Wish List: City Love 4

by Belinda Williams

  “Your mum will be heartbroken,” said Christa.

  “It’s better than a heartbroken bride,” Maddy reminded her, which shut Christa up. “We also have to decide what to do about the cars. We could try to reschedule them or we can cancel them altogether, then drive down the coast in our own cars. It would be nice to have some cars for the photos though.”

  “Won’t canceling them be expensive?” asked Christa.

  Max shook his head. “Not the bridal party cars. They’re just standard sedans, but we might have an issue with the Rolls we’re supposed to be in. I’m not sure the hire car company will want it being driven over three hours down the coast. We’d have to deal with any cancellation fees.”

  “I’ve got a better idea!” I said before I could stop myself.

  “Uh oh,” muttered Scarlett.

  “Be quiet,” I told her, while I hit the gallery app on my smartphone. “Take a look at these.” I handed the phone to Max. Unable to resist, I’d taken a few photos of Dave’s cars when I’d joined him for dinner last weekend.

  Max let out a low whistle as he scrolled through the images. “These are classics. Rare, from what I can tell.”

  “Wow,” added Christa, looking over Max’s shoulder. “I love the convertible one.”

  “That’s Sally,” I told her. “She’s a 1966 Mustang.”

  Scarlett’s eyebrows shot up and she pushed me out of the way so she could see the photos. “Since when do you know anything about classic cars, Cate? You don’t even own a car.”

  “Those are a client’s of mine. He restores them.”

  Christa clapped her hands together when she saw the image of Layla, the Mini. “Please tell me you’re showing us these cars for a reason, Cate? They’re gorgeous.”

  “Dave hires them out for weddings,” I said.

  Christa squealed and Max laughed.

  Scarlett narrowed her eyes. “Hot plumber Dave?”

  I tried not to redden and ignored her. I didn’t miss James’ look of interest.

  “Are they available next weekend?” Max asked.

  Christa’s face fell. “Oh. Crap. Cate, can you please ring him and find out for us? I don’t care how much they cost, I want them.” She turned to her fiancé. “I absolutely love them, Max. Can you imagine how great they’d look in the photos? And we’re eloping, for God’s sake. They should be sexy cars, not boring cars. Please tell me you agree.”

  Max reached around and pulled her to him, squeezing her tight. “That’s the first time I’ve heard you excited about anything to do with this wedding, so as far as I’m concerned, I agree. But I really do like them. In fact, I’d like to meet the guy who owns these.”

  “If they’re available, you’ll get to meet him,” I promised Max. “But I hope I haven’t spoken out of turn,” I added, suddenly worried my enthusiasm to help had gotten the better of me. “He usually drives them for weddings. He’s a little protective about them, to be honest. I don’t think he’ll let anyone else drive Sally.”

  “Seriously?” Scarlett asked, frowning.

  “If you saw them in real life, you’d understand. I’m not sure about the Corvette. Maybe with your racing history, Max, I could convince him you’re trustworthy.”

  “I’d be happy to speak to him,” Max said.

  “And the Mini is actually Dave’s track car,” I explained, “so I’d have to find out about that too.”

  Max nodded. “I like the sound of this guy. James actually did some racing with me in the UK, so he’s trustworthy too.”

  James grinned. “Mostly.”

  Christa was grinning too. “Max and I could take the Corvette, Dave could drive the Mustang for the bridesmaids and James, you could drive the Mini for the groomsmen. It wouldn’t be too squeezy would it? I know you’re all tall.”

  “For an original Mini, I’ll make the sacrifice,” James said.

  Matt and Pete shrugged, happy to go along with the plans.

  “Right,” said Maddy. “Cate, can you call Dave and see what you can arrange?”

  Max returned my phone and I put it back in my bag. “I’ll ring him and let you know how I go.”

  “Tell him he can stay at the house too. There’s room,” Maddy added.

  In my rush to help out, I hadn’t considered that aspect of things. It would be strange, I realized, but I’d opened my big mouth now. There was also no point agonizing over it because he hadn’t even agreed yet.

