Boyfriend for Hire (34 page)

Tawny glanced up the stairs as the women started their descent. First would be the bride’s four-year-old niece, who had practiced throwing her flower petals not once, but three times already today. The kid was a pro. She could rent her out by the wedding to other brides and make a killing. The little girl smiled at Tawny and stood next to her mom, waiting her turn. You could see her fingers itching to toss those petals.

“You could be on to something, Felicity. At my brother’s wedding we couldn’t find him right before the ceremony. Turns out he and his fiancée were making out in the bridal room. Those two can’t keep their hands off each of other still, as evidenced by my many nephews and my niece.”

The bridesmaids took their position and off they went, one after the other, right on time. The MOH kissed her friend and stepped out onto the grassy carpet to take her place at the altar. The bundle of cuteness danced her way to the doorway, dug her hand into the basket, and tossed petals straight up into the air. So much for her rent-a-flower girl business. Tawny, Felicity, and the bride all laughed while the flower girl’s mom rushed to her and reminded her to toss the petals on the ground in front of her. The girl nodded, stepped out, and threw a handful at the guests on each side.

The bride stepped up with her dad at her side, dressed in head-to-toe traditional white complete with a veil over her face. She looked up, her gaze trained on the end point, and a slow, dreamy smile graced her face. “I’m ready, Dad.”

Kerri joined her and Felicity to watch the bride meet her groom, but Tawny wasn’t watching the bride anymore. She had her eyes on the groom. Who in turn had his gaze glued on his bride.

She wanted that. A guy who looked at her as if she were his entire world. Until a week ago, she’d thought, yeah, maybe he could be the one. Had hoped he felt the same way. Then he had to go and be a guy and follow his head.

“What?” Phil and a couple of the other NEES employees had joined them to watch the procession of the bride, who now stood in front of the groom.

“When this is over we’re going to head over to the bar and celebrate a job well done. You want to join us? You could invite Dave,” one of the women said.

“Yeah, we haven’t seen Dave since the ball game. Troy has been asking after him,” Kerri chimed in as she ran down her checklist.

“Yeah, Tawny. Invite Dave.” Phil sneered at her.

“Hey.” Felicity stepped into the circle. “Kerri and I could call the guys and Phil can invite his wife and we can make it a party. Dave promised he’d teach me how to play darts.”

They went on and on. Dave this and Dave that. Isn’t Dave great? He’s so fun, and the way he stepped in and helped Mr. Spinelli was amazing. Tawny tried to tune them out and focus on what was going on outside. You know, doing her job.

Felicity sighed next to her. “I love doing weddings. So romantic. Promise me, when you and Dave tie the knot, you’ll let me plan your wedding,” she pleaded.

Oh my gawd. She had to end this now. “There won’t be a wedding,” she said, her voice a breath above a whisper.

“Why not?” Felicity’s perky smile dropped to a shocked gap.

“What?” echoed everyone except Phil.

“It’s over,” she screamed. “It was never real, he was faking it the whole time. It was one big lie and he’s moved on. So no wedding. Not now. Not ever.”

Once the floodgates opened, she couldn’t shut off the emotions or words pouring out of her. “I’m sorry. So, so very sorry we lied to you. I lied to you. But I needed the job after I quit mine at the bank and my former boss blacklisted me because he was afraid word would get around the financial district that he was a douchebag who thinks the only position a woman belongs in is on her knees.”

She took a deep breath and looked at all the dropped jaws and wide-eyed stares and went on. “I didn’t plan on deceiving anyone. It wasn’t my intention, but then Mrs. S was talking about work-life balance, and I have none. Well, I had none before this job, and I was so afraid if I said all I did was work she wouldn’t hire me. So Dave stepped up to pretend to be my boyfriend and then . . .”

“Then what?” Felicity asked, not angry at all, but like a kid sitting in story time.

“I fell for him. I mean, I’d always had a thing for David, but he was kind of a player, so I kept my distance. During these last couple of months, he stole my heart and then I caught him sneaking off with someone else. It’s over.”

Tawny caught Kerri’s gaze as it moved from Tawny to over her shoulder. “Um, Tawny.” She pointed behind Tawny and it hit . . . the wedding.

