She wondered how much he’d heard of her conversation. By the way he was watching her—with concern in his eyes—she had a feeling he’d at least heard about her stresses.
“Uh, Grammy, I have to go.”
Grammy reiterated her confidence in Grace and they ended the call. Staying seated, Grace turned her attention to Xander.
“What are you doing here?”
“I like to go for walks on Sunday nights. Clear my head and think about the upcoming week.”
Something about that surprised Grace. She imagined him spending his Sunday nights differently. Maybe taking out some model or attending a party like the one they’d met up at only several short weeks ago.
“How’s your grandma?” he asked.
“Good.” She waited for him to ask about her, to bring up the stress he’d no doubt heard her mention to Grammy.
Instead, Xander rocked back on his heels, hands in his pockets, looking incredibly handsome. “Want to walk with me?”
Again, he threw her off balance. “Walk?”
“It’s this thing that requires the use of your legs.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “I guess I can handle that. Give me one sec.” She dashed inside to grab her keys. Okay, she may have also stopped by the mirror in the foyer to smooth her hair and make sure she didn’t look too atrocious. Sadly, she could see the dark circles under her eyes and the pallor to her face.
Resigned to not looking her best, she locked the door and met Xander at the bottom of the steps. “Ready.”
He grinned, and it took everything inside her not to go weak at the knees. He was so damn attractive.
“Where are we heading?” she asked.
“I’m going to buy you an ice-cream cone.”
Again, not what she’d been expecting. “Ice cream?”
“Yes. See, ice cream is a dairy product that’s been frozen and—”
“Ha. Don’t you just have all the answers to the world’s greatest mysteries.”
“I’m very resourceful. Come on.” He steered them toward King Street.
They walked in relative silence for a few minutes. Grace enjoyed the walk. The usual city sounds still surrounded them, but she knew that most people were inside their houses, preparing for the week ahead. Kids getting ready for school, worried about the homework they hadn’t begun yet. Adults getting ready for the workweek. People watching football. The Redskins had the Sunday night game. Surely, people were getting their football food spreads ready.
Grace felt something brush her hand. She glanced down in time to see Xander interlace their fingers.
“You’re holding my hand,” she said, feeling stupid.
“I’m starting to worry about you,” he said. “I know you just finished another wedding, but you really seem to be stating the obvious here.”
She hip-bumped him. “I am pretty out of it,” she admitted.
As they walked along the streets of Old Town, he began rubbing his thumb over her hand, eliciting a small shiver from her. She angled her body and eyed him. Xander offered her a cocky grin. If she wasn’t so surprised that he was playing with her hand, she would have been annoyed at his confidence. Instead, she found him charming.
When was the last time a man held her hand? It was such a simple gesture, yet the way her body responded was nothing short of complicated. To her, hand-holding spoke more of developed relationships than easy flirtation. Xander didn’t do relationships. Yet, he seemed so comfortable with their hands joined. And it felt right. Real and special.
It didn’t take long to reach the ice-cream parlor. She was happy to see Xander went to one of the mom-and-pop places over a chain. She always tried to support the local businesses.
The place was empty, and they were greeted by two teenage employees. Xander ordered butter pecan in a cone and she went with straight chocolate. He paid, and they left the store, heading toward the water. They found a bench overlooking the Potomac and settled in to enjoy their cones.
The sun was almost finished setting over the river, but the clouds were doing their best to hide the usual colors of the straggling sun. Still, there was a dreamlike quality to the evening.
Boats were docked in the harbor. Aromas of cooked fish and other food emanated from the nearby restaurants. She looked to the right at the Woodrow Wilson drawbridge. Traffic was zipping across it as one of the water taxis that transported people between Old Town and National Harbor made its way underneath.
A loud cheer sounded from the closest restaurant. Grace and Xander turned to see a small wedding. The bride and groom were sealing the deal with a kiss as their guests applauded and whistled.
Grace couldn’t stop her grin. She just loved seeing people happy. The wedding planner in her drank in the details of the ceremony. She’d guess about thirty guests. There was a small two-layer cake decorated in white and orange with an adorable cake topper. The flowers were tasteful, showcasing autumn colors. The displays weren’t overwhelming. There was just enough to make the space special.
Only because this was her profession, she noticed the wedding planner, dressed in black, quietly moving on the edges of the room. She was lighting candles at the tables and fussing with the centerpieces.
“That’s going to be me on Wednesday,” she said to Xander.
“What’s happening Wednesday?” Xander asked. He took the last bite of his ice-cream cone and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“I’m heading out to Hart of the Hills early Wednesday morning. I’ll check into the hotel where everyone is going to stay and set up as much as I can before Em and Jack get there on Thursday afternoon.”
“Seems like extra special treatment,” Xander said.
“Well, I have an extra special bride.” Grace laughed.
