Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
“ Y ou’ve outdone yourself with this menu,” Troy said as he relished a teriyaki pineapple meatball.
Walter grinned broadly. “It was all Noble’s doing.” He pointed to his handsome son walking among the tables, checking that everyone was enjoying the buffet.
Michaela agreed that the spread was delicious, like a Hawaiian luau, with a pig that had been slow roasted over hot coals for twenty-four hours.
But even as Michaela enjoyed the food, she couldn’t help glancing at her mother, seated next to Walter.
She’d never seen Flo happier. Her mother seemed to glow.
And she deserved this happiness. Michaela wouldn’t stick her nose in her mother’s joy, not even one more time.
No more dire warnings, no further attempts to tamp down her elation in case things didn’t work out.
Because things had to work out for her.
Gabby made a moue. “Sadly, though, Noble seems to think the only thing on a plant-based menu is salad.” Gabby’s bronzed skin above her colorful block-patterned bikini top reminded Michaela that she had said she took daily walks along Carmel-by-the-Sea’s beaches.
They were seated at the Harrington table.
Though there was no seating chart, the Harringtons had gravitated together, since the head table was filled with Mavericks.
The babies and children, of which there were plenty, had their own tent with kid food.
Walter and Noble had also provided a bouncy house, face-painting, and a clown who made animal shapes out of balloons, keeping the children entertained—and cared for—while the adults enjoyed themselves.
“You did an amazing job with the venue,” Dane said.
“And you did an amazing job as the couple’s officiant,” Walter replied.
Troy’s older brother seemed to flush above the collar of his Hawaiian shirt.
Still grinning, Walter said to Troy, “You made it so much easier with the loan of your yacht for the ceremony. Thank you for that.”
The red carpet had been rolled up, the chairs moved out of the way. Bistro lights were strung around the parquet-covered deck and crisscrossed overhead. Once the sun went down, dancing beneath the lights would be lovely.
She couldn’t help noticing what a handsome lot the Harringtons were.
Even more, how much in love each sibling seemed to be.
Statuesque Ava gave her beau, Ransom Yates, a bite of some exotic Hawaiian delicacy.
Michaela was sure the celebrity chef was taste-testing to see if he could replicate the recipe.
Dane leaned over to kiss Cammie’s cheek for no reason other than he wanted to.
Directly across from Michaela, Clay kissed Saskia, quick but passion-filled, and Michaela felt it all the way down to her belly.
The reminder of Troy’s luscious kisses was almost too much to bear.
As if he felt the same thing, Troy put his hand on her leg, sliding up her thigh, stopping before it turned naughty.
The only one not paired off was Gabby. Michaela got the feeling she didn’t want to be matched, merely humoring Troy with that bet by letting Michaela send him out on his date. No one Michaela had selected for her piqued Gabby’s interest, which Michaela felt sure was by design.
But, being a matchmaker, she wouldn’t stop trying.
Troy pulled her attention back. “I have to tell you, before you arrived, Gideon and I cornered Matt and Will.”
“You did?” For a moment, she didn’t get where he was going with that. “Why?”
“Remember those kids, Nathan and Connie? That night at Gideon’s center?”
“Oh yes. Nathan wanted to build race cars, and Connie was interested in robotics.”
He smiled. Gosh, that smile. It did something to her. His smiles always did, making her giddy and breathless.
“Both Will and Matt have agreed to be mentors to the teenagers.”
She squeezed his hand. “That’s wonderful.”
“Not that it was a hard sell,” Troy added. “Will wants to involve Jeremy as well. The kid loves cars just as much. It’ll be good for him. Good for all of them.”
He was such a caring man, going to bat for two youngsters he barely knew. Yet another thing to admire. This seemed to be a Maverick and Harrington trait, a willingness to help those who were less fortunate.
The toasts and roasts began, each of the Mavericks threatening violence if Cal didn’t take care of their sister properly, as well as a couple of jibes about the fact that Cal was almost twenty years older than their pretty sister.
But Michaela thought he was a handsome, fit man, and the way those two gazed at each other, it was truly a match made in heaven.
She couldn’t have done better herself.
That became especially apparent when the couple took their first dance to Taylor Swift’s “Lover.” They dipped and swayed, Lyssa’s sarong flaring out.
