I Thee Wed (Wedding Dreams) (4 page)

Out of nowhere I feel a slap
across my left cheek.
Son of a bitch.
She
fucking hit me!

I take a deep breath and step
back. Hitting a woman is wrong, even if she is bat-shit crazy. I get control of
my
emotions,
look her in the eye, and say, “Leave now
and I won’t call the police.”

She stares for what seems like
forever, turns, and gets in her car. She drives out of my driveway so fast I’m
sure she leaves tire marks on the pavement. I can’t believe this is the way my
evening is ending. I head inside to find a scotch before going to bed.

Chapter
4

Lily

When I get to work the next day,
I know I have to talk to Sierra. I need to let her know what’s going on because
I’m going to need her help putting it together. She’s going to freak out, but I
hope she’ll calm down quickly, and help me figure things out.

I get to the shop first, like
always, and get the doors unlocked and the lights turned on. I boot up my
laptop and try to get a handle on the schedule for this week and the weekend.
We have the Perry wedding, which will hopefully go better than the last one we
did. At least the bride is a nice girl who doesn’t complain a lot or make a ton
of demands. I’ll be going to the rehearsal dinner this time, just to make sure
things go smoothly. Not that I don’t trust Sierra, but I just feel better when
I have some control.

Sierra breezes in about a half
hour after we officially opened, but she has caffeine so I can’t be too upset
with her. It’s only ten thirty in the morning, but I feel like I’ve been hit by
a truck. I’ve got to wake up and get some things done.

“So, what do we have on the
agenda this week, Lil?” Sierra asks while gulping down her coffee.

“I was just checking the plans
for the Perry wedding. The rehearsal is Friday at six at the church and the
dinner follows at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. The reservations have been
confirmed as of last week. The wedding is set for Saturday at four, with the
reception at the Country Club. The caterers and decorators can get in the
reception site at eight in the morning to start their work. The church will be
open at nine for the florist to get things arranged.” I continue to look at my
screen when I feel Sierra move next to me. She’s looking at the computer, too.
Now’s my chance to tell her.

“But there’s something else we
need to discuss,” I say, turning to look her in the eye. I stall for a moment
by taking a slow drink of my coffee. As I open my mouth to tell her about Drew and
the wedding, the front door of the shop opens.

“I’ll take care of this one. You
go ahead and finish your coffee and then we’ll chat.” I make my way up to the
front of the shop to greet our customer.

The woman is in her mid-thirties,
I’d guess. She’s dressed in a form-fitting taupe coat dress with simple heels.
She’s pretty, but not gorgeous or anything. I hope she’s in the market for a
wedding planner since she is around the age of most brides who walk in here.

“Welcome to Wedding Dreams. What
can I help you with this morning?” I greet her warmly.

She turns to me coldly and asks,
“Do you know Lily Kramer?”
Uh, what the fuck?

“I’m Lily Kramer. Can I help
you?” I’ve never seen this person in my life and I have no idea why she’s
looking like she wants to kill me. I try to stand up straight and don’t let my
nerves show.

“Do you know Drew Hamilton?” She
glares at me. Unfortunately, I’m a few inches shorter so this gives her the
advantage of being a bit intimidating.

I’m not sure what to say, but I’m
sure my face has already given her the answer she expected.

“Yes, I know Mr. Hamilton. Who
are you?” I go for a sweet approach, maybe that’ll get rid of this icy
demeanor.

“I’m his fiancée and I want to
know why you’re planning to marry him!” She’s almost shouting now.

Fuck
. I didn’t see
this coming, but I shouldn’t be surprised. I know nothing about Drew, his past,
or his dating history. But, come to think of it, I haven’t told anyone about
his proposal. Who did he tell?

“I’m not sure what you’re talking
about.” I try for nonchalance, hoping that’ll calm her down.

She shoots daggers at me with her
eyes and then looks me up and down. I’m an insecure woman so I feel like I
should straighten my clothes or something.

“I saw Drew this weekend and he
told me he’s marrying YOU! I don’t understand why he’s doing this to me. We’ve
been together for YEARS. Who the
fuck are
you?” By now
she’s screaming, her spit hitting me in the face. Sierra has come from the back
and is staring at both of us with her mouth hanging open. I just want the floor
to open and swallow me up.

Taking a step back from this
woman who is obviously unstable, I say, “Look, I have no idea who you are and
how you know Drew. I also don’t want to talk to you about this. I am going to
have to ask you to leave my shop or I’ll call the cops and have you removed.”
My voice is shaking, but I try to stand up straight and look authoritative.

“Listen, you bitch. You will
NEVER marry Drew. He is MINE and I will do everything I can to stop this
wedding from happening.” Thankfully, after she finishes screaming, she turns
and walks out of the shop. I take a deep breath as my knees start to give out.
I take hold of the wall and use it to guide myself to the floor. Sierra comes
and sits down next to me.

“What the fuck was that? Why was
she talking about you getting married?” She looks like she’s about to cry.

I take a deep breath, trying to
slow my heart rate and to put my thoughts together to explain this to Sierra.

“There’s something I need to talk
to you about. I need your advice and help but I also need you to keep this
quiet. Can you do that?” Sierra nods her head. I take a deep breath before I
start telling her what happened last week. I leave out the parts about sex in
the church garden and in our dressing room. There are some things Sierra just
doesn’t need to know.

After I finish my tale, Sierra
just stares. She opens her mouth and closes it without saying anything. I allow
her time to process what I’ve said. She finally seems to comprehend things and
says, “So, Drew wants to have a wedding to make his mother happy, but he
doesn’t expect you to make it legal. He wants you to live like you’re married
to keep up appearances for his mother who is going senile. Is that right?”

