Page 18 of Bridesmaid for Hire
I freeze, thinking about it. “Shit, you’re right, for the wedding guests. Which means they probably have a guest list.”
“A guest list that you’re not on,” Hattie says.
“Ugh, I didn’t even think about that. Man, vacation mode has put me off my game.” I keep walking toward the Lanai Bar, wanting to at least get a peek at the festivities. “Do you think I can play the old,my name should be on the listgame?”
“Do you ever fall for it when working on your events?”
“Never,” I say, “but who knows, this is paradise, maybe they’re more…” My voice trails off as my eyes connect with a very familiar face.
“You there?” Hattie asks.
“Oh my fucking God,” I whisper as I quickly hide behind a pole in the lobby.
“What?” Hattie asks. “Did you see him? Mr. Hopper? Think he’s looking for a single lady? I know nothing about him. Is he wearing a Speedo?”
“He’s married to a woman named Regina who is the definition of poise and class,” I hiss into the phone. “And no, I didn’t see him, I saw someone else.”
“Who?” Hattie asks.
I peek around the pole again, just to confirm, and sure enough, standing in a cream linen suit, one hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone, is none other than Brody McFadden.
This is exactly why you don’t speak the devil into existence—because he shows up everywhere you go. Just look at him, standing there, all aloof. Is he going to the Hoppers’ party?
He looks like his grandma dressed him for it.
But why would he be going?
And then it hits me.
He works for Hopper.
“What’s going on?” Hattie asks.
I hold the phone close to my ear and whisper, “Brody is here.”
“Brody? Who the hell…wait…nooooooooo.”
“Yes.” I swallow.
“Brody as in…Mr. Make-out-and-Leave?”
“The one and only. He’s in the lobby, outside of the restaurant wearing a cream linen suit that looks ridiculous on him.”
“What shirt is he wearing with it?” Hattie asks.
“White.”
She exhales. “At least it wasn’t pink.”
“Tell me about it. Surprised the douche didn’t grab the pink. That would be something he’d wear.”
“What are the chances that he’d be at the same resort as you at the same time?”
“High,” I say as I squeeze my eyes shut. Unfortunately, very high. “He works for Hopper.”
“Wait, he does?”
I nod, remembering the conversation I had with Gary two weeks ago. “Yeah, Gary called me and said that he thought Brody should settle down and asked if you were still single. He told me that he has a great job with Hopper Industries, but I didn’t think much about it because I was so appalled that he’d even consider asking if you were single.”
