The next day, on the way back to New York, she kept her distance as well, spending most of the trip checking the gazillion email messages on her phone. By the time she got home, it was so late, and she was so exhausted that she didn’t bother to unpack or even wash her face. She simply crawled into bed, quickly falling into a much needed deep sleep.
In the morning, when she went downstairs, Emilia was up and in the kitchen making eggs. “Want some,” she asked. “Looks like you could use some food. You look awful.”
“Thanks. Nice to see you too,” she remarked drearily. “Maybe it’s due to jetlag. After all, I did just get back last night.”
“Nope. I know you too well. It’s more than that. Is it Scarlett? Did she drive you crazy?” Emilia plopped two eggs on a plate, along with some toast, and then set it on the table in front of her.
“Actually, Scarlett wasn’t a problem at all. Her dress turned out beautifully and fits like a glove.”
Her sister scowled. “Than what’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve lost your best friend?” Before she could answer, Emilia added, “Oh, please don’t tell me it’s Dale. Did he turn out to be a jerk? I had such high hopes that he might be the right guy for you.”
Lizzy picked at her eggs with her fork. “You’re right. Dale is a jerk. A complete egomaniac.”
Emilia squeezed her shoulders. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. And you had to spend all that time abroad with him too.”
“I didn’t spend much time with Dale.”
Her sister’s brows shot up in surprise.
“I spent most of my time with Maxi,” Lizzy said, taking a bite of toast.
Emilia sat down beside her. “Maximillian Harte? You got to meet him? What’s he like?”
Lizzy thought for a moment, choosing her words carefully. “He’s funny and kind. Smart and compassionate. And very good looking.”
“Well, I take it you like him, so what’s wrong? Why do you look so sad?”
Lizzy caught her sister’s questioning glance and held it while she said, “Because he lied to me about who he was.”
Emilia crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t understand. How could he lie to you about that, and why would he?”
She blew out a deep breath. “The Dale White that I met here in New York isn’t Dale White at all. He’s Maximillian Harte.”
Emilia’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“You heard me. Dale is Maxi. Everything I thought I knew about him was a charade, orchestrated by his sister.”
“Scarlett?”
“Yep.”
“Why on earth would they do such a thing?”
“Because Maxi thought if the press knew he was here, they’d make a big deal about it, and that would dredge up painful memories of the past. Memories of his wife’s death.”
Emilia chewed her lip and then said, “I can understand that, and he’s probably right about the media. But isn’t he here for the wedding? Won’t that happen now, anyway?”
Lizzy shrugged. “I didn’t ask him that. I suppose he figured there’d be lots of important people at the wedding and he could get lost in the crowd. Remember, Maxi hasn’t been seen in public for ten years, so it’s not like there’s a high likelihood of someone recognizing him. But if he’d met with me at Happily Ever After as Maxi, word might have gotten out.”
“And very possibly it would’ve. Not by you, but by someone who might’ve overheard your conversation.”
She sighed. “I didn’t consider that. All I thought was that he didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth. I felt and still feel betrayed.”
Emilia shook her head sadly. “When did you find out?”
“Yesterday, when the real Dale strolled into Harte Manor and called him Maxi. He had no recourse then but to tell me the truth.”
“Do you love him? And does he love you?”
A single tear ran down her cheek. “I do, and I thought he did.”
“Then don’t let this get in the way. It’s a little blip on the radar of what might be a wonderful life together. No relationship is perfect. My goodness, Lizzy, you certainly know that. You’ve been in enough of them. Try to see this from his perspective and then decide how you feel.”
She nodded. “You’re right as usual, but that’s not my only concern. Learning he’s Maxi has brought with it a whole host of issues, like how he’s coped with the death of his wife. Emmy, he stepped away from life for ten years. How can I ever compete with a love like that?”
“You don’t. You create your own special love. Your own life with him, without the ghost of the past. Everyone comes with baggage.”
