Chapter 4
MAGGIE
It felt like Daniel and I had been standing in the same position for approximately three years, but in reality, it had probably been more like four minutes. Even so, I didn’t even jump this time when the wedding coordinator clapped her hands and called, “Again!”
Daniel stepped forward and I stepped with him. Together, we turned, paused, smiled, and reached for each other’s hands. Then we turned again. Who knew the choreography for getting married was more complicated than that of most Broadway productions?
As I looked up at him when the officiant started running through what he would expect of us, I knew Ryan had been right when he’d said I could’ve done worse. Daniel was a gorgeous guy, tall with sleek black hair and sharp, modern features that made him look utterly unflappable.
Even now, in the middle of a rehearsal for a wedding he didn’t want, he looked as calm as if this was merely another appointment on his calendar. I envied him for that.
“Alright, let’s reset,” the coordinator called before she started barking at one of her assistants.
Daniel visibly relaxed, blowing out a long, slow breath before he glanced down at me and smiled, flashing a glimpse of his perfectly straight, perfectly white teeth. “Are you alright?”
Well, our children probably won’t have dental issues, so… “Yeah. Sure. Perfect. You?”
The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he shrugged. “Yeah. Sure. Perfect.”
I chuckled, convinced that he knew I was lying and, by repeating my own words back to me, was probably lying himself, but neither of us called the other out on it.
That was the thing about Daniel. He was always so kind and polite, but he acted like there was nothing different or remarkable about what we were doing.
As hard as I tried, I just couldn’t pretend like a rehearsal dinner shouldn’t have been special.
It should have. This was the rest of our lives we were starting together, but as I played my role, smiling and extending my hand when I was supposed to, I was just wishing that time could go a little bit faster.
Meanwhile, Cathy was taking her role a lot more seriously. She was in the middle of negotiating a bridal party crisis with the wedding coordinator, insisting that the bridesmaids would block the flowers if they stood where they’d been told to.
I glanced at the women in question, all of whom I knew but wasn’t friends with. My mom and Cathy had handpicked them for their families’ wealth and connections. They’d gone to the right schools, attended the right galas, and vacationed in the right places, and that was the important thing.
These were the kind of girls I was supposed to have befriended. The sort the press expected at my side when I married Daniel.
Eventually, after we’d run through the whole thing again, Cathy and the coordinator reached some sort of ceasefire and the coordinator finally announced that we were done.
Without waiting to be told I could leave, I started skirting away from the others, praying for just one hour to gather my thoughts and chill alone.
One incredible hour in which nobody touched my hair, adjusted my dress, or asked me to smile. Heaven. Bliss. Yes, please.
Unfortunately, I made it less than six steps before Cathy caught on. “Maggie, where are you going? It’s time to get ready.”
My eyes slid shut. Damn it.
By the time I’d turned to face her, however, I was smiling again. I followed her back to my suite. There goes my one hour of peace, I guess.
Instead, I spent the next three hours feeling like I was being prepared for some kind of battle, but when we walked into the restaurant where the rehearsal dinner was being held, I still felt woefully unprepared.
Oh, God. It’s really sinking in now.
My heart started racing, but mercifully, my brothers rescued me and I spent at least twenty minutes completely surrounded by the five of them. They tucked me between them, shielding me from guests, reporters, and family alike.
It felt like a holiday, but unfortunately, it didn’t take long for a photographer to wiggle her way into our circle. She was smiling politely, clearly unbothered by the scowls my brothers sent her.
“Hi, there. I’m Annie from Bride Magazine,” she said happily. “I’m sorry for interrupting. I’m mostly here for the decorations tonight. They’re gorgeous, by the way, but if you’re available, I’d love to get a picture of you and the groom as well.”
I blinked a couple times, wondering why she’d apologize for interrupting and ask if I was available in the same sentence. Clearly, I wasn’t available. I was very much busy being protected by my brothers, thank you very much, but I relented anyway.
“Of course.” I smiled. “Let’s just find—”
Daniel appeared by my side like magic, a unique mix of charm and business as he inclined his chin at her. “My father mentioned you’d like to take some pictures. Shall we?”
She beamed. “We shall. Let’s go over there.”
Pointing toward a giant mirror with our names and the date engraved on it near the restaurant entrance, she took off without waiting for us to agree and we followed, neither of us saying a word as we followed her instructions on where to stand.
Daniel brought his hand to my waist, smiling as he leaned toward me.
“Perfect,” Annie said, lifting her camera. “Just a little closer.”
I inched into his side, mimicking Daniel when he looked directly into the camera, but as the photographer crouched to get her shot, I suddenly saw my father with Nora and Ryan.
They were standing on the far side of the room, with Ryan gesturing animatedly as he spoke.
My father burst out laughing and I almost frowned.
Cliff Pembroke in stitches was not a common sight.
He was a very serious man indeed, not someone who laughed easily at all, and yet, Ryan practically had him doubled over.
