Orange Blossom Brides

by Tara Randel

  Rivulets of water rolled from his dark hair over his face, his strong arms sweeping through the water as he stayed upright. “Let’s get to the shore.”

  They only had to swim a few yards before the water grew shallow. Before long she could touch the bottom, and they were slogging onto the beach.

  “What happened?” Max asked as he rubbed water from his face.

  “That kamikaze bird startled me again.”

  They reached dry sand and fell. Lilli took one look at Max’s disgruntled face and started to giggle. Reluctantly, he joined in, until they both were on their backs, laughing loudly.

  Once the merriment subsided, he turned his head to study her. “Sure you’re okay?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “I figured I’d have to haul you out of the water.”

  She sat up. “Hey, I know how to swim. Those years of lessons paid off.” Hiding a grin, she wrung out the hem of her shirt. “I thought maybe I’d have to save you for a change.”

  Max also sat, brushing sand from his jeans. “Fat chance.”

  She arched a brow at him, brushing her hair off her face. “Oh?”

  “Navy, sweetheart.”

  That’s right. She’d forgotten.

  “Cypress Pointe Country Club swimming instructor,” she said, trying to one-up him.

  His eyes narrowed.

  “Okay, not the same thing. But I get points for trying.”

  In the waning light she could make out the lingering concern in his eyes. “What you do to me—”

  He suddenly stopped speaking, his eyes going dark. He leaned toward her—to kiss her again, she hoped—when the sound of voices cut him off.

  With a frustrated groan, Max rolled away while Lilli looked over his shoulder. Jewel and Bart approached, arm in arm.

  “Oh, this is classic,” Jewel announced.

  “Did you push her in?” Bart asked Max with all seriousness.

  “It had occurred to me,” Max said as he rose, offering his hand to haul Lilli up.

  “Oh, please,” she said, reluctantly taking his hand.

  “Let me take you home.”

  “Thanks, but I drove here.” She ran her hands over her wet clothing. “I need to get changed.”

  Before leaving, Lilli glanced at Max, catching a quick flash of heat in his eyes. Then he nodded, reverting to his even gaze, covering any feeling. But she’d seen it.

  Oh, yeah, she affected Max Sanders whether he liked it or not.

  * * ** * *

  SHORTLY AFTER NOON, Lilli walked into her apartment following her usual Sunday afternoon grocery shopping. She’d started to put away the groceries when her phone rang. She frowned at the caller ID. The security company.

  “Please come to the historical society office. The alarm has been set off.”

  Grabbing her purse and tossing her cell phone inside, Lilli rushed to her car, still dressed in a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. Concern washed over her. What on earth could have happened? Something to do with the gowns on loan from Renata Ogilvy? Maybe someone had succeeded in breaking the door down.

  She parked and exited the car, nearly turning her ankle in her haste. Dragging her purse over her shoulder, Lilli raced to the office. Mrs. Rumpold opened the door, pulling Lilli inside. She took a quick look around, noticing Max checking the back door. Of course he’d beat her here.

  “I can’t make them leave,” the older woman stage-whispered.

  “What?” Lilli dragged her attention back to Mrs. Rumpold.

  “I got a call from the company monitoring the security system telling me that the alarm went off. I hurried over, only to find those two standing outside the wide-open door.”

  Lilli turned the other way to find Marisa and Sissy Vandermere in the office. “The door was open?”

  “Yes. Sissy has a key, but not the code to the alarm. When the alarm went off they had the good sense to stay outside until I could get here and key in the code.”

  “Was anything taken?”

  “No. Max arrived when I did and walked through the office. The Vandermeres set off the alarm. No burglars.”

  Lilli put a hand over her rapidly beating heart. “Thank goodness it wasn’t anything more serious.”

  Mrs. R. patted her own chest. “They just about gave me a coronary.”

  Lilli blew out a sigh of relief. Although the poor woman appeared frazzled, she seemed otherwise fine.

  Max joined them, sporting a frown. “The alarm went off because of the Vandermeres. The doors and windows are untouched. I’m going to walk around the building, but I don’t expect to find anything out of the norm. I’ll also let the chief know what’s going on.” He smiled at Mrs. R. and Lilli swore the woman almost swooned. “Good job remembering to set the alarm.”

  “After all the fuss the other day, I make sure I set it every time I leave.”

  “About that, I’m sorry I came down so hard on you.”

  Mrs. R. patted his arm. “You did the right thing.”

  Lilli watched them, fighting back a grin. Big bad Max, apologizing.

  He nodded at Lilli. “I’ll be back.” He turned on his heel and headed outside. Mrs. R. started muttering. Lilli glanced at her, then followed Mrs. R.’s pointing finger. Marisa and her mother Sissy fussed over what looked like a wedding gown.

  “That’s not one of the loaners,” Lilli said. The trendy gown the women surrounded did not look vintage in the least.

  “No. It’s worse.” Mrs. R. replied, her eyes round. “Marisa’s first gown. From the first wedding. You know, one of the two that never took place.”

  Oh, boy. This is going to get tricky.