Lizzy leaned over and hugged her sister. “How’d you get so wise?”
She smiled. “It’s always easier to give advice than it is to follow it.”
“You’re right about that. Well, I certainly have a lot to think about. However, before I ponder my future, I have to make sure Scarlett’s wedding goes off without a hitch tomorrow.”
18
Lizzy hadn’t bothered to go over to Rosemont Castle during Scarlett’s and Roger’s rehearsal dinner. She called instead and spoke to the manager, who assured her everything was set for the wedding. With everything on track, she was able to get to bed early, so that in the morning, she felt refreshed and ready for the big day.
Rosemont Castle looked more spectacular than ever when Lizzy and Emilia arrived. There were flowers everywhere, and their luscious fragrance perfumed the air. The place was abuzz with workers, quickly and proficiently doing their jobs so that they would all be done before the first guests arrived.
“Fabulous as always, Lizzy. It’s no wonder we’re number one. No one throws on a better wedding than we do,” Emilia remarked proudly.
“You’re right. We’re good at our jobs. Too bad, I wasn’t that skillful with my personal life.”
Emilia shot her a dirty look. “You promised not to go there. Tomorrow you can wallow in self-pity if you must, but today is all about the bride and groom.”
Lizzy scrunched up her nose. “Thank you for those words of wisdom. You always know exactly what to say.”
Her sister laughed. “I speak the truth, so only come to me when you want to hear it.”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t have a choice, partner. For the sake of Happily Ever After, I’m stuck with you today,” Lizzy said sarcastically.
“Do you want to inspect the ballroom or the formal garden?” her twin asked.
“I’ll go outside. I need to make sure the runner was put down correctly. We don’t need any of the bridesmaids tripping, or, heaven forbid, Scarlett.” When Lizzy walked through the French doors, the first thing she noticed was the trellis. Wrapped with orchids, roses, and heather, it would beautifully frame Scarlett and Roger as they said their vows. As she walked toward it, she was careful not to step on the runner, which she noted had correctly been laid and was wrinkle-free.
It was Maxi who’d recommended moving the trellis so that both the castle and the ocean would serve as backdrops, and he was right in his assessment. She couldn’t imagine a more beautiful or serene spot. Lizzy pictured him standing beside her with the sun shining down on his head, turning his hair to gold and looking too dashing for words in his black tux. He was giving Scarlett away. There’d be no avoiding him, so if she didn’t get a grip on her emotions now, she’d be in a heck of a lot of trouble later.
“Miss Sullivan,” someone yelled. She looked over at the French doors, where one of the workers held a large box stamped on the side with the name Flowers Are Us. “Miss Harte’s bouquet has arrived.”
“Thank you. She should be getting dressed. I’ll give it to her,” Lizzy said as she walked toward the door. Before heading to the bridal suite, she looked inside the box and found one of the most gorgeous bouquets she’d ever seen. Cascading white orchids and classic roses were surrounded by vibrant purple heather. Scarlett’s going to love this.
Lizzy hurried inside and then up the grand staircase to where the guest
rooms were located. The bridal suite was at the end of the hall. She was nearly there when a door opened, and a man with dark blond hair stepped out. For a second, she thought her heart might stop beating as she mistook him for Maxi. Sheesh! Get a grip. You are going to run into him at some point today.
She rapped on the bridal suite door, waiting a second before entering. Surprisingly, Scarlett was alone, fully dressed, and beautifully made-up. “Where is everyone?”
“I needed some time alone.” Her hands shook a little when Lizzy handed her the box.
“That’s understandable. This is one of the most special days of your life, and it’s important to take some time to reflect. I just wanted to bring you your bouquet.”
“Thank you, but don’t go. I’m glad you’re here because there’s something I need to say.”