The late afternoon sun was like a beam of light spotlighting their love.
Then Bob and Susan Spencer joined them. Finally, the full wedding party swept onto the floor in a melee of dancing.
As the music changed to the fast beat of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Let Me Move You,” they all switched partners, Lyssa dancing with her father, Cal with Susan, Jeremy rushing onto the floor to dance with his sister Harper and her handsome husband Will Franconi.
Jeremy broke everyone up with his bouncing robot moves.
Not to be outdone, Jorge and Noah dashed onto the floor, and suddenly Gideon, Rosie, Matt, and Ari were all dancing with the two boys. Rosie had told Michaela the children were the best of friends, especially since Gideon and Ari were brother and sister.
Maybe that was the Maverick way, to bring everyone into their fold with love.
When a new slow number began, Etta James singing “At Last,” Troy stood and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”
Despite all her fears, Michaela wanted to be in his arms. The song, an oldie but so perfect for the day, was also perfect for her first-ever dance with Troy. On the dance floor, he wrapped her in his arms, not leaving even an inch between their bodies.
She couldn’t help looking into his gorgeous blue eyes and feeling herself melt.
“Are you having fun?” With the heat in his gaze, he had to be asking about so much more than the wedding and the happy day, more than the wonderful food.
“I’m having a lovely time. Thank you for the invitation.” She was sure he’d initiated it.
He grinned. “If I hadn’t asked Lyssa to send you one, Walter would have.”
He glanced at Walter and her mother executing beautiful ballroom dance steps in the middle of the floor. A couple of years ago, for something fun to do, she and Flo had taken dance lessons, and now her mother was putting them to good use.
Then he asked softly, “Are you okay with that now? I know you had some misgivings.”
She told him what was in her heart. “I couldn’t be happier for my mother. Everything you said was right. She deserves this.”
His arms tightened around her. “And how do you feel about us? You and me?”
She couldn’t make a declaration here on the dance floor. She wasn’t even sure what kind of declaration she would make.
The song changed before she could answer, and Fernsby cut in, dancing her away.
Fernsby was an excellent dancer, leading her effortlessly around the floor.
Maybe he’d taken dancing lessons like she and her mother had.
But then, he might be old enough that dancing had been instilled in him as a young man.
With his craggy features, Fernsby could have been eighty.
But his lithe movements spoke of the agility of a much younger man.
“Are you enjoying the wedding, my dear?” he asked from a great height, since she wasn’t wearing her high heels. They didn’t go with swimwear.
She gave him a heartfelt smile. “I’ve never been to a beach party wedding.” During the dancing, some of the parents had taken their kids out to the beach and were now splashing in the water. “I’ll recommend it to my clients who want something different.”
He didn’t smile, but said in a drawl, “That’s our Lyssa. Always doing the unexpected.” That might be a glimmer of humor in his eyes. “And with fascinating results.”
Fascinating . She wasn’t sure whether that was good or bad.
Before she could ask, Fernsby said, “Your delightful mother seems to be having a marvelous time as well.”
Michaela followed the line of his gaze. As Flo danced in Walter’s arms, joy suffused her features. Michaela wouldn’t begrudge a single moment her mother spent with the handsome gentleman. She wouldn’t even call him a billionaire.
But she wondered if Fernsby might have some insight. “Walter seems like a decent man,” she said, breaking the ice.
Fernsby eyed her down his long nose. “He is eminently trustworthy. With Dane Harrington in the resort business, we’ve known Mr. Braedon and his son for years.
I’ve never seen the man so—” He broke off to spin her on the dance floor.
“—enamored.” Astoundingly, his expression seemed to soften.
“But then, I’ve never met a woman I felt was as suitable for him as your mother.
Florence is one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met, next to Susan Spencer. ”
“I’m sure she’ll be very happy to know that.”
Here was another endorsement of Walter Braedon.
And coming from Fernsby, it was unimpeachable.
She could probably walk among the Mavericks and Harringtons and receive more glowing reviews of Walter’s character, but she didn’t need to.
Walter was good for her mother. And Flo was good for him.
Michaela hoped this could be the beginning of something lasting.
Her mother deserved the best kind of man in her life.
In the midst of visions of her mother’s happily ever after, Fernsby said, “You must be aware that young Troy Harrington adores you.”
“I… I…”