  Lilli dropped her purse on the desk and tentatively made her way to the mother-daughter tag team. “Good afternoon, ladies. What’s going on?”

  Marisa turned on her expensive heel, her mother peering over her shoulder.

  “Just my little contribution to the cause.”

  Lilli stepped around the women, her eyes on the wedding gown. Exquisite, of course. Marisa wouldn’t own anything but an expensive designer original. The fitted bodice, covered with little seed pearls, stopped at the waist and flared out in layer over layer of lovely silk. Talk about a Cinderella fantasy.

  “Why, exactly, are you contributing?”

  Marisa placed her hands on her hips and sighed, regarding Lilli like she was a child. “We both know I won’t use this dress. That wedding never took place, but it is beautiful and should be seen.”

  Lilli couldn’t argue its beauty, but it didn’t add to the vintage theme of the benefit, unlike the gown Marisa was scheduled to model. How many unused wedding dresses could one woman own? Lilli was standing there, contemplating what to do, when Sissy piped up.

  “We think you should move those older outfits off to the side, and put Marisa’s dress front and center.”

  Mrs. Rumpold gasped. “Those gowns are works of art.”

  “They’re in the way.” That said, Sissy curled her arm around the dress form with the Princess Diana-style gown, lifting it from the floor. As she did, the heavy bottom bumped the dress form holding the Chanel, toppling it to the ground.

  Wincing, Lilli ran over, hoping to catch the dress and prevent any damage. She managed to grab the Chanel just as it hit the ground but her stomach sank when she noticed seed pearls scattered on the carpet from the Diana style dress.

  “Look what you’ve done,” Mrs. R. scolded, her voice steely as she gently removed the dress from Sissy’s grasp. “You shouldn’t have touched anything.”

  “I only wanted Marisa’s dress to be seen.”

  Heart racing, Lilli pulled her hair back from her face as she tried to calm down. “I think it would be best if you took Marisa’s dress home.”

  “H
ome?” Sissy glared at her. “But we just got here.”

  Lilli barely held on to her temper. “I think you ladies should leave.”

  Marisa had the sense to realize the gravity of the situation even if her mother did not. They argued between themselves as Marisa stuffed the gown back into the garment back and ushered her mother out the door. Once they left, Lilli and Mrs. R. inspected the damaged dress.

  “It’s not too bad,” Mrs. R. commented. “Only one section of pearls came loose.”

  “I’m going to have to call Gabrielle.”

  Mrs. R. held up the pearls she’d rescued from the floor in her hand. “Do you think the gown can be repaired?”

  “Gab would know. This is her area of expertise.”

  Lilli went quiet for a moment, the ramifications of Sissy’s actions running through her mind. “You know, once I call Gab, the display might be cancelled.”

  “Sissy would love that, making your mother look bad.”

  While Lilli hated that her mother might look bad, her friend, not Celeste’s, had arranged the loaners.

  Not one to procrastinate, Lilli called Gabrielle and explained the situation. Gab went mute at first, probably stunned, but rallied to the moment. “Lilli, we expect some wear and tear on the garments as they age.”

  “This is a little more than normal aging.”

  “Are there many pearls missing?”

  “None. We collected them all.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll come by tomorrow and evaluate the damage. If possible, I may be able to sew the pearls back on.”

  “Gab, I don’t want you to do anything that’ll get you in trouble.”

  “I’m not making any promises, but Renata is out of town, so as curator, this is my call.”

  “If you’re sure,” Lilli said.

  “I am. Try not to worry. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, Gab.”

  Max walked in the door just as Lilli hung up. “Took care of the police. I saw Marisa and her mother leaving. Problem?”

  Lilli exchanged a glance with Mrs. R. “You could say that.”

  Concern eclipsed Max’s expression. “What happened?”

  Lilli told him what Sissy had done. He walked to the row of dresses. “It’s just the one?”

  “One is enough,” she said, trying to keep the despair from her voice.

  He turned back to Lilli. “Need me to call the owner of the collection?”

  “I already called the curator.” She relayed their conversation.

  “Nothing like this has ever happened before.” Mrs. R. dropped the seed pearls into an envelope. “Are you sure there’s nothing we can do?”

  “Not until tomorrow.”

  “Let’s close up the office,” Max suggested. “No point in worrying about something you can’t fix.”

  Lilli collected her purse and followed Max to the door. She and Mrs. R. waited on the sidewalk while Max activated the alarm. When he joined them, Mrs. R. locked the door and walked to her car.

  Lilli stood there, not sure what to do. Her stomach still churned. She’d only pace and worry if she went home.

  “How about a walk on the beach,” Max suggested. “I go there when I have a lot on my mind.”

  “Does it help?”

  “Sometimes.”

  She shrugged. “Why not.”

  “Oh, before I forget, Gram sent over the first draft of the wedding thing. Want to read it?”

  “Wedding thing?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Yeah, she did. “Sure.”

  “Let me get the envelope out of the truck, then we’ll go down to the beach.”

  Before long, they’d walked the block to the beach. Lilli removed her flip-flops when they got there, sinking her feet in the cool sand. “My life is a disaster.”

