by Sherri Hayes
She didn’t wait for a response before walking away.
“Need us to do anything?” Michael asked.
I looked around. “Why don’t you see if the minster needs anything. Other than that, I think you’re good until the photographer’s ready for pictures.” I scanned the area and found him hovering near Logan and Lily, snapping random pictures of them talking to guests.
They took off toward the front again, leaving Brianna and I alone. “Number?”
“Four.”
I kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go check on the band.
As I went to turn, my gaze landed on a lone figure standing in the far corner near the dressing room Lily and the girls used earlier that day.
“What’s wrong?” Brianna asked, noticing the change in my mood.
The figure turned to walk away, and I realized who it was. Bridget.
How had she gotten in? “I’ll be right back.”
Leaving Brianna wasn’t something I wanted to do, but I didn’t plan on being gone long. Bridget was here, and I needed to find out why. I didn’t want her ruining Logan and Lily’s day.
I followed her into the girls dressing room, but when I got inside, she wasn’t there.
Then, the door closed behind me. I turned around and came face-to-face with the woman in question. She was dressed in a black cocktail dress that was a little too short to be considered appropriate at a wedding.
“What are you doing here and how did you get in?” I asked, getting straight to the point.
We’d gotten the test results back from Brianna’s water glass earlier in the week. The added ingredient had been alcohol. More specifically, Tequila. That’s what had given the water it’s yellow tint. And while I knew it could have been worse, that she could have spiked Brianna’s drink with any number of drugs, I was livid Bridget had tampered with the drink at all. If I could have her prosecuted for it, I would do so in a heartbeat, but as of yet, we hadn’t found the evidence we’d need to pursue a legal case.
None of the bartenders remembered serving her a drink with Tequila in it and none of the video surveillance had shown anything either. I was betting she’d gotten someone to buy it for her, but again, proving it was the issue. Unless we could find the person who’d made the purchase and have them confirm that they’d given the drink to Bridget, we didn’t have anything to go to the authorities with. Oscar was still working on it and he also had someone digging into her past. I was hoping they’d find something we could use. I didn’t like people targeting Brianna and that’s exactly what she’d done.
“I had some unfinished business to take care of.” She pushed herself away from the door and toward me.
I stood my ground as she made her way to where I was in the center of the room. She went to touch my chest and I grabbed hold of her wrist. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop her. She lifted her other arm, ready to attempt the same maneuver again. I intercepted that one as well.
Bridget tugged on her arms, trying to break free. When I didn’t let go, she got a gleam in her eye I didn’t like. “You like it, rough? I can do that. I like it rough once and awhile, too.”
“You have no idea what I like or want for that matter.” I took a step back to put a little distance between us and released her. “Now, answer the question, why are you here? It’s my understanding that Lily told you that you weren’t welcome.”
“There was something here I wanted.”
“And what might that be?” I asked, not really caring, but needing to get her out of here before she disrupted the reception.
“Why, you, of course.” It came out in what was meant to be a sultry purr, but it did nothing for me. In fact, her actions reminded me way too much of my ex, Tami.
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m with Brianna.”
“But you don’t have to be. I’m so much better for you than she is.” She took a step toward me again. “I doubt she can truly satisfy you. You need a real woman to do that.”
I laughed. I couldn’t stop myself. The notion that Brianna couldn’t satisfy me was insane beyond comprehension. “I think you should go.”
“But—”
The door opened, drawing our attention. Brianna looked at Bridget for a long moment, and then came to stand by my side. “You need to leave,” Brianna said. “Lily doesn’t want you here.” She paused, and then added, “I don’t want you here, either.”
“I’m here for Stephan,” she said, overconfident. “He deserves to have a real woman on his arm, not a mouse who doesn’t know what she wants.”
Brianna glanced up at me, and then back to her. “I know what I want. Stephan’s mine and I’m his.”
To hear her stake her claim and not be timid about it made my heart soar. Especially with what I had burning a hole in my pocket.
“We’re done here,” I said. “You need to leave, or I’ll contact the authorities and have you arrested for trespassing.”
She looked at both of us, huffed, and then turned on her heels to go.
“Oh, and Bridget?”
She stopped and looked back, hopeful.
I was about to burst her bubble. “If you ever come near me or Brianna again, I’ll have you investigated for stalking.”
Bridget held up her middle finger before sauntering out of the room. I grabbed Brianna’s hand and followed her out to make sure she was leaving.
We stood in the foyer, flanked by the two men I’d hired, and watched as Bridget got into her car. “Make sure she doesn’t come back,” I said to the men before Brianna and I headed back into the reception.
Logan and Lily were still making their rounds, oblivious to what had occurred, and I breathed a sigh of relief. While they finished greeting their guests, I finished the task I’d originally set out to do and checked in with the band. With them ready to go and Logan and Lily finishing up, the wedding party gathered in the front for pictures while the caterers served appetizers to the guests.
