What Makes Us Stronger (A Well Paired Novel Book 3)

by Marianne Rice

“Damn, she’s cute.”

  “Yeah.” Realizing Cam wasn’t talking about Lily, he shifted his gaze to the lawn and watched Delaney practically skip down the aisle to the gazebo taking her place next to Cameron.

  “How’s your mom doing?” Cam asked.

  “She said the justice of the peace better make this fast.”

  “Oh yeah? She hungry?”

  “Seriously. I’m not a child. I know she wants to get to the kissing part and take off for the honeymoon.”

  They all laughed and Cam sucked in his cheeks, which turned pink.

  “Didn’t know I was adopting such a cheeky kid.”

  “Mom says you’re in trouble when PMS hits.”

  Ty couldn’t help the loud snort that came out his nose. Even the JP was laughing. Yeah, the Smithfield trio would be one of the lucky families.

  “Hot damn.” Cam let out a loud sigh. “My wife is freaking gorgeous.”

  And that she was. Hope could walk down in a paper sack and she’d still knock Cam off his feet. The love that radiated off her was blinding. Ty cocked his head to the right and studied Lily. She dabbed her eye with a tissue, her focus on Hope right up into the gazebo and was in the crosshairs of their view.

  Ty felt the rush in his chest when her eyes met his, and this time he was the one who almost stumbled. Lily blinked rapidly and moved her gaze to Hope’s back. There were words being said, but Ty didn’t hear any of them until Cam smacked his arm.

  “Rings?”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Right here.” Ty pulled them out of his coat pocket and handed them to the JP.

  A few minutes later Cam and Hope were kissing, and there were loud whoops from the crowd. A group hug was had with the new family of three, and Ty barely remembered what came next. He went to the stairs and held out his arm for Lily, helping her down the steps, and led her and the other bridesmaids around to the barn for pictures.

  Heat radiated off Lily’s delicate arm; even through his jacket he could feel her soft, delicate features. Being so close, he could smell her fragrance again. She smelled like... her spa. Not something he’d smelled before. Some sort of incense and flower. He didn’t do flowers so he couldn’t identify it, not that it mattered.

  Lily had her own unique scent, which matched her perfectly. They stood arm in arm while the others lingered behind.

  “That was a lovely ceremony.” Lily licked her lips, and Ty held back his groan.

  They glistened more than ever under the sunlight, and the highlights from her hair practically glowed. “Yeah.”

  “Delaney is wonderful.”

  “She is.” His fingers itched to reach over and stroke her hand that was still lightly draped through his elbow.

  “Hope is gorgeous.”

  “Yeah.” He stared down at Lily’s lavender nails and wondered what they’d feel like raked across his back.

  Lavender? Had he just identified her nails as such? Ty let his gaze follow her downy white skin, traveling up her arms and resting on her bare neck. Her hair was pulled up and back in some sort of intricate twisty thing. While he loved it down, this allowed him to see her neck and imagine what she’d taste like right behind her ear.

  Lily’s breath caught.

  Busted. She’d caught him staring, which was sure as hell hard not to do.

  Loosening her grip on his arm, Lily stepped away and fiddled with the earrings dangling from her ears. He hadn’t noticed them before, too caught up with her arms and neck, but her ears. Yeah, he wouldn’t mind nibbling on those as well.

  “Do you two need a minute?” Grace asked, her arms folded across her chest, and a wicked grin on her face.

  Busted. Again.

  “No. I, uh, we, are they doing pictures now?”

  “Yeah. The photographer already got a bunch of the happy couple. Now they want the singles. Well, and Alexis.”

  It was better with more people around. So caught up in Lily, he hadn’t realized they’d walked well past the meeting spot. Now, with the photographer posing them in odd combinations—paying up the single groomsman and five bridesmaid angle—the mood had been lightened. Which was a good thing or Hope and Cam would be mortified when they got their wedding photos back and spotted Ty pitching a serious tent in his pants.

  The rest of the evening was more relaxed with distractions at every turn. Ty had taken the seat to Cam’s left and asked Ben to sit next to him. This saved him from the temptation of Lily and from Mia and Grace’s smart mouths.

