I closed my eyes and shook my head as I let out a disbelieving laugh. “This is crazy! I have so many messages!”
“Excuse me, but I’m still pissed you didn’t tell me.”
“It’s called an NDA, Hail. I had to sign one. I couldn’t tell anyone I was working on her wedding. We even used fake names at all the venues. There were three photographers there. One, a wedding photographer I arranged, and two others were from the media, but I didn’t know which magazine or news outlet they were from.”
“Well, now you do! You’re famous, Emme!”
I rolled my eyes and stood. “What I am is nervous. I haven’t heard from Landon. I think he might be mad at me.”
“That’s crazy. I saw him earlier today at our folks’ place. He was picking up his tux since it was still at the house.”
With a sigh of relief, I felt some of the tension in my body slip away. “I was afraid the longer he thought about this, the more pissed he would be.”
Hailey huffed. “As much as he’s been complaining, I think he’s looking forward to seeing how much money he can bring in. I heard Noah and him placing bets on it earlier.”
I smiled. “I’ve been so busy the last week and a half, I haven’t had time to really see Landon.”
With a disbelieving snort she asked, “Uh-huh. Is that what we’re calling it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Be honest. You were afraid to see him because you’ve finally opened your eyes to what’s really happening between the two of you.”
“Don’t be crazy, Hailey. As a matter of fact, I have a date next week.”
“What? With who?”
“Bryce Reynolds. We went to high school with him. I ran into him at Starbucks. He’s an assistant baseball coach at Baylor now.”
“Bryce Reynolds? He was a manwhore, Emmerson.”
I let out an exasperated sigh. “That was in high school. He seems like a nice guy. It’s just dinner anyway.”
It was almost as if I could hear Hailey’s thoughts coming through the phone.
“There are a million reasons why it would never work between me and Landon, Hailey.”
“Really? Name one.”
I tried. I actually tried to think of one…and couldn’t.
“I thought so. You can deny it all you want, Emme, but sooner or later you’re both going to pop, and when you do…the sparks are going to fly!”
I glanced at the clock. “Landon will be here soon, and I’ve still got to get ready. Just trust me when I say I was in a weird place, but I’m okay now. I do not have romantic feelings for Landon, and I know he doesn’t have them for me.”
God, even I didn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth.
“I have a feeling you’re going to be eating crow sooner than you think.”
I needed to end this call so I could get my head in the right place before Landon got here. “See you later tonight, Hail.”
“Bye-bye.” There was that sing-song voice again. Was there a bit of sarcasm in there too? I decided to ignore it as I made my way into my bathroom to give myself one more look over.
My black ALYCE Paris dress fit like a glove. It was gorgeous with its off-the-shoulder cap sleeves and stunning bead work. It had a Queen Anne neckline with a tight bodice that showcased my curvy figure perfectly. I wasn’t stick thin, but I did have an athletic body, and I loved how sexy this dress made me feel.
Turning to look at my back, I grinned. The V-cut back had more beautiful beading, and showed just enough skin to give it a naughty feel while still keeping it classy. The A-line skirt had layers of chiffon with a slightly longer train in the back. My silver high heels added the perfect touch.
While most of the other committee members would likely be wearing their expensive designer gowns and Jimmy Choo shoes, I didn’t make that kind of money. And honestly, I couldn’t see paying seven-hundred dollars for a pair of shoes, only to be scared to death I would damage them. So my silver Jessica Simpson embellished stiletto pumps were perfect for me. Less than a hundred bucks and stunningly beautiful.
The doorbell rang, and I checked my hair quickly. I had pulled it back into a low, tight bun. The diamond earrings Landon had bought me for my twenty-first birthday hung from my ears. I pressed my red lips together once more and then made my way to the front door.
Landon and I were taking a limo to the charity event and planned on staying at the same hotel as Hailey, Mike, and our folks.