Brianna did well with the pictures and didn’t seem fazed by what had happened with Bridget. She wasn’t nervous standing next to Lily or Tess, and anytime there was a group picture, and she wasn’t with the girls, I made sure she was next to me.
By the time the pictures were finished, I was starving, and I knew Brianna had to be, as well. The lunch that was provided earlier had long since left my system.
The wedding party sat together at a long table that had been set up in the front, right in the middle of where the aisle used to be. While it was tradition that the bridesmaids sat beside the bride and the groomsmen sat beside the groom, I nixed that idea and sat Brianna beside me.
“I’ll sit beside Tess,” Caleb said.
I nodded. “Thanks.” Caleb wasn’t a bad guy, but he still acted like he was in his early twenties rather than thirty-two.
The servers brought over a plate of appetizers for the table. Everyone put a few on the small plate they’d given us and devoured them within seconds. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long before our salads arrived.
As the meal wound down, Logan helped Lily from her chair and walked her over to where the large cake was set up in the corner. Lily had wanted something spectacular and it was something to behold. The cake was five tiers high and had flowers draping over the sides. Last night she’d explained to all of us all the details and layers of the cake, but it went over my head. It may have made sense to Brianna, but I had no idea what the difference was between buttercream icing and regular icing or why it was a good thing.
We all laughed as Logan and Lily smashed cake in each other's faces, and then Logan kissed her like no one was watching. I heard a few throats clearing, but as there were no children in the room, whoever it was would have to deal with it.
Once everyone was seated again and eating cake, it was time for Tess and me to make our speeches. She went first.
“Lily and I met because she stole my crayon.” The crowd laughed. “We were six years old and I’d just moved to the neighborhood. I’d run inside t
o get a snack and when I came back, my crayon was gone.” She glanced over at Lily who was smiling at the memory. “When she heard me crying, she brought it back and we ended up coloring for hours on the front step of my house.” She paused. “It was the first of many days like that. And after coloring books and crayons we spent hours together learning how to do makeup and talking about boys.”
Tess took a drink of her water, then continued. “So, when she called me to tell me she’d met Logan, I knew I had to meet him. I knew right away he was as crazy about her as she was him. They did that whole starry-eyed thing.”
Everyone laughed again.
Smiling, Tess looked down at the couple beside her. “They haven’t stopped looking at each other that way and I hope they never do.” She raised her champagne glass. “To many happy years together as husband and wife.”
Everyone toasted the couple, and then it was my turn.
I stood and cleared my throat. “Thank you all for coming tonight to celebrate Logan and Lily’s marriage. Logan saved my life back when we were teenagers, and so when he saw Lily across the room at an event we were attending and asked me to introduce them, I couldn’t say no.” That got a chuckle from the guests.
“What he didn’t know was that moments earlier, she’d asked me for the exact same thing.” Laughter filled the space, and I even heard a whistle from the back of the room.
I waited for the noise level to die down, and then continued. “After that night, I knew there was no turning back. They were both smitten and only had eyes for each other. The love and commitment . . . the devotion Logan and Lily have for each other is something we should all aspire to in our relationships.” I lifted my champagne glass, which had been filled with sparkling grape juice instead of champagne, and the crowd all raised their own glasses. “To Logan and Lily. May you never lose the qualities that make you each unique, nor your love for each other. Here’s to many happy years to come.”
“Here, here,” everyone toasted and drank from their glasses.
I sat down and Logan turned to me. “I was worried there for a minute. I thought you were going to talk about how we used to sneak out.”
Taking another sip from my glass, I peered at him over the rim. “I thought about it.
He smirked, and then got pulled away when Lily’s aunt wanted to talk to them both.
Once all the cake plates were taken from the tables, the band announced that it was time for the first song. He asked for the bride and groom to make their way to the dance floor as the lights in the room were dimmed.
In the time it had taken everyone to finish their meals, the stage area where Logan and Lily had said their vows had been transformed into a dance floor. Both times we’d seen the space before tonight it had been set up with the stage and I hadn’t realized there was a set of large windows along the back wall that looked out at the lake.
The sun had already set, and the moonlight reflected off the water. It was a breathtaking view and I understood right then why Lily had picked this venue.
Logan guided Lily in front of the window as the band began to play. I heard Brianna sigh beside me, and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was. Patting my breast pocket, I made sure the ring I’d placed there earlier was still safe. I’d been carrying it around all week, trying to find a good time to ask her, but nothing ever seemed right.
“Lily’s so beautiful,” Brianna said. “She looks like Ginger Rogers in her dress.”
“She does, doesn’t she.” Given both Logan and Lily attended fundraisers on a regular basis, both knew how to dance. They twirled around the dance floor never taking their eyes off each other.
Chapter 31
Brianna
It was like a fairytale.
There were strands of white lights hung around the dance floor and the light coming off the lake made it feel magical.
After Logan and Lily finished their dance, the band invited the rest of the bridal party to join in. Stephan stood and held his hand out to me. “May I have this dance?”
“Yes, Sir.” I placed my hand in his and he led me to the dance floor.
