As he thought about the retreat with the IBC guys, he wished it were sooner, feeling exhaustion wash over him. He’d been working hard since that day five years ago, and he hadn’t really stopped more than a day or two. He wanted more of what he’d had while visiting the ranch a few weeks before, a slower pace. Could he have that while still managing a successful hotel business?
It was something he’d need to find out. But if he could slow down, and Sadie did return his feelings, would he even know how to work that out? She’d be traveling all the time for weddings. Would he go with her, or would that be too much strain?
Too many questions for a simple shooting outing with the guys.
“I don’t know, bro,” he finally said. “I guess we’ll see how things turn out.”
Aiden moved into position to shoot, nailing each of the clay pigeons as they were thrown. Evan was up next, and for the first time in his life, he missed each and every target.
Every eye was on him, most with their mouths agape at the fact that he’d missed so many. He usually won every contest, had been the best at everything or had worked at it until he was. But it seemed as though ever since Sadie had called all that into question, he couldn’t function the same. Was his life falling apart because of it?
“That’s a first,” Darren said, slapping Evan on the back. “Welcome back to earth with the rest of us mortals, Ev.” He grinned.
A thought rang through. Evan had always delighted in being the best at everything he tried, but his older brother stood in front of him now, imperfect at best but a man with a loving wife and a growing family. Would it go against everything inside him to be okay with average?
Not that Sadie was average, but would she be okay with seeing his faults and imperfections, the slight insecurities that plagued him daily? He’d just have to figure that out. For the first time, a glimmer of hope welled up in his chest.
* * *
Aubrey held up a long silver dress in front of Sadie. “It’s your size. Try it on.” Glancing at the tag, Sadie’s eyes grew wide.
“There’s no way I can afford that, even with the pay I get from wedding planning. I would throw up just knowing how much it cost.” Sadie took a step back, trying to keep herself from touching the fabric. The dress was beautiful, and she could picture herself in it, but not for tens of thousands of dollars.
Whipping out a card, Aubrey grinned. “Let’s not worry about price right now.”
Frowning, Sadie said, “Aubrey, there’s no way you can pay that much for a dress either.”
“But it’s not my card. It’s Evan’s.”
“Why do you have his card?” Sadie folded her arms and averted her eyes from the dress, the temptation to try it on pulling at her with each second that ticked past.
Wiggling her eyebrows, Aubrey said, “Because he told me to put all the expenses from today on it.”
“That doesn’t mean he okayed a fifteen-thousand-dollar dress.” Sadie moved away, glancing at the other dresses in the couture store. One caught her eye, a dark blue satin that looked like it would hit around her knees. She could wear that while getting everything ready before the wedding and still look more dressed up than usual.
Pulling it off the rack, she looked it over, liking the ruffles along the front.
“That is a cute one. But are you sure you don’t want the silver one?”
Shaking her head, Sadie said, “I’m not buying a dress on your brother’s card, no matter how much or how little it costs.”
“Why not?”
“Because I can buy my own. I think I’ll try this one on.” She took the dress to the dressing room and pulled it on, wishing it wasn’t so tight around her curves.
“I want to see it before you take it off.” Aubrey’s voice was more sing-song than anything.
Sadie sighed, walking out of the room. With a twirl, she pretended to strike a pose, imitating a model at the end of the runway.
Aubrey’s finger was over her mouth and tapping away. “I like it, but I don’t love it.”
“Well, find something I can afford,” Sadie said, pointing her finger and raising an eyebrow. Her best friend grinned and turned around, moving to look through some more dresses.
Sadie changed back into her clothes, deciding she’d have to look as well or they’d either be there all day, or Aubrey would convince her to buy something way out of her budget.
An hour and fifteen dresses later, Sadie walked out of the high-end store with an emerald-green dress that Aubrey was convinced matched Sadie’s eyes.
“Okay, now for shoes.”
Sadie loved to shop as much as the next girl, but with as picky as Aubrey was being about everything, she was more worn out than she cared to admit, and she still had a long night ahead.
“How about you pick something for me? You know my size. Nothing sky-high, though. I still need to be able to walk.”
Aubrey winked at her. “Okay, but no flats. We’ve got to show off those legs of yours.”
At her comment, Sadie pictured Evan looking at her legs, and she was suddenly self-conscious. Maybe she needed a longer dress because now she wasn’t going to survive without worrying about him staring at her throughout the entire wedding.
“Just make sure they’re sensible. I’ve got to get back upstairs to make sure everything is ready for the rehearsal dinner.”
Waving Aubrey off, Sadie made her way back up to the event room. The staff had done a great job with most of the decorations, transforming the nice big room into the vision in her head. White fabric had been draped from the center and then out at several points, along with white twinkle lights, and she could picture what it would look like with the lights off.
Chairs were set up on one half of the room and tables on the other, making the best use of the space to transform from a ceremony to the reception. That was one of the requests Taryn made that Sadie had been all for, having the ceremony and the reception back-to-back. While it was a little stressful to get everything set up at first, it made it nice so that they didn’t have to wait for hours and the two could escape to their honeymoon sooner.