When I opened the door, I nearly choked on my own damn tongue. The statement I’d made only minutes ago about not having any romantic feelings for Landon flew right out the window with one look at the insanely gorgeous man who stood in front of me.
This wasn’t the same Landon I had grown up with. Not at all. He wasn’t the same guy I had cried to so many times with a broken heart, or the same guy who brought me Ben & Jerry’s ice cream to cheer me up when I was feeling down about something. He wasn’t my best friend whom I could share anything with.
No, I take that back. Landon would always be my best friend. I just couldn’t share how I felt about him to him. At least, not yet. Not until I figured it out myself.
But looking at Landon now made my insides come alive and burn with a desire I had never felt before in my life. He wore his dark brown hair in that slightly messy way of his that still looked amazing. It was like he styled it and then ran his fingers through it, not liking the idea of it being too perfect. He hadn’t shaved today and had the beginning of a five o’clock shadow. My fingers twitched to see if it was as soft as it looked. His eyes seemed more blue today, reminding me of the Texas sky after a storm had cleared away the clouds and left a brilliant shade of indigo blue that took your breath away.
I took in his perfectly fitted tux, fighting the urge to let out a moan. His broad shoulders seemed to be even more defined in the evening wear, giving him a sex appeal that would make any woman weak in the knees—including this woman, who stood here gawking at him like a crazy person.
I shook my head and cleared my throat, trying to remember how to speak.
“Damn, Emme. You look beautiful,” Landon said as he started to walk into my house. I moved out of his way, not even sure how I made my body function enough to take a step.
“You…you look…so handsome.”
He grinned and then winked, and a flurry of butterflies took off in my stomach.
“Thanks. You about ready to go?” he asked as he swept his gaze over me once more.
Wait, was that…was that lust in his eyes?
Okay, butterflies had been replaced by an insane pulse between my thighs.
A part of me was slightly bothered that he hadn’t seemed the least bit affected by me when I first opened the door. Here I could hardly form a solid sentence, and he acted like this was simply another night. Granted, he’d said I looked beautiful, and he’d looked at me differently, but he’d said it the same as someone like Noah would. A simple compliment that any woman would get, not one laced with something more.
“Um, yeah. Let me grab my clutch and overnight bag.”
I could feel his gaze on me, and I glanced back over my shoulder. Something was different in his eyes. They looked darker now.
Turning back around, I felt my heart drop to my stomach. My hands shook slightly as I picked up my clutch and then tossed my phone into it. I reached for the bag, but before I could pick it up, Landon’s hand brushed over mine and he took it. My breath hitched, and I prayed he hadn’t caught it. With a deep breath, I faced him and smiled.
“Where’s the pup?” he asked.
“Oh, um, Lady is staying with a friend of mine. She’s in love with her, so it wasn’t a hardship to ask her to watch her for me.”
Landon nodded and then asked, “Shall we?”
He gave me that half smile that made the dimple in his right cheek show up a little bit more than the one in his left.
All I could do was nod.
Landon extended his arm for me to take. “Let’s g
o get our party on.”
Landon
MY HEART HADN’T stopped pounding in my chest ever since Emmerson opened her front door. The second I laid my eyes on her, it felt like all the air from my lungs had been violently sucked out, and I had to force myself to breathe. It took every ounce of strength I had to stand there and act normally, when all I wanted to do was drool and take in every single inch of her perfect body.
When she’d gasped and let her gaze move over me with what I knew was lust in those iceberg eyes of hers, I almost wondered if she might want me as much as I wanted her. I quickly shook that idea away when she seemed distracted by something and wouldn’t meet my gaze. Maybe she was still worried about her client or something else.
I attempted to make small talk in the limo as we made the hour-and-a-half drive to Austin. “How were the plate sales for tonight?” I asked.
She turned from where she had been staring out the window and flashed me a smile so bright it could have lit up the inside of the limo. “The most sales they’ve ever had. Considering they had to add six tables to the outside terrace of the country club, I would say my little slip of the tongue worked in the hospital’s favor.”
