Chapter Twenty-one #2
Knowing what I know now about Isaac Shaw, I never would have taken his number, but back when I met him, I had no idea he was Noah’s biggest rival.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s handsome. Tall with broad shoulders and artfully scruffy hair the color of chestnuts.
Blue eyes crinkle at the edges as he smirks in my direction, his tailored suit pressed and fitting him perfectly.
“Miss Adams,” he cocks his head, his eyes rolling down me, “What a pleasant surprise.”
Swallowing, I try to hide my surprise. “Sorry, am I in the wrong meeting room?”
“Well, that depends,” he stops at the end of the table, keeping a good ten feet between us. “You're here to show the bride to be some flower arrangements, right?”
“Well, yes,” I glance at my arrangement and back to Isaac, “Why are you here?”
“Our grandmother couldn’t make it down, so my sister asked me to come along.”
“Your sister,” I repeat.
“Thea,” he confirms.
Shaw.
My mind had completely blanked out that his surname was Shaw.
I mean, it is a common name; I suppose, but I hadn’t made the connection.
Now that I look at him, I see the slight resemblance between them.
It isn’t obvious, but now I know their relation, I see it.
It’s in the shape of his nose, the shade of blue in his eyes.
“Oh, um,” I stutter, “I didn’t know you were related.”
“Few people do,” he lowers into the chair at the end of the table, “How about we keep that our little secret?”
I’m saved from responding when the bride herself stumbles through the door, her rather intimidating bodyguard right behind her. I guess the intimidation part is kind of the point, but damn, does he have to be that big? The man could have his own zip code.
“I’m so sorry,” Thea rushes out, stumbling over her own feet before she even makes it to the table. Tripp catches her before she face-plants the carpet, yanking her back up until her spine hits his chest. And he doesn’t let go; his hand remains on her, gentle but strong all at the same time.
Thea shakes her head and subtly removes herself from his grasp. “People don’t know how to drive in the rain!”
I give her a sympathetic smile, “It’s okay.”
“We were just catching up, weren’t we, Sidney?” Isaac grins, “Sidney here is Calahan’s best friend.”
“Noah Calahan?” Thea frowns, “As in your competitor?”
“More like rival,” Isaac jokes, “Isn’t that right, Sidney?”
“We’re actually dating now,” I don’t know why I blurt it out.
We’ve only been officially together a week, and no one else knows.
Maybe it’s because Isaac asked me out and then promptly ghosted me that has me doing it, or maybe it’s because it’s that smug look on his face, but the words tumble out.
Though they have the opposite effect, because his smile is even wider now.
“Always knew there was more between you two. Guess congratulations are in order. When’s the wedding?” Isaac asks.
“My wedding first,” Thea ignores her brother and finally looks at the small concept bouquet I put together, her eyes growing wide as she takes in all the colors and textures. “Holy shit, Sidney.”
I really wasn’t sure how I was meant to add more to this bouquet, and truthfully, I went off on a whim adding in these different props, but the look on her face tells me the risk was worth it.
That’s awe on her face, her eyes glistening slightly as she stops in front of my design, her fingers delicately running over the pastel petals and then to the soft plumage of the Japanese Silver Grass before she lands on the feathers that are a dark contrast to the nudes and pinks of the rest of the bouquet.
“This is perfect,” she whispers, “How did you know?”
I grin, “I didn’t. I went off a vibe.”
She laughs softly, “Well, the vibe was right. I didn’t even know this was what I wanted.”
“We can do this throughout the church and for your arch, just bigger. Maybe add in some more texture. I was thinking of adding a dash of copper or gold.”
“You’re incredible,” she touches my arm, “I really didn’t think I’d find someone who could do this for me.
I know I was asking for a lot without giving you much to go on.
” She turns to her bodyguard, her expression softening even further when she looks at him.
I follow her gaze, and my brows shoot up.
I’ve been around love a lot; I’ve seen the look on a thousand different faces and the way that man is looking at Thea is more than just love. It’s adoration. It’s someone looking at their heart walking around outside of their body.
And if that doesn’t complicate things, then I don’t know what does. Thea is getting married to someone else, but I’m not sure that man will let her even get close to walking down the aisle to another man.
It’s certainly not my business. I’m just hired to do a job, but God, to have someone look at you the way Tripp is looking at Thea.
It dawns on me that I do. And I have been missing it for years. Noah has always looked at me like that, and I just pretended it was nothing more than platonic love.
Turning away from the scene, I pull out my concept folder and open to the rough sketches of the arch and centerpieces I had drawn to match the bouquet, waiting for Thea to return her attention to the table.
I wonder if she sees it the way I do. If she knows that her bodyguard is completely head over heels in love with her.
Flicking my eyes to Isaac, I see his brows furrowed, eyes narrowed slightly as he tries to figure out that look too. Anyone can see it isn’t strictly business, and maybe Isaac can’t recognize it for what it is because he’s never experienced the kind of love that consumes every part of your soul.
Eventually, Thea looks away from him and back to me, a subtle shake in her hand as she rubs the end of the satin ribbon between her fingers. She meets my eyes wordlessly; that look of awe that was there only a moment ago is now replaced with sorrow.
Laying my hand on her arm, I offer her a small piece of comfort, but truly, what more can I do?
A stray tear slips from the corner of her eye, but she’s quick to wipe it away, to hide it, plastering a megawatt smile on her face that I’ve seen a hundred times before when she’s been pictured in newspapers and magazines. It’s a performance, one she plays well.
She claps her hands together, any lingering sadness disappearing as she asks, “So what now?”
We go through the designs for the next thirty minutes, adding a few extra bits to the arch and then I watch her leave with Tripp, that same fake smile on her face as he guides her from the conference room and gets her safely into their car.
It leaves me alone with Isaac, but he doesn’t press further on the whole Noah and me thing, simply says goodbye and ducks out too.
Collapsing down into one of the chairs, I release a heavy breath, the tension that had been building inside this room rushing out. I hadn’t realized how on edge I was until right now.
But I only give myself a moment to breathe.
I have my first actual date with Noah tonight, and I don’t want to be late.
Gathering up all my things, I head out and catch a cab, heading straight back to my apartment so I can get ready, little bubbles of excitement popping in my stomach.