In the corner sat several rustic wood planters, and when she saw Darren the next day, she would have to kiss him for helping her out on such short notice. He’d also put together several square plank pieces which she would use around the food displays to add that rustic touch.
Taking the planters, she started arranging them on the tables, figuring they would work for the rehearsal dinner which started in less than two hours. It was easier to get as much decorated in the wee hours of the morning as she could so she didn’t have to worry about accidentally sleeping in or not having the time to fix any problems that might arise.
With the pint-sized mason jars settled into each of the planters, she worked to tie white and pink burlap pieces around the base, tying into the theme of the wedding and adding a pop of color to the table.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you are a workaholic.” Evan’s smooth, deep voice caused her to jump a bit before turning around and smiling at him.
“That could be true, except I spent the day being pampered with your family.” Something about her words made him smile, and he came and sat in one of the white folding chairs next to her.
“I just missed every shot I took with my family. Which is a first.” His gaze locked onto hers, and she tried to hide a shudder as a chill spread throughout her.
Turning to focus on the burlap, she smiled. “From what I can remember, you didn’t miss often.” She wasn’t sure what she was trying to imply, only leaving the statement alone and focusing to get the look of the bow just right.
Evan drummed his fingers along the table, causing Sadie to glance up. “What are your plans for tonight?” he asked, looking relaxed against the seat.
Sadie couldn’t help but contain a laugh as she gestured toward the room. “Look around you. I’ve got a rehearsal dinner in ninety minutes, a wedding happening in less than twenty-four hours, and a rece
ption after. I could use some help, though.” She grinned at him, watching his expression range from disgust to uncertainty.
“Are you all right? You don’t have to if it’s too much for you,” she said, realizing he might not be up for dealing with more wedding-related jobs that dredged up old memories. She’d concluded that this was the bulk of why he was acting weird lately, that the idea of planning and even participating in a wedding was throwing him off. At least, she hoped that was true.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. What can I do?” He frowned as he looked at the table, and Sadie held in a laugh so he wouldn’t run off.
“Why don’t you get the planters from the wall over there and bring them here?”
He nodded and retrieved them, bringing several in one trip. As he placed them on the table, she saw his strong hands as they let go of the handles and remembered his hand holding hers. Why had everything she could remember happened in Aspen Hollow?
He grimaced. “Do you need me to help you tie bows?”
Sadie laughed, tilting her head back and glancing at the ceiling. “No. I won’t torture you completely. But I wouldn’t mind some company while I tie them. How was California?”
He started talking, and Sadie was glad he was slipping back into the Evan she’d started to fall in love with several weeks ago. Her crush on him had always been just that, but getting to know him more over the past few weeks, she’d come to see there was a lot more underneath the surface. She just hoped he’d be able to make it through this wedding, or at least let her help him through it.
Chapter 25
Evan shook his head as he walked down to the parking garage. He was proud of himself for sticking around to help Sadie, even though it was more talking than actual helping. Seeing all of the work that went into the wedding and seeing Sadie at the center of it did something to his brain, and he hoped he’d made some progress in getting over his past trauma of being dumped on his wedding day.
He’d gone back to his room and arrived “late” for the rehearsal dinner, hoping that they’d have the actual rehearsal part of it done by the time he arrived. But in true Taryn fashion, they’d only just begun when he came down. Sadie had been within earshot, and the thought of saying “corn dogs” crossed his mind, but he was determined to make it through this part tonight and deal with the rest in the morning.
He’d thought about requesting George to take him for a drive, but he needed the feel of control and the ability to speed to get all the anxiety out of his system.
At least he wasn’t the best man and wouldn’t have to be front and center all the time like he’d been at his own failed wedding.
What he needed was a way to break through the fog and the disappointment. How could he resolve the one thing that had been niggling at him for the last five years, especially when he hadn’t connected with anyone but a girl who’d committed to never marry?
He’d only been back in Vegas for a few hours, and he already wished he could return to one of the hotels he owned in California. It had been easier to put his mind to work rather than consistently dredging up the old memories of the wedding again. It was as though he was beaten down with each memory, feeling like he wasn’t good enough, that he didn’t measure up. With the many things he’d accomplished over the years, his failure seemed to be shining through, no matter how much he tried to cover it up in his mind.
No amount of training, no award, could give him what he now wanted more than ever: a wife and family. But would he end up in the same position if he moved further with Sadie? He didn’t want to think about going through heartbreak again.
Evan raced down a back road in the dark of night, feeling the speed pull something free inside him. It was small, but it was enough relief to allow the rest of him to relax a bit.
As he thought more about Jackson, Tristan, and Roman, he realized they had all conquered their pasts, each finding a woman who adored them, or kept them in line, or both. Evan grinned as he thought about it, especially Jackson’s relationship with Hailey, Coach Montgomery’s daughter. But the sisters, Juliette and Isabelle, weren’t mild either, each of them having a fiery personality to help Tristan and Roman.
