Holiday Wedding (15 page)

“Oh, Miles, I love it.”

“Who's Miles?”

“Sorry, James.” Lauren pushed back the curtain and stepped out. “He's my best friend. You remind me of him … a lot.”

He smirked. “Beautiful women tell me I remind them of their best friends
all
the time.” He handed her a flute of bubbly champagne. “Courtney ran out and bought a bottle. I thought you could use something stronger than eggnog.”

She took the glass and sipped, admiring her reflection in the mirror. “Thank you.”

“The dress is stunning on you. Is this the one you'd like to suggest for Kate?”

“No!” She turned and put her flute down on a nearby table. “I mean, I love this dress. Is it unheard of for a maid of honor to wear white?”

Courtney joined them. “Not at all, especially this time of year.”

James nodded in agreement. “A lot of couples pick a white and red theme. Given Christmas and all.”

Lauren glanced again into the three-way mirror. Could she wear the dress meant for her wedding to Drew? Maybe the boutique staff could help her accentuate it with red so she wasn't completely in white, and find her a matching drape cover up.

“I do want to wear this …” She glanced at her reflection one last time. “I should probably run it by Miles.”

“The best friend?” James asked.

“And the wedding planner. He's really calling all the shots.” That statement got a strange look between James and Courtney. “The more I think about it, Kate should really be picking out her own dress. Maybe we could get a photo of what she picks out and then I can select a warm wrap for any outdoor pictures?”

“Sure. Whatever you'd like.” Courtney came over and touched the organza tulle, admiring the fabric. “It really is gorgeous on you. We've had this gem for quite some time.” She leaned in and whispered, “I had a feeling it would one day find its rightful owner.”

Lauren blushed and headed back into the dressing room to change. “Let me think about it.” If only they knew how perfect this dress was for her. Alone, she took a few minutes more to reacquaint herself with the gown, imagining what it would have been like to walk down that aisle on the beach to Drew.

“I'll take it,” she blurted out. She may never get that moment back, judging by his apologizing for almost kissing her last night, but she was determined to show Drew what he'd missed.

• • •

Drew stared at his reflection in the mirror, shaking his head “No, no, no.”

“Actually the phrase is ‘ho, ho, ho.'” Natasha reached up and brushed the red coat. “Drew, you make the perfect Santa.”

He kind of had to agree with her. With the wig, beard, red coat, and black boots he could pass for St. Nick in any mall in America. Good to know he'd be able to get part-time work if Luke kicked him out of the company.

“You ready?”

“Yes. Let's get this over with.”

She raised an eyebrow. “I can think of a lot worse things you could be doing than making a little girl's dream come true.”

“I'm sorry. I agree. I'm ready,” he said, trying to add a convincing “ho, ho, ho.”

“That's the spirit, Drew.” Natasha patted his arm. “I mean, Santa.”

“So, how long has she been sick?”

“She was diagnosed with stage-four cancer earlier this year.”

“That's awful. How old is she?”

“Six.”

“Wow.” Drew shook his head. “This must be so hard for her and her family.”

Natasha agreed. “That's why they're here. Taking a break from her hospital routine to come see—”

“Santa,” he finished her sentence.

She grinned, patting him on the back. “You're getting it, Drew.”

“But I'm not that guy,” he said. “I've never been that guy. I hope I can pull it off.”

Natasha stepped into the kitchen and grabbed the plate of now-cooled snicker doodles.

“It's simple, really.” She offered him one. “Let's start with the basics. You need to like these.”

Drew studied the plate, his chest squeezing. It was only a cookie, for God's sake. He took one and held it in his hand. “Natasha, I'm really sorry. I can't do this. I'm not Santa. I don't even like Christmas.” He set the cookie down. “Can we just find someone else to do this? I know James is with Lauren. Maybe he could come over?”

She gazed up at him and he could see what looked like pity in her eyes. “Okay.”

“I'm sorry,” he said and genuinely meant it. “I've never been good at celebrating this time of year.”

“I know.”

