Holiday Wedding

by Robyn Neeley

  He laughed and his face lit up brighter than the lights he’d strung up on their cabin’s Christmas tree. “I know we can do this. Remember, we can do anything together.”

  “Yeah, but a million dollars might have helped us get a head start.”

  “Not this time. He rubbed her shoulders and that simple act caused a rush of heat to pulse through her. “It’s cold outside. Why don’t I go out and greet folks? You okay here?”

  “Yeah.” She waved him off, watching as he greeted a returning Olivia and Miles at the gymnasium’s entrance. Olivia showed off a small train in her palm to a smiling Drew. Lauren took a deep breath, sending a reminder to every jealous bone in her body that he had asked for time. Still, it hurt to see another woman gushing up at him.

  She grabbed the box with the now-void fliers and shoved it under the table. What was Luke going to do when he found out his brother had put the kibosh on the contest? And how on earth were they going to sell all of these dolls without some type of incentive other than the discounted price? She turned and faced the dolls. “Okay, boys, I’m especially talking to you. Get your game faces on. It’s time for all of you to go to your new homes.” Her face fell, knowing that was a tall order and more than likely they’d be shipping several of them back to the JDL Toys warehouse.

  I need you to believe in it, too. Drew’s words rang through her. She wanted to. God, she wanted to. She tapped her hands on the table in thought. There had to be a way to turn this around.

  • • •

  “I had so much fun,” Olivia said. “Maybe we could go back there tomorrow?” Drew felt a tug. “Drew, are you listening?”

  Drew looked down to see Olivia’s fingers pulling on his scarf. “I’m sorry. Sure. Whatever you’d like.” He paused, wondering what he’d just agreed to. “Where did you want to go tomorrow?”

  “Oh, nowhere.” Olivia grinned. “Just to city hall to get married.”

  “Um … er…uh …” Drew stumbled to find his words, any words, because that excursion was not happening.

  She slapped his arm. “I’m kidding. Where were you just now?”

  “What?”

  “You seem a little preoccupied. Is everything okay?”

  Drew watched as Miles passed out candy to the festivalgoers waiting to go inside. He’d asked for their help, and they were just about done greeting the line. He shook his head. Giving out chocolate and saying “Merry Christmas” paled in comparison to the fliers Luke had wanted them to pass out.

  He should probably just go along with the contest. It was a lot of money; he knew that. But it would also mean that, yet again, his brother was swooping in and saving the day. Drew wanted the doll to sell because it was a good product, not because buying it could lead to a life-changing cash prize. That wasn’t the happily ever after he wanted for his dolls.

  He glanced behind him, catching a glimpse of Lauren. Speaking of happily ever after—

  They’d been headed in the right direction yesterday before Olivia showed up, but this morning Lauren didn’t seem to want to talk about it. Her relief when James arrived with the dolls didn’t go unnoticed.

  Maybe she regretted their kiss in the dressing room and thought it had been a mistake. He didn’t think that was the case, but at some point, he needed to get her alone and find out.

  He turned away, his gaze back on Olivia. He’d wanted to talk to her last night, but she’d been so happy to see him. He didn’t have the balls to break up with her on her first night.

  They’d ordered Chinese food, and before he’d had a chance to make up some excuse for her not to share his bed, she’d asked to sleep in a separate room, saying she was feeling a bit under the weather.

  “Are you feeling any better?” he asked. She looked like she had a little more color than she did earlier. He’d offered to pick her up something from Dasher’s Diner, but she refused.

  “Yes. It was probably something I ate. Sometimes sweet and sour chicken doesn’t agree with me.” She showed him her empty basket. “We’re all out of candy. Are you excited for today?”

  He nodded. “I will be once this shindig gets under way.” He glanced at the crowd and then back at Olivia. He needed to man up and do the right thing. “Could we have dinner together tonight? Just you and me.”

  “Sure.” She smiled and adjusted her elf hat. “I’m going to see if Lauren needs some help. I’ll see you in there.”

