Sighing, she sat up and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, focusing on the table in front of them. “I had this vision of how perfect this wedding would be, how your sister would absolutely love it and it would wow Charleigh French. But at the moment, I’m doubting my abilities on both counts.”
“You’ll be fine. Just make sure to breathe and do what you can do. If you don’t get the wedding for Charleigh, you’ll get one somewhere else.”
“Coming from Mr. Perfectionist who has a hard time if he doesn’t get something right the first time.” She turned her voice a bit lower, trying to make it sound like she was teasing him. But as she saw his face harden, his jaw tight, she knew she’d struck a nerve. Holding out her hands, she said, “I didn’t mean it like that, Evan. It was a joke.”
He stood, turning to her with a sad smile. “First I’m arrogant, and now I’m a perfectionist. Thanks for clueing me in to the reason I’m still single.” He moved toward the door, taking long strides, and Sadie felt her heart rate pick up.
Standing, her head felt as if it was spinning like a top, but she pushed through it, hoping to get to him before he left. “Evan, please wait.” She was grateful he stopped, allowing her to grab his arm as he still faced away from her. She wouldn’t have been able to hold him there if she’d needed to with her depleted strength, but it calmed her frenzied mind.
He turned to look at her, that same mask of neutrality placed on the day she’d called him arrogant.
“I promise I meant it as a compliment. You’re amazing, and you have so many talents. Sometimes I envy you for what looks like perfection on the outside.”
His voice was soft and deep, with a measure of sadness, sending a chill up her spine. “I’m far from perfect, but thank you. I hope your headache gets better soon. Call me if you need something; otherwise, my staff is prepared to assist you.”
He moved out the door, and Sadie wondered how she was going to make this up to him. The first worry that came to her mind was if he would still dance with her at the wedding.
So selfish. Why couldn’t she worry more about his feelings than her own? As she mulled that over for a minute or two, she sank back onto the couch and closed her eyes. She’d learned to put her feelings first when she’d moved to college. She had no real experience in a relationship as she’d shut everyone out who’d even tried. But now, she wanted one more than ever, and she’d just effectively ostracized him. She was going to need something to fix all this.
Picking up her phone, she dialed Aubrey. She’d come to the rescue and help her see what she needed to do to win Evan over. It was a leap, but she’d need to figure it out now before she lost him forever.
Chapter 22
Evan couldn’t get his mind off Sadie’s words for the next few days. Every move he made caused him to analyze whether or not it was a perfectionist tendency or just a smart business move. Aubrey had texted right as he’d gotten off the plane in California, telling him to stop by and see her.
It had felt like the days had passed like molasses, the hours taunting him as he kept thinking about work and Sadie. He hadn’t remembered until she’d called him Mr. Perfectionist that Stacey had called him that once a few weeks before their wedding. Her tone had been more snide than Sadie’s, but the feeling was the same.
He’d grown up pushing himself in sports and other aspects, getting frustrated when he didn’t do it right on the first try. But he kept at it, knowing that with enough practice, he could be just as good as the others around him. There were several awards boxed up in his parents’ shed for his sports accomplishments and even a few academic ones.
Maybe that was why it had taken so long to get over the broken wedding. It wasn’t so much his ex-fiancée but rather the fact that it was something he couldn’t really fix.
He pulled up to Aubrey and Sadie’s apartment, parking along the curb. She must have seen him coming, because the door opened before he could knock.
“Hey, Ev. I’m glad you made it.” Aubrey yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. “Sorry, I just woke up after an all-nighter. Come in.” She waved him into the front room.
He’d only been there once or twice since the girls had moved into it right after graduation, but he was surprised by the simple touches on the walls and in the décor. It all reminded him of the swatches and samples Sadie had been working with at the hotel, and his chest ached at the thought of it. Why did he have to like her so much?
He took a seat on the comfortable couch, and it reminded him of the ones Isabelle had recommended he get for the hotel. Were women just really good at picking out comfortable furniture?
“What’s up?” He leaned back, threading his fingers together and resting them behind his head.
“I just wanted to check in and see how things are going. Sadie said she was worried about you after the whole cake-tasting thing.” Aubrey’s eyebrows cinched together, looking at him with pity.
Of course Sadie would tell Aubrey all about that. But at least she was worried. That was a good sign, right?
“I’m fine. You don’t need to worry about me. It was just the scene that threw me off. But I promise I won’t have any more episodes during Taryn’s wedding.”
Aubrey slid onto the couch next to him, tucking her legs under her. “How are things with you and Sadie?” She gave him a small smile, and Evan was grateful she wasn’t bouncing up and down on the couch.
“They’re good, I guess. I think we’re both under a lot of stress right now.” He glanced down at his fingers, trying to avoid his sister’s gaze.
“Which means?”
Turning his head to look at her, he said, “She called me a perfectionist, and now I’m feeling self-conscious about it. Stacey said something similar at one point, and I guess I’m just nervous that if anything got serious, Sadie would leave me just like Stacey did.” The words spilled out, and he finally realized it was petty to worry about. Like he’d been called a name as a kid and was whining about it. “Forget it.”
