“See? Was that so hard?”
Arden glanced up, her eyes wide. “Wade, this is a big deal. I can’t have you say anything stupid when we’re in front of my clients.”
“Surely, madam, you have me confused with one of your other moronic male acquaintances. I don’t speak stupid.”
“No, but you do speak geek,” she said with exasperation. “So, no Doctor Who or Star Trek references that no one will understand.”
“Hey, that’s not geek. Those are widely popular science fiction—”
“Wade, please.” She began to wring her hands. “You just don’t understand.”
Wade’s expression drew serious as he took her hand and led her to her sofa. “Okay. Help me to understand then,” he said. “I am your fiancé after all.”
His words were said in a joking manner, but Arden couldn’t crack a smile this time. The term “fiancé” didn’t carry as much weight as it had before she was jilted at the altar. Even if he was only her fake fiancé.
“I just can’t afford to lose this account right now. My career depends on it. This business is everything to me. Especially after— It’s…it’s all I have,” she added quietly.
“Especially after what?” he prodded.
She bit her lip, unsure whether to tell him about her engagement or not. Not many people in town knew of the ordeal. Only Kinsley, Elena, and a handful of high school friends. And they’d obviously never discussed it with Wade or anyone else, for which she was eternally appreciative.
Her parents had moved to Florida once she graduated high school, and Arden had been living and working in Philadelphia at the time of her engagement. Her and Colin’s wedding and reception were to be at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center in Philadelphia. It would have been so unique and romantic.
Supposed to have been.
She looked down at her hand still caught in Wade’s. His grip was gentle but firm and conveyed a message that he was not letting it go anytime soon. He sat very close to her, she noticed. Like concerned-real-fiancé close and not just pal-close. But maybe her renewed crush on Wade had her analyzing the situation too much. She shouldn’t focus her attention on that. Right now, she needed to get her mind and body in check because she could use a friend more than anything else.
“Before I opened my own business, I worked for a wedding planner in Philadelphia,” she told him.
He merely blinked, his expression unchanged, as he waited for more.
“I really liked my job. Learned a lot from that company. Met a lot of contacts and people.” She licked her lips. “It’s where I also met my ex-fiancé.”
“Yeah, I remember Kinsley told me that. But I never heard what happened between you two.”
“Probably because it didn’t end so well,” she said, raising her left hand and wiggling her bare ring finger. “Actually, saying it didn’t end so well is putting it mildly. It was the wedding day from hell. Although Colin hadn’t bolted to the Bahamas. He just never showed up at our wedding.”
“Wait. He broke up with you on your wedding day?”
She sighed. “Yeah. Eventually. After we all waited for over an hour. He texted one of the groomsmen to tell me he was very sorry but couldn’t go through with the wedding.”
“I can’t believe anyone would have the balls to do something like that.”
You and me both. “Honestly, I thought it was a bad joke at first. I mean, I knew Colin—well, I thought I knew him. How could he change his mind all of a sudden?”
“Probably because the guy is a grade-A asshat.”
“Maybe…” she hedged. At the time, she’d blamed him. But over the years, her thinking had shifted and had come to the sad conclusion that it was her. She was not the sort of woman men wanted for the long term. Sure, she’d dated here and there after their breakup, but nothing serious. And whenever it had looked like a relationship was heading toward something more meaningful, the guy would bolt. Eventually, she just stopped dating and concentrated on her work.
“Is that why you’re more interested in helping brides create their special days than creating your own?” he asked.
“Of course not. I’m perfectly happy being single.” When he continued to stare at her as if he could see right through her, she looked away and tried to make a joke of it. “Hey, if I wasn’t single, do you think I’d be able to have such an awesome pink bedroom?”
“Arden, I think the right guy would let you have any color bedroom you wanted to have. As long as it made you happy. You deserve that.”
She smiled a little. They were nice words for Wade to say, but they were merely words. Much like the words her ex-fiancé had given to her, promising to love her forever. What Colin had really meant to promise was that he’d love her for their short time together. Not forever. Not always.
