Beyond Beautiful (Love in Providence Book 2)

by Heather MacKinnon

  Part of me was irritated that he’d called me out on my bullshit. He hadn’t elaborated, but it was clear he knew I was trying to avoid him because of last night. Apparently, I wasn’t going to be able to get away with that on Remy’s watch.

  The other part of me was kind of turned on at his bossy tone.

  Ugh. My libido needed to fuck off because I did not need that right now.

  With an irritable huff, I pulled up the Uber app and canceled my trip. The damn company was going to ban me from ordering rides soon if I didn’t stop canceling so often.

  I grabbed my purse and coffee, and with a quick goodbye to Charlotte, I locked up and walked around back. Remy was sitting in his car, his head bobbing to music I could barely hear. When I opened the door, he turned the volume down and my aching head silently thanked him.

  “You look like a celebrity hiding from the paparazzi.”

  I shoved my oversized sunglasses further up the bridge of my nose. “I feel more like two-day-old roadkill, which is much less glamorous.”

  He laughed a little louder than my pounding head would allow, and I glared at him behind my dark lenses.

  When my belt was fastened, and he was pulling out of our driveway, I finally started paying attention to what he was listening to and turned to him with a frown. “Nickelback? Really?”

  He chuckled and shot me a sideways glance. “Got a problem with my music?”

  “Uh, yeah. I do.”

  “What’s your objection to Nickelback?”

  “They’re not good. I really thought after our Beatles conversation that I could trust you with the radio in the morning, but now I see that’s not the case.” I leaned forward and turned the dial to change the station.

  He laughed again. “What did those Canadian men with amazing hair ever do to you?”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Only made the same song over and over for the past ten years.”

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t jam to How You Remind Me. I won’t believe you if you say you didn’t.”

  I scoffed. “Yeah, when I was in middle school.”

  “Ouch. I graduated high school the year that came out.”

  “We all know you’re an old man, Rem.”

  He shook his head, his smile wide across his face. “Is there anything we do agree on?”

  “We both like The Beatles.”

  “Yeah, but different eras. They were practically two different bands.”

  “Hmm. You’re right.” I tapped my chin while I thought that through some more. “No. I don’t think there is anything else we agree on. This friendship is doomed.”

  He laughed loud, the sound filling the car and chipping away some of the ice lining my heart. “It was nice while it lasted.”

  It was kinda nice.

  Remy could have grilled me about last night, but he hadn’t. He could have asked me uncomfortable questions or demanded to know why I’d ruined his nice shirt with my tears, but he hadn’t done that either. He’d held me when I’d cried and then let me go when I ran.

  If I thought really hard, I could still imagine his warm arms around me and how safe I’d felt. How content. Which was exactly why I’d ordered an Uber this morning. I didn’t need to get any closer to Remy MacAlister. Not even a fraction of an inch closer.

  Thankfully, the ride that morning was short, and despite how cool he was being about what happened last night, I felt like it was only a matter of time before the other shoe dropped. He had to have a million questions floating around in that good-looking head of his and I wasn’t interested in answering any of them. As far as I was concerned, last night never happened, and it didn’t need to be talked about again.

  When he pulled up to the curb outside my gallery, I could see Sonia by the front door, eyeing his car suspiciously. I rolled my eyes behind my glasses and turned to Remy. “Thanks for the ride. I really appreciate it.”

  He shrugged. “It’s no problem, Belle. I’m happy to do it.”

  I turned to get out of the car, but something was holding me back. As much as I wanted to forget last night ever happened, I also had an itchy feeling that I needed to address it. Even in some small way.

  I turned back around with a sigh. “And thanks for last night. And not making a big deal about it this morning,” I mumbled.

  Remy only smiled and shrugged. “Of course. I’m just trying to be your friend, Belle.”

  My friend.

  There was something about that word that didn’t sit right with me, but I brushed it off. My head was still pounding, and it was clear I wasn’t thinking straight. There was further proof of that when I reached out to squeeze his firm forearm.

