Chapter Nineteen
‘Could this get any more awkward?’ whispered Ellie. She was staring at the giant seating plan placed on an ornate gold stand in front of them.
Honestly, Alex had been worried sick about overstepping the mark with her at the tennis match. But seeing her cracking jokes again eased some of his worries.
Some, at least; he couldn’t shake the feeling he’d messed up somehow, and, to make matters worse, the rehearsal dinner had arrived with terrifying speed. He’d dreaded it almost as much as the wedding itself.
He glanced at the plan over her shoulder. ‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, although he could already guess the answer.
She stabbed at their names with a scarlet fingernail. ‘For a start, there’s a top table, and we’re on it.’
Her eyes darted around the guests milling about in the sun room and drinking champagne.
The doors had been folded back to create a smooth transition between the sun room and the garden, but most people were outside.
Over two hundred guests were invited to the rehearsal dinner and wedding, so by the current number there were still more to arrive.
Alex shook his head, in awe at the speed with which the staff had turned their island home into a glamorous event space, with tropical flower arrangements placed on every cloth-draped table and barbecue stations manned by chefs in tall white hats, ready to go.
‘This is super formal. I mean, I knew Americans have rehearsal dinners and we don’t in the UK, but…
’ Ellie nervously adjusted the strap on her halter-neck dress.
The colourful fabric pressed her breasts together in an enticing way and he found himself in a constant battle to keep his eyes above her neckline.
‘Are you sure I look all right? I thought this was just a relaxed barbecue-thingy?’
‘It is.’
Ellie flapped her hand aggressively at the garden.
‘There are three chef stations, and is that a whole pig roasting on a spit? I thought the American rehearsal dinner was for close friends and family only? Seriously, what happened to just having a curry the night before? Why do you always have to be so extra!’ Her voice was getting higher-pitched with every word, and he was worried that she might pass out.
He probably should have warned her about this.
But the truth was, he’d been afraid she’d say no.
He took hold of her arms and turned her to face him. ‘Look at me.’ Brown eyes full of worry and doubt stared back. ‘It’s going to be fine.’
She did a strange half-snort half-cry and he gave her a brilliant smile, hoping to calm her nerves.
Begrudgingly, she took a few deep breaths.
‘I’m sorry. I’m meant to be supporting you tonight.
It’s just far more glamorous than I thought it would be.
There are actual Hollywood stars here… I mean, as well as you and your family. It’s all so much.’
She gestured around at the garden. There were about fifteen large tables dotted around the manicured lawn, lit with flaming torches, and formally attired waiting staff flowed between groups with silver trays of champagne flutes and canapés.
The indigo sky sparkled with stars, while the ocean waves crashed softly in the background.
It was beautifully and thoughtfully designed, as all of his mother’s parties were. Nothing unusual to his mind, but then again Ellie wasn’t used to this.
She bit her bottom lip and looked down at herself. ‘I’m just worried I look out of place.’
‘Not at all. Firstly, you look gorgeous.’ He didn’t need to fudge any truths there, at least. Her bright yellow-and-orange African-print maxi-dress set off her hair and skin beautifully.
He had to keep forcing his eyes not to linger too long on her impressive cleavage, because he was definitely getting a more than friendly reaction to her luscious body, and she’d already reminded him about their boundaries more than once.
‘Secondly—’ He blinked, pushing up his glasses while he tried to remember the point he was trying to make. ‘Secondly, it’s a small wedding, so most of the people arriving today will be at the wedding too. My mom loves a party.’
Ellie gave him a shaky smile, but her spine straightened and she was looking more like her usual confident self by the second. ‘This isn’t what I’d call small… Are they all staying here?’
‘Only Richie, the bridesmaids and the best man, who you met earlier. The rest have their own holiday home nearby or have rented a place at one of the resorts. Those without transport are being ferried back and forth by the staff.’ He pointed towards the marina, where a yacht and some speedboats were anchored.
Ellie swallowed deeply at the sight of them.
‘I wish you’d told me it was going to be this swanky. I only brought one formal dress and that’s for the wedding.’ She huffed, and he realised it was the first time she’d ever been truly annoyed at him, and he knew that he shouldn’t find it so adorable, but he did.
