Chapter 7
SEVEN
A persistent ache pulsed through the soles of Lucy’s feet, up her calves, and through her thighs. Soreness spread through her lower back as she rolled up the banners and tucked them onto her dolly behind the now lighter boxes of samples. Standing for ten hours straight wasn’t something she was accustomed to doing.
Despite the discomfort in her lower body, Lucy was happy.
Most of her samples had been given away, and she’d already gotten inquiries from two couples for save-the-dates and invitations. She had a list of a dozen new contacts with local wedding planners, and she’d taken countless photos for her social media.
And of course, the biggest news of all, a potential deal with Juniper and Sage. Her heart thumped at the possibility—but anxiety screeched in the wake of excitement.
What if she messed up? Last time she was in a boardroom with a bunch of stuffy suits, she’d crumpled. What if it happened again? What if she lost this golden opportunity and never got another?
Huffing, she focused on the feel of the tablecloth beneath her fingertips as she folded it into a neat square. Her head was too full to process all the things that had happened today.
Including the hug. If that could qualify as a hug. The way Cormac had stroked her spine…the way his breath had shuddered as he’d held her…
Blinking, she shook her head. It didn’t mean anything. She’d mauled him, and he’d just been trying to recover his balance, that’s all. His touch had only felt tender because that’s what Lucy wanted to believe.
From the corner of her eyes, she glanced at Cormac, who scanned up and down the aisle and periodically checked on her progress packing up. His presence had helped her today, a steady wall of warmth at her back at all times. She’d been able to actually enjoy meeting new people and promoting her wares, which had been a surprise.
With Cormac here to support her—even if he was only doing it in a professional capacity—Lucy had been able to let go of a small part of the fear that usually held her back.
He’d eaten two more donuts over the course of the day, which had filled Lucy with a silly, glowing kind of warmth. She liked being the one to give him pleasure, even if it was just deep-fried dough dipped in sugar.
“Ready?” the big man asked as she plopped the folded tablecloth on top of the stack of boxes on her hand trolley.
She smiled tiredly. “Let’s get out of here.”
Cormac grabbed the dolly before she had the chance to, and she bit the inside of her cheek to stop from smiling. It was nice to have someone carry the heavy things for her, and she didn’t care if it made her a weak-willed woman to admit it.
They headed for the exit. About half the vendors were packing up, with the other half still busy chatting with potential clients. Scarlett had sold out three hours ago, and she’d stopped by Lucy’s booth to say goodbye, and Lucy had finally called it a day when the crowds had thinned considerably.
Caterers, photographers, venue representatives, planners, bakers, florists, photo booth rentals—the list of businesses that were supported by Stirling’s bustling wedding industry was immense. Gratitude flooded Lucy as she walked by. She was part of this too. She’d risen from the ashes of her destroyed career and carved a living for herself.
She did it. She didn’t have to wait to grow into the local economy to feel successful. She already was!
But…did she really want to mess that up by contacting Belinda from Juniper and Sage? The edge of the older woman’s business card felt rough against her thumb as she traced its outline in her pocket. Maybe staying small was a better option. She could have a good life without asking for any kind of spotlight.
Spotlights were terrifying.
Cormac shifted the trolley to his other hand and touched her elbow with the hand that was now freed. The warmth of his fingertips sent little sparks shooting over her skin, and her thoughts settled.
She’d enjoy today, bask in her success at the Stirling Wedding Expo, and think about big business deals tomorrow.
They turned a corner toward the main aisle that ended at the exit. Sam stood by the doorway, watching their advance.
But that’s not what caught Lucy’s eye.
To her left, a confection of white was displayed in front of an angled mirror. The dress had thin straps and a sweetheart neckline that plunged ever so slightly. The figure-hugging fabric was studded with glimmering beading sewn in long, smoothly curved lines, its effect almost Art Deco in style despite the modern silhouette. At the bottom of the dress, from the knees down, glitter-studded tulle fanned out.
In the angled mirrors, she could see that the back dipped low, with a line of buttons studding the dress all the way down to the tulle.
It was romantic and sexy and not at all understated. It was the opposite of what Lucy would ever want for herself, because she despised the thought of being the center of attention.
But it was beautiful .
“What is it?” Cormac asked, and Lucy realized she’d gasped and slowed.
Blinking, she shook her head. “Nothing. Just the dress.”
Cormac frowned, his hand tightening on her elbow. He took a step closer to her. “What about the dress?” His eyes scanned the garment, flicking to the woman behind the booth who was busy talking to another woman. “What did you see?”
Lucy waved in the gown’s direction. “It’s…pretty.”
Cormac’s gaze cut to hers. “What?”
