time, then my calm and stress-free life will have to wait another day.
After rushing around the highstreet trying to find something to wear for what felt like an age, Matt finally called me back. Seriously, I felt like all my prayers had been answered when I saw his name flashing on the screen. Even more so when he surprisingly agreed to come along without a single question asked. Talk about an added bonus. Maybe he’s still feeling guilty about the whole Graham situation. I’m not bitter about it anymore, but still if it means that he’s happy to agree to my current plans then by all means, he can feel guilty. Perhaps he could tell that I was stressed out of my tiny little mind? Either way, whatever the reason I’m just really thankful because now all I need to do is get ready, arrive at Lyndsey’s and then I might just be able to relax a little.
I won’t ever let it be said that I don’t have an amazing support network around me.
“You’re home?”
No sooner have I stepped out of the shower and darted across the landing to my bedroom, Matt burst in behind me looking a little windswept and carrying three plastic carrier bags. Do I even want to know what he’s got in them? No, I think I’ll happily pass, plus it will just waste time which I don’t have much of right now. “Yeah, so are you? I didn’t expect you back for another hour at least.”
Sometimes I really envy males. All they have to do is hop in the shower, spray
something nice and they’re on the way. Us women however look like we’re gearing up to go to war. “I thought today would be the perfect time to claw back some time I’m owed and man am I glad I did.” He whistles as he takes in the sight of my half naked body. “Don’t suppose we’ve got enough time for a quickie before we go?”
I raise my eyebrows at him in disbelief as he plants a big fat kiss on my cheek and gives my arse a firm squeeze with his free hand. “Usually I’d be all for it,” I say. I don’t think I’ve turned down a shag from Matt yet, but there’s always going to be a first for everything, “but I’ve just had a shower and I’ve got to get ready. You of all people know how long that takes. Sorry pal, but my answers going to have to be a big fat no.”
His shoulders sag and he wears a look of defeat on his stubble enhanced face. “What a wasted opportunity.” He moans back at me.
“Oh, quit your moaning and hurry up and get ready, sunshine.” I laugh, but then I decide to tease him some more. “Maybe if you’re lucky, I might just make up for it later.”
“Too fucking right, you will,” his voice is firm and promising and it sends shivers up my spine. His hand flies out at a ridiculous speed and clasps around my towel before pulling me close. My days, he’s a little shit bag. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and he knows what kind of things he does to me when he’s this close, and now he’s using it against me.
Before I even have a chance to collect my thoughts, his free hand cups the back of my neck protectively and his mouth comes crashing down and claims mine.
Well, if I had any willpower left, he’s well and truly just taken it all from me.
I allow his big, plump lips to gently press against mine and as always, he awakens and wreaks havoc on all of my senses. His touch, his smell, everything about him leaves me utterly powerless. Usually I wouldn’t mind, not one single bit, but at the back of my mind I know that there was something I needed to do before he knowingly and wickedly distracted me.
Love, Lies and Louboutins (Heartbreak Book 2) Page 11