Don't Tell the Wedding Planner (13 page)

“Just how much sleep do you need in order to pull tomorrow off, anyway?” Matt asked against her mouth.

“I’m not sure,” she whispered back.

The sound of a throat clearing broke the spell.

Matt looked up and found Tommy staring at them both with the hugest grin on his face, his arm wrapped around Penny. With her black, pixie cut hair and petite frame, she looked fragile enough to break. That she’d survived what she’d done to her body never ceased to amaze Matt. Tommy was taller than Matt by an inch, but thinner by twenty pounds. At least he no longer appeared gaunt. Neither one looked as if they were nervous about the wedding tomorrow. In fact, in their medieval outfits they looked like just two of the guests enjoying the day.

Tommy’s gaze shifted from Matt to Callie and then back again. “Can I steal Callie for a second, Matt?”

Matt fought like hell to pretend that heat wasn’t rising up his face at his little brother catching him necking like a stupid schoolkid. Tommy looked intensely amused, if not a little shocked. Not surprising given Matt hadn’t been forthcoming about his relationship with Callie. Mostly because he knew there would be questions. Questions he didn’t know how to respond to.

Questions he didn’t know the answer to himself.

Matt’s voice came out gruffer than he’d planned. “No problem. Have at it. I’m sure you both have stuff to discuss about tomorrow.”

Callie didn’t look embarrassed at all. Instead, she seemed to find something in Matt’s face humorous.

She reached up to plant a kiss on his lips. “I’ll meet you at the LARP tent at two?”

“Sure.”

Tommy and Callie instantly launched into a debate about a problem with this afternoon’s schedule for the live-action role-playing as they headed in the direction of the LARP tent. Penny turned to look up at Matt, and he felt her gray gaze all the way to his medieval-approved work boots.

Wasn’t dealing with a kid brother enough? Must he endure his soon-to-be sister-in-law’s amusement, too?

But Penny’s eyes were somber as she looked at Matt. “I want to thank you again for agreeing to walk me down the aisle.”

Matt bit back a groan and shifted on his feet. He’d almost prefer being mocked for acting like a schoolkid who couldn’t keep his hands to himself. When he’d decided to tell Penny he’d changed his mind, he chose to make the announcement with as little fanfare as possible. So two nights after his conversation with Callie, and the spectacular Skype call, Matt had mentioned at dinner that he’d be fine with walking Penny down the aisle, if she still wanted him to.

Tommy had looked speechless, and Penny had barely managed to let out a shocked yes before Matt had picked up his plate and concentrated on the cleanup. Too bad he didn’t have any pressing activities he could bury himself in now. Somehow, he didn’t think signing up for a second try at ax-throwing qualified as pressing.

Especially given his hideous lack of skills.

He swept his gaze across the field of white tents, the setting like the base encampment prior to one of the many epic battles in
The Lord of the Rings
. A crowd of people milled about in their costumes. But, unfortunately, nothing required Matt’s immediate attention.

He aimed for a nonchalant shrug, hoping he pulled it off. “No biggie.”

Penny let out a small laugh, but Matt got the impression that there was zero humor in the act. “It’s a very big deal for me. I mean, I know I’m not exactly the girl you had in mind for Tommy.”

Despite everything, Matt let out an amused scoff. “That’s assuming I even gave the matter much thought. I was too busy trying to keep him alive.”

He hadn’t meant to let the last bit slip out.

“I know you were.” She stepped forward and laid a hand on Matt’s arm. “I love him, Matt. I really do.”

Oh, God. How had he suddenly become the trusted sidekick in a chick-flick movie, slated as the confidant he never wanted to be? Ever. In this life, or the next.

“I know how close you two are, and I just wanted to say...” her lips twisted, and she paused before going on “...thanks.”

He cleared his throat. “Well, whether you want to be or not,” he said, his voice gruffer than he’d planned, “you’re part of the family now.”

