Orange Blossom Brides Page 3

  No. No way. He had to put her out of his mind. They might be connected by this historical society project, but he didn’t have to like it.

  CHAPTER TWO

  OF ALL THE rotten luck.

  Why did the one guy she needed to convince to attend the benefit end up being the guy she met on the beach twelve years ago? One night. One night she goes all crazy and sneaks out of the house, only to end up in police custody.

  See, that’s what happens when you try to be something you’re not. You end up flirting with a cute boy who grows into an even more attractive man. At least now she was smart enough not to end up in a police car at the end of the night.

  She hoped so, anyway.

  She entered the historical society office, still shaking her head over her meeting with Max.

  “How did it go, dear?” Mrs. Rumpold asked before Lilli made it all the way through the door.

  “He refused.”

  “Oh, no. Your mother won’t be happy.”

  Yeah. Lilli already knew that.

  “Didn’t you use your feminine charms to convince Max? It’s my experience that no man alive can resist a woman if she sends out the right signals.”

  Okay. First, female charms had nothing to do with it. Max didn’t want to be a groom, as he’d so adamantly let her know. Now she had to figure out what to do, because knowing her mother, his refusal would definitely upset her well-organized life. Even, if she didn’t factor in the old anger at how that night had ended, he’d made it clear he would only attend Tie the Knot in a security capacity. She rubbed her temples.

  And second, right signals? Lilli regarded the older woman with surprise. She hardly seemed the type of woman with...experiences. Not that Lilli would ask.

  “Oh, I know what you’re thinking,” Mrs. Rumpold said. The historical society secretary had to be seventy if she was a day. “I may be a bit worn around the edges, but there are a few tried-and-true tricks to catch a man’s eye.” At least five inches shorter than Lilli and two times as wide with a halo of short, curly gray hair, there was clearly more to Mrs. Rumpold than met the eye.

  “Mrs. Rumpold, what are you suggesting?”

  “Please, call me Mrs. R.” The older woman gave a saucy grin, as if she were about to reveal some truly juicy secrets. “And I’m not suggesting anything. I’m saying. First of all, there’s the eye wink. Make sure you wear lots of mascara to make a statement. Next, the finger wave.” She demonstrated, and Lilli suppressed a groan.

  “And the hair flip,” Mrs. R. continued. “Shows your fun, flirtatious side.” With a flick of the wrist she tossed her silvery curls. Since they were permed tight, not much happened, but Lilli got the idea.

  “It works every time,” Mrs. R. intoned with sage wisdom.

  Lilli held back a smile. Maybe in the nineteen-fifties, but not today. Today if she did that, people would think she had serious problems. And besides, she had no interest in catching a man’s eye right now.

  “I can’t imagine any single men able to resist a lovely young woman such as you.”

  Yeah, Lilli knew that by the oodles of men lined up at her door. Right now she only concentrated on her job. The promotion. The added headache of the charity event. She had enough on her plate—she didn’t need Max Sanders. He’d directed his smoky gaze at her once before, and she’d melted on the spot. Look where that had gotten her. She wouldn’t let it happen again.

  But for a split second she’d wondered if he would find her attractive after all these years. Would he even want to flirt with her again? No. Not after the way she’d turned him in that night at the beach. She couldn’t change the past any more than he could, but his reaction when he’d recognized her said he definitely didn’t want anything to do with her.

  “The display wedding dresses will be arriving this weekend.” Mrs. R. changed the subject as she rambled on. Her wrinkled face beamed with pleasure. “What a stroke of luck that you know the curator of the vintage collection. I’m sure you can’t wait to see the how they look.”

  Actually, wedding dresses weren’t high on her priority list at that moment in time. Hard to get excited when she’d been dumped the night before her wedding, not to mention that she wasn’t even dating at the moment.