“I don’t think she meant it as a bad thing. I know she’s liked you, and after seeing you two together at the festival, I know there’s some chemistry there. I think you both just need to get it figured out. Just work together. You are the perfect balance for her, and she for you.” She shrugged and smiled. “Just an outsider’s opinion.”
His next words came out in a whisper. “I like her a lot, but I don’t think I can go through a broken heart again.”
Aubrey moved closer, pulling him next to her. “You’re good. Honestly, I don’t know why you were with Stacey in the first place. I know she hurt you, but she would have manipulated you the rest of your life. So in a way, I wish I could thank her for leaving you alone so you can have the chance to find someone incredible, like Sadie.”
Evan swallowed hard, the emotion making it difficult. He nodded. “I guess I won’t know until I try.”
“That’s the Evan I know. The one who doesn’t give up. Just don’t think that’s a bad thing.” She gave him a look out of the corner of her eye, and Evan chuckled, grateful he’d come there.
Maybe he wasn’t all broken.
Chapter 23
The day before the wedding arrived, and Sadie was more nervous than ever. The fact that Evan had been delayed coming back to Vegas had taken its toll on her, making her worried that she’d done irreparable damage to their relationship. She’d texted and called, trying to apologize over and over again without luck, until finally he said, “Don’t worry about it. I’m good.”
He’d arrived back early that morning, and although he seemed more like his normal self, there was something holding him back, as if he were afraid Sadie would hurt him again.
“How goes the decorating?” he asked, coming up behind her in the large event room. He glanced around, nodding, and Sadie wondered if that meant he approved.
“It’s going. Would you mind helping me with this banner? I want it to hang between the pillars, and I’ve been trying to do it for some time by myself, with bad
results.”
He picked up the end she gave him and walked to where she requested. Holding it up, he waited for her to attach it on her end. He continued holding it until she walked up to him. The woodsy smell of him and the scruff on his face made Sadie want to lean up and kiss him, wanting a smile to take over his face as it had so many times over the past few weeks.
After staring at him a moment, she reached out to take his hand. The same electric pulse coursed through her hand and up to her shoulder, spreading from there to the rest of her body. “Please tell me you’re not still mad at me.” She stared into his hazel eyes, wanting to get lost in them and put all that had happened between them in the past.
The side of his mouth turned up, and he shook his head. “No, I’m not mad about that. I just didn’t realize how tired I am. I feel like I’ve been working like crazy over the past few weeks. I won’t know the results of the five-diamond award until the beginning of next year.”
Sadie bit her tongue, knowing another comment about perfection wouldn’t go over well with him. “Well, we’re less than twenty-four hours from the start of the wedding, and then you can get back to managing your hotel like normal. I’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”
His face softened, and she was surprised when he gathered her into his arms. He held her there for several seconds, and something poured between them, a sense of calm that she hadn’t felt since he’d held her on the swing in his parents’ backyard.
He pulled back enough that Sadie could see the emotions playing across his face. “I’m in no rush for you to leave, but I do need to go get some work done before everything goes crazy tomorrow. How have the events gone?”
Sadie nodded. “Really well. You’re not going shooting with the guys? I think they leave in an hour.”
Glancing down at his watch, realization dawned, and he said, “I’d better go. Otherwise, they’ll never let me live it down.” He leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her forehead, and gave her a smile.
Sadie watched him go, feeling like she’d just thrown herself off the cliff and was freefalling. To what end, she still didn’t know. This was why she’d guarded her heart for all those years, because the thought of not knowing the outcome scared her. Her life had been just fine without dredging up an old crush on her best friend’s brother, and she hoped she’d survive when this was all done.
Aubrey appeared in the doorway. “Are you ready, gal? We’ve got appointments for manis and pedis downstairs, and you’re coming with.”
“But I have all this I have to get done.”
Taking a step back, Aubrey waved some people in. “I asked Evan’s staff to help out. Now, tell them where you want everything and come relax with the girls. It will help take your mind off of everything. They’ll get the bulk of it all done, and then we can make minor changes and adjustments later tonight.”
Sadie bit her lip, not sure she wanted to chance that. What if they put things up in the wrong places? She’d worked on her own for so long, only having a handful of people to help her decorate. But this might be a nice change. And she could definitely use a day at the spa to feel better.
After fifteen minutes of in-depth instructions about where everything would go, Sadie gave the room one last look before Aubrey pulled her away and to the elevator, punching the down arrow.
“What’s wrong?” she asked Sadie.
“It will just be nice for the wedding to be over. There has been so much pressure leading up to it that I hope I do it justice.”
“You’re worrying about what Charleigh will think of it, aren’t you?”
“A little.”
Aubrey turned, trying to look into her eyes. “Is this about Evan?”
Moving her lips to the side, Sadie finally raised her eyes to look at her best friend. “Maybe.”
A wide smile spread across her face. “The last you told me, you had a crush on him again, but that was it.” She wiggled her eyebrows, making Sadie laugh.