Oh gawd. She’d just lost it in front of not only her coworkers, but also an entire wedding party. Slowly Tawny turned around to find not just shocked faces or outrage but the bride and groom standing in the doorway. Neither said anything at first and then the bride rushed her. Tawny braced, expecting the petite brunette to slap her, rip her hair out, scream—all of which she deserved. She did not expect to be enveloped in her arms.

The bride pulled back and looked into Tawny’s misty eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” Tawny cried. “I don’t know what came over me. I’ll go now.”

The bride looped her arm through Tawny’s and led her to a bench down the hall away from the others. “Oh, honey, don’t apologize. Y’all just gave all my stuffy soon-to-be in-laws a story to retell for years. As for me and mine, we’re from the South. Crazy’s our middle name.”

Tawny sniffled. “Apparently it’s mine too.”

“Now, I heard what you said about your boyfriend. Honey, if he cheated on you, he’s a fool. You stick around and I’ll introduce you to one of the groomsmen—he’s single and employed. Also, my fiancé said if you need a good lawyer to go after that scum-sucking ex-boss of yours, to give him a call. Y’all just got to wait until we get back from our honeymoon. Now, you go snitch a glass of champagne and I’ll see you during the reception.”

The sweetest woman Tawny ever met got up and met her future husband at the door and together they walked back down the aisle to the cheers and clapping of their guests. Tawny sat for a few minutes to pull it together and dry her eyes. She wanted to walk out the door and never look back, even though the bride said it was okay. Tawny’s face burned. The pit of acid in her stomach threatened to boil over, and she could feel the weight of her coworkers’—soon-to-be former coworkers’—gazes on her. Phil whispered something to one of them. She couldn’t make out his words, but the tone was clear.

Standing, she stared straight ahead. “Kerri?”

The woman came to her. “Are you all right?” she asked, her voice soft and full of concern.

“Not really, but that isn’t important. I’m so sorry. I can’t apologize enough. My actions are inexcusable. I’ll stay if you need me and I know the bride said what she said, but I think it’s best if I leave.”

Kerri gave her a quick hug. “I’ll call you later.”

Tawny walked out the front door and got in her car. Without thinking she drove straight to her parents’ house. Might as well tell the parentals she’d lost another job. In for a penny, in for a pound, as the old saying went. She headed straight to the backyard, following the sound of voices. Upon seeing her mom, Grams, and Cherry, her heart lightened.

“
Mija
, what are you doing here? Cherry said you had an event today?” Her mom stood and hugged her, stopping short to study her face. “Are you okay? You look pale.”

She forced a smile. “No, I’m not, but I will be. Is Daddy home?”

“No, he’s at the restaurant helping George fix a dishwasher.” Her mom pulled up another chair for her and told her to sit.

“Did you have to deal with one of those bridezillas, lass?” Grams handed her a glass of something cold.

Cherry, who had been on the phone, took one look at Tawny and ended the call. She stood in front of her and wrapped her arms around Tawny. “This is my fault. Tell me you don’t hate me,” she murmured against Tawny’s shoulder.

“I don’t hate you, chica, and it wasn’t your fault. This screwup is completely my own doing.”

“Will one of you girls tell me what is going on?” Tawny’s mom demanded.

Tawny shooed Cherry back to her chair, while Tawny dropped into the one her mom had indicated earlier. “I think I just lost another job. Actually, I’m pretty sure when I show up Monday, my stuff will be waiting for me at the front door.”

She told them the whole sordid story. At first crying, then laughing as she watched the play of reactions on her family’s faces.

“The bride didn’t?” Cherry asked as Tawny got to the end.

“She’s probably, now as we speak, looking for me so she can hook me up with groomsman number two or possibly three.”

“Katia, this calls for something stronger than iced tea. You should go whip up some margaritas for us,” Grams said. “Lass, that’s almost as good as me spilling my sex life to the whole hospital a couple of months ago. Of course, neither of us can come close to our girl here.” She pointed to Cherry. “She spilled her guts on national TV. Hmm, seems to me, Katia, you’re the next one to make a fool of themselves in front of strangers. Like to see you top the three of us.” Grams gave her friend a wicked smirk.

Katia ignored her friend’s comment and focused on her daughter. “Are you sure you and David are over?”

“Yes. You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“Hmm,” she responded.