Lizzy’s pulse raced. Was there a spot on the back of Scarlett’s gown? Or maybe the cake hadn’t turned out exactly as envisioned. Any number of things could’ve gone wrong. It wouldn’t seem right if there weren’t at least one little hiccup before the ceremony began. “Did something happen?” she asked nervously.
“Not regarding the wedding.”
Lizzy began to relax. “What then?”
“It’s my fault that you’re angry at Maxi, and I’m so, so sorry. I never meant for that to happen. I know that I’ve been a difficult client at times, and I’m sure that you didn’t appreciate having me send someone to check up on your work, but it really was about me and my issues. Not you. I’ve admired you for a long time and was so thankful when you agreed to plan my wedding.”
Lizzy’s composure was a fragile shell around her, and she struggled with the uncertainty that this subject aroused. “It’s okay. There’s no need to apologize. What happened between Maxi and me was bound to happen sooner or later. His love for Bryony is so strong; I don’t know if there’s room for another.”
Intense astonishment touched Scarlett’s lovely face. “You couldn’t be more mistaken. Remember how I told you things weren’t always what they seemed. I was referring to Maxi’s marriage. Did he love her? Yes. They grew up together, but they were mismatched as husband and wife. Lots of things were wrong with their relationship, but when Maxi found out that Bryony had cheated on him, that was the end. He asked for a divorce. Bryony was enraged, screaming that it had only happened once. She even went so far as to say that she never would’ve been unfaithful if he’d spent more time with her. After that, she took off. It was the middle of the night and pouring rain. It was her fault that she slipped on the rocks, but Maxi blamed himself for her death because he couldn’t forgive her…because he wanted more from his marriage. He’s been wracked with guilt. Not because he loved her that deeply, but because he hadn’t loved her enough.”
Lizzy took a quick breath of utter astonishment, and then a new and unexpected warmth surged through her. “Thank you for telling me that. It explains a lot.”
“Maxi is a good man. He deserves a second chance at life, and I think he could have a shot at that with you.”
She was too startled by that to offer any objection. “We’d better get going. You don’t want to be late for your own wedding.”
As Lizzy walked Scarlett down the grand staircase, she realized two things. Not only had she misjudged Maxi, but she’d misjudged the thoughtful and caring woman by her side too.
19
As Maxi stood beside Scarlett waiting to walk her down the aisle, he’d never been more proud of his little sister. She’d grown into an amazing woman, and now she about to become an amazing wife. He thought back over the years. For so long, it had been just the two of them, and a suffocating sensation tightened his throat because, in a few minutes, he was going to have to hand her off to another man. Luckily, she’d chosen a good one, and he did not doubt that Roger would make her very happy.
“Are you okay?” she whispered as they stepped off.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
She smiled slyly. “I’m fabulous. I had a little talk with Lizzy not long ago.”
Before he could respond, Roger took over, and Maxi’s job was done. Leave it to Scarlett to tell him that at the most inopportune time. Some things never changed.
Later, as he watched the bride and groom dance, he caught sight of Lizzy. The shadow of a large potted plant hid her expression, but she must’ve seen him too because a moment later, to his surprise, she was at his side.
“It was a beautiful wedding, Lizzy. Not one hitch.”
A slight smile curved her rosy lips. “That’s because they all happened before it.”
“You’re right about that.”
“I spoke to Scarlett. She told me things about you that I needed to know.”
“I figured as much.”
“She told you?”
“Well, she didn’t have time to say much, seeing as I was walking her down the aisle.”
Lizzy laughed. “She’s your sister.”
“That she is. But did she tell you that I was madly, insanely, hopelessly in love with you?”
Her slate-colored eyes darkened with shock. “No. She did not.”
“Good. Because I wanted to be the one to do it.” Maxi didn’t give Lizzy a chance to respond because he pressed his lips against hers, and when she melted against him, it rocked his world. When their lips parted, he asked, “Does this mean that we’re back together?”
“I don’t know. Were we ever a couple?”