Never for the long term.
She sighed. “Anyway, after that embarrassment, I decided to move back to Cape Harmony and create a wedding planning business for myself and make darn sure that every wedding I took on would be the best day ever for every bride who hired me. And I’ve been doing a good job—except for, well, you know.”
“Right. The Bahamas Bolter.”
She winced. “Honestly, I should have seen it coming. Should have paid attention to the signs that groom was giving out. But I didn’t. I don’t know why I didn’t.”
“I’ll tell you why. Because as good of a wedding planner as you are, you’re not a god. Nor are you a psychologist or a mind reader.” He leaned in and peered at her closer. “Um, you’re not a mind reader, right?”
She chuckled. “Afraid not.”
“Whew. Good. Then chalk it up to the fact that sometimes life deals you crummy cards. There’s nothing you can do when that happens but play the hand you’re dealt until the game is done.”
She supposed that was true. Wade sounded like someone who had pondered more than his share of deep thoughts on that subject. Then again, if anyone knew about dealing with unexpected and difficult situations in life, it would be Wade. He was dealt a pretty crummy hand when his high school sweetheart and wife had died. Her heart went out to him. And here she was crying on his shoulder about losing a client and her business declining when he’d suffered a much greater loss.
“Wade, I’m sor—”
He raised his palm up, stopping her words. “Like I said, nothing you can do when stuff like that happens.” Then he stood, unsmiling, and extended a hand to her. She accepted it, and he pulled her to her feet.
“Thanks for listening,” she said. “You’re turning out to be a pretty good fake fiancé.”
She found she meant every word. Despite his own issues, Wade was an unbelievably generous listener.
“You say that like you’re surprised,” he said, mimicking her words from earlier.
“I am actually.”
But she wasn’t surprised at all.
Wade had a tender heart for sick and stray animals, his family, his late wife, and now apparently even his sister’s problematic friend. If she didn’t watch herself, she’d soon be developing a soft spot for him as well. If it wasn’t already happening.
And wouldn’t that just be the road that leads to nowhere.
Chapter Seven
After their “date” on Saturday, they decided the first order of Operation-Make-Everyone-Think-You’re-A-Real-Couple would be to meet for coffee at the Drip N Sip at least three times a week.
Arden walked into the coffee shop that Monday morning ahead of schedule—partly because she wanted a little time to get some work done before Wade arrived and partly out of convenience, because her office was only a block down the street.
Judy Tavish greeted her with a big, wide smile from behind the counter as soon as she saw her. “Good morning, Arden. I hear congratulations are in order. I was shocked to learn from Maggie that you and Wade are planning to tie the knot already.”
Not half as shocked as I was. “Yeah, I guess, it does seem rather sudden.”
“Very sudde
n.” Judy leaned in and whispered, “You’re not really pregnant, are you, dear?”
Arden choked. “No! Nothing like that at all. We… Uh, well, I don’t need to tell you about how funny love works sometimes.”
“That is true,” Judy said with an easy smile. “What can I get you today?”
“I’ll just take a small latte for now. I’m meeting Wade here in a little bit.”
Judy sighed. “How sweet. A coffee date. You two are too cute.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Arden recognized the laughing voice behind her.
She turned around and saw Elena grinning at her. “Hey, Elena, shouldn’t you be at the Harbor Light?” she asked, checking her watch.
“I should, but I got a hall pass since Chef Rick is off this morning. Kinsley wanted me to pick up some coffee and a baked-goods tray for the guests.” Elena turned and looked around the shop. “So did I hear that Wade was meeting you? I think it’s fantastic about you two. So romantic when friends turn into lovers,” she said dreamily.
Arden’s cheeks felt about a hundred degrees. “Yeah…romantic.” If it were actually true.
“Maybe we can double date sometime?” Elena bit her lip. “If Scott would ever take a break from work and come visit, that is. I’m beginning to feel a little neglected.”