Tears welled in her eyes and left Matt dying to escape. Before he could figure out how to make that happen gracefully, Penny pulled him into a hug that caused the sword at his hip to jab him in the abdomen. Two of the longest seconds of his life later, Penny pulled back and reached on tiptoe to plant a kiss on Matt’s cheek.

Which was nicer than he’d thought it would be, but all he really wanted was to find Callie and grab a few minutes alone. Penny shot him a beautiful smile, spun on her heel and took off.

Feeling a little lighter, he watched his soon-to-be sister-in-law thread her way through the crowd. At least the weekend weather appeared to be behaving for tomorrow’s wedding. The sunny days came complete with a cool breeze and mild temperatures. Good thing, too, seeing how most of the guests were dressed for the times. No shorts or tank tops or T-shirts, just tunics and cloaks and surcoats, not to mention petticoats and peasant dresses.

He scanned the sea of colors, looking for Callie, when a hand clapped him on the back.

“Can I buy the best man a beer?”

Thwarted again.

Matt turned and hiked a brow at his kid brother. Tommy swept the brown waves of hair from his face—a nervous habit since he’d been a little kid. The sight never failed to trigger a swell of affection in Matt’s heart.

“Mead,” Matt said. “Callie very specifically instructed me to call it mead.”

“Yeah.” Tommy’s brown eyes crinkled at the corners. “About Callie—”

“Beer,” Matt said, fighting the scowl and hoping to put off any further questioning. Mentioning Callie’s name had been tantamount to asking for his kid brother’s harassment. “I’m definitely up for a beer.”

Tommy shot Matt a look that screamed, “Nice try, sucker,” clearly communicating that Tommy was on to his big brother’s deflection technique and was only humoring him.

For now.

Matt wasn’t entirely sure why he didn’t want to discuss Callie with Tommy. They’d been living in each other’s pockets for so long the reluctance felt strange. But something about his time in New Orleans felt too personal to discuss. A private time Matt didn’t want to share with anyone.

Including his brother.

Regardless, a small knot of tension curled low in Matt’s gut as they weaved their way through the crowd of people, passing the strolling minstrels on their way to the largest tent set in the middle of the field. A meeting place, of sorts, with a crowd clearly intent on reliving the feel of a medieval tavern.

Tommy found two empty stools at the end of a crudely constructed wooden table. A barmaid arrived to take their order and, as soon as she returned with two mugs of beer, the two of them were left alone with nothing but the noise around them and several years’ worth of unresolved issues between them.

Sticking with the matter at hand seemed best.

“To you and Penny,” Matt said, lifting his mug.

Tommy grinned and toasted Matt back. When his brother took a drink and set his beer down, the determined look on his face left Matt wishing he could go back to throwing another ax, even if it meant risking getting booed by a large crowd.

“There’s something I’ve wanted to ask you,” Tommy said.

Matt felt like a fool for not meeting his brother’s eyes. “Fire away.”

“What’s up with you and Callie?”

Matt lifted his gaze to his brother’s brown eyes—puppy eyes, their mother had called them. Funny how Matt had forgotten about that until just now. But she’d been right. Tommy had the same look that managed to look happy and sad, wise and innocent, all at the same time.

Matt shrugged. “We’ve decided not to label the relationship just yet.”

Long-distance was the only label that fit. But the idea totally sucked. He’d been down the long-distance relationship road before. He couldn’t imagine this time would end any prettier.

“But you’re sleeping with her,” Tommy said.

Frowning, Matt ran his thumb up his mug, staring at the trail left behind in the condensation. Not being the kind to kiss and tell left him in a bit of a quandary. He only had two choices, to either share too much or lie. And neither sat right with Matt.

Tommy let out a laugh. “Never mind. Your silence is good enough. Actually, I’m kind of relieved.”

“Really?” Sleeping with Callie certainly made Matt feel better. But why the heck would Matt’s relationship make
Tommy
feel better? “Why?”