“Well, we were certainly headed in that direction. Look, Lizzy, all kidding aside. You changed my life and made me see what I’ve been missing. I don’t want to lose you. Not ever.”
“I don’t want to lose you either, but you live in Kent, and I’m here in New York.”
“And I have a private plane that can fly us where ever we want to go.”
She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him so close that he could feel the beating of her heart. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to consider making Happily Ever After go global.” Her lips brushed his as she spoke.
Lizzy’s kiss was soft and sweet and was the vow that he’d been waiting for to let him know that the dark place he’d been living in was in the past. This new life with her would be bright and full of promise.
Epilogue
Lizzy hurried into the Briarwood Tavern. She maneuvered around the crowd hanging out at the bar and then made her way into the dining room. The group had snagged their usual table, and she slid into one of the banquettes beside Molly. “Sorry I missed last Thursday,” she said, breathlessly. “It was quite a week. First, Scarlett’s cat went missing, and then I had to fly to England so that she could try on her wedding gown for final alterations.”
“Wow! That is quite a week. How did the wedding go?” her friend wanted to know.
“It was gorgeous. The weather cooperated so we were able to have the ceremony outside. Scarlett was breathtaking but so excited that I thought she might pass out before she had a chance to say her vows.”
“Did you get to meet Maxi?” Bea asked from across the table.
Lizzy’s cheeks warmed. “I did.”
Bea’s brows shot up. “So he walked her down the aisle, after all.”
“What’s he like?” Molly leaned closer to Lizzy to hear her answer as a large party had just been seated behind them.
“Not at all, as I expected. He’s warm and witty and oh, so good looking.”
Molly’s green eyes widened with astonishment. “Sounds like you got to know him quite well.”
Lizzy’s breath quickened, her blood pounded, and her face grew hot. “I did spend a lot of time with him.” Her friends’ surprised looks prompted her to elaborate. “Scarlett was a nervous wreck about not being here the week before the wedding, so she sent someone in her place.” Lizzy paused a minute before going on so that she could think of a way to condense the whole crazy situation into a few sentences. “She planned to send a good friend, but he couldn’t come, so Maxi took his place, and I mean literally.”
�
��Are you saying he pretended to be Scarlett’s friend, not her brother?” Molly asked.
“Yep. That’s exactly what I’m saying.”
“That’s crazy! Sounds like a plot for a TV show,” the actress replied.
Bea laughed. “How did you find out the truth?”
“I found out while I was at his estate in Kent and was pretty upset when I learned the truth. I felt played like he was no better than any of the other bad apples I’d been involved with in the past.”
“Whoa, whoa! Hold on just a minute,” Molly cried. “Are you saying that you fell for him?”
Lizzy looked away, too embarrassed to meet her friend’s gaze.
“Come on, girl. Fess up,” she encouraged.
“He had his reasons for pretending to be someone else, and now I understand completely.”
“And… Don’t leave us hanging,” Molly said excitedly. “Are you two an item?”
“Yes.” She was almost embarrassed at how happy that made her. “I know. I know. This is the No Brides Club. We’ve sworn off men and made a pact to put our careers first, and I have and will continue to, but someone like Maxi comes along once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. I have to give our relationship a chance, or I’ll regret it forever.” Her gaze swept over her friends’ faces, hoping they’d understand.
Molly squeezed her hand. “Of course you do. We wouldn’t expect you to do anything else. When love comes calling, you need to answer.”
Her heart sang with delight, and Lizzy shot Molly a huge smile. “Thank you.”
“We couldn’t be happier for you. This calls for a celebration.” Bea grabbed the first waiter that walked by. “We need a bottle of your best champagne.”
Joy bubbled in Lizzy’s laugh. This might be her last No Brides Club meeting, but these women would always be her friends, and if things progressed with Maxi the way she thought they would, who knows. She might have her own wedding to celebrate one day soon!
No Time for Intrigue (The No Brides Club Book 13) Page 8