  “What about the photographer?” Christa asked, obviously happy the cars had been settled.

  Maddy nodded and they started talking through the options for the photography. After ten more minutes of discussion, including how they were going to communicate the change of plans to all the wedding guests, we were done.

  “When you get to work in the morning, join me in my office,” Maddy told Christa. “We’ll call everyone together and see what we can arrange, but I’d start getting your bags packed. You’ll leave a week tomorrow.”

  Christa paled. “My God, that’s really soon, isn’t it?”

  Maddy smiled. “Lucky you’ve got an understanding boss, hey?”

  Some of Christa’s color returned. “Yeah, she’s the best.”

  “Thanks. What about the rest of you? Do you think you’ll be able to manage to get Friday off?” Maddy asked.

  Scarlett coughed into her hand theatrically. “I think I feel a bad case of the flu coming on.”

  Christa giggled while Max shook his head, and the rest of us laughed.

  “Me too,” I told everyone.

  James, Pete and Matt all agreed in the affirmative.

  “Great! It’s practically sorted then. This time next week Max and Christa will elope,” Maddy concluded.

  Christa nodded gratefully at Maddy. “Thank you so much.”

  “Isn’t that what friends are for?”

  Christa sniffed, looking close to tears again, but this time it was the happy kind. “I’ve got the best friends ever.”

  I could definitely agree with that.

  Chapter 19

  I took another furtive glance at my mobile phone.

  Just pick up the phone, Cate.

  I sighed. Why had I opened my big mouth? It was because I was too helpful, that was my problem. Since last night I’d had time to think about what I’d done and now I was beginning to regret my offer to Christa and Max. Either way I’d put myself in a difficult situation. If Dave didn’t agree to hiring out the cars, Christa would be devastated. If he agreed, then he’d be coming along for the elopement. And wasn’t that just doing my head in?

  I glanced at the number again and picked up the phone with a huff. I’d been putting off calling him all morning, and enough was enough. I needed to actually get some work done.

  The phone rang and rang. After all my agonizing it sounded like it was going to ring out—

  “Cate?”

  “Dave! Hi.” Good start, Cate. Just a touch overenthusiastic.

  “Sorry I haven’t been in contact about the plan,” Dave said. “It’s been a busy week.”

  “I’m not actually ringing about the plan.”

  “My Dad didn’t call again, did he?” he asked, with an edge to his voice.

  I winced, glad he couldn’t see me. “Actually, he did. Several times, but I haven’t taken any of his calls,” I assured him. I wasn’t keen to speak to or about Michael Worthington again so I hurried on. “I’m ringing about your cars.”

  “My cars?”

  “Yes. You know my girlfriend Christa that I mentioned? She’s eloping and we were hoping we might be able to hire your cars.”

  “To elope in?”

  Oh, that had sounded bad. Like we were going to drive off into the sunset with his most prized possessions. “They’re not eloping far,” I assured him. “It’s a few hours down the South Coast. And this is sort of a group elopement. The bridal party is going, plus the parents.”

  “Don’t couples usually go alone when they elope?” There was a distinct note of
bemusement in Dave’s voice.

  “It’s a long story,” I assured him, then rushed on eager to explain myself. “Now I know you don’t normally let other people drive your cars …”

  I outlined the plan we’d discussed last night, and when I was finished I waited for Dave to comment.

  “You said, Max, the groom, used to race track cars?” he asked eventually.

  “You’d like him,” I promised.

  “When do you need them for?”

  I cringed, glad he couldn’t see me. In my eagerness to convince him to hire out all three cars and let two strangers drive them, I’d forgotten to mention that aspect. “The ceremony is this Saturday, but we plan to drive down on Friday.”

  “This Friday?”

  “Yes,” I said. “I completely understand if it’s not possible, Dave. I really do. And if you’re not comfortable with other people driving your cars, I get that too. That’s why I told them that no one drives Sally but you. I know I shouldn’t have even offered in the first place but I was so keen to help them out and I knew they’d love your cars and—”

  “Cate.”