  “Have a good day, Rem. I’ll see you later.”

  His eyes softened the smallest degree, and I knew it was time to get the hell out of his car and away from him. Remy’s chocolate gaze was hard to resist at the best of times, but when it got all hazy like that, it did stupid shit to my insides that I needed to avoid at all costs.

  Thankfully, it was only an hour or two later when the headache finally cleared. I was working on unboxing the last of the pieces for the show when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

  Bailey: What are you doing for lunch? I was thinking of coming by.

  Me: Are you buying?

  Bailey: You’re so annoying.

  Me: And broke. I forgot to tell you about the turd that took me to La Rouge. My half of the check was outrageous.

  Bailey: Fine. I’m all about charity. We’ll figure out what to eat when I get there.

  I stuffed my phone in my pocket and got back to work. If I was going to stop for a decently long lunch two days in a row, that meant I needed to get as much shit done before then as I could.

  The hours flew by and before I knew it, the bell sounded for the front door and I peeked around an installation to find Bailey strolling through the gallery.

  Her blonde hair was up in a ponytail as usual but there was something different about her lately. Something more. Ever since she got engaged, it was almost like she’d gotten even more beautiful. Which was absolutely unfair to the rest of the female population of Providence.

  I met her halfway and swept her up in a big hug followed by a slap on her ass. “What’s up, bitch?”

  She rubbed her butt and shot me a glare. “Nothing except I clearly need to wear padded underwear around you from now on.”

  I laughed and pulled her into another hug. I guess I’d missed my friend more than I thought.

  “How’s Charlotte? I’m sorry I haven’t been by much recently. I’m still trying to get used to this new work schedule,” Bailey said as she followed me back toward my office.

  “Don’t worry about it, she’s good. Still protecting the apartment like it’s her job.”

  She laughed. “You know, I was thinking, now that we have the upstairs to ourselves, I might bring her up there.”

  My stomach fell the smallest bit at that news, even though I knew it’d been coming. I’d lived with Charlotte for years and grown really close to her. I knew she was technically Bailey’s dog, but I’d loved her just as long and I knew I’d miss her once she was gone.

  “That’ll be nice,” I said, instead of the other dozens of thoughts circling my head. “I bet she’ll be happy to have you back.”

  Bailey’s lips pursed to the side. “Yeah, maybe. But she’s been doing so well with you, maybe I should just leave her.”

  I shook my head. “No. She’s your dog, Bay. She should be with you. And maybe I’ll get a cat or something.”

  “You hate cats.”

  “Which is perfect because cats hate me. That means I won’t have to feel guilty when I work late.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “You’re nuts.”

  I shrugged and opened my mouth to retort when the bell for the front door rang again. With a frown, I held up a finger for her to give me a minute before I headed to the front to see who was there.

  A middle-aged man with a shirt stretched tight over
his belly and a dark beard stood near the front door with a pizza box in his hands.

  “Can I help you?” I asked when I got closer.

  “I’ve got a delivery here for Belle Garcia.”

  I frowned. “I’m Belle, but I didn’t order anything.”

  He shrugged and shoved the box toward me. “It’s already paid for. Just sign here,” he said, handing a receipt and pen my way.

  My frown deepened as I signed the piece of paper and gave it back to him. “Do you know who paid for this?”

  He shrugged again as he turned toward the door. “Nope. Have a good day.”

  My brows were still furrowed when I brought the pizza back into my office.

  “I thought I was buying lunch today,” Bailey said when she saw me.

  “I didn’t buy this. Someone sent it to me.”

  As soon as the last word left my lips, my phone vibrated in my pocket. When I took it out, there was an incoming message from Remy.

  Remy: Couldn’t stop by for lunch today, but I owed you. Enjoy the meat lovers’ pizza.

