“Good. We got almost everything,” Mom says before scowling. “They just won’t be able to get in the Toro sushi that I wanted.”
“Oh, that sucks,” I reply, trying not to sound annoyed. Jesus Christ, Mom. When I was a kid, you’d have been happy with Chicken of the Sea, and now you won’t be happy unless the fish were given massages before getting filleted. Jeez, no wonder you couldn’t trust the wedding planner to do everything. There’s no way any one human could remember everything you want for this thing.
Mom catches my tone, though, and chuckles. “Okay, Mindy, point taken. All right, lunch time. You guys wait—”
“Oh,” Roxy says next to me, her hand pressed against her chest. “Talk about Prince Charming.”
I turn to see Oliver walking in carrying a bouquet of roses. My heart does a backflip as he walks over to me, a beaming smile on his face. “I brought something for you, Princess,” he says, handing me the roses. “They’re not as beautiful as you . . . but then again, nothing is.”
I stare at the bouquet as if it’s a vase full of snakes. Still, his words have an impact, and I’m shocked. What’s he up to? “Th–th–thank you.”
“Oh, my God. That’s so sweet,” Mom says, fanning her face to prevent smearing her mascara, tears in her eyes. Every woman in the room has watery eyes with the exception of Layla, who looks like she’s going through great lengths not to roll hers. Even I’m feeling a bit choked up, and looking into his face, I’m having to remind myself over and over that this is all an act. He’s just pretending. He has to be.
“You’re welcome,” Oliver says, his deep voice dripping like honey. He leans down to give me a firm kiss on the lips. His scent envelops me. It’s a bit spicy from his cologne, but underscored with his unique manly flavor. I love it, and pretend or not, my body responds.
When he pulls away, I almost feel like I need a ventilator. My head is swimming, I’m confused, not able to think, and I can feel my cheeks burning. To hide my embarrassment, I bury my nose in the roses. Maybe it’s the moment, but they smell better than any roses I’ve ever seen.
“That was so sweet of you,” Mom repeats. “You really are a gentleman.”
Oliver grins and flashes her a smile. “I try.”
“Can we clone you?” Roxy asks, and while I know she’s just being silly, I swear she sounds like she’s all gaga too.
Oliver laughs, shaking his head. “Sorry, Roxy, I don’t think that’s possible yet.”
“No, seriously. Can we clone? I got a cup that you can donate your DNA—”
“That’s enough, Roxy!” I say firmly.
“Selfish, stingy . . .” Roxy’s words trail off as she makes a face, then turns and walks toward the dining room.
“Hold on, Roxy,” Oliver says. “John and I were talking, and we’ve had the tables set out on the second-floor balcony. We’re going to do lunch out there. The day is too beautiful to let it go to waste.”
Mom looks at John, beaming. “That’s a great idea! You two make a great team, John. It’s going to be great having Oliver as your son-in-law.”
“Thanks, honey,” John says, “but it was all his idea.”
Oliver turns his eyes on me and smiles. It’s not a smirk, and it’s not mocking or joking. It’s a smile that makes me weak in the knees. “It’s nothing, really. I do it all for her. My Princess deserves the absolute best.”
I tear my eyes away from his gaze, my cheeks flaming. My heart feels fuzzy. Weird. I’m so confused and conflicted. I know this is all supposed to be fake, but Oliver is turning up the heat, and my heart, among other places, thinks it’s real.
If he keeps this up, I’m going to be clawing his back and screaming his name before the week’s out.
Oliver
“Here you go, Princess,” I say, pulling out the seat for her. Out on the balcony, I don’t think I could ask for a more perfect lunch time. The sun’s high in the sky and the skies are a perfect blue. Past the back lawn, you can see the wall that borders the estate before the land drops, and the ocean begins. It’s not too warm, not too cold, and the breeze has just a hint of salt on it. I don’t think I could have scripted a more beautiful or romantic location for lunch.
Mindy’s cheeks flush as she sinks in her seat. The staff have set up small tables for two or three people around the balcony as if it’s an outdoor restaurant. Each couple has their own table while Roxy, Layla, and Ivy Jo share a third, leaving one for me and Mindy.
“Thank you,” she says, her voice small.
I wink at her. “My pleasure. You look lovely, by the way.”
I take my seat as a cool breeze flows in from the ocean, and I inhale deeply. “Jeez, this place is like a paradise.”
“It is,” Mindy agrees, enjoying the cool air with a satisfied look. “This was all your idea?” she asks quietly enough so the others don’t hear. She doesn’t need to worry—she’d have to be talking pretty loudly. There’s comfortable space between the tables.
I nod. “It was nothing. Everything was already planned. I just suggested we do it out here.”
“Why?” she asks.
“Because you deserve it,” I say with a smile. “And I wanted to have a nice lunch with you.”
She stares at me, unconvinced. “I can’t tell if you’re playing or if you really mean it anymore, Oliver.”
“Maybe a little bit of both,” I tease. “Maybe I don’t really know myself.” And that’s the truth. I might be getting a little carried away, but maybe I actually mean it.
“Yeah, which means it’s bullshit,” she says. “You strike me as a man who always knows exactly what he’s doing and what he wants.”
“Isn’t that what you want?” I ask.
She starts to respond, but the kitchen guy comes out with the menu for everyone. He goes around to each table, leaving the menus and then taking the orders for drinks. John’s going all out. We’re practically at a restaurant.
There’s only a few selections of wine. Mary Jo is saving the best stuff for the actual wedding. I take a quick look, then hand it back to him. “Can I have the Darioush Chardonnay 2010 for us, please?”
The man nods, pleased. “Certainly, sir.”
Mindy immediately glowers at me when he’s gone. “Who said you could order for me?”
“I did,” I say firmly. “I’m supposed to be your fiancé, remember?”
“How y’all doing over there?” Roxy calls from her table. “Enjoying the view?”
“Just fine,” Mindy yells back, flashing a quick smile. “How about you worry about what’s on your own plate?”
“Smart ass,” Roxy yells.
I laugh. “You two are a riot. I bet you two were cats and . . . well, cats when you were kids.”
“Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet.” Mindy scowls. “It’s tame right now because people are around. It’s an all out rumble when it’s just me and her. Or it used to be.”
“What would we do without our younger siblings?” I ask, my mind briefly going to Anthony and wondering if he’s doing what I asked him to do.
He’d better, I tell myself, or when I get back, we’re going to have more than just a little talk this time. I really should find time to give them a quick call, but it’s been impossible so far.
“Repent,” Mindy jokes, “for thou art cursed with the younger sibling. And with great wailing and gnashing of teeth, the elder siblings were thus cursed.”
I can’t help but to laugh. “Something like that.”
“Nah, I’m just joking,” Mindy says more seriously. “I don’t know what I’d do without that girl.”
“Then why didn’t you come here with them? If a coffee shop is your thing, I’m sure John could’ve set you up.”
Mindy frowns. “Because when Dad died . . . I just felt paralyzed. Like, I didn’t know what to do with myself. Then running the coffee shop gave me something to focus on. Mom moving away was like a relief at the time. When she was around, it reminded me of him too much.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But I definitely understand where you’re coming from,” I tell her honestly. “My parents . . . they’re not together either.”