  Mrs. R. jabbered on. “They will be exhibited here all spring and summer. We were so fortunate to get vintage gowns from the private collection of Renata Ogilvy. What a boost for the society. Your mother pulled out the stops this year.”

  “Yes, she did,” Lilli agreed, more overwhelmed than impressed. But then, her mother often rubbed elbows with high-profile people like Renata, a retired fashion designer who had set the New York fashion scene on fire during her heyday.

  Even though her mother knew the designer, Lilli had a connection to the curator, Gabrielle, an old friend from college. When her mother first thought up the wedding show, she’d batted around some ideas with Lilli. Since Lilli kept in touch with Gab and knew she worked for Renata, she offered to get in touch. After a few calls, Lilli got the go-ahead to showcase priceless vintage gowns, Renata’s own along with other famous designers’, from Renata’s private collection. She’d thought that would be the end of her involvement with the benefit. Until her mother had left town.

  “Oh, before I forget.” Mrs. R. thrust a full-to-overflowing accordion folder at Lilli, who barely caught it, glossy photos spilling onto the already messy desk. As she gathered them together, a flurry of lace and satin bridal designs dredged up an interest she refused to acknowledge. “Keep the file so you can give it a look-see. You’ll need the pictures when you write up the fashion show fliers and program.”

  “When I what?”

  “Your mother didn’t get that far before she left on her emergency, so you’ll have to do it. It’s all right there on the list.” The older woman tapped the paper she’d clipped to the side of the file. “You already do that for your day job, don’t you?”

  She nodded. Lilli did media research on products and wrote up reports, sometimes put together descriptive brochures or information booklets for clients and worked to find ways to best promote her clients. Besides being involved through her contact with Gab and the designer gowns, she’d done some of the publicity for Tie the Knot at her mother’s request, playing up the charity and the chance to view one-of-a-kind wedding gowns and exquisite jewelry.

  “There are also ideas for the reception decorations in there. You know, flowers and doodads that make up the whole wedding experience.”

  “I have to plan a mock reception, too?”

  “Oh, yes,” Mrs. R. nodded.

  Please. Like she wanted to do that all over again.

  “Some of the ladies have opinions, but your mother has been cutting ideas out of magazines for months now.” Mrs. R. leaned closer to Lilli, her tone conspiratorial. “A word of warning—Marisa Vandermere wanted to fill in as coordinator, but your mother turned her down. She’s not happy about that. She’ll most likely think she’s still in charge, because, well, she’s Marisa. Don’t let her railroad you. We’re on a tight schedule. The benefit is less than three weeks away.” Mrs. R. nodded at the file. “Everything you need to complete the fashion show is in the file.”

  Great. She had to coordinate dresses, write fliers and plan an entire reception in just three weeks while trying to get a promotion at work. Now she had to work with her childhood nemesis, as well?

  What have you gotten me into, Mom?

  Lilli closed her eyes. She couldn’t renege now, not when her mother needed her. Just as Lilli had needed Celeste the night of the rehearsal dinner, doing damage control and canceling the wedding after Lilli fled the scene, demoralized beyond words. Yes, her mother had come through for her when Lilli needed her most. So she’d do the same as stand-in coordinator. Once the entire event ended, she’d go back to focusing entirely on her job.

>   With a sigh Lilli glanced at her watch. Just past ten. Her boss had given her this morning to deal with historical society business, but he wouldn’t be too pleased if she screwed up the Canine Candy presentation for the Natural Puppy account.

  “Is there anything else, Mrs. Rumpold?”

  “Mr. Sanders will be here tomorrow to test the security system. I’m assuming he told you.”

  “He did. I can’t be here, but he is going to drop off a proposal I’ll need to read.” She couldn’t afford to take more time off. And, she admitted, she didn’t want to be around Max unless absolutely necessary.

  Coward. Yeah, there was that, too.

  Mrs. R.’s face went all dreamy. “I’ll make sure he leaves it here.”

  Lilli blinked, then hid a smile. Someone had a crush.