The man must’ve thought the dress hid some threat. Lucy hid her smile. “It’s a pretty dress, Cormac. That’s all. It caught my attention.”
He looked at the dress again, tilting his head, considering. “It would look good on you.”
She jerked and shook her head. “Oh, no. No. I could never.”
They started walking again. “Why not?” he asked, staring at her like she’d just grown another head.
“I couldn’t wear that thing! It’s too… It’s just too much! Besides, I don’t want to get married.”
The furrow between his brows deepened. “You don’t? But you work in weddings.”
“Right. But the thought of everyone staring at me as I walk down the aisle…” She huffed and shivered in disgust. “No way.”
“But you like the dress.”
“Well, yeah,” she answered, arching her brows at him. What was so hard to understand? “It’s gorgeous.”
“You like the dress but you don’t want it,” he clarified, “because you don’t want to get married and you don’t think it’d look good on you?”
They were halfway to the door. “Okay,” she clarified. “I’d like to get married one day, maybe, if I meet the right person. But I don’t want a wedding . And I think the dress would look good on me—I hope, anyway—but there’d be no reason to buy it because I’d have nowhere to wear it.”
He nodded slowly, but his eyes had gone back to tracking the movement of all the people milling around the room.
“A dress like that requires an occasion,” she continued, feeling more confident. “You wear a dress like that, you need a wedding in an old hotel with gorgeous decor and stone lions guarding the front gates. You need a band, and a black-tie dress code. I don’t want any of that.”
Cormac’s thumb had started making small strokes on her elbow, and the touch was beginning to go to her head. She had to clamp her teeth shut to stop herself from babbling any more, but he kept stroking. Had he even realized he was doing it?
“Report?” Cormac asked Sam when they reached the other man. His thumb stilled, but he didn’t take his hand away from Lucy’s elbow.
“All clear. No sign of Phillips and no trouble with any of the vendors and attendees. Ready to move out.”
Cormac nodded, but his jaw tightened. Even Sam looked troubled.
“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked.
Cormac’s dark-blue eyes met hers. Sighing, he shook his head. “Bad feeling.”
“Had it all day,” Sam agreed.
Lucy bunched her lips and flicked her gaze between the two men. “Maybe all the wedding stuff makes you uncomfortable. You wouldn’t be the first man to hate attending the Stirling Wedding Expo. That’s why the whole dress thing is so weird to you. You don’t get the romance of it all.”
Cormac’s hand moved from her elbow to her lower back. “Maybe,” he conceded, then nodded to Sam. “Let’s move out.”
Sam took the rear again, while Cormac guided her through the doors and down the hallway to the hotel’s exit.
They emerged into the fading light of the late afternoon sunshine, the scent of spring heavy in the air. Lucy gulped down a deep breath, happy to be done with the Expo. Her car was across the lot, with the Elite Security van parked in the opposite direction.
Wind ruffled the end of her ponytail as she turned to face the two men. “Thank you so much for everything,” she said, smiling. “Today was a huge success, and a lot of it had to do with you two backing me up. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.”
“Job’s not over until we get you home safe,” Cormac said as Sam peeled away and headed for the Elite Security vehicle.
“I can take it from here,” Lucy insisted. “Really. I feel a bit silly for having hired you in the first place. Nothing happened today.”
The van pulled up in front of them, and Sam hopped out and opened the sliding door. Cormac began handing him boxes and banners and supplies.
“Boys. This isn’t necessary.”
“We’ll get you home safe,” Cormac said in a tone that dared her to argue. “Get in the van. We’ll drive your car home for you.”
Normally, Lucy would wilt under that kind of pressure—but there was something about Cormac that lit a fire inside her. He made her want to fight back.
“I will get myself home safe, thank you,” she said primly, grabbing her car keys from her purse. “But thank you for hauling my supplies.”
Cormac growled at her like some sort of wild animal as she ducked around the van to cut across the parking lot to her own car. Ha! It felt amazing to assert herself. She’d hidden herself away, alone in her apartment, for far too long.
“Lucy.”
“I’ll meet you at the apartment,” she called, waving a hand over her head. Strutting across the asphalt, she let her lips curl into a smile. What a great day!
Someone cut across the lot in front of her at the end of the aisle. It looked like a man, but his shoulders were hunched and he wore a ball cap, so it was hard to tell. He paused for a second in front of Lucy’s vehicle, bending over to look at something on the ground. Lucy frowned, following his gaze to the undercarriage of her car, then let out a breath when he got up and kept walking. She picked up the pace, curious about what the man had seen.
“Lucy!” The note of panic in Cormac’s voice made her stumble over a flat piece of pavement.
Then a strong arm banded around her stomach, and she was whirled around to face the opposite direction a mere second before her car exploded.