  When the couple’s first dance was called they invited the entire bridal party. Alexis pulled Ben, but Ty was still stuck with four bridesmaids. Most men wouldn’t have any problem with this situation, granted one was his sister, but Ty wasn’t most guys. He wasn’t a flirt. Wasn’t a player. And wasn’t interested in having any type of relationship.

  Taking the easy way out, he pulled Delaney to her feet and danced with her while the four bridesmaids paired off and danced around Hope and Cameron to Christina Perri’s “A Thousand Years”. The song was fitting for the couple. He spun Delaney around and around the dance floor, doing his best to forget about the beautiful blonde who smelled of her spa and had his mind spinning in fifty different directions.

  CHAPTER THREE

  LILY REPLAYED THE BEAUTIFUL wedding through her mind for the next few days. It was easy to escape into the magical feel of romance while putting foils in her client’s hair or giving a massage. There were times when she enjoyed the conversation, and she allowed her clients to control how much chatter went on with their appointments.

  While some came to socialize and beautify, others wanted to have a quiet and relaxing experience. It was during those quiet moments when she daydreamed.

  She’d attended literally hundreds of balls, galas, and charity events over the years wearing designer gowns and some of the most expensive jewelry on the planet. Yet it was in her simple lavender dress that Hope had found online through a discount retailer that made her feel truly like a princess.

  Or maybe it was the way Ty’s dark eyes kept glancing her way during the ceremony. Or the way he rushed to her aid when she’d almost tripped up the steps. She wasn’t even close to falling, yet he’d appeared at her side in an instant like a true gentleman. Lily touched her upper arm where he had grabbed on to her.

  “Don’t tell me you’re cold, Lily. The ocean breeze feels darn right heavenly. You’ll lose your tip if you close the front door.”

  Priscilla tsked her while flipping through the magazine in her lap. Good ‘ol Priscilla. She was a character for sure. Running the Sunrise Diner for the past four decades, she prided herself on knowing all the goings-on in town and claimed to be somewhat of a psychic. Some called her a matchmaker, but she never pushed couples together, only claimed to know of the match before the lucky souls fell in love.

  Whether her ability was premonition or pure coincidence, Lily wasn’t sure. The only couples she’d heard of Priscilla predicting were Cameron and Hope, and Ben and Alexis, but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how each couple would end up.

  The girls at book club predicted the same without seeing the aura Priscilla claimed to pick up on around two destined souls.

  “I can’t believe these two are back together. Again. Must be the third time in the past decade.” Priscilla flipped the pages of Hollywood gossip and tossed the magazine on Lily’s workstation table.

  Once upon a time, Lily had been caught up in the gossip as well. Only she got her news from reliable sources, not popular magazines.

  “What about you, sweetheart. You’ve been in town nearly two years now. I think it’s time Scilla reads your aura.”

  “I’m all set. But thanks.” Lily laughed as she painted on the last of the red hair dye.

  “It’s not like you can hide it from me. I don’t like to be nosey or nothing.”

  “Ha!” Ruth shouted from two chairs down.

  “Never mind her. Ruth’s curlers must be in too tight. Go easy on her, Annie. She doesn’t have much commo
n sense left in that head of hers.”

  Ruth and Priscilla had been best friends and worst enemies for as long as they’d known each other. At least, that’s what Lily had learned in her short time in Crystal Cove. Town characters they were. Ruth stayed mostly in her house, only coming out for her twice a month hair appointment and Sunday brunch at the Sunrise Diner after church.

  Like clockwork, she’d scold Priscilla for working on the Lord’s day, and Priscilla would say something inappropriate and sometimes anatomically impossible. But since Ruth was married to Bruce, Priscilla’s husband’s best friend, they held off on completely ringing each other’s necks.

  Everyone knew they had each other’s backs though, in time of need. From the stories Lily had heard, Ruth had saved Priscilla from a capsized boat when they were in their twenties. She didn’t know how to swim, and Ruth held her above water for thirty minutes while they waited to be rescued.

  And back in 1989, Priscilla gave Ruth the Heimlich maneuver during the Sunday rush at the restaurant, yelling at everyone to back away and give Ruth some space. There were other stories Lily had heard, but their banter was just as much fun to listen to as their heroic stories.

