Page 21 of The Best Man Problem
That was a little cynical. “Yes, a payday is nice, but I want all my clients to be happy. When extenuating circumstance dictates, we’ve helped couples cancel their nuptials, sometimes at a loss to us. People shouldn’t suffer just so others can make a living. Then there are the couples we have to hold our tongues around, the ones who go through with things even when they shouldn’t. They think they know what they want even if everyone else can see the disaster ahead.”
A dark pain filled his eyes, so sharp it took her breath away for a moment.
“Yeah, I guess some people just can’t see the truth sometimes.”
No, they couldn’t. A very true statement, and one that spoke of past experience, perhaps? A painful one, if she were a betting woman. Which she was not.
“So.” He shook his head, the dark expression dissipating. “You’re pretty good at spotting the disasters?”
For everyone else? Yes. For herself? Not a chance.
“It’s my job,” she answered with a smile.
“Hmm.”
He nodded, his eyes searching hers, seeking out truths she was in no way ever going to reveal to him.
Not a chance, buddy. We were one and done. Body-baring only. No soul reveals for you.
“My personal life is another matter.”
Dammit, brain! What did I just say?
How did this man throw her so off-kilter? Did he have a magic penis that cast a confusion spell on her when they had sex or something?
“Really?” He chuckled. “Do tell.”
Not for a million dollars.
Adjusting her glasses, she stepped back. “Excuse me, Mr. Reid, but I have some important wedding issues I need to discuss with the groom. I’m sure Mr. Tanaka will be ready to start your tux fitting soon.”
With what she hoped passed for a polite smile, she turned and hightailed it over to Kenneth, who was speaking with Mo about the wedding colors.
“Marie wanted our fathers’ vests to be a different color than the groomsmen’s,” Kenneth said as she approached.
“We can do that,” Mo agreed. “Did you two have a specific color in mind?”
The groom shrugged. “Whatever goes with green and lavender.”
Lilly stepped to his side. “How about silver? It’s subtle enough not to overpower the primary colors and will give a classic, regal feel to the patriarchs of your families.”
Kenneth smiled. “Yeah, silver. It’s perfect. Man, I am so glad we hired you, Lilly. I wish you could manage the coffee shop, too.”
She gave a soft laugh. “I probably wouldn’t be as effective at solving coffee crises.”
He laughed with her before being called over by Mr. Tanaka to approve the first of the selected tuxes. Lincoln had taken up a conversation with the fathers, leaving Mo and Lilly in relative isolation.
“You and Lincoln looked pretty chummy over there.” Mo waggled her eyebrows. “What were you talking about?”
“Wedding stuff.”
“Really? Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
She sighed. “That doesn’t even make sense, Mo.”
“It does if you have a sense of humor.”
Crass, but not entirely untrue. There may have been a past boyfriend or two who accused Lilly of being a stick-in-the-mud. Excuse her for taking life as seriously as it was. Besides, she knew how to have fun. She had a sense of humor. It was just hard for her to let her hair down. She had a business to run.
