Something flitted across Lisa’s face and, if he wasn’t mistaken, her gaze swept over his hand.
“How do your family feel about moving to Marietta?”
Ahh. That was it. “There’s no family. Just me.” Bramble Lane was probably considered as houses for families. Detached three and four bedroom houses. Probably not single guy material.
She gave him a curious stare. “You don’t seem to have any accent. Where are you from originally?”
“Washington, DC. I graduated from University of Washington and worked in a few hospitals in Washington, DC, then Montana.” Was she smiling just a touch again?
“And you like it here?”
He almost laughed out loud. Was she going to start asking for references? “Well, I’ve bought a house. So I’m planning on staying a while.”
He glanced down at her well-worn pile of books. “Fairy tales? Do you always read them to the kids?”
She nodded and waved her hands. “Nothing better than a bit of make believe. Especially in a place like this.”
He felt himself bristle a little at her words. The ped department here was one of the warmest, friendliest places he’d experienced. He kind of knew what she was getting at; he just didn’t like someone saying it.
Her eyes had drifted back to one of the rooms that contained a kid having cancer treatment. “Sometimes make believe is better than reality.” Her fingers brushed over the well-worn books and she gave a little smile. “For adults as well as kids.”
What did that mean? Her phone rang and she pulled it from her pocket. “Excuse me.”
She started talking lowly. All wedding stuff – it must be a business call.
Mary came down the corridor towards him and gave a little nod towards Lisa. “Ah, good. You’ve met.” She had that twinkle in her eye. It didn’t take Einstein to figure out where her brain was going.
Mary was the central hub right now of the Marietta gossip tree in the hospital. If she didn’t know it – it wasn’t worth knowing. She glanced at Adam, even though it was clear she was eavesdropping into Lisa’s conversation.
“I told Ryan’s parents you would go over the procedure and get them to sign the consent form. They seem relieved to know what’s wrong with him.”
“Any idea how he ended up inhaling a dime?”
She grinned. “Oh, yeah. Ryan was balancing the coin on his nose and trying to flip it in the air and catch it with his teeth. Looks like he caught this one in more ways than one.”
Adam shook his head. Mary was still listening intently to Lisa’s conversation. She sucked in a loud breath. “Nancylynn Pruitt’s getting married here?” Her voice rose and Lisa’s head snapped round and she waved her hand at her to try and silence her.
“Who is Nancylynn Pruitt? And why is it a big deal?”
He was still trying to get his head around how a place like Marietta worked. Everyone seemed to know everything about everyone. Most people in the town seemed connected in some way.
Mary gave him a playful slap on the arm. “Everyone knows Nancylynn. Don’t you watch Sultry Suburbs? Nancy Parsons?”
Adam frowned for a second. Of course he’d heard of her. She was right up there with Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox. “Nancy Parsons is from Marietta?”
Lisa was continuing to talk. She was focused. She was professional. She also seemed to be bending over backwards for an extremely difficult customer. “Of course. If that’s what they want. It’s a little unusual, but I think I can manage that. I have other customers to deal with, but I’ll do my best.”
It started to annoy him. He didn’t know Lisa at all. He’d only met her for the briefest of moments.
Mary could hardly contain her excitement as Lisa finished the call. “Is Nancy Parsons getting married here, in Marietta?” She clapped her hands together before she even had the answer.
“Shh…,” said Lisa and glanced around. “I’m not quite sure how public the news is yet. All I know is the date – which is only a few weeks away – and the fact that Nancy has said she wants to use lots of the local businesses.”
Adam felt himself cringe and he took a step back. Publicity. In spades. In the middle of Marietta. The last thing he wanted. Marietta was his salvation. His sanctuary. He’d moved across states to get away from publicity.
A celebrity wedding? Reporters and photographers would swarm around here for miles. It would be a nightmare.
Lisa, however, looked thrilled. “Isn’t it great?” she said to Mary. “They’re coming to look at bridesmaid dresses tomorrow. Apparently the whole wedding party will be here in the next few days.