  “If your mouth didn’t run so much you might not have so much gray in your hair. Don’t know why you try to hide it. You’re old as dirt.”

  “Says the woman whose birthday is six weeks before mine.”

  “And four years later.”

  No one knew exactly how old they were. Somewhere between sixty and eighty. Lily placed a cap over Priscilla’s head and tugged off her gloves.

  “You never was any good at math.”

  “And you don’t know your colors. Still pretending to see them swirling around the young folks in town as if you’re some psychic.”

  “Haven’t been wrong yet.”

  Lily turned on the dryer and led Priscilla to the chair. “About fifteen minutes under the heat and then I’ll check on you, okay?”

  “You only say something when the couple’s already together.”

  Priscilla stuck her head out from under the dryer. “Not true.”

  “Is so.”

  Annie was used to the ladies bickering and chuckled as she warmed up the dryer next to Priscilla. “You only need five minutes, Ruth.”

  Ignoring her, Ruth tapped her foot on the floor and pointed at Lily. “So tell us who Lily’s going to fall in love with.”

  “Oh, no. Don’t get me in the middle of this.”

  They both ignored her, and Lily made herself busy washing out the coloring trays.

  “It’s not like I know the name of the couples. I see their colors and find a match.”

  “Uh, huh. Likely story.” Ruth sat under the dryer next to her and took out her knitting.

  Lily didn’t want to be fodder for their latest challenge. The least she could do was throw her friends under the bus. “I’d love to see Mia settle down. Maybe you can find a nice guy for her?”

  Priscilla shook her head with a tsk. “No, that girl isn’t ready to settle. You, however, have those yellow and violet colors wrapped around you so pretty.”

  The violet had to have come from her dress this past weekend and the white and yellow and purple flowers she’d decorated the spa with to go along with Hope’s color scheme. Priscilla had been at the wedding and seen her in the dress.

  “Those are pretty colors,” Ruth noted next to her, studying Lily with a keen eye. “I can see her in yellow and purple.”

  “Not wearing them, dummy. It’s all around her.”

  “Of course it is, dumbass. They’re the flowers from Hope’s wedding.”

  Lily rolled her eyes and picked up the broom. “I’ll check on you as soon as I finish sweeping.” She managed to stay out of ear’s reach, tidying up the place and prepping for closing. Ruth and Priscilla were the last two appointments of the day and then Lily could rest.

  What she wouldn’t do to soak in a hot tub. Unfortunately, her tiny apartment only had a single stall shower. In another month or so she’d take her beach bag and walk down to the shore.

  She went back into the stylist room and checked on Priscilla’s hair. “Looks good. Let’s go wash.” She helped her out of the chair and led her to the sink. Lily folded up a towel and placed it in the hollowed out area for the client’s neck and turned on the water. “Let me know if it’s too hot or too cold.”

  Pulling off the plastic cap, Lily tossed it in the trash and ran her hands through Priscilla’s hair. Almost lost in her thoughts again as she lathered shampoo and massaged her scalp, Priscilla spoke up.

  “Lots of yellow. Lemon. Pale. And some violet.”

  “Hm?” Lily looked around, spotting the vase of flowers on the receptionist desk. “Yes. They’re pretty, aren’t they?”

  “It’s you. You’re a complex girl, but most people have color combinations. Very few are one solid color.”

  “Oh.” Lily didn’t know how to take that. Good, she supposed. That meant she was normal, right?

  “I’d figure you for lots of reds. A girl with your looks is typically quite sexual.”

  Lily gasped and accidentally squirted Priscilla’s face with the water. “Sorry.” She picked up a dry washcloth and blotted her face.

  “It’s the violet in you.”

  “Um. Thank you?” Lily wanted to roll her eyes but making nice with her clients was part of her job.

  “You’re a daydreamer and able to change the world with your spiritual love.”

  Daydreamer, yes. Spiritual love, not so much.

  “Sure. I guess.” Still, Lily didn’t know what that had to do with finding her match. Not that she was looking. Or wanted Priscilla to look.