I look down at my hands and
slowly nod. Hearing it come out of someone else’s mouth makes it sound even
crazier than it did in my head.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I can’t do
this. I don’t know this guy. Sure, I’ve had sex with him twice, but that
doesn’t really count as knowing someone, even if it was really hot.

“That’s it. What do I do now,
Sierra? I don’t think I’ll ever meet someone who wants to marry me for real.
Drew is rich, he lives in a huge house, he’s a nice guy and he obviously loves
his mother.”

“You’re right about the loving his
mother part. I mean, who does this? It’s kind of fucked up.”

I smile when she says this
because that’s exactly what I said to Drew the night he first proposed.

“It is, isn’t it?” I can’t help
but giggle. Then I can’t stop laughing, and I fall over on the floor, clutching
my stomach and laughing hysterically until tears are falling out of my eyes and
I’m afraid I’m going to wet myself.

“I’m glad you see the humor in
this, Lily, but what are you going to do? Your mother is going to completely
freak out. She’s been waiting to see you in a long white dress since you were
little. I don’t think she’d care if it’s legal or not, as long as she gets to
be the mother-of-the-bride.”

That thought sobers me quickly.
My mother is the queen of all things that will make her look good to her
friends. She’ll be flaunting this to her bridge club for all eternity, her only
daughter married to a rich attorney and living in a mini-mansion. Oh, God. This
is a nightmare.

“I know that, Sierra. I’m
thinking maybe I won’t tell her?” I know this is unrealistic, but maybe it
could work.

It’s Sierra’s turn to laugh
hysterically. “Right, Lily, and
I’m
going to turn into
Kim
Kardashian
right now.”

She’s right. There is no getting away
with this without my mother finding out. I can think about that later, now I
have to deal with that fucking lunatic that just left my shop. I need answers
from Drew and I intend to get them. I haul my ass off the floor and get my cell
phone and send Drew a text asking if he can have lunch today. I don’t want to
wait for my answers, but I don’t want to discuss the situation on the phone. He
responds immediately with a place and time to meet. I need to get my thoughts
together so I tell Sierra to watch the front while I work on writing out my
questions.

*
* *

I pull into the parking lot at
the small, family-owned Italian restaurant Drew suggested. I’ve been here a few
times and know the food is amazing. Taking a deep breath, I jump out of my car.
Clicking the lock button I walk toward the restaurant as I look for Drew’s
Cadillac, but don’t see it anywhere.

The wonderful smell of garlic
greets me as I open the door to the quaint eatery. I’m already thinking about
the lasagna and garlic bread when I spot Drew at a corner table. I stop in my
tracks.
God, he’s gorgeous.
Another deep breath and I will my feet to
move again. I’m a woman on a mission, and I can’t forget that.

Drew stands up as I approach the
table. He pulls the chair out for me and kisses my cheek.
Can he be any
sweeter?

“I’m so glad you texted me. I was
hoping to see you again soon.” He’s smiling and I know he means it.

“
Me
too,
Drew. I have some things to talk to you about.” I try to keep the edge out of
my voice. I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I look down at the menu while Drew
sits back. I have the menu memorized, but I need to take a moment to calm down.

The waitress comes and we order.
Once she leaves, I
fold
my hands in my lap and look
up at Drew. He’s smiling, looking so wonderful and relaxed.

“I have some questions for you,
Drew. I hope you’ll be honest with me.” Probably not the best way to start, but
I’m not really known for my tact in these
kind
of
situations.

“Anything you want to ask is
fine, Lily. I’m an open book.”

“I had a visitor at the shop this
morning, a woman who claims you’re engaged to her. She also said she’d do
anything she could to stop this wedding.
Wanna
tell
me about her?”

Drew isn’t looking as relaxed
now. He sits forward and fidgets with his fork. The waitress comes back with
our waters, sets them down, and quickly walks away. I’m thankful because I
really need an answer.

“Did she give you a name?” He
looks really nervous now.

“No, she was too busy screaming
about how she was your fiancée and you had been together forever. Care to
enlighten me on this?” I’m really trying not to get upset, but it’s becoming
more difficult.

Drew takes a breath. “Can you
tell me what she looked like?”

Seriously?
He doesn’t know
who this bitch is, and he needs a description? How many women does he have
waiting for him to pop the question? This is a mistake.

“Are you kidding me? You don’t
know who this woman is? She had dark hair, angry brown eyes, she was a few
inches taller than me, and she was
pissed
. Does that narrow down your
pool of women to marry?” Well, so much for not getting upset.

“Sorry, I know I sound like a
dick. That sounds like Brandy. I promise you, Lily, I’m not involved with her.
We had a few nights together a while back but that was it. I haven’t seen her
for over a month. She was waiting in my driveway when I got home last night,
wanting to hook up, and I told her you and I
are
getting married. I should have told you, but I really didn’t think she’d go
psycho on you like that.”

“So, you’re not engaged to her?”
I really hope he’s being honest with me because, real wedding or not, I don’t
need this drama.

“No, Lily. The only woman I’m
engaged to is you.” He smiles that panty-melting smile and I’m lost. I trust
him. I just hope he can do something about Brandy.

“What about her threatening to
sabotage the wedding? How are you going to deal with that?” Yes, I put it back
on him. She’s his problem, not mine.

“I’ll deal with Brandy. I promise
you. I hope that isn’t the only reason you wanted to have lunch with me.”

I decide not to tell him it was
the only reason. I’m not that much of a bitch, I hope.

“No, I thought we should probably
discuss the plans for the wedding and our living situation. You haven’t given
me much direction on how you want this all to work so maybe we should talk
about it.”

The waitress brings the yummy
lasagna and garlic bread and I dig in. I’m not one of those women who
feels
like she has to pick at her food to impress a man. I’m
hungry and I’m going to eat.
To hell with him if he doesn’t
like it.