A grin crept up his kid brother’s face. “Because all that time you were down here in New Orleans, arranging this shindig, I felt bad that you had to be the one working out how to pull this weekend off. When a few days turned into almost two weeks...” Tommy ruffled his shaggy brown hair. “I don’t have to tell you I was feeling pretty guilty.”

“No worries, sport.” Matt reached across the table and gave Tommy’s shoulder a cuff. “You just owe me your undying allegiance for the rest of your life. Simple enough.”

Matt’s attempt at dodging a heavier discussion with a lighthearted response didn’t work. Tommy’s expression remained fixed on Matt and serious. And the look never went well for Matt.

“But before you stand up beside me tomorrow,” Tommy said. “I want to say it again.” Tommy leaned his elbows on the table. “I’m sorry for everything I put you through.”

More than just the words, the expression on his little brother’s face left Matt on edge.

Matt didn’t look away, and every ounce of tease in his tone disappeared. “I know you are.”

“But I also need to know that you forgive me,” Tommy said.

Well, hell.

Matt sat back and stared out at the chaos beyond the tent. Forgiveness, he’d found, had been harder and harder to come by. The first relapse had been easy. The second, not so much. By the third round of rehab, forgiveness had been a huge struggle. A battle Matt had sometimes thought he wouldn’t win.

But here they sat, two years later...

You can’t make them keep paying for the same mistakes over and over again.

Callie was right. Even if they had been in this very spot before, and Tommy had screwed up again. And clearly Tommy needed a truthful answer and not a glib response. Maybe Tommy had put his brother through an emotional wringer, but his hard work this past twenty-four months meant he deserved nothing less than an honest answer.

That and the fact the man was set to get married tomorrow.

Matt delivered the words while staring at his mug. “I’m not gonna lie, Tommy. It hasn’t been easy.” He lifted his gaze to his brother. “But...come on.” Matt leaned forward and folded his arms on the table. “Why would I help arrange this weekend if I still had even a trace of resentment left? All I want is for you to be happy. I mean, look around you.” He gestured toward the scene that included knights, and maidens, and trolls. Matt let out a huff of humor as he looked at his kid brother. “You think I’d go to all this trouble otherwise?”

Sam’s serious face didn’t budge. “Yeah, you would. You
totally
would.” Despite the words, a grin slowly spread across Tommy’s face, bringing the same the response from Matt. “But it’s good to know that’s not the case.”

Matt blew out a breath, and the tension in his shoulders eased. “Well, now that we have all that cleared—”

“I’m not done, Matt. I need you to lighten up a little.”

“Lighten up?”

“You know what I’m talking about,” Tommy said.

The noise of the tent filled the air between them, and tension curled in Matt’s gut. He watched a juggler wander by, wishing he could avoid the upcoming conversation.

“Look,” Tommy said, “I’m getting through this, day by day. Both Penny and I. And yeah, sure—” Tommy pushed his hair back from his face “—some days it takes all I have to make it through. But I’m clean.” He stared at Matt. “I’m
clean.
”

Matt blinked back the pain, hating the words that needed to be said, even after all this time. He’d spent ten years watching Tommy, struggling to help him fight this demon that had him firmly in its grip. He’d never said the words before, because the sentiment had felt like a betrayal. But they needed to be said now.

I’m clean.

Because how many times had Matt heard those words?

Matt’s words came out rough. “Yeah, I know you are, Tommy,” he said. Two sharp heartbeats thumped by. “But for how long?”

Tommy barely registered a flinch on his face.

Jesus, Matt. You’re such a bastard.

“You have to stop hovering, Matt,” Tommy said. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

“I know you’re not.”

Tommy went on as if Matt hadn’t spoken. “Because you and I know there is no end point here. I’ll always be at risk. Some days are so damn hard I want to curl up in a corner and cry.” Tommy leaned closer, and Matt’s chest ached so hard he thought his ribs would fracture. “I know you have this intense need to fix things. I know you see a problem and your first extinct is to swoop in, tough love and all. But you
can’t
fix this for me. This is something I have to do all by myself.”