  “You’ve lost someone close to you. Or have lost something close to you. A loved one, a job, a lifestyle change.”

  Lily stilled. She didn’t believe in these psychic things. It was all a stab in the dark. Priscilla had listed a bunch of untruths. A loss of a loved one? Sort of. It wasn’t like she and her mother were close. And her father, yeah. Not going there. She never had a job to lose until now, so Priscilla was way off the mark there.

  The lifestyle change. That one was a little more specific and dead on. Yet, it could mean a bazillion things. Lily had moved to Crystal Cove two years ago, so of course she had a lifestyle change. Everyone knew that.

  Granted, she could have come from a similar town or upbringing. No one knew. And no one would.

  “You have a fear of losing control over your destiny.”

  “Do I have to pay extra for the psychic reading? I thought you did colors?” Lily teased, trying her best to distract Priscilla from the truth.

  “The pale yellow. Hmm.” She closed her eyes as Lily finished rinsing. “There’s a renewed sense of excitement and hope for your future. You’re going to do well, Lily. I can sense it.”

  “I hope so. You can sit up now.” Lily placed a towel on her head and patted her hair dry. “I’ll give you a trim, style your hair, and you’ll be all done.”

  Priscilla remained uncharacteristically quiet in her chair while Lily trimmed her hair. It wasn’t until she’d finished drying it and unsnapped the cape around her neck that she seemed to come to life.

  “You’ll pair well with blues. You two will compliment each other. He’ll have trust issues, but with your pale yellow, your optimism and hope for the future will set him free.”

  “Just what I always wanted. A guy with trust issues.”

  When the wacky psychic and her negative friend were finally gone, Lily took the bottle of wine out from the work fridge and poured herself a glass. “Want some?” She held up the bottle to Annie.

  “No thanks. Dani is home from college, and I promised we’d go to a movie tonight.”

  “You should have told me. I would have sent you home hours ago.” Annie’s daughter was working on her law degree in Boston and didn’t spend much time at home anymore. Lily knew how much Annie missed her.

  “And miss all the fun with those two? Never. B
esides, I’m off for the next three days. Unless you need me to come in.”

  “No. Enjoy your daughter. I’ll see you on Monday.”

  “I’ll flip the sign in the window.”

  Lily slunk into the wing-back chair in the waiting area, kicked off her sandals, took a healthy sip of her white wine, closed her eyes, and rested her head against the wall.

  The door opened and the breeze, much cooler now that the sun was beginning to set, swirled around her ankles.

  “Back so soon?”

  “I put a rush order on it.”

  Ty’s deep voice startled her and she lifted her head too quickly, sloshing the wine over her glass and onto her pale blue top. “Ty?” She brushed at the wet spot and calmed the rush of excitement his voice stirred in her. “I thought you were Annie.”

  “I saw her in the parking lot.”

  “Yes. She’s done for the night.”

  “I can come back later.”

  “Come back? Why are you here? I mean...”

  “No worries.” Ty chuckled, and her heart flipped. It wasn’t a sound she heard from him very often. Ever, really. And from the gossipy chatter from the girls at book club, many didn’t ever hear Ty relaxed enough to laugh. Maybe Hope, but even then, she’d said it’d been years.

  He held up a box, and she read the label on the outside. “The part for the dryer.”

  “I can come back another time if now’s not good.”

  “No. Now is fine. Sorry for lounging. Thursday is my long day, and my feet are killing me.”

  She watched as Ty’s gaze drifted down her body, stopping momentarily on the wet spot on her chest, and then working its way down her legs to the tips of her toes. They wiggled of their own accord. That was what Ty’s chocolate eyes did to her parts. Made them squirm. The bill of his ball cap shielded his face, and she could only imagine how dark his eyes had turned.

  Clearing his throat, he tucked the box under his arm and opened his mouth before closing it again. He did that a lot, as if he wanted to say something and then thought better of it.

  “Let me lock up and we can go upstairs.” She didn’t mean for her voice to sound so throaty. Picking up her sandals, she walked as quickly as she could down the hall and up the two flights of stairs without spilling her wine. “Oh.” She stopped in front of her door and turned. “I didn’t ask you if you wanted a glass of wine.”