They lapsed into a comfortable silence again. After Grace finished her cone, Xander took her hand again. Fireworks went off in her system.
“You know,” Xander began. “I’m due for some vacation time at work. Why don’t I join you on Wednesday?”
Grace’s heart stopped and all the air whooshed out of her body at the mere suggestion of being alone in a hotel with Xander. “Join me?”
“Yeah. Do you have any help coming on Wednesday?”
She didn’t answer, wondering if he’d overheard her tell Grammy she didn’t have any help. He squeezed her hand. “No,” she said. “My subs aren’t showing up until Friday morning.”
“I’ll make arrangements first thing tomorrow morning.”
Xander and her alone for almost two days. Was that really a good idea?
“You really don’t have to do that, Xander. After all, this is my job.”
“Think of me as your assistant,” Xander said. “I’ll even let you boss me around.” He winked at her.
Because she didn’t want to appear ungrateful, Grace was left with no recourse but to relent. “Fine, come on up on Wednesday. But be prepared to work.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Without warning, he framed her face in his hands and gently—so, so gently—kissed her. If they weren’t sitting on a bench, she would have surely melted into the ground.
When he pulled back, he offered her an appealing grin. Then he grabbed her hand again and they began to walk toward her house.
They didn’t mention the kiss or the fact that they were going to be alone together in a hotel. But that’s all Grace could think about.
Xander said he would come prepared to work. The problem was that she had no idea how to prepare to be alone with Xander.
Chapter Eleven
Anyone who said that wedding planners didn’t work hard was seriously delusional. Or they’d never followed Grace Harris around for a day.
Xander and Grace had arrived at the hotel at nine in the morning. Their rooms weren’t ready, but that didn’t deter Grace. She had a list lon
ger than the Potomac River, and immediately jumped into it.
They met with her contact at the hotel, ensured the wedding room block, toured the space, made sure the room they were using for the rehearsal dinner was adequate and reviewed the menu. While Grace and the hotel manager went through something called a BEO—whatever that was—Xander took a little time to familiarize himself with the hotel.
It was rustically decorated with fireplaces, leather couches in the lobby, stone accent walls and hardwood floors. But he noticed that it seemed to also have every modern amenity available: pool, fitness center, a large business center with a wall of computers and even an app. Plus, the views of the mountains were killer.
By noon, Xander would have paid big money for a nap. Grace had other ideas. He got the feeling if he even so much as mentioned a break, he would be staring down the wrong end of a wedding bouquet.
At the same time, he could tell she was losing fuel. Probably because she needed food. While she worked out some hitch with the transportation company that would be shuttling guests back and forth between the hotel and the winery, Xander made his way to a restaurant that was situated right behind the lobby.
He chose a table next to a large picture window so they would have a view of those majestic mountains. Then he ordered two lunch buffets. He’d have to be a little sneaky to get Grace in here, so he sent her a text claiming there was an emergency in the restaurant. Devious, but necessary.
He had to stifle a laugh when she power walked into the room, phone at her ear, clutching an iPad portfolio notebook. When she spotted him enjoying coffee at the table, her eyes narrowed and she slowed her gait as she made her way across the room to him.
She ended her call right as she reached the table. “What’s the emergency?”
“You haven’t eaten.”
She sighed. “That’s not an emergency. That’s a nonissue.”
He leaned back in the chair. “I disagree. A hungry wedding planner is an unproductive wedding planner.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Do I look like I’ve been unproductive?”
What she looked was amazing in her fitted black pants and long black-and-white blouse, with her hair pulled back in a ponytail and minimal makeup. “You look like you’re hungry. I took the liberty of ordering you the lunch buffet.”
At that moment, a waitress came by with their plates. “Would you like something to drink, ma’am?”
Xander could tell Grace was weighing her displeasure with his trick versus her need for common politeness. Manners won out in the end.
“An iced tea with lemon would be great. Thank you.”
She dropped her tablet on the table, tucked her phone into the back pocket of those fitted pants she was wearing and picked up a plate. “I just finished working out the shuttle schedule. I still need to call the florist back because they have all of the bouquets mixed up. Have you ever heard of a MOH carrying a larger bouquet than the bride?”
He didn’t even know what an MOH was. “Um, nope?”
“I know, right. It’s ridiculous. After I sort that out, we need to get over to the winery. What are you doing?”
He’d placed a hand on her back and was steering her toward the buffet. “We will get to all of that, but first you are eating.”
“Hey, you said you would let me boss you around.”
“Eat first, boss later.”
She peered at him and looked to be about to say something. Then she turned to the buffet and her body softened. “It does smell good in here.”
Finally, she was making sense. “Let’s load up.”
They filled their plates and made their way back to the table. Grace took a bite of her salad and seemed to sink into her seat. “Okay, maybe I needed this.”
“Is that your way of saying thank-you?”
She shook her head. “No. This is.” She rose and walked around the table to him. Then she leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered.
