Melissa brings our drinks, and we both take a draw on our straws. I didn’t picture him as an orange soda kinda guy.
Elias sets his drink down and leans back, throwing an arm over the back of the booth. “I don’t know if you’ve considered bodyguards and ways to protect the guests.”
Bodyguards? I rest my arms on the table and lean forward. “What do you mean?”
“Many of the guests will come with their own protection, but we need to have all bases covered. Entry points will need 24-hour coverage the day before the wedding to keep paparazzi from sneaking on the grounds and hiding until the wedding.”
Is Belinda really that high-profile? “I…I didn’t realize that would be necessary.” I stare off into space without an inkling of how to go about hiring protection. Our town is so small, we don’t really have much in the way of police presence. Well, there’s Ryan, the sheriff, and his deputy Allen, but they wouldn’t be enough.
Elias reaches into his jeans pocket and pulls out his phone. “If I may offer my services, I have a very good firm I work with on occasion, and I can give them a call.”
I turn my attention back to Elias and nod. “Please. I have no idea where to even start. Thank you, that would be wonderful. Whatever you need, just let me know.” A few strands of his dark hair fall forward as he dips his head to tap out a message on his phone and I have the strangest urge to run my fingers through the silky misdirected lock to push it back in place.
Once he finishes the message, he lays his phone face down on the table and takes another sip of his soda. “We’ll need to reserve a hotel close by, also.”
I’m still hung up on that misplaced lock of hair, and it takes a moment for comprehension to sink in. “A hotel?” I mutter, rolling my eyes. “An entire hotel?”
He chuckles, looking at me with a smile. “Has April shared her guest list with you?”
I shake my head. “No, just the number of guests. Why?”
He holds up a finger. “Just a minute.” He picks his phone up and types a message before looking up to ask. “What’s your phone number?”
I purse my lips and give him a curious look. “Is this a new way to get my number?”
He chuckles, “No, I’m having Belinda send you her guest list. She’s already sent out a save the date email. You need to know what you’re working with.”
In only a few minutes my phone rings. As I scroll through the guest list, my mouth drops open. What have I gotten myself into? Politicians, actors, comedians, models, even a famous chef, and… “Oh, my gosh! Is that the guys from Filthy Arc?”
Elias crosses his arms and rests them on the table as he leans forward. “Shhh. Yes, we grew up with some of the guys. They will be playing at the reception, but we need to keep that information completely private. I don’t need to tell you what a circus it will be if word gets out.”
I’m nodding in agreement, but inside, I am a quivering mass of goo. No wonder they need security. I can’t wait to tell Rachael! “Filthy Arc will be playing at White’s Manor?”
Elias chuckles and nods. “Yes, they’ll pay a few sets, and we’ll have a DJ for dancing.”
Wait. This isn’t good. What was I thinking? “They’re the biggest band in America. Probably in the world. They play in sold-out coliseums, not my barn. “Elias, you were right. I can’t do this. We just aren’t capable of something this big.”
Elias doesn’t look concerned at all. “Of course you are.”
Is he crazy? Our first event. Ever! “No. We’re not. This isn’t just a wedding. This is an event of epic proportions! Half the people on this list are…are…”
He interrupts, “People, just like you and me.”
“No.” I shake my head and stare at the ultra-rich and famous names on the list. “Not like me.”
He reaches across the table and takes my cold hands. I feel an instant warmth from his touch, and my heart does a fluttery thing. Our eyes meet, and I swear I see the room light up. I feel a buzz go through my hands and travel all the way to my stomach. “April. Listen. I promise, the people may have big names, but they are all nice. Nobody has been invited that isn’t a close friend. Trust me on this. You handle the wedding part, and I’ll handle the rest. We can do this. Together, we can give Belinda the wedding of her dreams.”
He has the most handsome smile I’ve ever seen. His teeth are so white and straight and his lips…I bet they’re soft. His thumbs are rubbing the backs of my hands, and I want to whimper. I don’t even think he’s aware he’s doing it. With all that going on in my mind, I only smile and nod. Our food arrives, and he releases my hands. I want to shove the food on the floor, so we can get back to touching.