His thoughts turned to Sadie, and he wondered if she could really be that for him. Could she handle moving from hotel to hotel as each project moved forward? She already did that somewhat for weddings, but the more Evan thought about it, the more he realized how much he wanted something more simple, more settled. He would probably always have to travel, but if he could make it less and train the right people to take over his hotels, he just might find that peace he needed, maybe even with the one he needed.
Blue and red lights flashed behind him, and Evan tapped the steering wheel with his hand. He’d been so focused on what was going on in his mind that he hadn’t been looking for cops. Pulling over, he took out his wallet and insurance information, ready to hand it to the man as he walked up.
“Driver’s license and registration.” The cop bent down so he could see through the window, a flashlight blinding Evan at one point.
Evan handed the papers to the man and waited.
After several seconds of staring at the information, the man asked, “Where are you heading, and do you know how fast you were going?”
“I was just out for a drive to get some air. I wasn’t looking at the speedometer.” Evan had never been good at lying, especially under pressure like this, so it was best to just admit the truth.
“Well, you certainly got a lot of air, then, because you were going at least twenty miles over the speed limit. And that was after you put on the brakes.”
“I’m sorry, sir. My sister is getting married tomorrow, and I’m not good with weddings.”
The man looked into his eyes, making Evan feel self-conscious. After several awkward seconds, he said, “Give me a few minutes to process this information.”
Evan nodded and leaned his head on the headrest. This was just what he needed tonight.
After a few minutes, the cop came back. “I’ve reduced the speeding to nine over, so you won’t be reported to your insurance company. Call it an early wedding gift for your sister that you’re not in jail right now.”
A measure of relief passed through Evan, and he gave the man a tight smile. “I will. Thank you, sir.”
Rolling the window back up, Evan turned the car around and drove at a leisurely pace back to the hotel. He didn’t need to get hit with another ticket tonight, and at the rate his luck was falling, he’d end up behind bars. His mother wouldn’t be too happy about that, and neither would his sisters. But the one person he didn’t feel like disappointing right now was Sadie.
Chapter 26
By the time she’d finished cleaning up after the dinner and setting up the rest of the event hall, Sadie had only slept about three hours the night before. Now, at seven in the morning, she had done all she could to cover the signs of tiredness that covered her face and went back to work.
The flowers were being delivered in the next hour, and with the confirmation of the food from Tom, most everything was ready, at least she hoped.
How are you doing?
Her fingers paused over the keyboard on her phone, trying to figure out what else to send to Evan. He’d said something about needing some air the night before, and as much as she’d have loved to go with him, he looked like he just needed out of the hotel.
She pushed send and tucked her phone into her back pocket, ready to arrange flowers.
A few hours later, at noon, Sadie went to check on the bridal party in one of the larger suites near the one Sadie was staying in. Walking in, it seemed like a mass of women bustling about, curlers in hair and most of them not quite ready to go yet.
She looked around and spotted Aubrey over next to Taryn, curling her sister’s hair. Sadie’s best friend had always been good with hair, and had she not had an interest in nursing, she probably would have become a cosmetologist.
“Sadie, I’m so glad you’re up here. How are things?�
�� Taryn smiled, but the look seemed off, not brightening her entire face like Sadie was used to. Nerves. Even someone as confident and prepared for life as Taryn was a little nervous on her wedding day.
Holding up her hand, Sadie gave the signal for okay. “Everything is set up for the ceremony and reception. We have all the flowers delivered, and I just finished arranging them in the different areas around the hall. The food will be here shortly, and I just wanted to check on all of you before I head over to make sure the guys are ready.”
Sadie heard something tear behind her and turned to see the panicked look on the face of one of the two other bridesmaids. Walking over to her, Sadie smiled.
“Just take it off for a second. I’ll get it fixed in a couple of minutes, and you’ll be good to go.” Pulling her shirt up a few inches, Sadie pulled a needle and thread out of a small fanny pack she kept hidden during weddings for this purpose. She’d loved watching The Wedding Planner as a girl, and it was that innovative idea that had saved her more times than she could even count during the weddings she’d planned.
After quickly stitching the seam over the shoulder, Sadie handed it back to the girl, helping her pull it up so the stitches wouldn’t be under any force to pull them apart.
When that was done, she moved back to the Pearson clan. “Okay, how are things over here?”
“We are doing well, Sadie, dear. Why don’t you sit down so we can get you ready as well?” Dolores Pearson said with a grin.
Holding up a hand, Sadie backed a step or two away. “I’d love to, but right now I need to make sure there is a groom and groomsmen waiting, or at least getting ready.”
“What do you mean, ‘make sure there’s a groom’? Travis is here, right?” Taryn’s eyes flashed, and she looked toward the door as if she could see right through it.
The Vegas Billionaire: An International Billionaire Club Series Page 13
