Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
T he next morning, three days before Teagan and Twyla s wedding, Mary didn t have time for afterglow. Passing on his offer of a leisurely soak in the clawfoot tub that could ve easily fit a family of four, she dashed out of Alex s place as soon as it was light. After showering in her tiny, dimly lit bathroom that stayed so choked with steam it was nearly impossible to get her makeup to stay on her face, she tugged on her Forza Elite Motors golf shirt and a pair of jeans and raced to the shop.
She d just settled at her cluttered desk in the small office when Evie shuffled in.
What are you doing here so early? Mary asked.
Had some stuff to do before the shop opens. Evie set her bag on the chair on the other side of Mary s desk.
Have a cookie. Mary nodded at the tin of anginetti on the corner of her desk.
Italian wedding cookies? Mmm. I love the fringe benefits here. Evie set a cup of coffee on top of one of her overstuffed binders. You look like you could use this.
Bless you. Mary grabbed the cup in both hands and inhaled the bitter aroma that promised efficient caffeine delivery.
Evie opened the tin, plucked out a cookie, and bit into it. She hummed appreciatively. Her gaze sharpened as Mary guzzled the coffee. Rough night?
No, it was a good night. Although she was starting to consider Evie a friend, she didn t talk with her about her relationship with Alex. Evie didn t have many positive opinions about the man who d fired her. Though I had trouble sleeping.
That stinks, Evie said. I don t miss that about wedding planning, all the to-do lists spinning in my head. Hang on, I ll be right back, then you can tell me what s going on. She grabbed another cookie and strode out of the office.
Mary was sure Alex hadn t meant to set her brain spinning. He just hadn t thought before he d brought up work while she was still having aftershocks from an orgasm she d given herself. Not that she had a problem taking care of her own pleasure. It was what she d meant to do all along, ever since she d heard the hurt in his voice when she d skipped out on lunch at his spa. It was just that…he could ve thanked her for what appeared to be a mind-blowing orgasm before he d asked her to propose a suggestion to Rochelle that terrified her. A change this big with so little time to prepare seemed dangerous.
Long after Alex s breathing had deepened and slowed, Mary had flipped through ways to present the splashy entertainment idea to Rochelle. Then her mind had jumped to how her personal relationship with Alex had tangled with the professional one. She couldn t treat him like any other vendor, or even a client, and tell him she thought his idea was risky, especially if they tried to execute it with less than two weeks to go before the big day.
Working with her lover had suddenly become uncomfortable. She d even pretended to be asleep when he d snuggled up against her in the middle of the night and kissed the back of her neck. Was he about to make love to her or make another ill-timed work comment?
She had enough stress in her work life between what had become two full-time jobs, not to mention her constant watchfulness over her brothers. She should be able to sink into a romantic relationship and let go of her work stress, shouldn t she? And she wasn t getting that with Alex, considering the pressure of making everything perfect to support his big business deal.
Something had to give.
She glanced at her phone. She d changed the wallpaper, not to one of the selfies like the one framed in Alex s office but to a less obvious one, a photo she d snapped of their feet toe to toe in the sand. He d kissed her after she d taken it, and she could almost smell the salty ocean air, feel her hair whipping her cheeks, taste his lips.
San Diego seemed long ago. Appropriate, since the relaxation and lack of responsibility she d experienced were nothing but a dream. But the feelings that warmed her chest when she was around Alex were real.
She loved him. She d tried to show him last night by taking care of him. But then he d brought up work. Clearly, he didn t feel the same way. Would he ever get there? Mary had always been quick to fall. And to be honest, she d never stopped loving him, not even after he d stood her up at prom.
Loving someone as driven as Alex was a challenge. He knew what he wanted. Power. And redemption. To rise above the city of Las Vegas like a neon sign that said, Look at me. I m in charge. He d made sure his previous romantic relationships had been unimportant, easily pushed to the side. Otherwise, they might distract him from his goal. But Mary could help him achieve what he wanted. She was doing it with Rochelle and Rohaan s wedding. After supporting her family for most of her life, she was a professional at ensuring everyone got what they needed.
But she needed things out of a relationship, too. Namely, not to have him ask her a question about work when she was about to tell him she loved him.
For their romantic relationship to work, the professional one had to go.
Rochelle s wedding was the last project she d work on for him. Sure, she d consider La Villa as a venue for future weddings, but she d insist on working with Joey and not directly with his boss.
She only had to get through this wedding.
Evie returned to her office with an armful of the boys coveralls.
What are you doing with those? Mary asked.
I noticed a few ripped seams and holes. I thought I d fix them.
Fix them? Mary wrinkled her nose. Her brothers usually wore them until they fell apart, then they ordered new ones.
It s not hard. All you need are basic sewing skills. Did no one ever teach you? Any of you?
I think my nonna sewed, but I was always more interested in learning to cook. And the boys were much more into in her old Chevelle.
Sewing is a good skill to have. Handy at weddings. I ll teach you sometime. After Rochelle s wedding. Evie pulled a small pouch from her bag and threaded a needle with blue thread. She knotted the end. Now, tell me what s on your mind.
Alex wants to make Rochelle and Rohaan s wedding memorable. With fire dancers.
Like, with actual fire? Where d he get that idea?
I think he doesn t want to be outdone by Cierra s wedding. She s his ex, you know.
One of many, Evie muttered.
Mary s cheeks burned. I hired an aerialist to entertain the guests during Cierra s cocktail hour. But I ve been planning that for months. I m concerned about adding this at the last minute.
