Chapter 20
LACEY
I grabbed the hanger and pulled another dress out of my closet.
I’d been trying to pack for the last hour but couldn’t find a single thing that screamed reluctant wedding dress shopper.
It was pointless. Adeline wouldn’t care what I had on as long as it wasn’t flashier, prettier, or sexier than what the bride-to-be would be wearing.
She’d said as much in the text she’d sent.
Even though nothing would make me happier than to call the whole thing off, I had to see the weekend through.
After the fiasco with Shotgun the other night, I’d been tempted to cancel.
But then Bodie called and said the dog would be fine.
Thank goodness. I’d all but forgotten what it was like to put my heart on the line.
Almost having it crushed was a good reminder.
I’d keep mine right where it belonged—safe and sound tucked behind my uncompromising set of rules. Rule number one: don’t risk your heart.
I envied Bodie sometimes. He’d never lost anyone or anything close to him.
Lucky for him he’d never had to go through the gut-wrenching heartbreak that followed.
Although, if his suspicions were right and his dad and grandfather were involved in some unsavory business practices, he might have to be the one to bring them down.
That would put a serious damper on family get-togethers. What would that do to him?
Shrugging the dress on over my head, I thought about the way Bodie had pulled me close.
The way I burrowed into his chest. The way I’d felt protected, safe, secure in his arms. He’d always made me feel that way.
When my mom died, it wasn’t my dad who comforted me.
It wasn’t my brother, either. It was Bodie.
I shivered as I remembered. With both me and Bodie being back in town, memories were bound to surface.
I’d just have to find a way to hold them at bay. Wouldn’t do any good to get attached.
I turned to face myself in the mirror. Adeline had said to bring my favorite LBD.
I had to Google the term to see what it meant.
At least I had one, even if it probably didn’t bend to the convention of current fashion styles.
It was a little low across the bust and hugged my ass a tad too tightly.
But there was no way I’d head to Dallas without the required LBD, so it would have to do.
By the time I’d changed back into my jeans, stuffed my makeup in a case, and zipped up my bag, someone knocked on the front door.
“I’ll get it, Dad.” I didn’t want Adeline getting an eyeful of my dad serving his house arrest. Rumors were already bad enough without adding Adeline’s brand of fuel onto the fire.
A man in a dark suit stood at the door. “Lacey Cherish?”
“Yes.” I peered past him to see the stretch limo parked at the curb.
Adeline popped up through the sunroof, a tiara on her head, waving a bottle of champagne. “The girls surprised me with a bachelorette weekend. We’ll shop for dresses by day and party at night! Isn’t that perfect?”
Perfect? A perfect disaster. I had been dreading the shopping enough. But now I’d be expected to paste on a smile while Adeline waded through miles of tulle and lace and also hold it together for two nights of hard-core partying? My temples pulsed with the promise of an oncoming headache.
“Can I take your bag, ma’am?” The driver reached for my suitcase.
Ma’am? Did he just call me ma’am? “Sure, go ahead.”
He reached behind me and grabbed my overnight bag.
“I’ll be back on Sunday,” I called into the house. No telling where my dad was, but I was grateful he wasn’t there to witness my departure.
As I walked toward the limo, music began to pour through the open windows. The bass thumped so loud I could feel it in my chest. The driver opened the door and I climbed in. I squat-walked to the front since every other seat had been claimed.
Adeline ducked back through the window and grabbed me in an awkward hug. “I’m so glad you could come. We’re going to have a blast.”
I nodded, smiling at the other women as I untangled myself from Adeline’s grasp. I hadn’t quite gotten used to the idea of us trying to be actual friends.
“Everyone, this is Lacey. And Lacey, this is everyone.” Adeline swept her arm wide, knocking over the bottle of champagne she’d set down on the floor. “Ooops.”
Great, just great. If the rocky start was any indication of how the weekend might go, I was screwed.
I didn’t have time or patience to babysit a bunch of bachelorettes in the big city.
While Adeline’s gal pals cleaned up the spill, the driver pulled away from the curb.
One of the other women handed me a glass of bubbly, and I accepted.
Why not join in the festivities? It was already—I checked my watch—nine thirty in the morning.
Had to be after five o’clock somewhere. Wherever it was, I wished with all my might I’d be magically transported there.
Far away from bridezilla and her minions.
No such luck. The drive to Dallas passed by in a hazy blend of loud music, popping champagne corks, and drinking games. By the time we stopped in front of the first bridal shop on the itinerary, I was so ready to stretch my legs I bounded past the other women to be the first one out of the limo.
Stumbling to the sidewalk, I inhaled a breath of fresh air.
My headache had worsened, but I’d managed to hold a full-blown migraine at bay with a front line of ibuprofen.
As I stood and faced the entrance to Bride World, I worried I’d need to bring in backup pain-med resources if I wanted to win the battle.