There it was again. Her insinuating she had insider information. “What do you mean, you know?”

She reached out and held his hand. “Christmas will be here when you are ready.”

He walked over to the doorway. “What about the little girl? Will you find someone else to play Santa?”

She nodded. “We'll make her wish come true.”

Just then the small girl barreled through the kitchen doorway, heading straight to Drew.

“Santa!” She grabbed his hand. “You're here!”

Drew looked down at the little girl, trying his best to push words out of his throat.
Say something Christmas-y.
“Ho, ho, ho,” he forced out.

“Sara, I'd like to introduce you to Santa. He's made a special trip to Snow Frost Mountain to grant your Christmas wish.” She shoved the plate of cookies into Drew's hand, nodding to him to offer Sara one.

“Would you like a snickerdoodle?” he asked.

“I brought you cookies, too! My mom helped me make them last night.”

Drew's heart melted. He looked over at Natasha for help.

“Why don't we go into the parlor? Maybe Santa could read you a Christmas story.”

Sara shyly took Drew's hand.

“You're doing fine,” Natasha whispered.

Thirty minutes later, he realized he was doing more than fine and having a blast playing with Sara. After reading her a story, they played with the Barbie dolls and he officiated the wedding between Ken and Barbie. About time they tied the knot. It was much more fun than planning his brother's wedding. Barbie, with her long wavy blond hair, reminded him of the live version currently sharing a cabin alone with him.

He smiled, wondering how Lauren was doing. No doubt from her tearful reaction in his bedroom last night, her slipping into gowns was as difficult as his putting on the Santa suit.

He also knew that despite her discomfort, she'd do it. That was just the kind of woman she was. She'd never let anyone down—unlike him, who seemed to always screw up. He was glad he'd done the right thing today and didn't disappoint this wonderful little girl who deserved to spend time with Santa. This morning had been pretty awesome. He only hoped Lauren was getting an unexpected surprise too, and enjoying her assignment.

He glanced over at little Sara. She loved playing with dolls, which gave him an idea. He got up from off the floor. “I'll be right back. I have something for you in my car …” He grinned at Natasha and Sara's mom. “I mean, sleigh. Be right back.”

He rushed out the front door to Lauren's car and popped open the trunk. Inside were the two Happily Ever After dolls. Grabbing the girl doll, he headed back inside. The hell with Luke and his little assignment of finding its soul mate. He could give the doll to anyone he wanted, and he wanted to give it to Sara.

His heart warmed at the thought of the doll bringing this girl some joy, even if it was for a short time.

Lauren stood in front of the Christmas tree and wiped away a stray tear. Since returning from the bridal boutique, she hadn't been able to stop her eyes from watering.

How much more of Luke's wacky wedding assignments could she take before she totally broke?

She reached out and fiddled with the lights that Drew had strung up. What Luke had her do today was just mean, and where was flippin' Miles to set him straight? She still hadn't been able to reach her best friend despite multiple voicemails and text messages. He couldn't be avoiding her for chewing him out this morning, could he?

She sighed. But if Luke hadn't arranged for her to try on gowns then she wouldn't have been reunited with the dress of her dreams. She'd be lying if she said a little part of her wasn't happy that she had it back. It was as if she was reunited with a piece of her past when she had been blissfully in love believing that happily ever afters do come true.

She had loved twirling around in that dress again, remembering happier times. How ironic that it fit her perfectly and didn't need any alterations. The one in Hawaii had had to be taken in a little.

Her hands continued to adjust the Christmas lights. “That's better.” She'd been at the cabin for a couple of hours now, no sign of her former fiancé.

After James dropped her off, she'd immediately called Miles, but when he didn't pick up, she tried Luke's cell. He might be avoiding Drew, but he answered her call immediately. It took only a few minutes to fill him in on her morning, explaining that it just made more sense for Kate to select her dress in Manhattan. She'd get a picture of it from Miles and then could pick out a pretty shawl or white winter coat for her to wear in any outdoor pictures.