Arden frowned. She never really liked Elena’s fiancé, Scott. He seemed a man more concerned with himself and what others thought than anything else. But this was the first time Elena had ever complained about anything he’d done. “Have you gone to visit Scott recently?”
Elena sighed. “I wanted to visit this past weekend, but he said he had a ton of paperwork to do.” She shrugged. “It’s fine. By the end of the year, we’ll be married and seeing each other all the time.”
Judy cleared her throat and held up a doughnut tray. “Elena, I can ring you up now, if you’d like. Arden, your latte is on the counter over there.”
“Okay, gotta go,” Elena said to Arden, giving her a quick hug. “We’ll talk soon. Give Wade a big kiss for me. You’re so lucky to be living so close to your boyfriend.”
Arden watched her friend dash off toward the cashier with growing concern. Elena harbored some pretty fanciful notions about marriage. As not only her wedding planner but also her friend, Arden hoped those notions weren’t influencing her perceptions toward her relationship with Scott.
Arden picked up her coffee and headed toward a table in the corner of the shop when her cell phone rang. As soon as she sat down, she answered.
“Arrrrden,” Milena breathed out in a dramatic flair. “Thank goodness you answered.”
Milena had signed the contract less than a week ago. Arden couldn’t imagine what could be deemed so urgent already. She shrugged out of her coat and attempted to hide the amusement from her voice. “Milena, you sound distressed. Is everything okay?”
“I hope so. I need your help ASAP.”
Balancing the phone between her cheek and shoulder, she reached into her attaché case and pulled out a notebook and pen. “Okay, lay it on me. I’ll do whatever I can.”
“I’ve been contacted by Persons Places magazine. They want to do a little feature on me and my wedding, since Daddy could be the future president. I’d be on the cover, too. The campaign manager feels this kind of lighthearted feature would make my dad more personable to the public.”
“That all sounds great.” Arden jotted down a few notes. A feature on Milena could potentially mean more ideal press on the wedding, which could be great for her business. “I don’t understand the problem.”
“The problem is I mentioned that you were planning your wedding at the same time as mine and now the magazine would like you and your fiancé for the article as well. They want you guys to meet us at Something New Bridal Shop in Atlantic City this Wednesday.”
Arden stopped writing. “What?”
“I know this is short notice, but it might be kind of fun looking at dresses together.”
“Dresses?” And fun? She swallowed. Hard. Holy wedding horror, she didn’t count on having to go through the facade of actual dress shopping—especially in front of a reporter. She clutched her chest, feeling like her heart was about to shoot out of it at any moment.
“And Vance is super relieved to have a guy with him who is going through the same thing he is. Misery loves company, right?” she said with a chuckle.
Feeling a boatload of misery herself, Arden could only half-heartedly match Milena’s chuckle into the phone. Then she looked up and her heart lurched when she saw Wade enter the coffee shop. The combo of his tussled hair, sexy stubble, and glasses had her tripping over her next words.
“I, uh, I’ll mention it to Wade and call you back,” she said, never taking her eyes off Wade’s handsome face. “Talk to you soon.” Arden ended the call and smiled up at him.
Wade leaned down, brushing a gentle kiss across her forehead. “Hey there, fiancée,” he said, smiling into her eyes.
“Hey.” Ugh, she sounded like she had back in high school, her voice all high pitched and breathy. But her forehead still tingled where his lips had touched her skin.
“What are you supposed to mention to me?” he asked.
“Mention?” She blinked herself out of her Wade-stupor, recalling the conversation she’d just had with Milena. “Oh, that. Maybe you should sit down first.”
“Uh-oh. Sounds ominous.”
She glanced around, then lowered her voice. “There’s a slight snafu in our ‘engagement.’”
“Define slight.”
“We’re going to need to do some wedding planning with my client.”
He narrowed his eyes. “What kind of planning?”