“I know I said I would never have a relationship—”
“Which I’ve always told you was bologna,” Aubrey said, cutting her off.
Sadie rolled her eyes. “Well, I really like him, like more-than-just-a-crush like him.”
The elevator doors finally opened, and they stepped inside, Aubrey pressing the button for the shops on the floor below. She clapped her hands together and did a little dance, looking like she’d just opened up the best Christmas present ever.
“Why do you seem sad about it?” she asked.
“Because I keep getting mixed signals from him. And I don’t think he’s forgiven me for the perfectionist and arrogant comments. Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut?”
Aubrey wrapped an arm around Sadie’s shoulders and pulled her in. “But maybe that’s what will be the trump card for you. He’s always had trouble finding girls who like him for his personality instead of looks, and now money. You’re the one calling him out on how he can better himself, and I think, in the long run, it will help sway the vote in your favor.”
“When you say it like that, it makes me sound like I’m already perfect, when we know I’m far from that.” Blowing out a breath, Sadie was glad to see the elevator open and dozens of people milling about, in and out of the underground shops. “Where is your mom and everyone else?”
“I told them we’d meet them at the spa. We’ve got quite the day ahead, and I think we should do a few extra things for you.” Aubrey grinned, the look mischievous.
Holding up her hands, Sadie shook her head. “No, I’m the wedding planner. I’m not a bridesmaid or anyone who is supposed to be visible. I wear black and have my hair in a ponytail the entire time, with a headset glued to my mouth so I can communicate with everyone I need to. As much as I’d love to dress up, that’s not part of the job description.”
Aubrey smiled. “We’ll take care of all that. If it will help you have the best night ever and break through the wall of rules you’ve made for yourself over the past ten years, I’ll do it. I don’t have a guy to worry about, and I’m sorry, but Travis’s younger brother is only sixteen, so no temptation there. The rest is family. You’re the one with the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Rolling her eyes again, Sadie said, “Please. I’m sure your brother just sees me as your best friend, the nerdy girl who always had a crush on him in high school.” But as she said those words, she could still feel his lips against her forehead and the tender way he’d kissed her lips back at the ranch.
“Well, you’re not nerdy anymore. And I think he has a thing for you too.”
But would they be able to make it work? A guy who had fears about weddings and a girl who wasn’t sure she would be good at a long-term relationship after what her own parents had been through. They’d be quite the pair.
As they walked into the spa, Taryn, Dolores, Aubrey’s grandmother, and a handful of other relatives who were lined up in the chairs for pedicures cheered as they saw them enter. Aubrey led Sadie over to the row of ladies waiting to do manicures.
“Pick a fun color, and then we’ll find you a dress to match.”
As silly as it sounded, Sadie was filled with more hope than she’d had in quite some time.
Chapter 24
“Why are you looking all put out? I thought shooting with the guys was your idea?” Aiden bumped Evan with his elbow and raised his eyebrow with a question on his face.
“Long day. Long month, I should say. How are things with you?”
Aiden grinned and loaded his rifle, waiting for his turn in the line of guys shooting at clay pigeons on the outskirts of Vegas. “Going well. We just made it through another major update of Quickstagram, and am I glad to have that one in the books. Hopefully, it will improve the use and speed of it.”
Evan nodded, thinking that over. He never could have come up with something like that, needing tangible things to work with rather than code. But Aiden had always been good at that, contrary to what everyone who’d ever met them thought. Even though t
hey were identical twins, they still had a lot of differences in likes and dislikes.
“How are things with Sadie?”
Evan turned his head and frowned at his brother. “What do you mean?”
“Aubrey said you two were getting kind of close. I just thought I’d ask to see if she’s won over your guarded heart.”
Groaning, Evan should have suspected that his triplet sister would say something about the spark of interest he had in Sadie. Okay, it was more like a roaring fire at this point, and every attempt at squelching the thoughts and feelings was failing. The idea of liking someone that much while working to pick out items for a wedding, let alone prepare for one, made his insides disagree with his brain.
If only he’d known then what he knew now, he could have avoided proposing to Stacey and wouldn’t have gone through all the pain, thinking he’d lost out on his dreams. To not feel like he was enough for Stacey only drove him to push harder. What Sadie called the perfectionist in him had been working in rampant mode over the last five years.
“Well, she thinks I’m an arrogant perfectionist, so that’s about as well as it’s going.” His tone was harsher than he’d meant it to sound. He’d forgiven her for the comments, so why was he still irritated? Because he hadn’t done much to change just yet?
Aiden grinned. “Sounds like she’s a keeper, then. You’ve always complained about girls liking you for alternate motives. She knows just about everything there is to know about you and still has interest.”
Evan mulled that over, wondering if his brother was right. She was blunt, and he wasn’t used to that at all, not since Coach Montgomery, anyway. He’d learned so much and had been able to change from the feedback Coach had given him. Maybe a little criticism from Sadie wasn’t a bad thing.
The Vegas Billionaire: An International Billionaire Club Series Page 12