  “And don’t forget the event committee meeting. Nine o’clock Saturday morning. At the club.”

  Of course. The club. She’d stayed far away from that place, hoping distance would dilute the miserable memories of the night Rob had dumped her. Time had anesthetized her heart, but her mind still carried the images as if they’d occurred yesterday.

  “I’ll be there” she replied glumly, before escaping to work.

  * * ** * *

  AFTER MRS. R. DROPPED the news that she’d be planning the mock reception, Lilli sat in her car, staring at the file. More documents to add to the already overflowing files her mother had provided. She needed to get a huge tote bag to hold all this stuff. Sighing, she dug her mother’s files from her purse to place in the passenger seat until she had a chance to get a bigger bag. As she moved them, the top folder flipped open, revealing a newspaper article. Curious, Lilli started to read.

  The article—eleven years old, she noted—from the Cypress Pointe Weekly, announced Max Sanders’s admission into the navy. Her gaze moved over the picture. Tall and lean, with short dark hair and austere features, a very masculine Max Sanders filled out his uniform. His stern expression said, “Don’t mess with me.”

  And she had.

  She slapped the file shut.

  The guy still got to her, although she couldn’t say why. Then or now.

  When she’d met him that night at the beach, he’d spelled trouble. The long, shaggy hair and cocky attitude had been the first sign. But when he focused on her, with that lopsided grin and those intense gray eyes, he’d had her. She’d ignored the warning bells clamoring in her head. She’d always been the good girl, the one who’d gotten straight A’s and never made her parents miserable. She’d already had her goals set out, knew which college she would attend.

  That evening long ago, her parents had gotten into the worst argument ever, and per standard operating procedure, had drawn her into the middle, the convenient pawn in their troubled game. This was the first time divorce had come up in the conversation. As much as she had anticipated a split between them, it had still rocked her world. Disgusted and angry at the situation her parents had put themselves and her in, Lilli hadn’t thought twice when her friend Nealy had called to see if she wanted to sneak down to the beach.

  She hadn’t known what to expect, since she’d never done anything like that before. Then Max walked by and the earth shifted. He stopped to talk to Nealy and the guy she’d come to hang out with. Then he glanced at Lilli. Their eyes met. Her stomach tilted and tipped. A slow smile spread over his lips, and he made his way over. Her inner flirt, which she didn’t even know existed, materialized. They bantered and teased. For the first time in her life, Lilli felt powerful and in control.

  And when he kissed her? Let’s just say she’d experienced a little bit of heaven.

  Lilli frowned down at the folder. This time her stomach burned with regret. Never in her wildest imagination had she thought she’d ever run into Max again. And when she did? He still held a grudge.

  Against her better judgment, she opened the file to stare down at his photo again.

  The young man in the picture had matured from the teen she remembered. The uniform and serious expression threw her off, because she still recalled him as the cocky guy who’d swept her off her feet. After years of hanging around country-club boys, she’d found Max’s bad-boy vibe very exciting and had fallen for his charm.

  When the group of boys decided to throw firecrackers, which were illegal on the public beach, into the bonfire, her excitement level skyrocketed. Why had she missed out on all this fun? Her parents didn’t care about her. Why should she care about them? She had the attention of a cute guy and she’d never felt more alive.

  Soon, firecrackers progressed to cherry bombs, with a few bottle rockets thrown into the mix. It wasn’t until she sat in the squad car, with the police chief calling her parents, that reality set in. Some wild girl she’d turned out to be.

  After that night, especially when she’d been sent away to a new school, she’d had time to think. Her walk on the wild side had been reckless and breathtaking, but not practical. Not for the girl who made lists, planned out her future with exacting care, never expecting anything less than accomplishing it all. So she’d reverted back to dating the type of guys she knew were safe and drama-free.

  She may not have seen Max again, but in the very depths of her soul, she never forgot him or the excitement of that night. And always wished she hadn’t told the police chief that Max was involved.

