by Lacey Black
But what really shocks me is not just how much I enjoyed the view, but how much I wouldn’t mind seeing more. And not just because his body is something they write about in romance novels, but because the image I had of Theo is slowly changing.
For the better.
And a big part of me wants to find out more.
Chapter Sixteen
Theo
I step into the elevator, a little disappointed not to be riding down with Penelope. When the car hits the ground floor, I head for the garden area where tomorrow’s nuptials will take place and find most of the wedding party already in attendance, including my neighbor. She’s wearing a navy-blue sweaterdress thingy that hits at her knees with brown ankle boots and looks positively edible.
“There he is!” my brother announces, drawing eyes my way.
I make my way toward him and Teagan, shaking his hand when I arrive. “Great night for this.”
“It’s perfect,” my future sister-in-law beams, her arm tucked securely into the crook of my brother’s arm. Teagan’s wearing a white dress and black shoes, while my brother sports black trousers and a white button-down. They’re all matchy-matchy, which is something I’d usually point out and crack jokes about, but tonight, I can’t seem to find the gumption.
Probably because I’m wearing khaki pants and a dark blue button-down, and my brain keeps focusing on the fact that Penelope and I are a little matchy-matchy too.
When the rest of the crew arrives, Trevor announces, “I believe we’re all here, so we can begin.”
Teagan jumps into wedding planner mode. She’s a detail-oriented individual and according to Trevor, didn’t want to relinquish any control to a wedding planner. So she did the whole thing herself, with a little assistance and support from my brother when she needed or asked.
We all move to the back of the garden. The chairs aren’t set up yet, but she’s able to tell us exactly where the aisle will be. She moves through the pairings with ease, explaining how we’re to walk down the aisle together before branching off at the altar. When there’s only myself and Penelope left, it hits me we’re walking together. My brother told me he was seating me beside the single bridesmaid, but I didn’t realize I was walking her down the aisle too.
“Wait, I thought Carma was standing beside you,” Penelope says, when she realizes we’re paired together at the back of the group.
Teagan turns and gives her a grin I can’t decipher. “Well, I thought this pairing would work out best. You all know I don’t have a maid of honor, because I wanted you all to share in that title equally. Silvia is going to give the speech at the reception, and Elle is in charge of my something borrowed and something blue. I decided I wanted you to hold my bouquet during the ceremony.”
“Oh. Okay,” Penelope replies, giving her friend a smile in understanding. Except, even though it’s a small gesture, it lights up her whole face. It’s breathtaking and makes my heartbeat kick up a few thousand thumps per second.
I step up beside Penelope as we listen to instructions for the ceremony. When each pair begins to walk down the aisle, I feel her hand hesitantly wrap around my arm, her delicate fingers like a caress to my bicep.
Finally, it’s our turn to move, and my heart stutters in my chest. She feels too fucking amazing on my arm, especially as we journey our way down a makeshift aisle. I can’t help but notice how good, how truly right it feels to have her beside me.
As we approach the altar where my brother, the minister, and the rest of his friends stand, I don’t miss the smirk on Trevor’s face. It’s all-knowing, as if he can tell exactly what I’m thinking about as Penelope and I walk the aisle together.
The woman on my arm releases her hold and carefully steps to her left, taking her position opposite me, while I stand just off my brother’s shoulder. “You sure you want to do this?” I mumble as Teagan and her father start their walk in our direction.
He snorts. “Are you kidding me? I’ve been waiting for this day since the moment I met her.”
Something tells me he’s not exaggerating. While I never expected him to get married again, I’m damn happy and proud of him for not being afraid to give it another try. For a good year, I couldn’t even think about giving my heart to anyone else after Rachel left. But I don’t know. When I picture someone like Penelope by my side, it doesn’t seem so scary.
I watch as they go through the motions, practicing for tomorrow’s event, all while stealing glances at the woman beside the bride. Her eyes are glued to the couple, as if she’s drinking in every ounce of happiness and doesn’t want to miss a second of it.
