26. Mother of the Bride Energy
Chapter twenty-six
Mother of the Bride Energy
Graham
I knew something was wrong the moment Marco sprinted through the courtyard yelling:
“CODE RED. MATERNAL.”
Guests looked up from poolside cocktails in alarm.
Reasonable response.
I intercepted him near the lobby steps.
“What happened?”
Marco grabbed my arm dramatically.
“Piper’s mother arrived.”
Silence.
Then—
“Oh.”
Marco pointed both hands toward the inn lobby like a man directing traffic away from a natural disaster.
“She’s wearing sequins at noon.”
“That feels ominous.”
“She asked if you prefer champagne or whiskey.”
My soul attempted evacuation.
Excellent.
Just excellent.
Before I could respond, Piper appeared at the top of the front staircase moving at speeds usually associated with emergency weather events.
“Where is she?”
Marco crossed himself emotionally.
“In the lobby. Networking.”
Piper closed her eyes briefly.
“You couldn’t stop her?”
“She called me ‘sweetie’ and touched my face.”
“Fair.”
I had never seen Piper genuinely rattled before.
Stressed? Yes. Exhausted? Frequently.
But this?
This was panic.
Interesting. Deeply concerning. Slightly adorable despite circumstances.
Dangerous thought.
Very dangerous.
Piper grabbed my wrist before I could move.
“Listen to me carefully.”
The intensity in her voice immediately erased all humor.
“Okay.”
“My mother thinks wealth is a personality trait.”
Ah.
That explained several things instantly.
“She is going to flirt with you,” Piper continued rapidly. “Aggressively.”
Marco whispered, “I knew it.”
“She is going to imply I’m practically royalty-adjacent now.”
“Oh no.”
“She once tried to marry a dentist after one cruise conversation.”
“That feels medically unethical.”
Piper pointed at me hard enough to threaten structural integrity.
“You are not allowed to charm her.”
“I’m not sure that’s within my control.”
“Graham.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“That answer sounded suspiciously handsome.”
Before I could defend myself, a loud feminine voice echoed from inside the lobby.
“Well THERE he is.”
Every survival instinct I possessed activated simultaneously.
Piper whispered, “We’re doomed.”
Her mother swept through the lobby entrance like a woman arriving for the season finale of her favorite television show.
Tall. Beautiful in a heavily maintained way. White linen outfit with enough gold jewelry to interfere with satellite signals.
And yes.
Sequins.
At noon.
Also somehow a feathered sunhat that appeared to have diplomatic immunity.
“Graham Mercer,” she purred dramatically. “You are MUCH more attractive than television suggested.”
Oh dear God.
Piper covered her face with one hand.
“Mother.”
“Piper! Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell me the billionaire looked like a romance novel contractor?”
Several nearby guests visibly leaned in harder pretending not to eavesdrop.
Traitors.
Her mother extended perfectly manicured fingers toward me.
“Darlene Bennett.”
I shook her hand cautiously.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Oh honey, I certainly hope so.”
Piper made a sound usually associated with dying wildlife.
“Mother, can I speak to you privately?”
Darlene waved dismissively.
“Nonsense. We’re all adults.” She turned back toward me brightly. “Now tell me immediately whether your intentions toward my daughter are honorable.”
My brain briefly stopped functioning.
Around us, guests openly froze in delighted horror.
Bianca literally materialized near the smoothie station holding iced coffee and emotional investment.
Of course she did.
Piper looked ready to fling herself into the sea.
“Mom.”
“What? It’s a fair question.” Darlene looked me up and down thoughtfully. “You’ve got devastating eye contact. Women have died over less.”
Marco whispered, “She’s kinda iconic.”
Piper pointed at him.
“You stop encouraging this.”
I fought the urge to laugh because Piper’s expression suggested homicide remained on the table.
Darlene linked her arm through Piper’s immediately.
“Honestly darling, this explains so much.”
“It explains nothing.”
“You’ve been weirdly defensive about a maintenance man all week.”
“I was not defensive.”
“You reorganized your curls before breakfast twice.”
Piper went completely still.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Darlene turned triumphantly toward me.
“AHA.”
Piper looked ready to physically evaporate.
“Mother, please stop talking.”
“No. I’m having a wonderful time.”
Bianca raised her smoothie from across the courtyard.
“Same.”
The entire resort had apparently abandoned productivity in favor of watching Piper’s psychological collapse.
Fantastic.
Darlene studied me carefully.
“So.” Her voice softened unexpectedly. “You really love this place, don’t you?”
The question caught me off guard.
Because it was the first thing she’d asked that wasn’t about money.
Not flirtatious now. Not performative.
Real.
I glanced toward the ocean beyond the courtyard.
Azure Palms shimmered beneath the afternoon sun – lanterns swaying gently, waves sparkling blue staff laughing near the cabanas.
Home.
“Yes,” I answered quietly.
Something in my voice must’ve reached her because Darlene’s expression gentled too.
Then she looked at Piper.
And suddenly the performance faded completely.
“Oh,” she said softly.
Piper blinked.
“What?”
Darlene smiled slowly.
“You’re really in love with him.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The entire courtyard seemed to inhale collectively.
Piper froze beside her mother.
My pulse stopped entirely.
Because suddenly the answer mattered. Everyone was looking at Piper.
Waiting.
The breeze moved softly through the palms overhead.
Ocean waves crashed faintly beyond the terrace.
And for one terrifying suspended heartbeat—
Piper’s eyes met mine.
No jokes. No sarcasm. No escape routes.
Just truth.
Raw and frightened and painfully real.
And for the first time, there was nowhere left to hide from it.
Then—
“OH MY GOD SHE IS.”
Bianca shrieked it loud enough to alarm birds.
The courtyard exploded instantly.
Guests gasped. Someone clapped. Marco whispered, “I knew it.”
Piper made a strangled noise of pure horror.
Then turned and walked directly into a decorative palm tree.
Not metaphorically.
Actually physically walked into it.
I lunged forward automatically.
“Piper—”
“I’m fine,” she muttered into the leaves. “I’m just going to live here now.”
The courtyard lost all remaining composure.
And despite the chaos—despite the gossip and attention and complete emotional disaster—
I couldn’t stop smiling.