  Oh. I’d been rambling. “Yes?”

  “I’ll do it.”

  I didn’t say anything because I was genuinely shocked by his response. I thought he would have at least wanted to meet Max first.

  “Cate?”

  “Thank you so much,” I cried. “Oh Dave, I owe you big time. You don’t know how happy this is going to make Christa, not to mention how good the photos are going to look with your cars in them. It’s going to be awesome! Thank you.”

  I heard him laugh softly. “Do you need me to wear my tux?”

  “Yes. And pack an overnight bag too. That’s part of the deal. You’ll have accommodation for the weekend.”

  We ran through some of the other details like the price, but I knew Christa and Max would agree to the cost in a heartbeat.

  “Alright, Cate,” Dave said, when we were done. “I’ll see you Friday morning. Tell your girlfriends to wear sunscreen. You’ll need it in this summer heat with the roof down.”

  “Done. Dave?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Does that mean you’ll wear a hat too?” I winced. I couldn’t believe I’d just been so bold as to ask him that.

  There was a pause. “How about I surprise you?”

  *

  The day of Christa and Max’s elopement was hot and sunny. It was almost summer and as well as packing a jumbo bottle of sunscreen, I’d already lathered myself in half the bottle. Maddy’s and Scarlett’s olive skinned complexions afforded them some protection, but with my pale skin, ten minutes out in the heat and I’d be a beetroot for the ceremony tomorrow. And that wasn’t the look I was going for.

  I zipped up my overnight bag. “How are you going, Christa?” I called out from my bedroom.

  “Almost ready!”

  Christa had been running around our apartment in a frenzy of excitement all morning. I was so relieved to see her excited – instead of stressed – that I hadn’t been able to wipe the smile from my face since breakfast. Eloping seemed to agree with her.

  “You need sunscreen!” I cried out. She was as pale as I was and chances were it was the last thing she’d remember.

  Christa skidded to a stop outside my bedroom door. “Crap. You’re right. But doesn’t the Corvette have a roof?”

  “It does, but you still don’t want to risk getting tan lines for tomorrow.”

  “Good point. Can you apply it so I don’t miss anywhere?” She turned her back to me and held up the cascade of blonde curls covering her neck.

  With a pang, I realized I would miss this. The easy friendship and the company of having a close girlfriend share my living space. But I wasn’t going to mope about it today. It wasn’t the time and besides, there was too much to be happy about. I picked up the sunscreen and walked over to her.

  “The Mustang looks like it will be a lot of fun for you and the girls,” Christa said as I began to apply the cream. “Although there’s no way I could risk getting sunburned or windburned before tomorrow.”

  “You’ll love the Corvette,” I promised her, rubbing the sunscreen into her neck and shoulders.

  She waved a hand. “Oh, I know I will. It was Max’s pick anyway. No way was he going to be chauffeured anywhere.”

  I smiled although she couldn’t see me. “That’s what I thought too.”

  “How about you? Are you comfortable with the arrangement?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Plumber of your dreams driving you around in that sexy car of his all weekend.”

  My hand hovered above her shoulders for a second but I forced myself to keep applying the sunscreen. “He’s not the plumber of my dreams. And besides, I’ve been dating James,” I reminded her, careful to keep my voice neutral.

  “So? You’ve been on a few dates. That doesn’t mean anything.”

  I dropped my hands. “We’re on the bridal party together. There. You’re all done. And I thought you liked James?”

  Christa turned around to face me. “Thanks. I do like James, but how does being on the bridal party together mean anything?”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be appropriate to show any interest in Dave while I’m paired with James.”

  Christa’s blue eyes sparkled. “So you’re interested?”

  “No. I didn’t say that,” I said quickly.

  Christa was still looking at me. “How did you find out about the cars anyway?”

  I turned away and walked over to the bag sitting next to my bed. “It came up during our financial planning sessions.” I unzipped the bag and dropped the sunscreen inside, then started doing a final check of the contents.