  She closed the folder and started the car. Already late for work, she needed to get her mind on more serious matters. She drove to the office, thinking about the adult Max.

  His choice of office dress was downright appalling, as if he’d thrown the idea of professionalism out the door. But she had gotten a whiff of his tangy cologne, which had affected her more than she cared to admit. And the way he’d needled her? She wanted to...to...scream.

  She parked and hurried into the building, more than ready to get back to her desk and finalize her workload. An hour passed, and she should have been focused on the dog food account, but her mind kept going back to Max and their meeting in his office. He’d come across as annoying and rude. A pain in her...shoulder?

  A constant poking brought her out of her snit.

  “Earth to Lilli.”

  Lilli shook her head to clear the images of Max superimposed over the graphics on her computer screen. “What?”

  She blinked, having forgotten she sat at her work desk or that the intern’s current choice of hair color was a deep plum with streaks of pink. The outrageous do framed large hazel eyes and brought out the natural blush on the girl’s cheeks. With her wild hair, fun personality and desire to work hard, Jewel had become a welcome addition to the KLC family. Also a good friend.

  At the lowest point in her life, Lilli only left her apartment to go to work, until her mother threatened to come over to cheer her up. Not happening. So she’d thrown on an oversize T-shirt, baggy shorts and flip-flops to wander downtown, window shopping to get her mind off the sad state of her life.

  She hadn’t liked the lack of direction in her life, but couldn’t seem to drag herself out of her funk. The scent of freshly brewed coffee had snagged her attention as she passed Cuppa Joe, so she’d ventured in. After placing her order, she’d taken a seat on the couch located in the corner just as Jewel breezed in. Before Lilli knew it, Jewel had engaged her in conversation and somehow managed to drag Lilli, kicking and screaming, back into the real world. For that, Lilli would be forever grateful.

  After the horrible night when Rob left her, she’d questioned herself and her decisions. She knew he’d have preferred she stay home rather than work. He’d wanted someone to take care of him and had seen her job as competition. They’d had a few arguments about her quitting, but she’d attributed that to the wedding stress as the date drew near. The night of the wedding rehearsal, he told her the truth. The excuses about her working were a ruse. He didn’t know what he wanted out of life, bu
t knew he didn’t want to get married. At least, not to her. It had taken her two-point-five seconds to realize she couldn’t marry him, either. She’d finally found her identity after years of hiding in her parents’ shadows. Finally found peace with who she had become. She wasn’t going to give that up for any man.

  If she did ever manage to fall in love, the man would have to prove to her, without a shadow of a doubt, that she came first in his life. Until then, her job gave her purpose, and when she’d found out about the promotion, she’d gone all-out after it.

  The poking stopped. “You’ve been out of it all morning,” Jewel said. “Ever since you got back from your meeting. How about we take a break? Go get some lunch?”

  “It’s lunch time already?” Lilli frowned. “I should skip. I haven’t gotten much done, and Jim needs my report by the end of the day. He’s finally on board with me going for the promotion and I can’t blow it. Not with Nate after the same job.”

  And she wouldn’t. She had all the qualities to make a good account executive.

  She had a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She was calm under pressure. Being well-organized and self-motivated was a plus when hunting for new clients. She communicated with skill, although her mother might argue that fact since Lilli couldn’t get Max to volunteer as a groom. And lastly, she worked well with others. A team player. Until she got placed on her mother’s team, apparently.

  “What’s up with you, anyway? You’ve been here in body, but your mind is elsewhere.”

  “Hmm? Oh, I have a lot of things to think about.” Like brides and grooms and handsome private-security consultants, to name a few.

  “Your mom’s project?”

  “For one. She’s got this list and committees and...way too much for me to handle while working full time. Did you know my mom has a volunteer committee working for her? Working for her! And still she wants me to handle all the little details. Has she ever heard of delegation?”