  Without my permission, my heart began to race as I read his words over and over again. I was so caught up in his text, I didn’t notice Bailey leaning over my shoulder and reading my screen.

  “Remy sent you a pizza? Why would he owe you?”

  My eyes snapped up to hers as I stuffed my phone back in my pocket. “Oh. Uh. I bought him Chinese for lunch yesterday.”

  Her hazel eyes narrowed as they darted between mine. “You and Remy had lunch together yesterday?”

  I shrugged and opened the box, hoping the smell of our favorite pizza would distract her from any further questions. “Um. Yeah. We did.”

  “How come?”

  I shrugged again. “Why not?”

  Bailey sat back in her seat, her lips pressed together and her eyes shrewd. “I just didn’t realize you guys were friends like that.”

  “Well, we live together now. We should be friendly right?”

  “Friendly, yes. Friends, not necessarily.”

  I pulled out a slice and handed it to her in the hopes she’d stuff it in her mouth and shut the hell up.

  “What’s the difference?”

  She ignored the slice of meaty pizza in her hand. “One shares their gallon of milk with you and the other spends their lunch hour with you. Totally different levels of friendship.”

  I took a big bite of my piece, hoping it’d give me enough time to think of a decent answer. Unfortunately, I had a feeling I’d have to eat the whole damn pie in order to come up with something that would satisfy her.

  I wiped my mouth with a tissue from my desk before I spoke again, hoping I’d be able to shut down her line of questioning and we could move past this. At the last second, I decided to play on her sympathy, knowing it was probably the only way to get her off this topic. “Well, it was kind of awkward having someone I barely know move in with me. Now that we’re becoming friends, it’s a little easier.”

  Bailey’s eyes instantly turned remorseful as she looked down at the food in her hands. “I’m sorry, Belle. I guess I didn’t think about how weird this situation might be for you. You’re a really great friend for allowing him to move in with you and I’m glad you two are getting along.”

  I breathed the most silent sigh of relief and gave her a small smile. “It’s no big deal. And now, lunch is on Remy!”

  Bailey smiled and tapped her slice of pizza against mine. “I’ll eat to that.”

  Thankfully, the topic was dropped, but I knew I’d have to be careful in the future. What happened between Remy and me needed to stay between the two of us. We were well on our way to just being friends and our past didn’t need to play any role in our present or future.

  Unfortunately, that didn’t mean his sweet gesture didn’t make my stomach clench or my heart pound, but I’d been getting good at ignoring that kind of stuff lately. It might be time to fire up that dating app again and find someone who’d take my mind off Remy MacAlister.

  Chapter 18

  Belle

  “You know, I had a purpose for coming here and it wasn’t just to see your pretty face.”

  I shot Bailey a smile around a mouthful of food. “But it was mostly to see my pretty face.”

  Bailey’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “Well, it certainly wasn’t for your table manners.”

  I laughed and tried not to choke on the food I was still chewing. When I finally swallowed, I took a sip of water and wiped my mouth. “So, why’d you come here if it wasn’t just to look at me?”

  Bailey rolled her eyes. “I wanted to talk to you about the wedding.”

  “What wedding?”

  “My wedding, dumbass.”

  I took another sip of water, my brows furrowing. “You guys are already planning it? You’ve been engaged for, like, five minutes.”

  She shrugged. “Ryder doesn’t want to wait and to be honest, neither do I.”

  I slowly lowered my water bottle to the desktop as I started to put the pieces together. “So, how soon are we talking here?”

  Bailey looked away for a moment before meeting my eyes again and I knew she was worried about her answer. “Um. Two months?”

  I felt my lashes meet my brows as my eyes widened. “Is that a question or a statement?”

  “A statement?”

  “Bailey.”

  She sighed and clasped her hands in her lap. “It’s a statement. We’re getting married in eight weeks.”

  I leaned back in my chair as a million thoughts flew through my head. The most overpowering one was a sense of disappointment, though I couldn’t figure out why.