But as she began to straighten, he couldn’t resist. He reached for her, pulling her back down. Her ponytail cascaded over her shoulder, tickling his face. Then he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss wasn’t long, but it was potent with possibilities and want.
“You’re welcome,” he replied.
She seemed dazed as she returned to her seat. He liked keeping her off balance. Especially since every time their lips met, he became more untethered himself.
They finished lunch and headed over to Hart of the Hills. Max and Olivia were thrilled to help out. The four of them came up with a plan to add extra twinkly lights, per Emerson’s request. They organized the space for the ceremony and reviewed where everything would be situated for the reception.
Hours later, Xander found himself back at the hotel, taking direction from Grace as they organized goody bags for the guests that would be staying in the hotel. They were using a small conference room on the main floor.
When his phone rang, Xander checked the caller ID and inwardly groaned. His dad was calling and he was in no mood to hear the latest drama.
Preoccupied arranging the items for the goody bags, Grace said, “Why don’t you take that while I finish setting up?”
He wanted to protest and tell her that he’d much rather let the call roll over to voice mail. Left with no other excuses, Xander stepped out into the hallway and answered the call. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hi, son. Where ya been?”
“I’m out in Virginia wine country, helping prepare for Jack’s wedding. It’s this Saturday. Remember?”
“Got my invitation. I’ll be there.”
Xander paused as a sinking feeling took over. “And Mom? Will she be here, too?” Please say no. Please say no. Not having his parents around to argue with each other would be one less thing to worry about.
“She’s coming, too.” His father sighed. “She’ll have to leave her latest boy toy for the day.”
Xander didn’t reply. At this point, he didn’t know what there was to say.
“You know she’s seeing someone who works in a coffee shop? Ridiculous.”
It wasn’t defending his mother that had him speaking up. Rather, it was the hypocrisy over the entire situation between his parents.
“Aren’t you spending time with a waitress up in Sag Harbor?”
His dad coughed. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Xander rubbed the back of his neck. “Mom’s seeing a barista. You’re seeing a waitress. Do I really need to explain more than that?”
“Maybe I wouldn’t be seeing anyone if your mother remained faithful.”
Xander ground his teeth together, a bad habit he thought he’d broken after law school. “Maybe Mom could say the same thing.” He began pacing the hallway.
His dad let out a mirthless laugh. “Your mother and I have been married for over thirty years.”
“Have any of those years been happy?” Xander stopped pacing. He hadn’t meant to ask the question and was surprised that it had slipped out. Since it was in the open, he waited anxiously to hear the answer.
Unfortunately, his dad didn’t address it. “What’s gotten into you, Xander? This is our life. Your mother flaunts her conquests in front of me. At least I have the decency of discretion. Speaking of, here she comes now. Do you want to talk to her?”
“No.” Xander clenched his fists and leaned back against the wall.
“Fine. We’ll see you on Saturday, then.”
“You’ll be together?” Xander asked.
“Of course.” His father said this like it was the most obvious thing in the world. But based on everything they’d just discussed, it shouldn’t be obvious. The entire thing was absolutely ridiculous.
Xander ended the call and stared at his cell phone. He felt a headache brewing, a typical response to dealing with his parents.
Xander leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. This was marriage. Unhappiness, betrayal, tricks and drama. This was what he spent his days fixing. No one should live like this.
He pushed off the wall. His mood had plummeted and he felt sullen and angst-filled. He needed to go for a run or push himself through an intense weight workout. But there was no time for that. Instead, he had to return to the conference room and stuff minibottles of wine and other froufrou crap into goody bags. Like anyone even cared about this stuff. It was completely unnecessary.
He pushed open the door and stalked into the room. Grace was humming along to music coming out of her phone. She looked up when he entered and smiled.
Her smile was killer. It was pure and sweet and trusting. For some reason, it was the last thing he wanted to see. Here she was smiling at him and humming music, her hair framing her perfect heart-shaped face.
Grace truly had no clue. She spent her life worrying about insipid details like personalized M&M’S and bows on the backs of covered dining chairs. She had no idea what real people went through.
Xander had seen photos from his parents’ wedding. They’d had all the bells and whistles. Where did that get them? Separate bedrooms and miserable lives.
Grace’s face fell. “Is everything okay?”
Xander crossed the room and picked up a tiny bag holding the M&M’S with Emerson’s and Jack’s initials. He dropped it back on the table and ignored her question and the concern on her face.
“You charge people tens of thousands of dollars for this stuff.”
She laughed lightly. “Well, candy doesn’t cost quite that much.”
“I’m being serious.” His voice came out harsh and her head snapped up.
Grace shrugged. “It’s their choice. If the couple has the money and the desire, what’s wrong with that?”
“It’s frivolous, stupid crap.” He held up a votive candle with the date of his friends’ wedding embossed on it.
The Wedding Truce Page 13
