No Groom Like Him

by Jeanie London

  And she wasn’t living. Had she ever really? All she ever did was work. Was that really all she wanted from life? What were ten thousand Twitter followers when she could sit in a blanket nest and play footsies with Camille and Jake?

  “Max called again,” her mother said. She’d been holed up in the home office all morning. “On the landline. He said you’re not picking up his calls.”

  He’d narced on her? “That’s not true. I spoke with him earlier in the week and told him I was taking a few days off and would be unavailable. I don’t want to think about the wedding. At least not more than I have to.”

  All fact. She’d thanked Max for his kindness and caring while she’d been upset. She appreciated his help, but she simply couldn’t deal with what was happening between them. She’d been up front, had asked for time to sort out her head. She had no clue how long that would take.

  Rosie set the bank-deposit envelope and checkbook on the kitchen counter and came to stand in the open doorway of the back porch. She eyed Lily thoughtfully, not saying a word that her feet were on the coffee table as she worked on her laptop.

  “Is that the only reason?” Rosie asked.

  “Sure, why else would I pick up his calls?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Just so you know, Joey already told me.”

  “Joey told you what?”

  “That he thought something might be going on between you and Max.”

  “This is why I don’t come home more often,” Lily said peevishly. “Just so you know. And make sure Dad understands, too, so he doesn’t blame me when I vanish again.”

  Rosie exhaled heavily and came to sit on the nearby ottoman, which Lily probably should have been using to prop her feet instead of the coffee table. “He only told me that he thought you and Max might be developing an interest in each other.”

  Why had Lily made peace with her brother again? “What on earth makes him think that? Did Max say anything?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “Then this is speculation.”

  “Your brother isn’t an idiot, Lily Susan. He has eyes in his head. He and Max have been friends a long time.”

  “I hate to disagree with you but, yes, Joey is an idiot. Because there isn’t anything to see.”

  “He sees the same thing I see.” Her mother arched a skeptical eyebrow. “I hope you don’t think I’m an idiot, too. We’ve all been watching that boy try to find his way since Felicia died. We help when we can and pray for him when we can’t. He has had a lot to deal with and he’s healing. It takes time.”

  Lily hated thinking about Max coping with so much heartache, and the way he tried to be everything to his little girl.

  And because she was a coward. She had to force herself to ask because she didn’t want to hear what her mom was going to say. “Okay, what is it you think you see?”

  “He’s alive. For the first time in so long I barely remember. He’s interested in life again.”

  “That’s a wonderful thing,” Lily agreed neutrally.

  “Something has his attention.”

  “If you’re implying that I have his attention, Mom, I’ll remind you that we’re planning a wedding together. He needs me at the moment. That’s all.”

  “He doesn’t need to plan the wedding with you, does he?”

  Setting the laptop onto the love seat beside her, she faced her mom squarely. “Listen to me, Mom. Max is involved because he’s worried about his mother. You know Ginger. She can get out of hand sometimes. He didn’t want her to take over on his brother-in-law’s dime.”

  “I know. That’s why he hired you. Do you really think with everything he’s got on his plate he cares about the details?”

  “Well, when you put it like that…”

  “I’m not sure why you seem so surprised, Lily Susan. You’ve always had a crush on him.”

  For people who claimed to want her to visit more often… There simply were no secrets in a family like this one. “Mother, I was a child. And what does my childhood crush have to do with Max helping me plan the wedding?”

  “He’s a wonderful young man who’s still a little vulnerable. Especially to a woman who thinks the moon and the stars hang on him.”

  “You think I still have a crush on him?” How could she deny it when even she’d been surprised by her response to him? That her feelings could be so transparent made her inwardly cringe.

  “Are you saying you don’t?”

  Lily suddenly remembered a line from Moonstruck, one of her all-time favorite movies. “I should have taken a rock and killed myself years ago,” Cher, playing the lead role of Loretta Castorini, had said.

  Boy, did Lily understand the feeling. “Mother—”

  “I only want to know if you’re planning to hurt him.”

  “How can I possibly hurt him?”

  “By not taking his phone calls for one thing.”

  Well, she couldn’t argue that now, could she? “Why would you think I’d even do that? And why are you so worried?”

  Her mom didn’t reply right away, looking so indecisive that Lily braced herself.

  “It’s not that I think you would hurt him intentionally, Lily Susan,” Rosie explained. “But as I said, you’ve had an interest in him for a long time. You might dismiss your feelings more easily than he might. I thought you needed to know. And I’m worried because your father and I are a part of the reason you’re handling the wedding.”

  Somehow that didn’t surprise Lily. “How big a part?”

  Her mother gave a small shrug, looked decidedly sheepish. “Max was debating what to do. He wanted to ask for Ginger’s help, but he had those concerns. We suggested you because you were going to be here for Riley. We wanted you to stay as long as we could keep you here.”

  “I knew it.”

  “All I’m asking is that you be kind. If you’re not interested in him in a real way, that’s fine. But don’t ignore him. He’s had a very rough road, Lily Susan, and he’s so wonderful. You couldn’t possibly ask for a more loving or kind or loyal man.”