She folded her hands on the table as she did whenever she had to break bad news to a client. It helped her feel more in control, which was millions of miles from what she was actually feeling at that moment. “How would you like to go tuxedo shopping on Wednesday?”
“I wouldn’t,” he said flatly.
She sighed. Wade obviously wasn’t her typical client. “Okay. Let me rephrase the question then. How would you like to do your fiancée a major solid by going tuxedo shopping with her biggest client on Wednesday? As a thank you, I will buy lunch.”
Wade closed his eyes and groaned.
“I can’t tell if that’s a yes groan or a no groan,” she said, cocking her head.
“It’s a how-do-I-let-myself-get-talked-into-these-things groan.”
Arden smiled. “Aww…you’re the best,” she told him, patting his hand. “I should probably also mention to you that a reporter from Persons Places magazine will be there, too.”
Wade’s eyes snapped open. “Wait. Reporter?”
She held up her hands. “It’ll be fine, Wade. Trust me. You won’t have to do much other than show up, try on a tux, and look completely in love with me. They’re mostly there to do an article on Milena, but I guess the magazine thought it was kind of cute that her wedding planner was planning her own wedding as well. I’m sure they’ll take a few pictures and ask for a quick comment.”
Wade rubbed a hand over his face. “Good grief. This thing has taken on a life of its own.”
“Do you want me to call Milena and tell her you can’t make it?” She held her breath and waited
He looked up, his gaze slowly traveling over her face. “No. I’ll be there. What kind of friend—I mean, fiancé— would I be if I didn’t?”
Arden let out a relieved rush of air. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” she said, placing her hand over his. “I owe you.”
His eyes glittered with amusement. “In that case, I’m sure we can work something out.”
“Oh, there’s the happy couple,” a singsong voice announced.
Arden looked up and saw the mayor of Cape Harmony, grinning down at them. The mayor was an attractive woman in her late fifties, divorced three times, and from what Arden had deemed from past conversations she’d had with her, not the brightest bulb in the room. How
ever, she surrounded herself with smart people and seemed to have a general love for the town. “Hello, Lynn. How are you?”
“Great!” the mayor exclaimed. “I’m out of the news right now, which makes it a particularly good week. I must say, it’s nice to have someone else dominating the Cape Harmony Chatter for a change,” she said, her gaze bouncing from Arden to Wade. “So have you guys set a date?”
“December,” she said at the same time Wade said, “June.”
Arden flushed. “I mean June,” she said, while Wade blurted, “December.”
The mayor chuckled. “I see it’s not set in stone yet.”
Arden glared at Wade. “Obviously.”
Wade looked up at the mayor and treated her to one of his dazzling smiles. “Arden and I have only tossed around potential dates, but as soon as we officially decide, we’ll make sure you know first.”
Lynn clapped her hands with a delighted laugh. “Oh that’s wonderful. Well, I’ll let you two enjoy your morning. See you later.”
As the mayor walked up to the coffee counter, Arden blew out a breath. “Nice save. I suppose we should decide on a fake date.”
“How do you feel about a December wedding?”
“I feel Elena will kill us. Her wedding is scheduled for December twenty-first.”
“But our wedding isn’t real.”
“Yes, but she doesn’t know that.”
Wade shrugged. “I don’t care. I like the sound of December now.”
Arden folded her arms, half amused. “Oh, do you?”
Wade met her gaze, direct yet warm. “Yeah. I can see you as a December bride with pink roses mixed with pink poinsettias. Maybe we’ll get lucky and it’ll snow. Think of the pictures. It would look really magical.”
She chuckled, shaking her head, but was touched at the romantic—if not fake—picture he painted before her. For a man who made a living tenderly caring for defenseless animals, she shouldn’t be so shocked at how sweet he could be, but after enduring years of his good-natured teasing, it was a pleasant side to him to discover and endeared him to her even more. Which…the more she thought about it, was not such a great spot to be in.
Catch Him If You Can Page 9