  “Yep. I’ll be right behind you.” He reached for the glass door and held it open. Luke, Kate, and Lauren were wrong about her. Olivia was a good person who certainly didn’t need to get tossed around in his and Lauren’s storm of a relationship. He hoped she’d be okay and would forgive him one day.

  He turned to a smirking Miles. “What?” God, even without saying a word the guy annoyed him.

  “Nothing.” He nodded. “I’m going to go join the girls and sell your children.”

  “Dude, you sell even half those boy dolls, and I’ll spring for a night out on the town with a limo.”

  “Deal.” He nodded. “I can’t wait to get that blonde in there on the dance floor to forget her troubles.”

  What did that mean? Was he insinuating Drew was trouble for Lauren? “Lauren’s going to be just fine.”

  “Good, because I was talking about Olivia.” He headed toward the entrance but spun around. “Step it up, Drew, and do right by both of them.”

  Drew bit his lip. Did he just get schooled by Miles? And what exactly did he know about his situation with Lauren?

  Who was he kidding? The dude was Lauren’s best friend and they’d had dinner and drinks last night. Of course he knew.

  Olivia really liked him, too. She’d mentioned a few times last night how much fun she’d had hanging out with Miles over the last week. Like him or not, it might be nice for Olivia to have someone to lean on once Drew finally admitted to her he was still in love with Lauren.

  • • •

  “Look at all those babes!” Miles slid up to the table, linking his arm with Olivia’s.

  The doors officially opened and festivalgoers streamed in. If Drew hadn’t scrapped the contest, Lauren was all but sure there would have been a race to the table with dolls snatched up left and right. She’d spent the last hour explaining their decision to Luke, who was less than thrilled, had a few choice words for her to relay back to his brother, but, nevertheless, said he’d take care of canceling the press conference.

  Turning to Miles, she tugged on his elf hat. “I’m getting kind of hungry. Care to make a quick run to Comet Coffee?”

  “Sure.” He smiled at Olivia. “What can I get you, dear?”

  Lauren watched as Olivia’s hands went to her stomach. “I’ve been a bit under the weather this morning. Maybe just a plain bagel and some water.”

  “Got it. Be right back.”

  “Oh, and James brought you this to wear.” Lauren picked up an elf costume she’d placed earlier on the chair and handed it to him.

  “Silly man. I thought I’d be wearing it later.” He winked.

  Olivia stared longingly at the costume. “Miles, you’ll look so cute. I wonder if I could get one, too.” She scanned the crowd of exhibitors. “Maybe Natasha could help me?”

  “I think Natasha said something about going back to Santa’s Workshop,” Lauren said, and Olivia’s face instantly fell. Who knew she was so into Christmas?

  Lauren thought for a second. It would be super cute if Olivia and Miles got into elf costumes and passed out dolls. From her own experience, she knew kids loved meeting elves. Reaching under the table, she pulled out her purse and searched for her keys. “You’re in luck. I have tights and shoes in my glove compartment that will complement your elf hat. Miles, can you grab them on your way back in?”

  “Sure thing.” He took the keys. “Back in a flash.”

  “What size shoe do you wear?”

  “Seven.”

  “Perfect. We’re the same size.”

  Olivia clapped her hands. “Yay! I�
�m sure Drew will love my being an elf.”

  Lauren bit down the urge to tell Olivia what Drew would like and it wasn’t some elf costume on the woman standing in front of her. Obviously Olivia didn’t know him as well as she thought she did. The last thing Mr. I Hate Everything about Christmas would care about was seeing his girlfriend in red and white striped tights and sparkly shoes.

  She took a deep breath. Just get through today. Eager to get to the task at hand, she pointed to her laptop. “Okay, here’s the scoop. These dolls normally sell for forty dollars, but today we’re offering fifty percent off. Let’s encourage anyone who buys a doll to register online on the spot to find who its soul mate is. You and Miles can make a big production of it.”

  “Easy enough,” Olivia said.

  “I think so, too. Then they can log on later to play the interactive games. At least we’ll have the doll registered and they’ll get their first clue to finding their doll’s soulmate. Maybe we could get a couple of testimonial videos from the kids, sharing their first clue.”