It felt good to be in his arms again. The day had been crazy and after the ceremony, there hadn’t been time for much besides holding hands, even though all I wanted to do was crawl into his lap after what happened with Bridget. I relaxed into him, resting my head on his shoulder. It was almost as good as being in his lap. Not quite. But almost.
“You doing okay?” he asked.
I nodded.
He kissed the top of my head and moved us around the floor. The song ended, but he kept going as other couples got up from their seats and began dancing. I closed my eyes and ignored them.
I have no idea how many songs we danced to, but eventually Stephan stopped moving, tipped my head up, and placed a soft kiss on my lips. “Let’s take a break. It’s going to be a long night and I don’t want to wear you out.”
He led us back to our table and held out my chair for me. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to get us some waters.”
Almost as soon as he was gone, Tess sat down beside me. She kicked off her shoes. “My feet are going to hate me tomorrow.”
“Mine are hurting a little, too,” I said.
She motioned toward my feet. “So, take off your shoes. No one’s gonna care.”
Doing as she suggested, I slipped them off and placed them under my chair. The cool air hit my feet and it felt good.
I must have made a noise or something because Tess laughed. “See. I told you so. There’s no better feeling than taking heels off after a long day. Or night, as it were.”
“I don’t know how Lily wears them all the time,” I said.
“Me, neither. You couldn’t pay me enough to wear high heels every day.”
Stephan returned and set a glass of water in front of me. I picked it up and downed half of it, not realizing how thirsty I was until the cool liquid hit my tongue.
“Did you want something, Tess?” Stephan asked.
“Water would be heavenly. Do you mind?”
“Not at all.” He handed her the other glass in his hand. “Here. Have mine. I’ll go get another.”
“Normally, I’d ask if you’re sure, but I’m so thirsty, I don’t care. Thank you.”
Stephan smiled and went to get another water for himself.
Tess took a long drink. “Lily said you were thinking of going back to school.”
I nodded. “I’m registered to start at the local community college in January. It’s just my GED, but it’s a start.”
“She mentioned you hadn’t been able to finish high school.”
I thought maybe she’d ask me for details as to why, but she didn’t.
“We should all try to get together after Logan and Lily get back from their honeymoon.”
“I don’t know,” I said, glancing down.
“No pressure, but I was thinking a girls’ weekend would be nice after all this.”
I’d done a few girls’ weekends with Jade and Lily before that were really fun. And I liked Tess. “Would you mind if Jade came?”
“Nope. The more the merrier.” Then she tilted her head down and looked at me over her glass. “As long as they aren’t anything like Bridget.”
“No. Nothing like Bridget.”
Tess glanced around the room. “To tell you the truth, I’m kind of surprised she didn’t show up tonight. I wonder what Lily said to her.”
“I asked her, but she wouldn’t tell me.”
Tess took another drink and nodded. “So, did I and I got the same response. Guess we’ll never know.”
Stephan pulled out the chair on the other side of me and sat down.
“Thanks again for letting me hijack your water,” Tess said.
“You’re welcome.” Then he glanced down at my shoes that I’d tucked under my chair. “How are your feet doing?”
“Better. They will probably be sore tomorrow, though.”
He took a sip of his water.
“Why don’t you leave your shoes off for the rest of the night.”
I nodded. Stephan had phrased it as a question, but I knew that was because Tess was there.
The three of us sat there talking until Michael came back to the table and asked Tess if she wanted to dance with him. She slipped her shoes back on and stood. “Guess I’ll catch you both later.”
Michael led Tess onto the dance floor. It was obvious neither of them were great dancers, but they kept going anyway.
“I think she likes him,” I said.
“I don’t know him that well, but he seems like a decent guy.”
“Better than Caleb?”
I giggled at his scowl. “He’s older than I am and acts like he’s still in college. He needs to grow up.”
The man in question was straddling a chair about fifteen feet away. He was talking to three women I didn’t know, but thought they were related to Lily somehow. “He likes being the center of attention.”
“Yes, he does.” Stephan took my hand in his and played with my fingers. “And he’s a big flirt.”
I saw him talking to Tess during dinner, leaning into her a little too close. She’d blushed a couple of times, too, which made me wonder what he’d said to her.
“Did you want to dance some more?” Stephan asked, motioning toward the floor. “Or would you rather rest your feet?”
I took a moment to think about it. My feet weren’t hurting like they had been. And he didn’t want me wearing shoes for the rest of the night. “Can I dance without my shoes?”
“Of course.” As if my question was the answer to his question, he got up from his chair and pulled me with him.
We danced through a few more songs, and then it was time for Logan and Lily to say good night. They were spending the evening at a bed and breakfast not far from the event and catching a flight early the next morning to the Bahamas.
Everyone gathered near the entrance and formed an aisle. As Logan and Lily made their way toward the door, everyone blew bubbles. I hadn’t blown bubbles since my mom was alive. It was more fun than I’d remembered.
Once Logan and Lily drove off, the rest of the guests began to leave, as well. As the best man, Stephan had to stay till the end.