They have a fire dancing show at the Blue Hawaiian, Evie said. I can make some calls.
Actually, Alex knows someone, and he s already booked them. He says he trusts them, which is saying something. I still have to talk to Rochelle and Rohaan. They might shut down the whole idea.
That s probably too much to hope for. Evie stabbed her needle into the thick blue fabric.
Probably. Who wouldn t want half-naked people flinging fire around their guests?
Evie snorted. Send me their information. I ll check them out.
Are you sure? I know you said you didn t want to work on weddings anymore.
Evie looked up from her sewing. Working with you is a lot different from working with Alex. I could never do anything right for him. He had to put his fingerprints on everything. She raised her eyebrows. Kind of like what he s doing with the fire dancers.
This wedding is a big deal for him, Mary said. Alex had promised her he wouldn t interfere with her work. He d only made a suggestion, right? He hadn t broken another promise.
That s why he hired you. He shouldn t need to be involved on a daily basis. One corner of Evie s mouth curled up. Though if he stepped back, he couldn t spend as much time with you.
Mary lifted her coffee to her lips to hide her smile.
You re a better boss than he ever was. I wouldn t mind helping you out with the wedding work. Is everything ready for Teagan and Twyla this weekend?
Everything is smooth sailing at the botanical gardens. The staff there know what they re doing.
What s their rain policy? Evie asked.
Rain? Mary snorted. You realize we live in the desert?
Evie speared her with a glare. A good wedding planner considers all eventualities. Besides, on my drive here, the radio said something about a storm this weekend.
A storm? Maybe it ll be one of those quick downpours.
Or maybe it won t happen at all. Still, you need a plan.
Right. Okay. Mary could learn a lot about managing risk from her new assistant. I ll ask them what happens in the extremely remote possibility of rain.
The last time I planned a ceremony there, they had a tent. They promised everyone would stay dry.
Mary wrinkled her nose, imagining a rotten old scrap of canvas rolled up in a spidery storage shed. A tent?
I checked it out, and it s not as bad as it sounds. They air it out at least twice a year. It s white and plenty big enough for Teagan and Twyla s twenty-five guests. I ll call the garden today to make sure they ve cleaned it recently.
Thank you. Mary sagged back into her chair.
What about Cierra s wedding? Need any help there? Evie asked.
We met with the band yesterday. They re pretty good, and we agreed on the set list.
What about her fiancé? When she brought him in last week, he seemed like a real piece of work. That business with Rafe… Evie shook her head.
I know, right? He just came in to say hi to Cierra, and Sawyer puffed up like a tomcat. How could anyone think innocent Rafe would touch an engaged woman? But that seems to be Sawyer s M.O. He got up in the lead singer s face because he thought he was flirting with Cierra.
Was he?
I don t think so. I pegged him as friendly and eager to please his clients, but Sawyer told him to step off.
Did he?
Yeah. After that, the guitarist did the talking. And he made sure to flash his wedding ring. The last thing they needed was a groom with a hair trigger. Cierra had dated half of Las Vegas and, for some reason, invited most of her exes. Fortunately, most of them, including Alex, had sent their regrets.
Evie tied off her stitch and cut the thread. Sounds like you ve got everything under control. Let me know if you need help.
I will. Promise. Teagan and Twyla s wedding was small enough for Mary to handle. And for Rochelle and Rohaan s, she could call on the resources of La Villa. She had it all handled.
She hoped.
Any questions about the shop? she asked.
No. Evie stabbed her needle into Michael s coveralls. Although I failed your brother s test yesterday.
Test? There s no test in renting cars. Even exotic ones.
Evie grunted. Someone called in yesterday looking for a red 1982 Corvette to use in a movie. Don t worry, I made them promise it wouldn t be harmed. It s just for the actors to get in and out of in close-up shots. They ll use a different one for the stunts. Anyway, I saw we didn t have one in the inventory system, but we have an 84. So, I told them yes and sent them the paperwork.
Mary winced. The 84 looks nothing like the 82. It s a completely different body style. Boxier. Less sexy.
I know that now. After Michael lectured me. He made me go out into the lot and compare them. Then he gave me a pop quiz on the different generations of Corvettes. And tossed in a couple Mustangs just to trip me up.
Sorry about that. He can be a little…passionate. Did you swap out the 84 for the 78? It can pass for an 82.
Yes, that s what Michael told me. Who knew cars could be so complicated?
Wait until he quizzes you on the difference between a catalytic converter and a muffler.
Can t wait, Evie said grimly.
Okay, so today s schedule. Mary woke up her ancient desktop computer s screen. You should be able to handle the cars. Rentals are pretty light today. I ve got to spend some time on the weddings. I ll call Rochelle, and then… She pulled Alex s gift from her satchel.
Evie s eyes widened. Oh my god. Are you actually joining the twenty-first century?
I guess? Mary glanced longingly at her stack of binders. Somehow, I ve got to get all that —she tapped the biggest one, Rochelle s— into this. She waved the tablet in its box.
Gimme. Evie snatched the box from her. By the end of the day, every detail will be loaded into here. Don t worry, you ll love it.
Will I? Mary asked ruefully. Because I really love my binders.
We ll keep them as a backup, I promise. But that tablet will make you look like the real deal. And be easier on your back.
Alex had said the same thing. She d suspected at the time it was a power play to insert himself into her business. But maybe he was only looking out for her. Because he cared.
There was also that photo of her on his desk. Maybe he did love her. In his own way.
If you say so.