  “You’ve got some problems, but hardly dire.”

  “Why on earth did those women have to go to the office? Couldn’t they leave well enough alone?”

  “From what I’ve seen, probably not.”

  “I hope my friend Gab doesn’t get in trouble over this.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m in charge, Max. I’ll take what’s coming.”

  “Yeah, I know you will.”

  His acknowledgement of her willingness to take responsibility should make her feel better, but didn’t change a thing unless Gab could repair the dress. Someone’s head would roll and it most likely would be hers.

  “Not the best way to spend a Sunday,” Max ventured as they neared the shoreline.

  “I had planned on making a list of volunteer groom’s duties just for you. Mostly because you didn’t want my help.”

  “That’s because we seem to rub each other the wrong way.”

  “Funny how that happens.”

  “Hilarious.”

  Max intently stared at her for a brief moment. “I’ve never met a woman who knocks me off balance the way you do.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  To be honest, he did the same thing to her. From the day she’d arrived in his office, asking him to volunteer and getting his unexpected “No.” Who thought she’d look at him now and see so much more than his stubbornness and drive? The man could be hard at times and focused on the job, traits she didn’t actually mind, but when his gentle side showed up, well, that’s when she knew she’d lost her heart.

  “You make me crazy” he said. “But at the same time, I look forward to seeing you. I never know what to expect.”

  “Makes life interesting.”

  He grinned. “I never took you for a dog lover, but there you were, working at the animal shelter and not one bit upset about getting muddy.”

  “I’m really not that superficial.”

  “I know that now. You’re still bossy, but I understand you like things done a certain way. Nothing wrong with that.”

  “I could say the same about you. Thanks for being gentle with Mrs. R. today.”

  He shrugged. “There was nothing to get riled up about. She set the alarm. The other women created the problem.”

  “Don’t remind me.” She appreciated his getting her mind off the Vandermeres. The walk had worked—she’d calmed down some. To keep that calm, they needed to stay on less stressful topics. “Mrs. R. has a crush on you, you know.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “It’s cute that you didn’t notice.”

  “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”

  Despite her gloomy mood, Lilli laughed.

  “Or you, sometimes.”

  “And if I admitted to having a crush on you?”

  He grinned, slow and wolfish. “Now, that I wouldn’t mind seeing.”

  Max’s eyes went dark and she hoped he’d kiss her again. Long, drawn-out seconds passed. She waited, sure nothing would happen, until he finally brushed his lips over hers, light and easy.

  “Nope, I wouldn’t mind at all,” he whispered against her lips.

  She sighed softly when he kissed her again, but was disappointed when he broke the kiss and put some space between them.

  “Listen, Lilli, whatever happens, I’ll be there for you. If you need me to talk to the curator, whatever, call me. I’ll be available until after the benefit.”

  “You’re going somewhere?”

  “If I sign on this new client, I’ll be working out of town.”

  Out of town? Great. First the Vandermeres ruin a beautiful dress and then she finds out Max might be leaving.

  “I’m still working for the historical society,” he said.

  He might be, but once the benefit was over she wouldn’t be involved with the society any furt
her. “Thanks.”

  “Even though today was a false alarm, I was glad to see you on top of things. You arrived quickly.”

  “After the alarm company called, I hurried over. I hated to think that someone successfully broke in this time.” She shook her head. “Imagine. My worst nightmare taking place without the help of a thief.”

  “Don’t go there. Your friend said she may be able to fix the dress.”

  “I know, I know. I shouldn’t tempt fate.” She kicked a clump of seaweed. “How about I take a look at what your grandmother put together? After today, Laverne’s involvement may be the only hope of keeping the benefit afloat.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  LIFTING THE FLAP of the envelope Max handed her, Lilli slid the folded papers out. In neat handwriting, Laverne recounted the story of her engagement, the days prior to the wedding and the wedding itself. One passage in particular caught her attention:

  Not a man of many words, Clifford’s love for me was always strong, always sure. After the ceremony, as the guests walked to the fellowship hall for the reception, he pulled me aside. “I have loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you,” he said. “I made a vow right then and there that if you agreed to marry me, I would be the best husband I could be. It’s so much more than promising to love in sickness and health like the vows state. Those things are important. But in order to be a good husband I have to be a man of my word. And I promise you, Laverne, I will be a husband who puts you first. That’s the vow I make to you. You can trust me on that.

  Vows. Trust. A man who put his love first. The folks attending the benefit would adore it. Lilli finished reading and replaced the pages inside the envelope.

  “So?” Max asked.

  “Better than I could have hoped,” she answered in a husky voice. He’d never know the letter made her heart squeeze with longing. She wanted those things, too.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  “Yeah, don’t mind me.” She brushed her hair out of her eyes. “I’m touched.”

  “Then she did a good job.”

  Lilli studied his profile. Max Sanders. Confident. Kind. Handsome. Could he be the type of man his grandfather had been? Trustworthy? There were men like Clifford in the world, and if he’d just stop fighting it, Lilli believed Max could be the same kind of man. The marrying kind.