  Christa walked over to me and crossed her arms. “So where did the photos come from?”

  I glanced up at her and then back to my bag. I really didn’t like where this conversation was heading. “I dropped some paperwork off to his house and he showed me.”

  “Ooh! You’ve been to his house?” Christa plonked down onto the bed and looked at me eagerly. “What was his house like?”

  “Nice. Not what I expected,” I admitted. “It’s a big, old two-level home in the Northern suburbs he’s renovated. His grandparents left it to him.”

  “Did he give you the tour?”

  Honestly. The woman was about to elope and she was more worried about what Dave’s house looked like. I sighed. “Yes, he showed me after dinner. It’s beautiful—”

  “After dinner?” Christa shrieked, bouncing up and down on the bed. “You stayed for dinner? You sly woman. I’ve got to say, I like your style. Drop over there with the intention of giving him some paperwork and end up being invited for dinner. You’re more strategic than Scarlett gives you credit for.”

  “It wasn’t like that!” I protested. Flustered, I zipped up the bag again.

  “Wasn’t like what?” Scarlett was leaning against the doorframe of my bedroom.

  “Who let you in?” I cried, exasperated. The last thing I needed right now was Scarlett being privy to this conversation when we were about to get into a car for over three hours with Dave.

  Scarlett smirked. “Max gave me the keys. The cars are here.”

  Christa jumped up and rushed toward Scarlett. “Dave invited Cate over for dinner when she dropped some paperwork over to his house! That’s how she has those pictures of his cars.”

  A slow smile spread across Scarlett’s face. “Well, well.”

  “Well, well, nothing,” I shot back. “You’re blowing it all out of proportion. He already had some mates over for dinner so they asked me to join them. They were just being polite.”

  “He gave Cate a tour of his house as well as the cars,” Christa rushed on.

  “Did he just?” Scarlett’s smile turned particularly self-satisfied.

  I focused on Christa because I knew convincing Scarlett to drop it would be a lost cause. “Aren’t you supposed to be concentrating o
n something else, like, I don’t know, your wedding?” I demanded.

  Annoyingly, they both cracked up.

  “I really don’t understand what’s so funny,” I muttered.

  “You!” Christa gasped. “Look at you! You get so hot and bothered every time the subject of Dave comes up and then you try to deny it.”

  “I do not get hot and bothered—”

  Scarlett shook her head. “Admit it, Cate. You’ve got it bad for that man.”

  “I won’t admit any such thing.”

  Christa placed a hand on her chest and managed to control her laughter. “And that’s just the problem. You can’t see it. You’re so busy trying to deny it.”

  “Is that why she’s been going out with James?” Scarlett asked Christa with interest.

  “I think so,” she said, turning to Scarlett. “When I first introduced them I thought it would be perfect. He ticked so many boxes on her list. But then Maddy said Cate’s been really lukewarm on the whole thing, and although she keeps going on dates with him, we’re thinking definite avoidance strategy—”

  “Excuse me!” I hollered, no longer caring how worked up I was getting. “I’m still in the room in case you haven’t noticed. And since when have you been discussing my love life behind my back?”

  Scarlett shrugged. “Isn’t that what we do?”

  “No! It’s not what we do,” I said, my voice back to a more reasonable level.

  “Bullshit,” Scarlett scoffed. “Tell me you guys didn’t talk about me and John when I wasn’t around? Or Maddy and Paul when they were trying to get together?”

  “That’s not what I meant,” I spluttered. “The only reason we might have had those conversations was because we were concerned.”

  “Exactly,” Christa concluded. “And we’re concerned about you too.”

  I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder. “While that’s very sweet of you, there’s absolutely no reason to be,” I told them, and started heading toward the door.

  They stepped aside to let me pass.

  “Cate.” Christa caught my arm. There was genuine concern in her eyes. “Aren’t you even a tiny bit worried about how you’re going to spend a weekend with Dave and James? What if James finds out you have a thing for Dave? I think James really likes you.”