Beach Wedding Weekend Page 16

  Jacob handed the microphone to his wife. “Lanterns are lined up along the water. Choose one and write a wish for the wedding couple on one side and a wish for yourself on the other. When everyone is finished, we’ll light the candles and send them floating up into eternity.”

  All along the shore, just above where the waves rolled to a stop, the white paper lanterns were set out in a neat line with three or four feet between each one. The band played softly while each of the guests spread out to claim one. Paige leaned on Aiden’s shoulder and limped down the beach. Since it took them longer, they had to walk all the way to the last ones.

  It was darker and quieter down here. The light from the tiki torches and twinkle lights strung around the party area faded away, and laughter that had surrounded them on the dance floor drifted out to sea. Down here, at the end, the sound of the waves became more predominant.

  “Tonight has been magical. The Merricks have outdone themselves.” Paige picked up the lantern and examined the blank paper sides.

  “It’s Jacob’s goal to outdo everyone.” His voice sounded jaded, and even though his attention was on his lantern, he had the same worried expression he got when they were talking about the restaurant deal. Something was bothering him.

  She looked up at him, studying his expression in the moonlit darkness. “Is everything going okay with the investors?”

  He fiddled with the candle in his lantern, his jaw tight, seemingly lost in thought. Then he looked up and his expression softened.

  “It’s great. But let’s not talk about business. Tonight is about Georgia and Lane. What do you wish for them?”

  Paige pulled off the marker that was attached to the top of the lantern and tapped it against her chin. “Not sure. It needs to be something as amazing as they are.”

  “Live long and prosper?” He offered.

  “Hummm. Maybe something a little more encouraging.”

  “May the force be with you.”

  She tried to give him a stern look, but she couldn’t help but crack a smile. “How about something more optimistic?”

  “To infinity and beyond.”

  This time she giggled. “You’re hopeless.” She stared out over the water and thought.

  “Oh, I got it.” She pulled the cap off the marker with her teeth and wrote out the beautiful wish, pausing to make sure she got the wording just right. When she finished, she looked up.

  Aiden was watching her with an expression she could only describe as adoring and it made her pulse quicken.

  “What?”

  “After all the weddings you’ve had to attend, you still treat every one of them as if they’re the most special.”

  “Every wedding is the most special. There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing a couple promise their forevers to each other in front of their friends and family.” Her heart swelled at the thought of it. “Getting to be part of it, no matter the role, is an honor.”

  “You want to read me what you wrote?”

  Paige reread the words she’d written on her lantern and shook her head. “No. These words are just for them.”

  She looked up and met his intense gaze, and he took a step closer. She swallowed hard in an attempt to keep her surging emotions under control.

  “What kind of wish do you have for yourself?” His low, deep voice reverberated through her and it felt like there was a magnetic force pulling her closer to him, perhaps even back into his arms. She took a tiny step closer, not sure how much longer she could fight it.

  “I can’t tell you. If I do, then it won’t come true.”

  She wanted to focus on his eyes or his hair or the collar of his shirt. Really, she would’ve settled for looking at anything that could’ve fallen in the friendly category. Since that was what they were. Friends.

  Instead, the only thing she could focus on was the way his crooked grin caused her heart to do flip-flops. The magnetic pull strengthened and she positioned her lantern between them in case she lost the battle with it.

  “I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.” He waggled his eyebrows. She was overcome with the desire to kiss him, to be kissed by him. To be lost in his embrace. She had to grip the lantern with both hands to keep herself from moving.

  “Nope. Doesn’t work that way. Wishes are very particular.”

  Aiden shrugged and turned his focus to his lantern. “Just offering.”

  Brody. This whole weekend, the only reason she was standing here with Aiden, was to get back what she had with Brody. Her wish was for a happily ever after with Brody. Wasn’t it?

  She turned her lantern over and stared at the blank space where her wish was to go. There was only one thing that needed to go in that space. In her heart of hearts, she’d known all along what she wanted to write there. Excitement sparkled through her as she scribbled the words across the paper.

  “It must be a good wish,” he said.

  “It is.” The thought of it made her overflow with joy. She hugged the lantern against her chest, guarding the words and clinging with all her might to the last thing standing between her and Aiden. The magic of the night had cast a spell over her, one so powerful she couldn’t resist it.

  “Your turn,” she said. “You have to write your wish.”

  He pulled the cap off with his teeth, then his gaze turned away from her for the first time during this whole conversation. She’d hoped it would break the force pulling her into him, or at the very least lessen it. Instead it strengthened.

  He wrote without hesitation but only a few letters, maybe three or four. His gaze returned to hers and remained locked on her as he put the cap back on the pen. The heat in the air between them sizzled all the way through her.

  “You didn’t write much.” She could hardly breathe.

  “Didn’t need to.” His smirk made it look as if he knew a secret. One she was dying to know. She swallowed hard, again.

  “More movie quotes?”

  He shook his head. “Can’t tell. Wishes are very particular.”

  She was in trouble. Alone, on a dark beach with nothing but two paper lanterns stopping her from finding out exactly what it would feel like to kiss Aiden Pierce.