“As long as we keep the guest list and Belinda’s real identity secret, everything will be fine. If word gets out, it could turn into an ugly mess, and I don’t want my sister’s wedding ruined.”
I nod in agreement. “Yes. Definitely. Don’t worry, my business partner and I will keep everything confidential.”
“After the wedding, we’ll send you approved photos with signed waivers to use for advertising.”
“That’s very thoughtful. We would appreciate that.” That would be a big boost to our business.
This time, I fly into Rachael’s condo while she’s reheating a carton of Chinese takeout. Teriyaki chicken, from the smell of it. Henry must not be at home. Rachael is a stickler for Henry not eating takeout. “Okay, keep calm.” I toss my keys on the bar and hop up on a stool.
The microwave dings. Rachael grabs the box, bypassing the plates, and snags two forks from a drawer. “That’s impossible. When someone says to keep calm, it is chemically impossible to actually stay calm.” She hands a fork to me and puts the food between us.
I grab the box, irritated that Rachael isn’t paying attention to the seriousness of the situation. “Rachael, listen to me. We have exactly twelve days to pull off the biggest wedding of our careers.”
Rachael blinks and makes a grab for the box. “Huh? You mean we got a new wedding?”
Sighing, I take my phone from my pocket. “No. It’s still Belinda’s. Elias apologized, and we’re back on.” I open the message from Belinda and touch on the attachments to bring up the document. “But look at this guest list.”
Rachael’s brow rises as her eyes scan the file. I can tell by her exaggerated expression she’s gotten to the good parts. With her mouth gaping like a fish struggling for breath, Rachael looks up from the phone. “Is this for real?”
I slump back on the bar stool, now worried about how we’re going to pull off the event of the decade in such a short amount of time! “Yeah.”
“Do you think we should contact Meghan and ask for advice?” Rachael teases.
I roll my eyes. “Oh, come on, Rachael. This isn’t a royal wedding. It’s big, but not that big.”
I grin as I watch my best friend dance around her kitchen. I haven’t seen her this carefree in years. “April. It’s going to be huge!” She stops mid-dance and turns toward me. “Oh, no. We’ll need security.”
“Elias is going to handle that. All we have to concentrate on is the wedding. With a partially renovated house.” My stomach begins to turn, and I feel a bit nauseated.
Rachael steps closer. “No, don’t look like that. We can do this.”
I swallow and ask, “Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’ll do the food. Right?” Rachael pulls a drawer open and takes out a pad of paper and pencil and begins to scribble away.
I can tell her mind is already organizing and planning the whole thing. “Who else would we get? Yes, you will cater. But you’ll need extra wait staff.”
She stops writing and looks up, tapping the pencil to the corner of her lip as she considers the question. “No problem. I have at least two dozen I’ve used in the past at the bakery. Do you know what this will mean for us? We could never afford the type of advertising this will give us… for free!”
“Hold up. We can’t tell anyone till afterward. Elias
is going to send us a few pictures we can use, but not until everything is over. It could ruin Belinda’s wedding if word got out.”
“Okay, okay. But maybe we could take a few pictures on our own. Not of Belinda or Elias, but before and after pictures of the venue.”
“Maybe. But I’ll need to get approval first. Can you pull a tasting menu together for tomorrow? Dinner options, appetizers, and several flavors of cake. Belinda seems like a very traditional girl, so nothing over the top.”
Rachael’s hand begins to fly over the notepad again. “Sure. I’ll get to work on it tonight.”
I can’t believe she didn’t say anything about the band. “Did you notice the name of the band that will be playing?”
She pauses and looks up as her fingers finish a word. “No. There’s going to be a band?”
I nod toward my phone. “Keep scrolling.” I wait while she scrolls through the document. Rachael’s eyes scan the page, and her face loses color. Her eyes shoot to mine, and I know she found their name. What I didn’t expect is her lack of excitement.