I laughed. “It’s crazy we have the limo all to ourselves. I mean, usually we’d all be crammed in here.” Hailey and Mike were driving separately, and both our parents were already in Austin.
She laughed. “It’s weird that Noah isn’t coming. I’m starting to wonder if Amy really does have the flu.”
“Right? So, what do we do with all this alone time?”
Once the words were out of my mouth, Emmerson shot me a look, and I wished I could take them back. Her expression was sharp, but something about it made my skin suddenly blaze with heat.
“What did you have in mind?” she asked, a hint of seduction in her voice I’d never heard her use before. At least, not with me.
Swallowing hard, it was my turn to look away and stare out the window. “Remember all the games the four of us would play when we were in a limo?”
She let out a long sigh. “It used to be so fun to ride in these. Now it feels weird.”
Focusing back on her, I said, “We could have taken my truck, you know.”
Emmerson nodded. “I know, but Janet wanted those of us on the committee to arrive in limos. Thanks for being my…”
“Date?” I asked with my brows raised. “It’s not the first time.”
Her eyes searched my face, and I swore she felt that fucking crackle of electricity floating between us in the limo just as much as I did. I wasn’t imagining it.
“I can always count on you, Landon.”
I winked. “You know it.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “That’s what best friends do for each other, right? Be there for one another.”
I pulled my brows in slightly. I wasn’t sure where she was going with this. “Yes. Always.”
With a nod, she looked back out the window. Something was off with her tonight, for sure.
“So, that wedding you planned for that actress. I heard some people talking about it in Mimi’s Café. Word is you’re famous now.”
She huffed. “My Instagram has blown up. I’ve had so many people reaching out in the last hour for sponsored ads or to partner up, it’s unreal. I had to turn off my notifications.”
“That’s a good thing, though, right? Good for your business, I mean.”
“It is,” she said with a halfhearted shrug. “But I’ve never really considered myself an influencer, and I’ve never had the desire to be one. I posted a picture of me dressed for this evening, and everyone is asking me who designed the dress, what brand of shoes I’m wearing. It’s crazy. But at the same time, it’s also kind of fun.”
“I don’t think it’s crazy. If they’re interested and it can grow your business or make you some extra money with sponsored ads or links, then do it, Emme.”
Her eyes met mine. “You think so? I mean, I want it to stay personal, though. I do share some of my private life on there, as you know. Us, movie night. Things like that. But now that I’m getting more followers, maybe I shouldn’t post about you as much.”
I took her hand in mine and gave it a squeeze. “Let me ask you something: have you gotten more interest in Serendipity Wedding Planning?”
A sweet smile appeared on her beautiful face as she nodded. “I have, as a matter of fact. More than usual. I’m booked solid for four months out with just consultations.”
“See!” I said, giving her hand another squeeze. “There you go! And don’t worry about posting stuff about me. I’m part of your life, right?”
She dug her teeth into her bottom lip, and I couldn’t stop my gaze from lingering on her mouth.
“You’re right. I was so excited earlier, and then I guess I got a little scared at the reality of it. I’ve just been off the last few weeks.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
Our eyes locked. “Yes. Everything is amazing. Thank you so much for doing this. I owe you big time.”
“What are friends for, right?”
Her smile faltered for only a moment before she replied, “Right.”
“Mr. Lewis, we’re here,” the driver’s voice said through the speakers.
Sighing deeply, Emmerson shifted nervously in her seat. “I hope they decorated the tables in the right way. Maybe I should have come down and stayed last night.”
I took her hand as the limo door opened. “Stop worrying so much. It’s going to be perfect because you had a hand in it.”
“I was in charge of the decorations. All of them. What if they suck?” she asked.
I stepped out of the limo and then turned back to help her out. There were a few people off to the side, most likely hoping to see someone famous. Sometimes these charity events did attract an actor or singer. Someone snapped a few photos as I helped Emmerson out.