  “Can I light your candles?” The assistant wedding director appeared beside her, holding up a candle lighter. Both of them turned to looked at her. Paige couldn’t decide if she was thankful for the distraction or if she should tell her to walk away, immediately.

  “Light her up.” Aiden held his lantern out to her.

  “Hold on to them until we get everyone lit. We’ll do a big countdown and launch at the same time.”

  Paige nodded her understanding and glanced down the beach to see the wedding coordinator lighting the lanterns at the other end where most of her friends had ended up. Slowly the beach began to glow.

  Jacob’s voice over the microphone broke the silence as he counted down from five. Paige took a step closer to the water in preparation to launch.

  Four.

  The cool waves washed over her toes and her feet sunk in the sand. For the first time, she didn’t care if her sandals got wet. In fact, there was only one thing she did care about right now.

  Three.

  Aiden stepped up next to her. Close enough that his shoulder grazed hers in a way that sent shivers through her whole body.

  Two.

  As hard as she tried, she couldn’t keep her focus on her lantern. She had to look at him. His gaze burned through her, the magnetic pull strengthening to the point where she couldn’t resist it any more.

  One.

  They mouthed the words in unison. Her eyes stayed locked with his. They held out their lanterns. A gentle ocean breeze blew through her hair, skimming over her skin. With a slight toss upwards, she took her hands off of her wish. Aiden did the same. The heat from the candles and the sea breeze lifted the lan
terns up and into the night.

  All along the beach, the lanterns floated out over the waves, twinkling against the dark sky. The soft music from the band drifted around them. The whole scene seemed to be out of a dream, especially whatever was happening between her and the man standing next to her.

  Aiden slid his hand around her waist. It was warm and confident. Without the lanterns, there was nothing standing between them now, not that it mattered. The force pulling her to him was so strong there wasn’t anything that could stop it. She took a tiny sidestep closer to him.

  He turned to face her, his eyes searching hers.

  “What an amazing sight.”

  She couldn’t say for sure if he was referring to the view of the flickering lanterns floating into the darkness or if he was talking about her. What she did know for sure was that while the night sky was nice, the sight she was enamored with was the man standing in front of her.

  Aiden slid his free hand behind her neck and his thumb gently caressed her cheek. Exhilaration shot through her. He was going to kiss her. She leaned into him and closed her eyes in eager expectation of his lips pressing against hers. Maybe wishes did come true.

  “Paige.”

  The sound of her name coming from behind her jarred her back to reality, forcing her eyes open. Startled, she stepped away from him and turned to the voice. Aiden caressed the side of her cheek with his thumb one last time before he pulled his hand away. As if by reflex her hand covered her lips, which were still tingling with anticipation.

  She turned to see that Ciera was walking toward them with Jacob Merrick on her heels. Paige hoped she didn’t have the guilty look of a kid with her hand in the cookie jar. Although in this particular situation, her hand had never actually been in the cookie jar and she wished she could shoo away the intruders so she could finish what she started.

  Or maybe it was a good thing they were interrupted before they got carried away. This was only a fake relationship, after all. The only reason she was even standing in this spot with tingling lips and surging emotions was because of her wish to be kissing Brody again. Right?

  “Georgia’s ready to head back. She wants to get plenty of rest before tomorrow.” Ciera’s questioning look went from Paige to Aiden and back to Paige.

  “Right. Let’s go, then.” She had every intention of walking away from Aiden, but her feet didn’t move. Perhaps it was because the cool waves felt so good against her ankles and she liked the way her toes felt sunk down in the soft, wet sand. But more than likely, it was because standing next to Aiden just felt right. So right, she wasn’t sure she wanted to leave.

  “It’s pretty dark out here. Why don’t I drive the four of you back?” Aiden offered.

  “Actually, I just invited the investors up for a nightcap at our house. I need you to get them started while I finish up here.” Jacob shot Aiden a look that left little room for questioning.

  “Georgia wants to walk back anyway. One last time for us all to be together.” Ciera’s voice might have sounded sweet, but she gave Jacob a look that said no one bossed her brother around like that. Except for maybe her.

  “That works out, then.” Aiden lightly kissed Paige’s cheek. It wasn’t exactly the kind of kiss she’d been hoping for, but it sent electricity racing through her anyway. She needed this long, moonlit walk on the quiet beach to help break whatever spell she was under.

  “Be safe,” he said to Paige, then he turned his gaze to his sister. “And Cici, text me when you get there.”

  He took three large steps until he was away from Paige and standing next to Jacob. “Let’s go pour some drinks.”

  Jacob slapped him on the shoulder, looking quite pleased with himself, and they headed up the beach to the stairs. Paige walked with Ciera along the shore to where their friends were waiting for them.

  “Looks like you and my brother are taking your roles seriously.”

  “Trying to make it look authentic.” Paige avoided looking directly at her best friend, the one person who was able to tell if she was hiding something. Not that she was hiding anything.

  “That’s good, because you know Aiden doesn’t do commitments. Like, ever.”