‘There’s no actual dress code. Some people just decided to dress up.’ A group of his parents’ friends sailed past in tuxedos and silk evening gowns.
Ellie turned and glared at him pointedly.
‘Look, I haven’t dressed up either!’ He gestured at his pale linen shirt and trousers, even lifted a trouser leg to show off his leather sandals.
Unconvinced, she snapped, ‘Men get away with it. Women don’t.’
‘I promise,’ he attempted to placate her, ‘this is the only big event before the wedding. The next five days will be sun, sea and sand. Now, regarding your last worry. The seating plan.’ He leaned forward and made a big gesture of squinting at it.
‘Yep. Next to my parents. How else did you think it was going to be?’
She looked like she was going to slug him and he couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘I thought,’ she hissed through gritted teeth, ‘that the bride would have some common sense and put us on a separate table. Like, the kids’ table probably. I would have preferred that.’
He shook his head, took her arm and led them through the sun room towards the garden party, collecting a flute of champagne for each of them on the way. ‘No way. My mom cares only about appearances. Proving the Kings are still a united family will be her number one goal.’
‘But your mum’s lovely,’ Ellie said, with a pained expression. ‘Surely she must realise how horrible this is for you.’
He knocked back a deep gulp of the champagne. ‘She does. But she wants everyone to be happy too, and in her mind, that means I have to suck it up.’
She stopped walking and stroked his arm. ‘I’m sorry.’
He couldn’t resist. Bending down, he gave her lips a chaste kiss.
They were warm and velvety soft, and left him with the faint taste of her strawberry lip balm.
When he raised his head, her face was flushed and her eyes were wide with shock.
They’d not spoken about the last couple of kisses – especially the one that had almost floored him on the tennis court.
He murmured softly, ‘For our audience.’ But his parents’ arrival in the garden had only been an excuse. He wanted to kiss her, well and often.
The only problem was she didn’t feel the same, because she stiffened.
‘Of course, I wondered what you were doing for a second.’ The smile didn’t quite meet her eyes, and it wasn’t the bright sunshine that he’d become accustomed to over the last few weeks.
Immediately he regretted kissing her; the last thing he wanted to do was make her uncomfortable.
‘The final boat has arrived!’ called his mother, gesturing for them to take their seats at the top table.
Holly sauntered past them in a full-length gold sequinned dress and sky-high heels.
‘Cute dress,’ she said, but her tone was snide.
‘Did you make it yourself? I hear you like dressmaking. I’ve never been good at arts and crafts.
I prefer to leave it to the professionals – Versace never lets me down.
’ She smoothed a hand down her body for emphasis.
‘But then again, designer clothes aren’t an option for everybody, are they? ’
Alex couldn’t stand her sneering. ‘No, and if it wasn’t for your sister, I doubt they would have been an option for you either!’
Holly glared at him and strutted away with a toss of her hair to join his mother at the top table.
‘Ignore her. She’s been sponging off her sister’s fame and wealth for years – she’s got no reason to be so proud.’ But to his horror, Ellie’s eyes were shining with unshed tears and she quickly ducked behind the seating plan. He quickly turned to shield her as much as possible. ‘Are you okay?’
Ellie nodded, blinking rapidly with an awkward laugh. ‘Sorry, I know I shouldn’t let people like her get to me. She just touched a nerve is all.’
‘Damn, it’s all my fault. I should have been clearer about tonight.
’ He felt like his heart was breaking, seeing strong, confident Ellie brought to tears, and he wasn’t sure how to fix it.
‘I’m so sorry. If you want to change into your other dress, you can, I’ll make them delay.
And I can take you to the mainland and buy you another for the wedding.
There’s a few designer boutiques there – my treat! ’
Ellie stopped him with a hand to his chest and a shake of her head. ‘I don’t think you realise what she meant by “an option” – she wasn’t talking about wealth. She means skinny privilege, that’s why she emphasised the body.’
‘Oh…’ What a jerk, he’d not noticed until Ellie had pointed it out.