What the heck did that mean? Usually when her mom gave that look and reply, it meant she didn’t believe her kids. She wished, for once, that her mom was right. In the past few days, Tawny had missed Dave more than she’d ever expected. And it wasn’t like she’d never see him again. On the contrary, she wouldn’t be able to avoid him for long, not unless she was willing to give up her best friend. So not happening.

“Maybe you can explain to your boss what happened. Tell her you had a nervous breakdown,” Mom said.

“We could get you checked in to the funny wing at the hospital for the rest of the weekend. Then you’d have proof, and she couldn’t fire you if you were mental,” Grams suggested.

Right now, an I-love-me jacket sounded like a good idea, especially if it came with a gag. Maybe then she could keep out of trouble.

Cherry held up her glass. “To us, the sisterhood of the crazy pants.”

Tawny rolled her eyes and smiled. Why had she ever thought keeping her problems a secret from her mom, Grams, and Cherry was the right answer? This, being with these three women, was the best therapy ever.

“Seriously, though.” Cherry looked at her over her tea. “What are you going to do? I mean, it doesn’t sound like the bride will complain.”

“No, I don’t think she will either. However, I’m willing to bet you your honeymoon that Phil has already called Mrs. S and told her the whole wretched story. He’d already cornered me earlier and accused me of cheating on David.”

“He what?” Cherry squawked at the same time her mom and Grams swore, questioning Phil’s parentage.

“He’s got a man crush on Farber. Doesn’t matter. I lost it at an event. They’re not going to want me to keep working for them. After all, how will they know I won’t melt down again? I’ll find another job. I might have to move home for a while and swallow my pride and go to work for George, but I’ll land back on my feet.”

She’d go home, skip the Ben & Jerry’s (thanks to the sisterhood), and make a new list. And maybe cry.

As Dave and Jason made their way from the top to the bottom of the three-story B&B, checking items off on their list to prepare for Monday’s visit with the building inspector, Dave couldn’t find the thrill he normally experienced at the end of a project.

“I talked with the owner this morning. She’s ecstatic over our work and that you finished a week before the leaf-peepers arrive.” Jason stood after checking the pipes under the second-floor bathroom sink. “She’s already referred another client our way and specified she wants you on the job. Great work, brother.”

“Thanks.”

His friend’s head came up to meet his gaze. Jason squinted his eyes, but looked away before Dave could see what was going on in his head. The drumming fingers gave Jase away. The guys never stayed out of each other’s personal lives. Hell, they’d been friends too long to mind their own business now.

Dave knew the flat tone of his voice worried his friend. For the past few days, since he’d last seen Tawny, his sour mood made it so he didn’t even want to be around himself, which is when you knew it was bad. The guys had seen it before. They were the reason he made it through his parents’ volatile divorce. The fact that Brody was absent today and Jason didn’t razz him spoke volumes.

“If you give me the referral’s info, I’ll give them a call Monday. See what they need done and we can go from there on who does what. You’re done with the pastor’s project. Unless you’ve got something booked I’m unaware of, we could do the next one together,” Dave said, trying to invoke something other than patheticness in his voice.

Jason clamped him on the shoulder. “Aw, you miss me. I’m touched.”

“I’m crushed,” Brody spoke from the top stair. “Fubar never tells me he misses me.”

“Yeah, that’s because I’m his favorite,” Jason said.

“Screw you both.” Dave pushed past Brody on the stairs and headed to the main floor. He didn’t need their crap today. Turning as he hit the last step, he eyed Brody in worn jeans and a T-shirt. For once he looked like he belonged hanging with him and Jason. “What are you doing here anyway, pretty boy?”

Brody stood loose and limber on the step above him. “Came by to check on my investment. Got a problem with that, Fubar?”

Dave turned and walked into the new parlor slash sitting room slash reception. They kept the Victorian feel of the place while adding modern updates like central heat, floors the owner wouldn’t have to wax, and walls that didn’t allow every noise to travel to the next room. They’d also built a secret passageway from the master bedroom on the second floor to the kitchen, as well as one leading from the second-floor sitting room to the library for the guests’ entertainment. He might be missing his usual exuberance over a job well done, but he was damn proud of his crew.

Dave leaned with his arm resting on the fireplace mantel. “No problem at all, Bro. Next time, I’ll give you a call when we’re digging out the septic tank. Maybe then you can really be more than a silent partner, since you can’t seem to comprehend that role.”