“Who are the bridesmaids, and where will they be staying? Do you think Nancy will introduce me to Jared, her groom? I’ve always wanted to meet a movie star.”
Adam was astonished. Mary was the most sensible woman he knew. But the first whiff of a celebrity and she was twittering like a teenager.
“Do you think they’ll use the Grand Hotel?” asked Lisa. “It’s gorgeous for a wedding. I would have thought Nancy would want to get married at the Four Seasons. I’m surprised she wants to come back to Marietta,” Lisa’s smile stretched from ear to ear. “But the more I think about it, the more excited I get. I think I’ll go back to the shop and see if there’s anything else I can do before tomorrow.”
Adam felt a little uneasy. This beautiful, peaceful town that he’d found and made a home in, was about to be invaded by press and photographers. There was only the remotest possibility that someone would make a connection to who he was, but it still made him uncomfortable.
He’d moved to a whole different state to escape the ‘lotto winner’ label. It hadn’t even been a huge amount of money. Enough to clear all his medical school debts, allow him to buy his new house outright and have some money in the bank. The ‘millionaire doctor’ label wasn’t entirely accurate anymore. But the constant harassment from the media had burned a permanent reminder in his brain.
The female attention – women with an interest purely in his bank balance – had been a whole new experience and one he didn’t want to revisit.
Lisa and Mary were still twittering away, rejoicing at the amount of people that would swarm into the town and the business it would bring to Marietta.
“Mary?” he said sharply. “Let’s get things organized for Ryan. The sooner we get him downstairs the better.”
Mary’s sentence was interrupted full flow and she blinked before glancing towards Lisa and giving a little nod. “Of course, Dr. Brady.”
He hadn’t meant to sound quite so blunt. But it was too late now. Lisa picked up her fairy tale books and gave him a careful look. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Brady,” she murmured before walking down the hall.
It was all he could not to follow every swing of her hips in those dark loose yoga pants.
Chapter Two
‡
Lisa was excited. She’d hardly slept all night.
Sage unlocked the front door of Copper Mountain Chocolates. “Lisa, what on earth are you doing? You’re standing out here with a hang-dog expression on your face?” She glanced over her shoulder. “It’s not even 9:00 am.”
“Isn’t it?” Lisa looked down at her watch, then smiled and took a deep breath. She always loved walking in here and being hit with the smell of fresh chocolate. There was a hint of ginger in the air.
She gave a little sigh and leaned on the glass counter. “I wish you were next to my salon and not the pizza place.”
Sage smiled. “Brides don’t want to put on weight before their weddings. You’d expect me to keep turning them away.”
A noise at the door behind her signalled she wasn’t the only person in town desperate for a chocolate fix. But her eyes opened in surprise at the sight of Adam Brady.
Sage nodded in greeting. “Well, if it isn’t my two favorite chocoholics. Have you two met yet?”
Adam looked equally surprised to see Lisa. He gave his eyes a little rub. Of course, he’d been on-call in the hospital al
l last night. He must just have got off shift. “Yeah, we’ve met,” he said carefully then he glanced back at Sage. She, at least, got a smile. “And don’t give all my secrets away. A doctor who loves chocolate? You’ll ruin my reputation.”
It seemed his grumpiness was isolated to her. Lisa turned her back on him and paid attention to the glass counter filled with gorgeous chocolates again. “Sage, that’s what I came to tell you. I want some chocolates for the shop today. We’re having some special guests. Polly Parker and Ruby Cole are coming to see if they can find bridesmaid dresses this morning.”
Sage wrinkled her nose. “I recognize those names. Who are they?”
“They’re friends of Nancylynn Pruitt’s. Do you know she’s coming back to get married here in a few weeks?” Lisa’s eyes widened as she just remembered something. “She wants to use local businesses. I’ll tell her to come in here. You could make her wedding favors.”
Sage smiled widely and looked thoughtful. “Do you think she would want something like that?”
“Why not, doesn’t everyone love your chocolates?”
Sage shrugged modestly. “I hope so. I could make her individual chocolates covered in foil to match her bridesmaid dresses. Does she have a theme for her wedding? I could make her molds – you know, cowboy hats, intertwined hearts, or just a great big Hollywood sign.”