  Lily honestly couldn’t think of anything to say. What could she say?

  Her family was crazy on a good day?

  She’d brought this on herself for not visiting more often?

  Rosie seemed to recognize that no answer was forthcoming, so she stood and headed through the door. “And for the record, your father and I would approve of Max.”

  Meaning they hadn’t approved of Lucas.

  She retrieved her bank deposit envelope and desktop checkbook and disappeared from sight, leaving Lily staring after her, totally unsure what to do with that entire exchange.

  Her family was still backing Max.

  They didn’t trust her to handle the situation kindly. Because they all knew something was sizzling between them.

  Thank you, Joey. That stupid brother of hers. But even as the thought entered her mind, Lily knew he was only worried about her and Max. Two people he cared about. And she’d much rather have her stupid big brother concerned about her in his stupid nosy way than have him not care.

  Or not be here at all.

  Resting her head on the cushion, she closed her eyes and tried to block out the memory of dancing with Max, their bodies almost touching, that dimple as he bent over her in a dip, blocking out her view of the world except for his handsome face. She couldn’t shake off the memory of him. Or how she felt in the cemetery when she’d come completely unglued in his arms. His voice throaty and low. His caring kindnesses.

  Okay, so they had chemistry. She’d have to be dead not to notice. But their chemistry couldn’t be translated into real life. Maybe for two other people but not for her and Max.

  The logistics completely didn’t work even if they were inclined to give in. She would be in town for only three more weeks, and they were not a couple who could have anything but a responsible relationship. Anything else would only serve to create awkwardness every time they ran into each other. Forever. There was no que
stion about whether or not he’d remain involved with her family.

  When he finally met another woman he could love—and he would because he was a handsome man with his priorities straight and a Downey to boot—he’d find a woman who would be a good mother to Madeleine, a woman who would be around to attend school functions, not one who worked around the world and couldn’t manage to get home for years on end.

  But Lily had to ask herself if that’s really what she wanted. Now that she recognized the reason she’d been avoiding home, she could choose to do things differently. Did she really want to be the single, celebrity aunt who wasn’t a real part of anyone’s life, who only came home every now and then and dropped into everyone’s lives for a fantasy holiday?

  Another fantasy—like the weddings she created.

  And they were fantasies, no question. One beautiful day filled with excitement and possibilities, immortalized forever digitally. After the wedding came the marriage and the real work, the real life, the days in and days out, when couples lived up to their vows or not. For better or worse, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others…

  Ugh. Lily squeezed her eyes tightly shut. Technically Lucas hadn’t betrayed anything but his integrity and her trust. She’d been spared the vows.

  But she’d seen real life with couples who did live up to the vows. Her parents. Max’s parents. Joey and Sarah. Caroline and Alex.

  Mike.

  Felicia.

  Riley and Max had been forced to find the strength to go on for the sake of the beautiful little people who depended on them.

  To heal and find love again.

  “I’m learning love comes in all shapes and sizes and no two loves are ever the same,” Riley had said.

  Max was too vital a man not to find another love, one that could translate into real life. He deserved that kind of love. Her mother was right—Lily couldn’t ask for a more wonderful man. She had always known that. And Madeleine deserved someone real to love her, too.

  Lily’s phone vibrated.

  Glancing down, she half expected to see Max’s name on the display, but the landline from the Poughkeepsie office flashed. Lily should have felt relieved.

  “How bad?” she asked.

  Mara chuckled on the other end. “Now that’s awfully cynical, Lily. What makes you think it’s bad?”

  “Because we’ve already spoken today and you know I’m taking a mental-health break so you wouldn’t have called unless something bad had happened. Which leaves, how bad?”

  “Not earth-shattering, but it needs attention.”

  Mara launched into the tale of why the A-list entertainment company that she preferred to work with couldn’t go to contract even though they’d already tentatively agreed to provide musicians for Thanksgiving Day.

  “That means I have to drop to my B-list, which I’m not particularly comfortable with,” she explained. “Not for such a high-profile event. But given the insanity of the lead time there’s no way around it. The band is brand-new with this company, so I knew you’d want to hear them live. I asked to arrange a time and it turns out they’re in town today cutting a demo. I thought I’d give you a call in case you don’t want to lose another week tracking them down again.”

  Lily was already on her feet and slipping on her shoes. She glanced at her laptop, decided against leaving it out since the twins would probably be home before she returned and her entire life was stored on the hard drive. “That’s perfect, Mara. Have I told you how much I appreciate you lately?”

  “Not since your last Twitter.”

  Lily laughed. “Well, I do. Will you give them a call and tell them I’m on my way?”

  “Done.”

  Lily had wanted to keep her real life at bay until Monday, but a few hours of business wouldn’t kill her. Even if she hadn’t wanted to get out of the house after that conversation with her mom—which she did—entertainment was key at any wedding, particularly the master of ceremonies, the person who kept the schedule moving along smoothly.

