Chapter 9
We set the wedding for three months later. It was the closest time that Andrew had available on his schedule, and some of their more important diplomatic guests would be able to arrange to fly out in that amount of time.
As we discussed the catering and the music, I couldn’t help but fantasize a bit about Andrew and me. I imagined the two of us dining together out at a fancy restaurant like Amour and gliding together across the dancefloor on Lisa’s wedding day. I even imagined us in bed together, in the presidential suite at the Lexington Hotel, n*ked and exploring each other’s bodies….
It was impossible, of course, for the two of us to have any sort of romantic relationship, but I was allowed to fantasize. And if I were to seduce Andrew, I had to imagine ways in which that would happen.
“Crystal, are you okay?” Andrew asked as we leaned over a brochure for the selected venue, Le B[]timent Extraordinaire. It was opened to a page with a picture of the Victorian floor, which we had wanted to view while discussing my decoration ideas. “Your face is flushed.”
I swallowed hard against the knot in my throat.
“Oh, yes. It’s just…the hot weather, that’s all.”
I fanned myself with my hand for effect, but I doubted that Andrew bought my act for even a minute. He had a way of seeing right through everything I did.
“Of course, the heat. That has to be it. Do you want me to get you a water or something?”
A playful glint appeared in his eye, and he flashed me another one of those charming smiles that seemed to say that he knew everything but would only reveal what he wanted to reveal, when he wanted to reveal it.
“No, thank you. I’ll be fine. Let’s just continue talking about decorations.”
His chuckle rang like a thousand clear silver bells.
“If that’s what you want, Crystal.”
It wasn’t what I wanted, not from him, but it was what I had to do.
As I laid out my plans for tastefully covering the Victorian façade in royal blue and gold, I glimpsed at Andrew out of the corner of my eye, partially to assess his
reaction to my ideas and partially to assess him. He truly was fit to be the Alpha King.
He was charming, charismatic, and, overall, someone who you would want on your side-and, as I had gotten a sneak peek of earlier that day, someone who you would definitely not want against you. Yet he was also physically appealing, handsome to a fault. Anyone who was met with his gaze would find themselves irresistibly drawn to him.
And, unfortunately for me, it ran in the family.
Lisa was a beauty, there was no doubt about that. It was only natural for Bob to fall head-over-heels in love with her, as much as I hated to admit it.
A pang shot through my heart.
I sighed. I couldn’t let these kinds of feelings distract me from my goals, whether they were old ones for Bob or new ones for Andrew. I had to be more rational and clear-headed.
There was work to be done.
I saw a lot more of Andrew than I had expected to, given his official duties. Those kept him busy during the day, so in the evenings, he would swing by to check on the planning of his daughter’s wedding. Sometimes, he would just stay and talk, seeming to forget that he had come with a purpose in the first place.
We had the most delightful chats during the evenings. We rarely spoke about anything too personal-never about our pasts-but it was still nice to speak openly with someone about how my day was going and to have him return the favor. I often ordered takeout and would invite him to join me, which he would politely accept knowing that I had stayed open later just for him.
The evenings soon became my favorite part of the day, not because of closing time, but because I knew that I would get to see Andrew.
One day, a former client, Julia, and her husband, Robert, came by to visit the bridal shop. I had made friends with them while organizing their wedding, and they had introduced me to several new clients since then. Now, they were announcing Julia’s pregnancy.
“Well, congratulations, you two,” I said, beaming with joy for the happy couple. “I’ll pass word along to Lily right away.”
“Oh, would you? That would be lovely,” Julia replied.
She appeared to be in her second trimester. Just like Lily, she was positively radiant with the glow of an expectant mother but rather tired from its physical strains as well.
“You need to let me know when the baby shower will be and where you’re registered at so that Lily and I can get you guys a good present.”
“You two don’t have to get anything for us,” Julia said.
“Yeah, you already organized our wedding,” Robert agreed, wrapping his arm around his wife’s waist.
I grinned.
“Yes, well, you paid us to do that. I’d hardly call that a present.”
The three of us laughed.
“Well, we haven’t set a date or anything like that yet, but we’ll certainly let you know when we do,” Julia conceded.
“Good. Only the best for friends of Ever After Weddings.”
“Don’t tempt us. We might just let you spoil us,” Robert said with a chuckle, which earned him a rib to the gut from Julia.
“We would never take advantage of your generosity,” Julia said, glaring at her
husband.
Robert chuckled again, this time more nervously.
“It was a joke!” he said defensively.
“Oh, Robert, I never get tired of your wit,” I said in an attempt to restore harmony to the couple.
“Speaking of wit and charm,” Julia said, “I have to say, Crystal, you have become much more charming than before.”
I wasn’t sure whether that was a back-handed compliment or not, but I decided to take it with a grain of salt.
“Thanks, Julia.”
“Yeah, are you in a romantic relationship?” Robert asked.
I gasped in mock-surprise.
“Robert! First, you come here to announce that your wife is pregnant, and then you hit on me in front of her?” I said with a mischievous, teasing grin.
Julia mirrored my grin, but Robert looked absolutely flabbergasted.
“No, it’s not that…it’s just…I was thinking that if you weren’t, maybe I could introduce you to my brother.”
I laughed.
“I’m teasing you, Robert. Who’s your brother?”
“His name’s Pete. He’s about your age, I think,” Julia said as she took out her phone. She scrolled through some pictures, then handed it to me when she found the right one.
The picture was of a Fourth of July picnic with Robert, Julia, and a handsome young man who bore a striking resemblance to Robert. His dark hair blew carelessly in the summer breeze, and he had a kind smile that reached his eyes. And his eyes, such gentle blue eyes…
I could not look away from those blue eyes. There was something about them. They looked so familiar, and yet I had never seen Pete before.
Then I realized why I was staring at the picture for so long. His eyes looked exactly like Andrew’s.
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