She picked up a handful of leaflets and handed them over to Lisa. “Can you leave them in the shop so she can see them? If she’s interested she can come and chat with me.”
Lisa grinned. “Once she’s tasted the chocolates I’ll have in store for her today I bet she’s over in a shot.” She almost pressed her nose against the glass. She didn’t care it was only nine am. She’d been awake since five. It was never too early for chocolate.
Sage pulled out a basket and lined it with some tissue paper. “Do you just want a variety?”
Lisa nodded and started pointing through the glass. “Some of the orange ginger truffles – you know they’re my favorites. And the chocolate mint melts.” She moved further along the counter as Sage picked up her tongs and started putting chocolates in the basket. “Some heart-shaped raspberry creams, the fig and pistachio chocolates and the spicy mango too. Oh, and some coconut truffles.”
“Are you sure that basket’s big enough?” Adam’s deep voice had a hint of laughter about it. Maybe he wasn’t such a grump after all.
Lisa swung around towards him. To be fair, he looked tired. He’d probably been up most of the night. “I’m just trying to make my new guests feel welcome. What girl, or guy,” she added, “doesn’t like chocolate?” She waved her hand towards the counter. “Go on then. What’s your poison? But I’m warning you, if it’s the orange ginger truffles we’ll be out there duelling at dawn.”
The edges of his tired lips hinted at a smile. “You’re safe, I’m here for four bars of the single origin cinnamon and hazelnut chocolate bars. Can’t see past them.”
Sage tapped a few she had sitting on the counter behind her. “And I keep them specially for Adam.” She nodded towards Lisa and laughed. “He gets cranky if they’re sold out.”
“Cranky?” said Lisa as she couldn’t help but grin. “Oh no, Sage. Not Dr. Brady. He’d never be cranky.” She raised her eyebrows at him as Sage rang up her chocolates on the cash register.
Sage smiled back at Adam and lifted her hand. “It’s two against one. Don’t even go there. Are you playing poker with Dawson and the guys tonight?”
He gave a nod. “Unless I’m called back on duty, tonight is free. I’m looking forward to it.”
She turned to Lisa. “What about you, are you going to Grey’s tonight?”
Talk about a setup. Lisa felt color rush to her cheeks. At some point she would kill Sage for this. She liked to try and play matchmaker for others. Lisa felt as if she had a sign above her head. Single and desperate.
She picked up her chocolates from the counter and handed over her cash just as Adam put his cash on the counter at the same time. Their fingers almost brushed together. “I’m meeting Magdalena later. We might have a few drinks at Grey’s.” She could see Adam watching her out of the corner of her eye. Was he smiling? Did he sense Sage’s setup too? She started to pray that the ground would just open up and swallow her now.
She did her best to completely ignore Adam Brady. His hair was sticking up in all directions and he’d dark circles under his eyes. The guy looked as if he just wanted to grab his chocolate and head straight to bed.
Instead, he gave a little smirk, leaned over and grabbed one of the chocolates Sage had just placed in a wicker basket for her and popped it in his mouth.
“Hey!” she yelled as he tucked his chocolate bars into his pocket and disappeared quickly out into the street, laughing the whole way.
*
Everything was perfect. Everything was just as it should be.
She’d pulled a rail through from the back stockroom and sat it in the middle of the store, filling it with every variety of bridesmaid dress that she had. As the rail was on wheels it was easy to manoeuvre and meant that Ruby and Polly would be able to sit comfortably on the pink velvet-covered chairs and view all the styles.
The chocolates were on a small table between both chairs, along with some slim glasses which she planned to fill with sparkling wine or water if required.
Lisa glanced at her watch. The pizza ovens next door would fire up soon, so she lit a candle to let the aroma of summer flowers fill her store. Perfect. She rubbed her hands together as her stomach turned over and over. Now, she just needed her potential customers.