“You drove down here a few days ago and made sure it was all set. Stop worrying,” I whispered as we started to head toward the entrance of the country club.
She paused and pulled on my hand, forcing me to stop. “How did you know I came to Austin?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. You probably told me.”
“No, I didn’t tell you. We haven’t really talked much over the last week and a half, and you’d just come back from Vegas when I was here.”
“Clearly I heard it from someone.” I tugged at her hand. Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about telling her I saw it on her Instagram, but considering how often I checked it the last few weeks, I was afraid she’d somehow be able to tell I was following her every move. She had posted about the charity dinner and auction, and had given a few teaser photos of how the tables would be decorated. “Come on, it’s starting to get chilly out. Is a cold front moving through?”
Emmerson stared at me as we walked up the grand steps of the country club.
“Mr. Lewis and Ms. Wallace,” I said to the doorman who was holding the guest list.
He glanced up and immediately looked at Emmerson and smiled. “Yes, um, Ms. Wallace, I was told to tell you everything is in place and ready. And to, ah, well, to ask you if you could do a quick walk-through before guests start to arrive.”
Emmerson gave him a warm smile, and I swore the little bastard winked at her.
“Did he wink at you?” I asked as we started down the marble-floored hallway.
With a giggle, she said, “I doubt it. Come on, I’m dying to see the ballroom.”
I glanced over my shoulder to see the asshole watching us walk away. When his eyes met mine, he quickly faced forward.
Little prick.
A few people stopped us as we made our way to the main ballroom—mostly other committee members, from what I could tell. There was a gentleman around my age standing next to Janet Monroe, and he reached out his hand for mine to shake.
“Another bachelor they’re putting on the block, I take it?” he asked.
“I am. Are you a victim
as well?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes—name’s Nick Monroe. Janet’s my older sister, and she threatened me with secrets I’d thought she’d long forgotten if I didn’t participate.”
We all laughed except for Janet who shot her brother a smirk. “Like you’re not the least bit curious what you’ll bring in?” she asked.
Nick smirked back as he causally lifted one shoulder. “As long as I’m not expected to fuck anyone.”
Emmerson gasped and then covered her mouth to keep from laughing.
Janet hit her brother across the back of his head. “It’s one night and one dinner only! You’re an actor, just act like you’re enjoying it. Especially if you get more than the five thousand starting bid.”
“Five thousand!” Nick and I said at the same time.
“Do many guys get over five?” I asked.
“The highest we’ve ever had was seven thousand,” Janet answered.
Turning to Emmerson, I whispered in her ear, “If some old woman or a man bids on me, I give you permission to go as high as twenty thousand. I’ll front the money, just don’t let them get me.”
She swatted at my chest, “I’m heading into the room. I want to make sure the tables all look right.”
Janet’s face erupted into a wide grin. “Oh, Emmerson, they look beautiful. They match the sample table you did up the other day exactly.”
That sample table was what she had shared a photo of. Or at least part of it, anyway. My little Emme, always wanting to be in control somehow. No wonder she made such a good wedding planner.
She took my hand and led me through two large double doors, and I swore we stepped into another world when we walked into the ballroom.
“Holy shit,” I whispered as I looked around. “You did this, Emme?”
She took in the entirety of the room with her eyes as she nodded. “Yes, I came up with the design layout.”
Soft white fabric was draped across the ceiling of the ballroom, with elegant chandlers sprinkled throughout. White tables were decorated with large and small hurricane lamps, which held white candles and a spray of what looked like blue snow inside. The chairs had white covers on them with blue sashes that matched the shade in the hurricane lamps. The larger tables housed small potted trees in the middle with the hurricane lamps on both sides. Fine crystal glasses and silver flatware dressed each table. Scattered throughout the room were large candleholders with pearl strands that mimicked the sway of the fabric above.
Fool for You Page 5
