Three. Maisie
Three
Maisie
Maisie Smart knew weddings. As an in-demand photographer, she’d been to more than she could count. The memory of every couple lived in her heart and her mind. She’d gotten to share in so many special moments. For others.
Always the photographer. Not at this one though; tonight, she was simply a guest, and it definitely gave her another perspective. Hailey had talked to Maisie about possibly taking the photos but, at the time, she hadn’t settled on a date and Maisie’s schedule was filling up. This was better, anyway, because she could sit back and just enjoy witnessing her friend’s happiness. They’d worked together on film sets, Maisie doing photographs while Hailey ran craft services for the casts and crews.
Maisie’s move to Seattle several years ago hadn’t hurt her friendship with Hailey. If anything, they worked harder to keep in touch because of the distance. Relationships mattered to Maisie. She didn’t mind putting in the work to maintain them. When you needed or wanted someone in your life, it didn’t feel like work. She felt the same about her best friend, Lexi. They’d met right after Maisie moved to the city and bonded instantly. That was typically how things worked for her; she knew in her bones when she met someone who was supposed to be part of her life in a bigger way.
Which was why she was trying so hard to ignore the feelings coursing through her veins as she waited in line to congratulate the bride and groom. Nick , with the stupidly captivating blue eyes, drool-worthy forearms, and husky voice was three people back in the line. She’d hurried out of their row, eager to get away from the tension thrumming between them. Everything about him screamed heartbreak, from his sexy smile and delicious cologne to his rough laugh and aloof behavior.
Stepping forward, she laughed when Hailey let out a squeal at the sight of her. They embraced each other through laughter and a few tears.
“I’m married!” Hailey said.
“Yes, you are,” Maisie said, working to keep the giddy squeal out of her voice but probably failing. “And it was absolutely beautiful.” She pulled back, her arms still wrapped tightly around her friend. She tilted her head toward Wes, who was grinning like he’d won the lottery. Which he didn’t actually need since he and his brothers were megarich. But she knew from the first time she met him that he’d give it all up in a heartbeat for Hailey.
“Thanks for coming, Maisie,” Wes said, leaning over his wife to kiss Maisie’s cheek.
“My pleasure. It was beautiful. Kinsley’s so big. I need to squeeze her,” Maisie said.
“She’s with my mother,” Wes said. “Good luck. She’s a baby hog.”
They chatted for another minute and Maisie reluctantly moved on, but not before she heard Wes say Nick’s name with genuine affection and excitement.
So maybe he wasn’t just an arrogant jerk who assumed everyone wanted him. If Wes was friends with him, he likely had some nonphysical redeeming qualities. Which only made him more dangerous.
Deciding to distract her busy brain with a walk near the ocean, she texted her bestie as she walked the path out to the water.
Maisie
The wedding was perfect.
Lexi
That’s awesome. I haven’t been to a wedding in years. Any hot guys?
Maisie laughed out loud, the sound carrying over the salty, California ocean air.
Maisie
Reception is starting soon.
Lexi
That’s not an answer.
Maisie thought about Nick. He definitely counted, but that wasn’t why she was here.
Maisie
Stop.
Lexi
You stop! One of us has to have some excitement. I need to live vicariously through you! Answer the question.
Her best friend could definitely use some fun. Or a break. She worked at a dress shop and had been feeling more and more antsy lately about the direction, or lack of it, in her life. Maisie’s photography business was flourishing, and she had several things she wanted to dip her toes into professionally, so she really ached for Lexi. Not being able to do the job you were meant to do was hard on anyone. But Lexi’s mom needed her emotionally more than Lexi needed, or could afford, to finish her degree right now.
Lexi
I’ve decided that you dodging the question is an emphatic YES.
Maisie’s brain went straight to Nick. The soft breeze swept tendrils of hair into her face. She tucked the strands behind her ear. She loved her just-above-the-shoulder-length hair, but it could be tricky at times.
Maisie
One. Well, probably a lot. But a broody, gruff one with killer forearms and a stupidly sexy smirk has caught my attention.
Lexi
Picture?
Maisie snort laughed.
Maisie
Cause I want to look like a stalker?
Especially after he’d already thought she was one. But then he’d apologized. Sort of. In a way that almost suited him.
Lexi
Be discreet. You’re a professional.
Maisie laughed, then typed:
Maisie
I repeat: stop
Lexi
Maybe you’re in for a really good night
Maisie
He’s not a forever kind of guy
She shouldn’t assume but when a man looked like that, acted like everyone wanted him, and had a hard time saying sorry, she was fairly certain she wasn’t wrong.