Teagan walks us through the procession from the altar, which gives me another opportunity to sidle up next to Penelope. When her arm slips through the crook of mine, I feel at peace once more.
This crush is getting completely out of hand.
When we go through everything a few more times, making sure we all have our parts down pat, Teagan goes over tomorrow’s very detailed agenda. She hands her ladies a printed copy, one that has supposedly been slightly updated with new times since the last one she printed. When she hands a different copy to each of the guys, there’s no missing the smile on my brother’s face.
That’s when I realize how truly lucky the bastard is.
Even after the shit Rachel pulled mere months before our wedding, I finally see the appeal of giving love another shot. I’ve witnessed the ugly, suffered the nasty, but tonight, I’m experiencing the beauty of love and second chances.
“The hotel was kind enough to set up their van service to take us to O’Reilly’s Steakhouse. They should be out front waiting,” Trevor announces when Teagan is finished going over her schedule.
As everyone starts to file back into the hotel, I spot my parents in the back of the group with Teagan’s. I stay back until they catch up, shaking my dad’s hand as soon as they reach me. “Theo.”
“Hey, Dad.”
When I turn to my mom, she engulfs me in a warm hug. “Theo. Isn’t tonight just perfect?”
I glance over her shoulder and see Penelope trailing behind the group, trying to help wrangle her friend Shannon’s triplets. She catches one as he runs by her and swings him up into her arms, tickling his belly as she does it. A smile breaks out on my face as I watch the scene.
“Theo?”
I glance back over at my mom, kissing her cheek. “Yes, perfect night. Just like tomorrow will be.”
She smiles reassuringly. “It will be. It’s supposed to be lovely weather all weekend. You remember Bud and Delores Walters, right?”
I nod. “Great to see you again.” I can’t stop myself from stealing one more glance at Penelope. They’ve finally caught all three young boys and are making their way into the hotel.
“She looks familiar,” Mom says as we follow behind a short distance.
I open the door for everyone to enter. “She’s my neighbor.”
Mom stops in her tracks. “The one in the little house to the east?”
Nodding, I confirm, “One and the same.”
“Wait, Penelope lives next door to you?” Mrs. Walters asks.
“She does. We discovered it this weekend when we were checking into the hotel.”
“How did you not know your neighbor was Teagan’s friend?” my mom asks, confusion written on her face.
“Well, Teagan hasn’t been to my house. Trevor’s been there a handful of times, but I’ve always come up here to Seattle to see them.”
“That’s a crazy development. If only you had known, you two could have driven up together,” Mrs. Walters adds with a smile.
I flash her a smile.
Yes, if only we had known.
***
“She really is a lovely woman.”
Sighing, I turn around and face my mom. Ever since I told her Penelope was my neighbor, she’s been working an angle. I can feel it. She has a wedding in her future and sees grandbabies on the horizon. Cora Em
erson is picturing a happily ever after for both of her sons and will stop at nothing to get it.
“I know, Mom. You’ve mentioned it. Three times.”
Mom waves off my terse comment and smiles longingly over at Penelope. She’s sitting over with a few of her friends, catching up on the latest happenings in their lives and maybe even reminiscing about their past. She looks so carefree and relaxed, her cheeks slightly pink from the wine she’s had.
“I’m just saying, Theo.” She gives me a pointed look. “She’s single, you know, and you’re not getting any younger.”
I roll my eyes and reach for my beer. “Thirty-six is hardly old.”
“No, of course it’s not, but these things take time. The courtship, the wedding, the babies, it doesn’t happen overnight.”
I can’t help but smile. “I’m well aware of that.”
She continues to watch Penelope, who throws her head back and laughs at something. I feel that sound reach into my chest, squeezing my lungs until I can’t breathe. That happens all the time now. My heart races and my breathing hitches at the simplest sounds like her giggle or wistful sighs. I was so transfixed on watching my neighbor, I didn’t realize Mom had moved closer.