Rachael’s eyes don’t leave my phone. “Will the whole band be here?” she asks.
I eye her closely. She’s trying too hard to act normal. Something isn’t right. “Yeah, they’re friends. Aren’t you excited to finally get to meet your crush?”
She shrugs, “Oh please. That was a lifetime ago. Not my type of music anymore.”
That wasn’t the reaction I expected. “I’m going to go call my mom and have her walk me through everything, so I don’t forget something. I’m meeting with Belinda in the morning at the shop. We’ll swing by the bakery around noon. Will that work?” I jump down off the bar stool, but she’s still staring at the phone. “Rachael?” I say again.
“Huh?” Her head pops up and she hands my phone back. “Yeah, sure. See ya tomorrow.”
As I leave, I’m a bit stunned. I’ve never seen Rachael like that. She’s always been so confident in the food she prepares. Maybe she’s just feeling overwhelmed, like I am.
Elias
I stand outside April’s florist shop and watch her work. An older lady is behind the counter helping a customer, while April is tucked into the corner of the shop working on her computer at a small round table. Today her hair is loose and flowing, and I want to touch those glimmering brown curls to see if they are as soft as they look.
I pull the ballcap lower, shielding my face as a group of young girls walks by. So far, I’ve escaped detection—at least I hope I have—and I intend to keep it that way. My arm tightens on the book in my arms. I better go ahead and get it over with, because what I have to tell April won’t be easy. My phone rings, and by the tone, I know it’s Kent, my publicist. I push ignore and tuck the phone back in my pocket.
April looks up when the bell rings above and smiles sweetly as I enter. She motions me over. “Come on in and have a seat. I’ve already pulled a lot of samples.” She meets my gaze, looks over my shoulder, and asks. “Is Belinda running late?”
I don’t want to upset April, but there isn’t any way around it. “No. She’s not late. She’s not coming.” I watch her expression closely.
“What?” Her eyes go wildly distraught.
“Wes called last night—he got an unexpected ten-day pass. April’s flown out to be with him. They’ll be driving back the day before the wedding. But don’t worry. I’m staying, and Belinda gave me carte blanche on decision making, and we also have this.” I hold up the book and lay it on the table in front of April.
Her eyes stare at the frilly pink cover in front of her before she looks back at me. “Elias…I don’t know…”
I stop her from going further with that thought. “Open the book, April.”
Her eyes go back to the antacid-pink scrapbook. As she turns the pages, I see her worry lessen. “This is her wedding dream book, isn’t it?” she asks.
Pulling the chair out beside her, I sit and lean in for a look. “Yes. I didn’t even know women had things like that.” Belinda must have started the scrapbook in her teens. I haven’t seen her childish script in a long time.
April turns another page. “Well, not every woman, but I have heard of a few. This will definitely help us. So, she’s okay with you making the decisions?”
I grin. April is already making notes in her computer. “Yes. All she wants is to marry Wes.”
Her fingers jump from the keyboard, and she turns to me, her eyes widening in sheer panic. “What about her dress?”
“That’s already taken care of. And her bridesmaids and groomsmen are good to go. The groomsmen are wearing dove gray suits and her bridesmaids are wearing royal blue.”
Her shoulders relax, and her fingers go back to work on the keyboard. “That’s a huge relief. Okay, let’s get started.”
After only a few hours, I’m ready to pull my hair out. I’ve never known how involved planning a wedding could be. Some of the things April insisted we need, I’ve never heard of. She expected me to decide between six different colors of salmon like it was a monumental decision that all other decisions would be based on. Renovating a house from the ground up was a piece of cake compared to planning a wedding. Plus, sitting as close as we were for an extended period of time has become problematic. April’s scent is a major distraction. It’s coconut, not raspberry as it was in my dream. I’ve been able to pinpoint the location of the scent to her hair, so I assume it’s her shampoo. The thought of April in the shower with water sliding down her body isn’t something I need in my head at the moment.
“We can assemble the welcome baskets in the back. I have a large work area with plenty of shelving.”