He seemed to be fine with the new plan, but before clicking off informed her that she and Drew would be taking a break from the wedding planning to attend the Snow Frost Festival and push the Happily Ever After dolls.

Thank God
. She really did need a break. The food fight with the wedding cakes that turned sensual, their almost kissing while trying to pick out Luke and Kate's first song to dance to, and being reunited this morning with her wedding dress was more than her fragile heart could handle in twenty-four hours.

Luke also told her to have fun with their afternoon task, which was strange because Miles hadn't sent it yet. What could possibly be next? Santa's Workshop, Candy Cane Lane, the Gingerbread House—was it her imagination or was Luke enjoying torturing his brother?

She liked Luke—adored him was more like it. Always had from the moment Drew introduced them in college. Still, it seemed so mean of him to force Christmas on Drew. Her boss was a smart, logical man who rarely did things on a whim.

Although, was that now true? Something had changed when he met Kate on board his flight to Hawaii. Still, there had to be a reason for all these diversions that had nothing to do with the wedding. If she could just channel Nancy Drew and figure this mystery out.

The front door opened followed by Drew appearing in the living room. She tucked her hair behind her ears and then swiped under her eyes, trying to hide any evidence she'd been crying before she turned around. “Hi.”

“Hi.” He smiled and set down a deep red container on the coffee table. “How did this morning go?”

“Fine.” She forced a smile, hoping he couldn't tell that it was a complete facade.

“Lauren, what's wrong?” With three quick strides, Drew was standing in front of her. “You've been crying.”

“It's nothing.” She waved her hand, knowing he'd always been good at reading her, especially when she was upset. “I'm fine, really. It was just a long morning. It's over.”

“Damn straight it is.” He grabbed her hand, lacing it through his. “Let's go.”

“Go where?”

“Screw Luke and his holiday wedding. I'm taking you back to New York. He can get married at City Hall or fly to Las Vegas like Dad did for all I care. We're not planning it.”

She pulled her hand away and wrapped her arms around her middle. “No. I'm really okay. I found a dress,” she offered meekly, not revealing that she'd found
her
dress.

“Are you sure?” He reached out and stroked her arm.

“Yes,” she said softly. “Besides, tomorrow we're attending the Frost Festival, remember?”

“That's right. It was such a crazy morning. I completely forgot.”

“Really?” What on earth did Luke make Drew do that would make him forget the other reason they were there? Pointing to the container, she made a lame attempt to find out. “What's in there?”

He went over to the couch and sat down, loosening his scarf. “Cookies.”

Her eyebrow shot up. “Christmas cookies?”

He sighed and picked up the container, resting it in his hands. “Yep. Honest to goodness, just-baked-this-morning Christmas cookies for me.”

“Wow.” The love of her life would rather count every toy in the JDL Toys stockroom blindfolded with a fire lit under his butt than eat a Christmas cookie. She understood why and couldn't blame him.

In all the time they were together, not once had Lauren ever seen him eat a Christmas cookie. She knew that after all these years, he still believed it was his fault his mother was on the snowy roads that fateful night, going after the one ingredient she needed to make a batch for Drew to take to school.

She walked over and took a seat on the couch. “So your morning was like mine, I take it.”

He leaned back, cocking his head toward her. “It wasn't so bad. It literally was a Gingerbread House with a white frosted roof and these red and green circles representing gum drops hanging all over.”

“Really? Sounds delicious.”

“I played St. Nick.”

“What?” Her eyes widened and she brought her legs up onto the couch, tucked her feet under her and faced Drew. “
You
were Santa? I don't believe it.”

“It's true. Natasha met me there.”

“The woman from Santa's Workshop?” Lauren asked.

“Yeah. Apparently she works in both places. Anyways when I arrived, she told me Santa was out of town, and she needed someone to play him. The Gingerbread House is a place where kids who are terminally ill can go and spend time with the jolly guy. I was him.”

Lauren's heart bloomed with compassion. “How wonderful.” What she would have given to see Drew in red suit and all. She tapped his leg. “Did you enjoy it?”