  “That would be cute.” Olivia smiled dryly but took a seat, scooting closer to the laptop. “Wouldn’t it be great if we could all find out the name of our soul mate at an early age?”

  “I’m sorry?” Lauren played with the tinsel James had brought earlier, wrapping it around the packages.

  “It could be a big event, like during your sixteenth birthday. You get a special login and you find out who you’ll be with when you get older.”

  “Interesting idea.” Lauren continued to busy herself playing with the tinsel and doing her best to ignore Olivia and her sweet sixteen babble.

  “It would save all the aggravation.” She reached down and grabbed a blond boy doll, causing Lauren to stop and watch her for a second. “I know who his soul mate is.”

  “You do?” Lauren asked. “How? It’s not included on the box—or in it, for that matter.”

  “I’m not talking about the doll.”

  “Oh.” Lauren looked down at her boots. Were they going to have an altercation here? Where the hell was Miles to referee?

  Olivia continued to hold the doll on her lap. “He was never mine. I just really want you to know that I’m okay with it.”

  “You are?”

  “Drew’s getting ready to break up with me.” She laughed and Lauren could almost taste the bitterness. “Dumped by both Cannon men. Did you know Luke broke up with me around the holidays, too?”

  Lauren hadn’t remembered. Drew and she had just moved to Los Angeles earlier that year, and Luke kept his personal life pretty much to himself. Months had gone by before she and Drew realized Luke was single. She didn’t know what to say. “Olivia, I’m sorry, I never meant—”

  Olivia pushed her hand up while lowering her head. “Stop. I’m not going to fight for him.”

  “You aren’t?” Lauren narrowed her eyes. “Why not?”

  Olivia handed the doll over. “Because he was never mine.”

  Wow. Lauren looked down at the boy in her hands, his piercing blue eyes mirroring Drew’s. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “We never stood a chance,” Olivia said through teary eyes.

  Lauren grabbed her purse and fished out a tissue, handing it to Olivia. She hadn’t expected to have this conversation. For as much as she despised this woman, she felt sorry for her because clearly Olivia was in pain. “Do you want to go back to Manhattan? We could probably get you a flight out today.”

  “No.” She blew her nose. “I’m really having fun here …”

  Lauren’s eyebrow shot up. “You are?”

  “Well, not the impending getting-dumped part, but I had a blast this morning making toys with Miles. I’d kind of like to stay through the wedding, and spend some time with Jack. I can get a hotel room in town.” She paused, her face full of hope. “If that’s okay with you.”

  Lauren studied Olivia. Every fiber in her body was saying this was so not okay and that this woman shouldn’t be trusted. Wasn’t this the exact “sweet Olivia” behavior that almost trapped Luke into marrying her?

  Maybe she had another trick up her sleeve that involved first pretending to accept the breakup, then working herself back into Drew’s life by using his father to do it. Jack always had a soft spot for his former assistant.

  Miles would surely disagree with her suspicion that Olivia had ulterior motives for wanting to stay, regardless of her less-than-spotless record when it came to manipulating the Cannon men. Her best friend had really warmed up to Olivia. Could Lauren trust his instincts—not to mention Drew’s, who also believed she’d changed?

  She turned and looked around at the festive booths dripping in Christmas colors. If there was any place that could help lift a person’s spirits, it was definitely Snow Frost Mountain. There was something about this town that just made you happy. She took a deep breath, not believing what was queued up to come out of her mouth next. “It’s fine. You should stay.”

  “Thank you.” Olivia cracked a smile. “I might need to borrow your best friend if that’s okay. A girl can get through anything life throws at her with a best buddy.”

  Lauren glanced toward the entrance. Miles had returned and was chatting away with James. Maybe Miles was the answer. Who needed a Cannon man when you could have an amazing sidekick?

  A sidekick … a best friend … a best buddy. “Oh my God! That’s it!” Lauren turned and examined the dolls behind her. She began pulling boxes, arranging them in boy-girl order. “Olivia, you’re a genius!”

  “I am?” She stood. “What did I say?”