And as much as she didn’t like to let her mother’s voice creep into her head, her mom told her she had to make decisions like they were defining her future. Every decision. Not just some of them. Be intentional, Maisie. That’s how you find happiness and love. Maisie didn’t particularly want her mother’s life advice, but she did want forever with a man who wanted her back just as much. Like her brother had with his husband. Or her sister had with hers. Hell, even her parents, as busy and successful as they were professionally, had an enviable love and marriage.
Lexi
He doesn’t have to be forever. He can be for now. Your forever guy needs to live close to us so you can’t ever leave me like you did Hailey.
Maisie smiled.
Maisie
True. So, he’s definitely out.
Lexi
It’s okay to let go and have fun. Isn’t that what you’re always harping on me about?
Maisie
Harping seems exaggerated but, maybe.
She looked up, the ocean at her back, and her eyes immediately found Nick. Like gravity, she couldn’t resist the pull. Based on the way he lengthened his stride, coming straight for her, neither could he.
Maisie
We’ll see.
Lexi
Picture or it didn’t happen
Maisie laughed.
Maisie
Not a chance
She tucked her phone into her clutch, tried to school her expression into one of nonchalance so she could give off a your forearms and broad, muscled chest don’t impress me vibe.
“Now who’s stalking who?” she said when he stopped one foot away from her.
One side of his lips moved up and she wondered if the well-groomed scruff on his cheeks and chin was as soft as it looked.
“I didn’t say stalker. And I said sorry.”
Maisie’s mouth dropped open. “Uh, no. You said, ‘my bad.’” She said the last two words in a deeper voice.
Amusement flashed across his face. “Is that what I sound like?”
She shrugged. “Sort of. It’s not spot-on but pretty close.”
He laughed, the low, sexy sound sending heat up her spine. “How do you know Hailey?”
Fine. She could switch gears. It was safer. “We worked together on movie sets. I’m a photographer. How do you know Wes?”
He looked past her, then back at her. She was good at reading people but even if she wasn’t, it was easy to see that Nick wasn’t great at opening up. Normally, that was fine. But with him, it just made her wonder why.
“Mutual friends in New York.”
“Okay,” she said, drawing the word out. Maybe he was just a minimalist and used as few words as possible.
Nick stared out at the ocean and Maisie’s fingers twitched, wanting her camera to capture his stunning profile against the backdrop of the waves.
Mr. Mysterious. She shouldn’t dig. She was here for a wedding and then headed back to Seattle tomorrow night. To her life.
“What do you do?” Work, hobbies, and weather. Perfectly neutral topics.
His gaze snapped to hers, one brow lifting just a little. “I’m an athlete.”
He had the body for it but she wasn’t going to beg for conversation if he didn’t want to have it. He came to her.
“That’s nice. Well, I could really use a glass of champagne, so enjoy the reception, Nick.”
“I’ll walk back with you. Where are you from?”
Maisie was aware of several things all at once; she was really short compared to him, even in her heels. Several people looked their way and she was pretty sure the attention was on Nick. They were close enough that their fingers could intertwine without any effort at all.
“East Coast,” she said. She could be mysterious too. “But I live in Seattle now.”
“My sister is moving to that area. Rains a lot.”
She smiled. “It does. Just one sister?”
He looked her way, offering a hand for the stone steps that led up to the deck off the back of the atrium. She slipped her hand into his, ignoring the way her skin danced and her heart rate accelerated.
“Yeah. And a nephew. He’s the coolest little kid. He’s three and loves to FaceTime me.”
His smile was soft and sweet; qualities she wouldn’t have associated with him.
She pulled her hand away when they were on the flat surface. The feel and heat of his touch stayed with her and she liked it a little too much. Lexi’s words drifted back through her brain. What was one night? She’d never spent just one night with a man, but she’d never really met a man like Nick. One who sounded gruff, looked like a rugged model, whose eyes went soft at the mention of his nephew, who worried women wanted him so bad they’d break into his room. No. Nick was definitely unique.
“I’m going to grab that champagne.”
People milled about at tall tables. Waitstaff floated among the guests seamlessly, dropping off drinks and picking up empty glasses.
She started to step away but his hand on her wrist stopped her. Heat flared in the spot he touched. It stole her breath.
“Maisie.”
She looked at his hold on her, then up at him. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry.” He dropped her wrist and this time he walked away first.
For the best. She couldn’t think clearly around him. Champagne probably wouldn’t help, but this was a wedding and there were plenty of people here to dance and flirt and connect with. There had to be two hundred guests at this thing. By the time the reception started, she wouldn’t even be able to find Nick in the crowd.