“Your brother found love a second time. It’s not out of the question for you,” she says softly, as if she knew she was getting ready to walk on eggshells.
Unable to contain another deep exhale, I lean back in my chair and turn to face her. Her eyes are full of concern and a mother’s love. I know her comment comes from the heart, but I really wish she wouldn’t have brought up Rachel at a time like this. “I know it’s not, Mom,” I reply carefully. I don’t want her to think I’m still pining away for my ex. “I’ve dated.”
She scoffs. “Yet you’ve not brought anyone home to meet your parents.”
I give her wide grin. “I have yet to meet anyone worthy of your homemade manicotti and garlic bread.”
Mom beams at me with pride. “It is pretty damn good, isn’t it?” she asks, making me chuckle. Then her eyes fix across the room once more as she adds, “I bet that Penelope would love my manicotti.”
Shaking my head, all I can do is smile at my meddling mother. “Possibly.”
“You could ask her, you know. Look, here she comes.”
I glance back over and see Penelope heading my way. When our eyes connect, a smile plays on her lips before she quickly diverts her gaze from mine.
Just as she reaches our table, my mom takes the opportunity to grab her attention. “Penelope, darling, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing well, Mrs. Emerson,” she replies politely, even though she really only met my mom this evening. “You?”
“Oh, I’m wonderful. It’s a fabulous weekend for a wedding, don’t you think?”
“I do.”
“So, it’s my understanding you live next door to my youngest son here. I hope he’s been a cordial neighbor.”
I can’t stop the snort. It flies from my mouth loudly in both shock and humor. All I can do is smile, patiently waiting to hear how Penelope describes my neighborly ways.
“Oh, uh, well, he’s been…” she seems to stumble on finding the right words, which only makes me grin that much more. “He was a big help recently with cutting down a few low tree limbs.” I can tell Penelope is trying not to be rude, which only makes this entire exchange that much more humorous.
My mom turns and looks at me with pride. “Oh, how wonderful! Yes, my Theo is so handy around the house. Inside and outside, he’s a jack of all trades.”
“She thinks I’m too noisy, Mom,” I blurt out, internally laughing when I see the shock cross my gorgeous neighbor’s eyes.
Mom turns to face me. “Well, are you using your tools while she’s sleeping or working?” she asks with a direct, pointed look.
Her question surprises me. I expected her to perhaps ask Penelope about it, but never thought she’d chastise me for making too much noise.
“Those saws are far too noisy, I know. Even when he was young, he used to drive me bonkers with them, day and night,” Mom continues on, leaving me a little flabbergasted. “Always out in the shop, cutting, sanding, and hammering. The noise, I tell you. I had to invest in Tylenol when he was in high school.”
“Yes!” Penelope exclaims. “The sound seems to travel down our shared driveway and echoes between the houses. My office is right next to the drive. It can be so disturbing at times,” she adds, taking the empty seat beside my mom, who’s already nodding her head in agreement.
“I hear ya,” Mom says, holding up her wine glass in salute. Penelope does the same, both ladies taking a small sip from their glasses and sharing a knowing smile over the rim. Just when I reach for my beer, ready to chug the rest of the contents, Mom sets hers down. “Have you seen his work?”
Penelope’s eyes flash to me for the briefest second before they return to the woman sitting between us. “I have.”
“Beautiful, right?”
It looks as if Penelope is trying to avoid my gaze, even though I can tell she feels it. I fully expect her to pick apart what I do, her annoyance at the noise I create outweighing any appreciation she may experience at seeing my completed pieces. So when she opens her mouth, I’m completely floored by what I hear.
“He made a china cabinet about a year ago that was breathtakingly beautiful. It was stained a red mahogany color that brought out the darker grain in the wood. I remember just staring at it after he moved it to the doorway, most likely scrutinizing his own work. I’ve noticed he does that a lot, takes it out into the sunlight and marks places he wants to fix with a piece of chalk.”