  “I know,” Paige said, forcing herself not to glance over her shoulder in his direction. The excitement of tonight still pulsed through her.

  “I mean, I love my brother and all, but the guy never even had a favorite stuffed animal growing up.”

  “Yep, he always says he likes to keep his options open.” She tried to bring herself back to reality, to remember that she was walking on the sand and not in the clouds, but she couldn’t help it. Being around Aiden filled her with the kind of joy that made her feel buoyant and she wasn’t quite ready to come down.

  “His average relationship lasts one date. He’s the king of keeping things casual, if it even gets that far.”

  “Mm-hmm,” Paige agreed. Of course she knew Aiden kept things casual, but tonight hadn’t felt casual. The way he looked at her tonight and the way her spirit soared when she was in his arms felt real. It felt like it could’ve been the beginning of something that could last. Maybe…

  “Forever isn’t in his vocabulary,” Ciera continued.

  Forever. The words Paige wrote on her lantern flashed into her mind. A heaviness tugged at her chest, forcing her back to reality. Of course Aiden didn’t do forever. Everyone who knew him could testify to that. One great evening wasn’t going to change that, regardless of what was or wasn’t written on a wish lantern.

  “Ciera, I know.” Paige said the words more forcefully this time, but she had a feeling the frustration in her voice was meant more for herself than for her friend.

  Ciera stopped walking and faced Paige. Her voice was gentle and understanding. “My brother is a great guy, but he makes a really lousy boyfriend.” She laid her hand on Paige’s arm, a look of genuine concern written all over her face. “You’re my best friend, and I know the kind of all-in relationship you’re looking for. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  Paige let her friend’s concern wash over her, hoping it would dull her aching disappointment. So maybe Paige had allowed herself to get a little carried away. Twinkle lights and slow dances sometimes had that effect.

  “We’re just friends,” she said. Friends who, perhaps, had gotten a little caught up in the romance of a wedding. But absolutely nothing more.

  Chapter Thirteen

  If any of them were still floating on the elation from the rehearsal dinner the night before, it was quickly squashed as soon as Georgia’s phone rang at exactly nine a.m. the next morning.

  Paige hadn’t paid any attention to the phone conversation, as she assumed it was some well-wisher calling to offer happy sentiments on the morning of her big day. It wasn’t until Georgia hung up that anyone realized there was a problem.

  After she clicked off, Georgia sat motionless in her chair. She stared straight ahead, her face void of any expression, and she clutched her phone in her hand.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” Ciera asked.

  “The hairstylist has food poisoning,” she reported. “She can’t come.”

  The whole balcony got quiet for a second as they all considered this news. Ciera and Hadley both looked to Paige with wide-eyed, worried expressions.

  “I know that’s a disappointment, but we’ll find a way to fix it.” It was Paige’s wedding planner tagline for any problem that came up. She delivered it with the same calm confidence she used with all her brides, only this time it took a lot more effort. Georgia wasn’t just any bride, she was one of Paige’s best friends. Her wedding deserved to be more perfect than any other Paige had been a part of.

  “She was supposed to be here in four hours.” Tears were starting to well up in Georgia’s eyes.

  “That’s plenty of time,” Paige added. So maybe plenty was a stretch, but they still had some tim
e, which was positive. “We’ll figure this out.”

  Ciera sprang into action. “Absolutely. Paige is the best at this kind of stuff. You have nothing to worry about.” She took Georgia’s phone from her hands and laid it on the table before she wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “Why don’t you go take a long, hot shower. By the time you’re done, we’ll have a new plan.”

  “I guess a shower was next on my list,” Georgia muttered. She reluctantly pushed her chair away from the round patio table on the balcony. “You sure you’ve got this?” She looked at Paige with pleading eyes.

  “Of course she’s got this, and Hadley’s here to help her. Have you ever seen Hadley on one of her job sites when a contractor hasn’t gotten his job done? The woman doesn’t take no for an answer. She always gets her projects completed on time.” Ciera opened the sliding glass door and waited for Georgia to go in before her. “I have total confidence in those two.”

  Hadley waited until the door closed behind Georgia and Ciera before she turned to Paige. “I don’t have confidence in us. Making sure my cabinet guy gets his installs done on time is not even in the same ball park as finding a new hair and makeup person. Tell me you have a plan.”

  Paige chewed on her lip, trying not to let her panic take over. “I don’t know anyone in this town. No one here owes me any favors.”

  “So what do we do?”

  Paige picked up her phone and started tapping. “Google every hairstylist in town and hope we can find someone who’s available.”

  After thirty minutes and more than twenty names, Paige waited for Hadley to finish up her conversation with the last stylist on their list.

  “Any luck?” she asked when Hadley clicked off.

  Hadley shook her head and drew a line through that name. “Nope. Looks like our only maybe was the one who could fit her in at three if we drove to her salon that’s forty-five minutes away. Georgia would be late to her own wedding.” She tossed the pen on the table and leaned back in her chair with a frustrated huff. “How are you at doing hair?”

  Paige buried her face in her hands. “This is a disaster.”