  I was happy for Bailey. Honestly, she and Ryder had been together for so long, their engagement was almost overdue. So, then why did I feel like I was losing her for good?

  I cleared my throat and sat up straighter. Now was not the time to throw a pity party. My best friend was getting married to the love of her life. I needed to support them and help in any way I could.

  It didn’t matter that it felt like our lives were traveling in completely opposite and incompatible directions. It didn’t matter that after a marriage would inevitably come kids and minivans and PTA meetings. It didn’t matter because I was perfectly happy being the single, fun aunt that never settled down and never had kids of her own.

  Right?

  “Belle?”

  My eyes snapped to hers and I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts. “What’s up?”

  “I just asked if you’d be my maid of honor.”

  My eyes widened again. “Really?”

  She laughed. “Of course, dummy. Who else would I ask?”

  I leaned over and pulled her into a hug that surprised the both of us. “Thanks, Bay. I’d love to.”

  She squeezed me back for a moment before we pulled apart. “I’m not sure you should be thanking me just yet.”

  I frowned. “How come?”

  She bit her lip and averted her eyes again. “Well, I’m kind of asking for a lot in a short amount of time. I know you’ve got so much going on with the gallery already.”

  I waved her worries away. “This new show opens in about a week. After that, I’m all yours.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “So, you’re going to have no problem helping me dress shop and plan the bachelorette party and stuff?”

  “Hell no. Providence is rife with strip joints. That’ll be the easy part.”

  “No strip clubs.”

  My mouth fell open at her declaration. “What the hell do you mean no strip clubs?! What’s the point of a bachelorette party if there won’t be any naked men?”

  She bit her lip again and shook her head. “You’re a perv.”

  “I’m a female.”

  Bailey rolled her eyes. “We’re having a Jack and Jill party and we both agreed no strippers.”

  “What the hell kind of kinky shit is a Jack and Jill party. I’m not swinging with your future hus
band.”

  She laughed loudly before punching me in the arm. “It just means we’re having a joint party, you creep.”

  “A joint bachelorette party?” I deadpanned. “Where’s the fun in that?”

  “Oh, get over it,” she said before throwing her balled up napkin at me.

  I sighed dramatically and leaned back in my seat. “Okay, fine. What about a shower? Is that going to be Jack and Jill too?”

  “I don’t want a shower. I’d have to invite my father’s wife and half-sister and the thought of having brunch with those two makes me itch.”

  I laughed. “Works for me.”

  She smiled for a moment as she picked at her piece of pizza. “You really don’t mind doing all this?”

  “Bay. You’re my best friend. I’d do anything for you.”

  Her smile brightened up her whole face and my heart lightened the tiniest bit. If this was all it took to make her that happy, I’d plan her two bachelorette parties.

  “Great! You and Remy can coordinate all the details and just let me and Ryder know when and where to show up.”

  My heart stopped beating in my chest for a second before jumpstarting again. “Remy?”

  She shrugged as she took a bite. “Yeah, he’s the best man.”

  Oh, balls.

  Why hadn’t I seen that coming?

  Of course Remy would be the best man. His only brother was the groom. And I was the idiot who’d just agreed to spend more time with the man I couldn’t seem to ever avoid.

  “Is that okay?” Bailey asked when I’d been quiet for too long.

  I pulled the corners of my lips into the best smile I could manage and picked up another slice of pizza. “Of course. We’ll figure it out.”

  And by we’ll figure it out what I really meant was I’ll figure out how to work with Remy without wanting to rip off his clothes and bathe in his cologne.

  Bailey left a little while later, but her stay had been a lot longer than I’d anticipated. With a quick energy drink from the convenience store down the block, I got back to work. I was so engrossed that I hadn’t realized how many hours had passed by the time my phone buzzed in my pocket.

  When I pulled it out, I found a text from Remy. My stomach flipped, and I told myself it was from nervousness and nothing else.