She swallows hard, definitely avoiding my eyes now. I’m so caught up in what she’s saying, in the fact she has been paying close enough attention to me to catch on to those little details, I’m unable to find words.
“Anyway, about a week or two after I saw him load that up, I stopped by Harmon’s Furniture for new lamps, and to my complete shock, saw it sitting in the middle of one of their displays. Even if it didn’t have one of those signs indicating it was his piece, I would have recognized it. It was just as beautiful as I had remembered, and when the associate came over to ask if I needed anything, I ended up buying it.” The most gorgeous blush creeps up her neck, settling against her fair complexion.
“You bought it?” I finally ask, the words full of astonishment, even to my own ears.
She finally meets my gaze and nods. “Yeah. It’s in my office. I wanted to put my grandma’s quilts in it, but they were too big.”
All I can do is stare in wonderment. Her mention of her grandma’s quilts reminds me of the rack I made for her. The one still sitting in my shop, waiting on me to just take it next door and give it to her. I’m more anxious now than ever to see the look on her face when she sees those quilts hanging together.
“So, Penelope,” Mom asks, a huge smile on her face. “Do you like manicotti?”
Chapter Seventeen
Penelope
“Are you ready?” I ask the blushing bride as she stares at her reflection in the mirror.
“Ready,” she confirms with a decisive nod before stepping back, careful not to trip on her train.
Teagan is absolutely stunning in her off-white mermaid-style wedding gown. Everyone gushes over the bride as she turns and faces the room, her smile so big you could see it from space. “What do you think?”
“Gorgeous!”
“So beautiful!”
“Wow, you look amazing!”
“Trevor is going to cry for sure!”
She glances at the small watch on her wrist. “Seven minutes until we go down. I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank you all for being here for me this weekend. I can’t imagine getting married without you,” Teagan says, blinking rapidly.
“No crying!” Molly insists, wiping her own eyes.
Teagan laughs. “Waterproof mascara for the win,” she insists with a giggle. “
Now, what do you say we go downstairs and bag me a husband?”
“Woohoo!” we all cheer in unison, filing out of the honeymoon suite and heading for the elevator.
It’s a full car with all of us in there, but we manage. This is the point where I start to get a little nervous. Not about standing in front of everyone, because I know all eyes will be on the bride and groom. This is the first time I’ll see Theo since my word-vomit last night in front of his mom.
I don’t know what happened. One minute I was heading to the bathroom, and the next, I was sitting beside Cora Emerson and spilling my guts about Theo’s work. Worse, it was right in front of the man himself. The look on his face when I told her I had purchased one of his pieces was one of disbelief and intrigue. I’ll never forget the way his brown eyes had sparkled in the low restaurant lighting.
At the time, I was able to run away to the bathroom, thanks to my very full bladder, before I confessed to my love for manicotti, and when I walked out, I was pulled into conversations with other guests. Since we didn’t stay at the restaurant much longer at that point, I was able to hide away in my room and pretend not to think about the man staying in the hotel room beside mine.
Now, we’re about to come face-to-face for the first time today, and I’m not sure what to expect.
The elevator door opens, and we step into the back hallway that’ll lead us into the garden. There are people milling around, other guests of the hotel stealing curious glances at the bride moments before her wedding ceremony.
Movement to my left catches my attention, and I notice the guys walking up. I keep myself busy by fussing over Teagan’s dress, making sure everything is where it’s supposed to be and her train lays perfectly flat.
“How is he doing?” I hear Teagan ask, and when I glance up, I find Theo standing beside me.
He smiles warmly at his future sister-in-law. “He’s doing great. Anxious to get started.”
Teagan beams a white smile. “I’m ready too. I can’t wait to marry him.”
Theo steps forward and kisses her on the cheek. “He’s a lucky man, Teag. I hope he never forgets it.”