Chapter 37 #2
“Poppy.” Trevor looks me up and down and then says, “I’m sure this outfit went over well with your mother. I know she was counting on your support.” I can smell notes of scotch wafting off his breath. Honestly, I don’t blame him.
“That’s why I’m here. I’m here supporting her.” I lower my head and add, “If you’ll excuse me.”
His arm blocks me from leaving. “You and I . . . we have unfinished business.”
“And what’s that?” He’s damn lucky Laird can’t step into the city limits of Nashville. There’s no way he’d give the grace I’m giving this asshole.
“I can’t have you fucking up the gift again.”
“What gift?”
“The wedding gift. After you blew the bridal shower, I hope you didn’t fuck this up. What did you get your mom?”
Is he serious right now? I burst out laughing.
“The catering. I paid for all the food, and I’m catering it.
My time is money, and you’ll never be able to afford me again.
” I poke him in the chest, forcing him to step back a foot or two to give me room.
“So enjoy your beef Wellington because it will be the best you ever had and the last time either of you will eat my food.”
I exhale, shaking my head as I return to the kitchen. “Are they out of their fucking minds?” Laird is rubbing off on me. I wish he were here.
The cake cutting is being organized as the guests are shuffled over toward that end of the ballroom. I already told them I’m not touching the cake, and neither is my crew.
I’m not sure why one of the bartenders took the job, but for his sake, I hope it pays well.
It’s the sirens I hear first. They’re not befitting the elegant reception.
Then the double doors hit the jamb when a lady rushes through. “Poppy? Is there a Poppy?”
So much for being invisible.
I slink out of the shadows in the back corner near a charcuterie display of snacks. “I’m Poppy. What’s wrong?”
Sweat beads at her hairline, and her cheeks are a deep rosy color. “There are at least ten, maybe more police cars out front.”
“Okay,” I say, hoping to eventually connect the dots I’m missing. “What does that have to do with me?”
Grabbing hold of my arms, she smiles so big that I’m now genuinely lost. “You need to go out there.” She starts pushing me by the arm and then fast claps behind me while nipping at my heels. “Right away. Hustle. Hustle.”
“Okay. Okay. Geez. I’m going.”
I go the way she came despite not being allowed to as “event staff.” When I push through the door to the outside, alarm bells ring in my head. I can see a couple of police cars with their lights flashing. What am I walking into?
The hustle lady tells me to go on once more. I keep walking down the sidewalk until I reach the corner. Holy . . . there are way more than ten police cars out front, but who are they here for? I hate that Laird comes to mind, but is it so wrong to want a grand gesture?
“Put your hands up, Poppy Stanfield,” someone says over a speaker, but I have no idea where it came from—a car or a person?
I raise my hands, but then I hear someone say, “Don’t scare her.”
Laird.
I’m going to kill him right after I smother him to death with kisses and my love.
He comes running from the center of the lineup, looking every bit the sexy musician. Wild hair, worn T-shirt, faded jeans, and sneakers. He runs to me just as I head toward him.
Catching me in his arms, he swings me around while covering my temple in kisses. “I missed you so fucking much, baby.”
A round of applause breaks out, bringing us back to the here and now. When my feet land on the ground again, I lift to kiss him. When our lips part, I look into those eyes that hold the sun instead and say, “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He wraps himself around me once more as I embrace him fully.
I pull him to me, and with his head tucked into the crook of my neck, I whisper, “Tell me they didn’t chase you here? You’re not about to be arrested, are you?”
He chuckles as he rises to his full height in front of me. “No. They’re on my side.”
“How are you here? It doesn’t feel real.” I want to read him like a book, but he keeps distracting me with the damn sexy cover. “I missed you so much.”
His hands cover my sides and lower to my hips.
Smirking like the hottie he is, he says, “I had a little help from my friends.” All I have to do is raise an eyebrow for him to continue.
“Johnny Outlaw called in a few favors. All these guys are fans. We’re hooking them up with tickets next time we’re in town. ”
“Next time?”
“I’m allowed back next year.”
“So you bribed the police to let you into Nashville?” I bite my bottom lip in worry, though I can admit it’s pretty dang clever.
“No bribery. Nothing illegal. We got the judge to sign off on it, but I only have two hours.”
This man. I will never get enough of him. “Why did you go to all this trouble?”
“No trouble. I came for you. I came to back you up. I’ll clear dishes or wash them, pack up food, or whatever you need. I’m at your disposal.”
“For the next two hours?”
“Yep. I came for that and to tell you I don’t want to be without you anymore. What do you think about taking the next step together?”
“Do you have a new tattoo in mind?” I smirk because I can with the best of them. Them being Laird, the sexy giant.
Taking me into his arms, he kisses me and then says, “Yes. Permanent like that.”
With my arms around his neck, I ask, “What did you have in mind?”
“Something more circular and metallic.”
This man will literally tell me I hung the moon if I let him. I’ll let him, but not after I tell him how he made the stars shine brighter in my universe just by being in it. “Sounds like an amazing design.”
“Couldn’t have designed it better myself.”
Recalling a conversation we once had, I say, “So tell me, babe. That’s what you came all this way to say?”
“It’s not that far. I traveled all day to get here from Seattle.”
My heart thunders in my chest as I smile at the man I was always destined to be with. “You still bothered to go the distance for me.”
“I always will.”
Trevor runs out with his hands on his head. “What the hell is going on?”
My mom joins his side and then finds me in the center of it all. Maybe that’s been the issue all along. She couldn’t share the spotlight. Not even with her daughter. “Why are you not in the kitchen, Poppy? Invisible, remember? This is not invisible.”
“You’re right. It’s not. And I’ll never go back into the shadows again. Not for you. Not for clients. Not for anyone.” I take a few steps closer but then stop.
It’s best for me to put my boundaries in place, starting now. Referring to Laird, I ask, “Have you met my . . .” I look up at him. “Are we engaged?”
“We are. We’re very much engaged.” Wrapping his arm around my waist, he stands by my side.
“My fiancé. You won’t be invited to the wedding or into any part of my life. I love you, Mom. I just can’t be less for you anymore.” Slipping my hand into Laird’s, I turn but quickly realize all the police are gone. “How do we get out of here?” I whisper out of the side of my mouth.
He laughs between us. “I’ll order a car.”
Well, this is awkward . . .
Since I’m stuck here, I pull my phone from my pocket while Laird is busy, and call Marina. She answers immediately. “Is everything okay? How was the wedding?”
“A wedding is what I’m calling about. Will you help me?”
“When and where? I’ll be there.”