Page 19 of The Best Man Problem
Oh dear, she felt a headache coming on. Setting her binder in her lap, she removed her glasses, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Moira, please, whatever you do, do not call the ring bearer a ‘punk ass’ in front of any member of the wedding party.”
Mo laughed. “Oh, come on, like I would ever do anything like that. You worry too much, Lil.”
She worried just the right amount, thank you very much. It was her roommate and business partner who didn’t worry enough. Mo believed everyone was good—even punk-ass kids—and all would turn out right in the end no matter what. Her poor, delusional friend wouldn’t believe she was going to drown even if someone strapped a cement block to her legs and pushed her into the Platte River.
“Just—” The chime above the shop door rang out. Lilly glanced over her shoulder to see Kenneth stepping in the front door, a group of men shuffling behind him. “Be nice.”
Mo scrunched her nose in confusion. “I’m always nice.”
True, but the woman had a snarky sense of humor not appreciated by everyone. It was why Lilly handled most of the customer-facing tasks while Pru handled the finances and Mo worked with vendors. But with a group this large, she needed backup.
Liar! You want Mo here so you don’t jump Lincoln’s fine bod again.
What the—? Where had that thought come from? It certainly hadn’t sounded like her. Sounded more like her sunny, snarky roommate. But the other woman had already stood and was stepping toward the approaching men with a huge smile on her face.
“Welcome to your tux fitting, gentlemen. I’m Moira Rossi, and this is Lilly Walsh, and we are two-thirds of Mile High Happiness. We can’t wait to get you all looking devilishly handsome for Kenneth and Marie’s big day.”
Thankfully, her business partner had heeded Lilly’s warning and turned on the charm. Every pair of eyes in the shop focused on Mo with rapt attention.
All but one.
Lilly glanced to the right of the groom to see Lincoln standing just behind Kenneth. His pale hazel eyes locked onto her with a singular focus that made shivers break out across her skin. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, eyes heating as she stared back, helpless to break the contact. He said something to Kenneth, and the groom nodded with a smile.
What was she doing?
Her client was here with his wedding party for a fitting she arranged—okay, Mo arranged it, but whatever—and here she sat, drooling like a dog over the hot best man.
Get a grip, Lilly, and do your job, not the groomsman.
Pasting a smile on her face, she rose from her seat and crossed over to the group.
“Kenneth, how are your nerves? Getting excited? Anxious? No cold feet?” She added a small laugh to the last part, but it was surprising how many people cracked when asked that question, even in jest. It helped save a doomed wedding a time or two. A handy tool in her arsenal in making sure their weddings went off without a hiccup.
The groom’s smile widened, his entire face lighting up. “Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting for this day for years. February can’t come fast enough in my opinion. I just hope Marie doesn’t come to her senses and realize she’s too good for me before we say ‘I do.’”
Lincoln nudged his friend with his shoulder. “That’s what I’ve been saying for years, man. She’s way too good for you.”
“Ass,” Kenneth muttered with a smile, shoving him back.
The rest of the men laughed along, commenting on the happy couple, the fathers of the bride and groom sharing sweet stories of when the two first called home about each other.
“They’re actually quite perfect for each other.”
Lilly started as the deep voice filled her ear. She glanced to her side to see Lincoln standing not a foot away. How the hell had he moved over to her side without her noticing? The man should wear a bell or something.
“Kenneth and Marie,” he continued as she stared at him. “They’ve been through hell and come out stronger than ever.”
“I know.”
His brow raised. “You do?”
She nodded. “Marie told me about her…illness. It must have taken quite a toll.”
“It did. On all of us.” His smile slipped, gaze turning back to focus on his friend. “I’m not gonna lie, it sucked to know she was fighting so hard and there was nothing any of us could do. I thought poor Kenneth would need a new pair of feet with all the pacing he did in hospital waiting rooms.”
The three were close. Best friends. She’d forgotten that Marie’s cancer battle not only affected her fiancé but her friends as well. Poor Lincoln. She couldn’t imagine what she would do if Mo or Pru ever got deathly ill. Watching Pru in labor had been bad enough.
Heart aching for him and the entire situation, she squeezed his hand gently. “But she’s better now.”