  Just then Miles returned to the table. “Arranging a conga line of misfit toys?” Miles laughed, wiggling his hips. “Cha, cha, cha.” He set a brown paper bag down and handed Olivia the tights and sparkly shoes.

  “Oh, my.” Olivia held one sparkly red and green shoe up.

  Lauren laughed. “You said you wanted to wear an elf costume. Why don’t you two go get changed? I’ve got to talk to Drew.”

  Miles and Olivia grabbed their elf gear and headed to the restrooms while Lauren rushed to the front of the gymnasium.

  She pushed open the glass doors to see Drew talking with two pretty women who looked slightly older than Lauren. They were both laughing up a storm at something he had just said. “Excuse me.” She inserted herself between Drew and one of the women.

  “Lauren.” He grabbed her hand. “I want you to meet Donner and Blitzen.”

  Her eyebrows furrowed. “Okay …”

  “Maureen Donner and Sophie Blitzen. Maureen is a photographer and Sophie runs Blitzen Buds flower shop. Luke’s been in touch with them already to do the wedding.”

  “Hi. That’s great. It’s nice to meet you both.” She smiled wryly, pulling Drew’s hand. “If you’ll excuse us, I need to steal the best man away.”

  “What’s up?” He reached for her hand and threaded it with his. His fingers were icy. She wanted nothing more to take him somewhere private and warm him up, but now was not the time so she pulled her hand away.

  “I have an idea, a big one.”

  Drew shoved his hands in his coat pocket. “To sell the dolls?”

  “Yes.” Lauren nodded, still not believing the solution to their problem had been in front of them all this time. “Yes, and it was inspired by something Olivia said.”

  “What did she say?” Drew opened the door for her and they headed toward their display.

  Lauren wasn’t about to share her earlier conversation with Olivia. As much as she wanted to let Drew know that Olivia had all but thrown in the towel, it wasn’t her place. She moved behind the table and reached for a male doll, holding it up. “What does every girl need to help her get through life?”

  Drew’s forehead wrinkled. “Is this a trick question?”

  She laughed. “No. Every girl needs a male best buddy.” She smiled down at the doll. “Someone who can be completely inappropriate but makes her laugh and helps her through the ups and downs of life.”

  Drew nodded
. “Someone to pick you up when you’re feeling low.”

  “Yes, to be there for you through thick and thin.”

  “The one person you can always count on to dance with you.”

  “Exactly.” She didn’t quite get the dance reference, but she realized Drew knew where she was going with this. They’d always been on the same page in that regard. It was what made them a good team. “We’re not going to sell these dolls to boys.”

  “It’s the girls we need to target.” His eyes widened. “That’s genius!”

  “We’re going to sell the dolls with a two-for-one price. The girl dolls get a male best friend to play with while they wait to find their soul mate.”

  Drew seemed to be further processing the idea. “I like it. We focus our attention on the consumer who has always been interested in the Happily Ever After dolls from the get-go…”

  “The girls!” they said in unison, excitement sang through both of their voices.

  “This is going to work.” Drew brought her in for a jubilant hug, and Lauren took the opportunity to wrap her arms around the man she loved, never wanting to let him go.

  “What are we celebrating?”

  Lauren didn’t need to turn around to see whose voice that question belonged to. She stepped back from Drew’s embrace and smoothed her hair. Standing in front of them were both Miles and Olivia in their elf attire. Lauren’s shoes sparkled on Olivia’s feet. “Olivia, I was just telling Drew how you inspired a fabulous idea to sell these dolls.”

  “I did?”

  “You sure did. Right, Drew?” Lauren looked over at Drew, who for some reason had lost his ability to talk. His head was down and his gaze appeared to be locked on Olivia’s tights. “Drew?”

  “Um … yeah.” He looked up. “We’re going to focus on selling the boy dolls to the girls because … um … we were thinking …”

  Lauren studied Drew. Something was wrong. She turned to Miles. “What does every girl need to get through life?”

  “Chocolate and a vibrator?” He shrugged. “Not that I’ve seen Lauren’s.”