  They’d been so lucky with their vendors thus far solely because most couples didn’t book full-scale weddings on Thanksgiving Day. Lily wasn’t going to push her luck at this stage of the game.

  “Mom, will you pick up the kids at school today?” she asked as she passed the office. “Mara called. I’ve got to run an errand. Can’t wait.”

  Rosie appeared in the hallway before Lily could get out the door. “You’re running away because of what I said, aren’t you?”

  That’s twice Lily had been accused of running in less than a week and she didn’t like it one bit. Probably because it was true. Well, it had been true about Mike, but not now. Her reputation in this family could stand some work.

  “I’m not running. The entertainment for Max’s wedding fell through. I’ve got to go check out another band pronto.”

  Her mother glared at her, clearly disbelieving.

  Lily glared right back. “You got me into this, thank you very much. But it’s my reputation at risk if the event turns into a disaster.”

  “Oh, go work, then.” Her mother huffed and waved her off. “I’ll make your excuses to the twins.”

  “It’s your fault,” Lily replied as she ran out the door, car keys in hand. “So be nice.”

  And the next thing she knew she was racing through Friday traffic, putting all thoughts of Max and her crazy family out of her head in the sort of vacation from real life that felt all too familiar.

  Work.

  She made the recording studio in record time and listened to the band run through an entire set. And to Lily’s relief and utter delight, the band proved to be far better than she’d have ever expected to find at a B-list entertainment company.

  They could provide configurations to fit the entire wedding, from ceremony through reception, from a duo to nine pieces, acoustic or electric. They had a Grammy nominated guitarist and their repertoire was extensive and would accommodate a variety of preferences and requests. They could play brass and woodwinds, which would work perfectly for the ceremony and solve the problem of space because they were willing to break down their configuration.

  The only question Lily had is how this band had wound up with a B-list entertainment company. And it turned out that the band was actually an established one based out of Massachusetts that had recently extended their travel base, hoping to book gigs in Manhattan.

  Her lucky day.

  Lily contracted them then and there, and they were equally thrilled to get their foot in the door with Worldwide Weddings Unlimited.

  She headed out of the recording studio and pulled out her phone, intending to update Mara, but once outside, Lily found a small crowd on the sidewalk waiting for her.

  One glimpse and she knew who they were.

  There was no earthly reason for the press to be here. She couldn’t even figure out how they’d found her since she hadn’t even known she’d be here until a few hours ago. But there they were with their cameras and their questions.

  “Lily, do you have an official statement?”

  “How will the accusation impact the weddings Worldwide Weddings Unlimited has in production?”

  “Do you expect lawsuits or criminal charges?”

  The mention of criminal charges snapped Lily from her surprise. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m afraid I don’t have a clue what you’re referring to. Would someone care to clarify?”

  “I will,” said an accented voice, and the crowd parted like the Red Sea to reveal a striking woman wearing a business suit.

  Lily blinked once, twice, but the woman sauntered toward her as though she were crossing a runway, all lanky curves and smooth strides. Lily would have known the woman anywhere though they’d never met in person.

  Lucas’s gross lack in judgment—Catalina Delmonico.

  Definitely not pregnant.

  She approached to the rapid-fire sound of camera shutters, meeting Lily’s gaze with arrogance flashing in those fiery dark eyes.

&n
bsp; “You need to stop your nonsense,” she demanded haughtily.

  The sheer amount of media experience Lily had should have counted for something, but she was still staring blankly when the woman whipped out a letter from an envelope and thrust the paper in front of Lily’s face.

  She recovered then, enough to skim the document written on an attorney’s letterhead.

  A cease-and-desist letter claiming Lily was the All About Angel blogger.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  MAX WAS IN THE newsroom laying out the dummies for the next edition. Even though he’d been trying to stick with Riley’s schedule the week had still been insane. He made a mental note to tell her she didn’t get any more vacations no matter what.

  He was over vacations—especially after Lily Susan had blown him off under the pretense of one. Although he supposed that only working a few hours a day from her parents’ house did qualify as one to the Wedding Angel.

  On one hand he was grateful she saw the need to start paying attention to her personal life. On the other hand, he objected to being shut out of the process so completely.

  With only a few weeks left before Thanksgiving, he was working on borrowed time before Lily Susan left and he lost any hope of convincing her to give them a chance.

  “Mr. D.,” an assistant said. “Got a call for you from George on line six.”

  Max went to the switchboard to take the call from one of his senior beat reporters. He listened to George’s fast account of the confrontation that had taken place on the steps of a recording studio only a few blocks away.

  “She accused Ms. Angelica of being the All About Angel blogger?” Max asked incredulously.

  “Presented her with a cease-and-desist letter right there in the street. Made a grand show for the media, and while Ms. Angelica skimmed the letter, Catalina Delmonico gave a soliloquy about the damage the slander has done to her reputation because she is most obviously not pregnant. She made a few digs about vengeful women who couldn’t keep their men happy and concluded by quoting ‘Hell hath no fury,’ if you can believe it.”