Meanwhile, as the photographer kept taking her pictures, I found myself watching Ryan instead of the camera, honestly curious about what he could possibly be saying that my father found so amusing. Whatever it was, it sure looked like a lot more fun over there than it was here.
My heart gave a little pang, but then Daniel murmured against my ear and I remembered that I was not here to ogle a pretty boy from across the room. The man at my side was going to be my husband, so I blinked myself out of my trance instantaneously and looked up at him.
“How big is this magazine?” he asked quietly. “Bride, I mean. Because their photographer isn’t letting up. She’s been all over tonight.”
I shrugged but managed to offer him a small smile. “They’re pretty big, and apparently, they’re interested in doing a full profile of our wedding. I think she just wants to make sure she covers every angle.
Daniel sighed when she scooted only a couple inches forward before lifting her camera again. “We must make a pretty couple.”
“Yeah. It looks like it,” I agreed, suddenly realizing that this was the longest conversation we’d had all night. It was a little awkward, though. Stilted.
He gave me a polite smile and I gave him one back, but then we turned to face her again, both of us playing our parts perfectly.
We went in opposite directions as soon as Annie wandered away, though.
For just a second, I watched Daniel disappear into the crowd, his broad shoulders quickly swallowed by the swarm of tuxedo-wearing men around the bar.
It was still a little surreal to think that he was becoming my husband tomorrow, but instead of going after him and trying to spend some more time together, I went to join Ryan, my father, and Nora, curious about what they were talking about.
As I crossed the room, however, my dad saw me coming and immediately dropped the conversation, his expression changing as I reached them. “Maggie.”
I smiled. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Ryan and I were just discussing how fortunate this arrangement is for both families.”
My stomach plummeted, but I kept the smile on my lips. “Of course.”
“A Pembroke and a Hawthorne is an excellent match. There is considerable strength in bringing our families together.”
I nodded, feeling Ryan glance at me, but when I looked back at him, his attention was already back on my father. Almost like he’d never even looked at me at all.
“It certainly is a great match, Cliff,” he agreed. “Very sensible. It’s going to do amazing things for both companies.”
My dad nodded enthusiastically. “Our future is brighter than ever.”
Good Lord, why am I starting to feel like I walked into a shareholders meeting? My fingers tightened around my champagne glass when I realized it felt that way. At its core, that was what this was, except I was the stock that was increasing the companies’ value.
Suddenly, I needed air. Or stronger alcohol. Or both.
Yeah, definitely both.
When I glanced around for the nearest exit, Ryan noticed, but my father didn’t, still talking like he was congratulating himself for making such a good match. Nora hung on his every word, smiling and nodding like she was learning from the master, but Ryan suddenly pulled out his phone.
“I’m sorry.” He looked at the screen for a moment, studying whatever notification had just come through with the kind of intensity that suggested personal correspondence with the president.
Then he looked up again. “Can I borrow Maggie for a second? This is the videographer who’ll be here for the wedding tomorrow.
There are a few things she needs to confirm with Maggie tonight. ”
Oh my gosh. He’s lying. I’ve already spoken to the videographer, but Ryan Thayer is giving me an out.
My father looked at me but inclined his head toward Ryan. “You’d better go find out what she needs, sweetheart. I’ll see you later.”
Ryan smiled, gently touching my elbow as he started moving backward. “I’ll catch up with you again later, Cliff.”
My father nodded, but he was already turning back toward Nora, loudly asking about her plans for the rest of her sons as Ryan dragged me away. I went willingly, following him through a set of glass doors and between two cabanas overlooking the dark gardens.
Once we were safely away from the party, he stopped and spun to face me. “Go.”
“Excuse me?”
“Just go, Maggie. Collect yourself and calm down before the big day tomorrow.”
I stared up at him, his blue eyes almost a silvery kind of transparent in this light. “What will you tell them?”
He shrugged. “You’re fine, right? You just needed a minute, so you headed to bed early to get your beauty sleep before the early start in the morning.”
“Right,” I said slowly. “I know you faked that message from the videographer, by the way. I’ve already dealt with everyone who will be bringing a camera anywhere near this place.”
He smirked. “You can thank me later, but for now, just go before someone sends out a search party. Do whatever you need to do, Maggie. As long as you make sure you don’t make that face again tomorrow.”
“What face?”
“The one you were making while your father was bragging about this match.”
I sighed. “Was it that obvious?”
“Yes.”
Finally, I nodded, looking away from him to plan an escape route back to my room that didn’t involve setting foot near the party. “Thanks, Ryan.”
“It was nothing.” He shrugged. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow,” I murmured quietly, then turned and started walking, trying hard not to think about the fact that the tomorrow in question was my wedding day.
When I reached the corner of the cabana, I glanced back at him over my shoulder again, but this time, he wasn’t watching me walk away. He was already striding in the opposite direction, his long legs actively putting more and more distance between us.
The sudden surge of disappointment I felt about it gave me pause. Why do I care that he didn’t look back at all?
Honestly, I didn’t know, but it was slightly worrying that the feeling lasted until long after I’d gotten back to my room.