I tried to come out of the fog she’d created in my brain. “Wait. I must have missed something. Welcome baskets?”
“Yes, welcome baskets to have waiting for the guests in their rooms once they check into the hotel.”
That’s a rather nice idea. “And what’s in a welcome basket?”
April clicked through on her laptop and pulled up a screen to show me. “Well, you haven’t decided yet. Here’s your options.”
I glance at the screen, and my head begins to throb. How am I supposed to know what to select? “What would you recommend?”
“I would keep everything local to the area. I mean, Belinda fell in love with the area, so why not showcase what’s available? A bottle of wine from our local vineyard. An assortment of cookies from the bakery in town. A bag of organic granola that’s made by a local family. Oh, and Mr. and Ms. Shiftlet have bees and sell the honey. We can pair the honey with a specially mixed tea from Tea for Two. And I might be able to have them use special labeling with Wes and Belinda’s names and their wedding date.” April tapped her pen on her cheek, her mind continuing to spin with ideas. “Do you have any pictures of Wes and Belinda?”
“Yeah.” I pull my phone out and open my pictures, pointing out several that are my favorites. April’s head bends over to survey the options, and I take the opportunity to sniff her hair again. It’s definitely the shampoo.
“Email this one to me. I’ll get some prints, and we can include a framed picture of the happy couple in the baskets.”
Mind blown. “April, I want to apologize again. What you’ve done this morning is amazing. I’m sorry I ever doubted your abilities.”
April looked up from her mad note-taking and smiles. “Thanks, Elias. That means a lot, but we have so much more to do!”
I groan and knock my head on the table in a dramatic fit of surrender. April laughs at my childish temper tantrum. Her scent, her smile, and now her gentle laughter, and I’m in sensory overload. I’ve got to put space between us. “Why don’t we come back to this? It’s almost time to meet the caterer. I believe you mentioned she’s your business partner.”
“Yes, and she owns the bakery in town.” April starts packing up her laptop and papers.
That would mean more sitting in too-close quarters. “Do we have time to grab lunch first?”
She finishes stuffing ever
ything inside a leather crossbody bag and zips the flap closed. “Trust me—this will be lunch. Rachael is one of the best cooks I know. She’ll have so much food for you to choose from, you won’t be hungry for a thing when we leave.”
Oh, yes, I will. I’ll still have a raging appetite to sample you. But I keep that comment to myself. “Sounds great—let’s go.” What could I do but smile politely?
April pushes back from the table and slips the strap of her bag over her head. “Just let me tell my grandmother I’m going.”
I wait for April by the door and watch as she speaks with the lady behind the counter, who is busy creating a brightly-colored floral arrangement. I have no idea what all the flowers are, but I can appreciate their beauty. Looking around her shop, I like what she’s done with the renovation, but she could use more wall shelves and display areas. My eyes go back to April. Today, she’s wearing a black skirt with a blue blouse tucked in and low-heeled black shoes. I like what she has on, and from the back view I’m able to appreciate her…
“Ready to go?”
My head jerks up as April turns around, catching me checking her out. “Sure.” I grin and hold the door open. What can I say? She’s gorgeous—I’m going to look. The waft of coconut I get when she breezes past once again goes straight to the memory of her naked body in the shower. I stay half a step behind as we walk down Main Street, hoping things will disappear before she notices my embarrassing state. All I need is another mark against me.
I can’t get used to the absence of traffic. Main Street has a handful of cars parked in spaces on both sides of the road, and occasionally I see a passing vehicle. “I have to agree with my sister. The town is charming.”
“I’m glad it’s kept its small-town feel over the years. Asheville is about an hour away, so we don’t have too far to go to take advantage of big city life. And you can’t beat the mountain scenery around here. You really should see the Great Smoky Mountains at sunset.”
“I’ll be sure to. On the drive in, I noticed a large apartment complex. That must have been a nightmare to get zoning approval.”
Heartbreaker: Billionaires of White Oaks Page 5