So, she waited. And waited. And waited…
*
It was after 2:00 pm before the wedding party finally arrived. Nancylynn looked harassed to death. Paparazzi pictures always showed her as immaculately groomed with not a hair out of place. Today, her dyed-blonde locks were pulled back in a ponytail and her eyes a little red. Lisa hadn’t seen Nancylynn in years – apart from the TV. Nancylynn had been six years below her at school, so their paths hadn’t crossed often.
“Lisa, I’m so sorry we’re late,” she gushed as she hurried into the shop, crossing the small space and enveloping Lisa in a bear hug.
Lisa was surprised. They’d always known each other to say hello to, but never been friends. Her professional persona slipped easily into place. Nancylynn was a bride. It was her job to make sure everything went perfectly for her, and from the strain on her unlined botoxed face, it was obvious she needed some support.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Nancylynn. Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. I’ll do everything I can to make things easy on you.”
Nancylynn blinked. “It’s just Nancy now,” she murmured, glancing over her shoulder as her bridesmaids trooped in behind her. “I prefer just Nancy.”
Lisa smiled. “No problem, Nancy it is.” One bridesmaid was chewing gum and the other on her phone. Neither of them paid the slightest bit of attention to Lisa or the bride-to-be. Being this up close to Nancy was illuminating. There was no getting away from the fact she was a gorgeous girl, with perfect skin and clear blue eyes. But the dyed blonde hair was just a little harsh. Nancy Parsons had been more attractive with her naturally colored auburn hair. In Hollywood it made her stand out from the crowd of cardboard cut-out blondes. Today? Not so much.
Nancy walked over towards the rail of hanging bridesmaid dresses and took a deep breath. “We’ve been to seventeen stores. I swear, we’re not leaving here today until they’ve agreed on a dress.”
Lisa glanced towards the bridesmaids. They were still totally ignoring her. She cleared her throat to no effect. Something sparked in her brain and she walked over to her white wicker glass-topped counter and lifted the bottle of Prosecco. “Would anyone like a drink before we start?”
It seemed those were the magic words. Nancy snapped to attention. “Sorry, yes. Lisa, this is Ruby Cole and Polly Parker, my bridesmaids.” Lisa held out her hand towards both of them. They pract
ically had ‘hard work’ stamped on both of their foreheads.
But it was weird. Up close and personal they looked so similar. Lisa guessed that Hollywood’s plastic surgeons all worked to the same ideals. In another few years Nancylynn would probably be identical to the other two.
Ruby’s eyes never left the bottle the whole time Lisa popped the cork and poured the pale sparkling liquid into glasses. She almost snatched the glass from Lisa’s hand.
Lisa never even blinked, just waved her arms towards the pink covered velvet vintage chairs. “Have a seat, ladies. I have some refreshments for you.” She turned to Nancy. “Nancy, do you remember Sage Carrigan from high school? She’s opened a chocolatiers in Marietta. I thought you might like to try some of her creations.”
Something flickered across Nancy’s face. Of course. Hollywood. Every calorie was a prisoner. Polly didn’t seem to have any such thoughts. She plopped down in a chair and stuffed two in her mouth at once. “Great. Now, what you got for us?”
Lisa waited a few moments for Nancy and Ruby to sit down. She turned to her dazzling array of dresses. “Let’s start with color. What’s your preference?”
She could tell in an instant the range of shades that both women should be wearing. With their Hollywood tans, perfect teeth and bright blonde shoulder length hair, the taupe colors would look best on them. It would complement their hair and skin tone. Pale was definitely best.
“I want red,” said Polly. “I want people to notice me.”
Because of course, you wouldn’t want them to look at the bride. Lisa tried to push her thoughts aside.
“I was thinking electric blue, with lots of sparkle,” said Ruby.
Lisa bit her lip. “What about something like this?” She lifted a pale shimmering green dress with crystals on the bodice from the rail and held the dress out with her other hand. “What do you think, Nancy?”
Over the past few years she’d learned that in a lot of cases, what the bride wanted overruled everything else. Even if it was the wrong color and style for the bridesmaids. In some cases, Lisa even suspected the bride wanted to make sure her bridesmaids didn’t outshine her.
The Fairy Tale Bride Page 2