Tall double doors stood in front of me, the only barrier between me and an afternoon of hell.
“Let’s go, girls.” Adeline had pulled herself together and projected the perfect blend of calm, cool, and collected.
I filed into line behind two of the bridesmaids. They must be Adeline’s friends from college or her sorority sisters. I didn’t recognize a single one. They all seemed to be clones of their leader.
A saleswoman met us at the door, although she insisted on calling herself a bridal style concierge.
She ushered Adeline’s posse into a large private dressing room where a tray of champagne glasses sat on a low coffee table.
I perched on the edge of a chair. I’d prefer to slump against the cushions on one of the love seats but if I had, I might not ever get up.
The combination of headache threat and defeat had me ready to throw in the towel.
“So how do you know the bride?” One of the other women took the chair next to me and reached for a glass.
“Um, she’s having her wedding at the Phillips House.” I summoned a smile, hoping it looked better than it felt.
“You’re the wedding planner. She’s told us all about you.” The woman thrust her hand toward me. “I’m Celeste, one of her bridesmaids. She’s so excited about having her wedding at your new place.”
“We’re so excited she’s chosen to be the first.” I reached for a glass of champagne. I might need it.
The bridal style concierge clapped her hands together, drawing everyone’s attention. “Ladies, let me present, dress one. It’s a delectable confection of layered netting. This is truly the princess look.”
Adeline stepped out of the dressing room, her torso sticking up from the center of a massive ring of netting.
If she chose that dress, Roman wouldn’t be able to get within five feet of her.
The posse mobilized, surrounding her with shrieks.
I took the opportunity to nab a few of the chocolates sitting on a silver tray as the chatter erupted.
Several hours and ten thousand dresses later, Adeline led the way back to the limo. She’d narrowed down some options but had yet to declare she’d found the one. Thank goodness the rest of our appointments were the next day. I wasn’t sure I could stomach another bridal store.
“Now’s where we take over,” Celeste announced. She distributed T-shirts to the women, who had no reservations about pulling their shirts off over their heads, even there in the back of the limo. “They’re scratch and lick. Everyone has a different flavor.”
I glanced at the shirt I’d been given. A grid of what looked like circular stickers covered the front of the shirt. “Lick me?” I asked, my eyebrows shooting sky-high.
“They’re for doing virtual tequila shots. Everyone has either a salt- or tequila-flavored shirt. Adeline has the lime-flavored one, so she’ll be at the tail end of everyone’s shot. Make sense?”
No more sense than anything else we’d done so far today. “Yeah, great.” I tossed my shirt over my shoulder. No way was I subjecting myself to a myriad of unknown tongues, not even in the name of ensuring the wedding went off without a hitch.
“You’ve got to put your shirt on,” Celeste nudged her chin toward me. “Tell her, Adeline. It’s no fun if we don’t all do it.”
Twelve pairs of eyes lasered in on my chest. “Fine. But the first guy who comes at me is going to get more than a taste of salt.”
Adeline crossed her arms over her chest. “Come on, Lacey. You have to play. Have another glass of champagne.”
The last thing I wanted was another glass of champagne. But to get Adeline off my back I pulled the T-shirt on over my head. “Happy?”
“Yes. Where to next, ladies?” Adeline relaxed back into the plush seat.
“We’ve got a big surprise. You’ll just have to wait and see.” Celeste pulled out her phone and began snapping pictures. “What’s your Insta, Lacey?”
“Oh, no tagging me, thanks. Political figure and all. Wouldn’t be a good idea.” I unscrewed the cap from a bottle of water. Looked like someone was going to need to stay sober for the evening ahead. Might as well be me.
Celeste shrugged as she typed into her phone.
Fifteen minutes later the limo stopped. I peered through the tinted window at an ornate set of doors. Sushi Tango. Great, now I had double the reason for making sure no one got out of hand. The combination of raw fish and too much to drink wouldn’t end well.
“Bring on the sake.” Celeste led the way into the restaurant and I had no choice but to follow.
For a moment I wished I’d stayed behind.
Filling in armadillo holes, as horrible as that might be, would be ten times more bearable than subjecting myself to the rest of Adeline’s party weekend.
What was Bodie doing? Were he and Shotgun curled up on the couch taking it easy?
Thinking of the poor pup made my heart clench.
Thinking of Bodie made other parts of my anatomy clench.
Getting close to Bodie would mean nothing but trouble.
First off, his family. I’d sworn an oath to work for the citizens of Ido.
That meant I couldn’t be caught colluding with folks who put themselves above the law.
Second, my emotional-avoidance issues. Opening up my heart and letting someone in would only result in getting hurt. I’d learned that lesson over and over.
As I followed the line of women snaking through the restaurant, I clamped down on that thought. I’d do what I needed to do to save the town and wipe the smudge from my family name. That’s all I’d signed up for. And that was more than anyone expected.