“Maybe so.” Matt set his mug on the wooden table with a
thump.
“But I can damn sure be around if you start to slip again.”

Be around, stuck in a job where the typical day left Matt wishing he watched paint dry for a living. What was the point of this conversation? What could it possibly solve? Matt had been examining Tommy’s problem from every possible angle for the past ten years. And as far as he figured, there was only one solution.

“Now if were done with the best man talk,” Matt said, easing his words with a gentle pat on Tommy’s back. “I’ve got another ax-throwing competition to lose.”

NINE

Over the
past ten years, Callie had sometimes wondered if she’d been fooling herself about her life. Today Callie had determined with absolutely certainty that her mistake all those years ago had been both the worst and the best turning point of her life.

If she hadn’t blown that scholarship she’d probably be working for someone else right now, because that would have been the safer, easier route to take. But when her choices had been limited to only one—that one choice being whatever she could build herself from the ground up—she’d set about and done just that.

With the most important event in the history of Callie’s business currently taking place right before her eyes.

The day of the Paulson-Smith wedding began just as beautifully as the day before. The grassy field was dotted with white tents that flapped in the cool breeze, providing a sharp contrast against the crystal-blue sky. A crowd of guests dressed in their best medieval fair, maidens and princesses and knights stood next to wizards and trolls. Penny’s silver silk gown shimmered around her slender figure and made her look like an elegant elf.

Gorgeous.

The crowd had grown from online gaming friends to several hundred interested well-wishers. From the three news cameras mixed in with the crowd, clearly the publicity would be bigger than even Colin had guessed. With her ex, along with Penny and Tommy, set to be interviewed during the reception, the day clearly promised to be a boon for Callie’s business.

So how come all she could focus on was Matt?

With about eight other things she should be checking on, Callie shaded her eyes from the sun, grinning as a chain-mail-wearing Matt walked Penny down a makeshift aisle composed of friends dressed as knights, swords drawn and creating an arch over a red carpet leading to the front of a gorgeous canopy. The sight created a happy thrum in Callie’s veins. Publicity aside, the scene was the single most satisfying event in her life to date.

But Matt wearing chain mail would never cease to be Callie’s favorite part. And while he protested that he was no one’s knight in shining armor, she begged to differ. The smile on the bride’s face, and the almost embarrassed look on Matt’s, brought about a pressure in Callie’s chest.

An emotion she couldn’t name.

Feeling like a sappy fool, Callie grinned as she discreetly wiped the tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. Tommy looked happy. Penny positively beamed. And Matt, the man who played the largest role in ensuring this ceremony happened, looked adorably embarrassed and charmingly put out. He’d stuck by his brother and refused to give up when things got tough. And, no matter how silly Matt thought the whole affair, he’d thrown himself into making sure today took place just how Tommy and Penny wanted.

A buzzing started in her chest, creating a warmth that had nothing to do with the sun or the crowd pressing in around her.

Standing on the other side of the makeshift aisle, Colin discreetly waved at Callie and then pointed at his watch. They’d caught up earlier and planned on running through the best way to handle the news interviews set to take place after the ceremony. Which she was about twenty minutes late for.

She knew she should slip away and meet up as planned, but she couldn’t force her feet to move. Callie blinked and glanced back up the aisle, unable to shift her gaze from Matt as he leaned in for Penny’s kiss. Or when he stepped forward to stand by Tommy.

The buzzing grew stronger. Callie pressed her hand to her chest as the pressure became a physical ache, the realization washing over her with all the gentleness of a tidal wave.

She loved him.

The terrifying and wonderful and life-altering realization kept her rooted in place. Even as Colin managed to unobtrusively weave his way through the crowd of people craning to watch the small three-person bridal party make their way beneath the white awning covering the wooden platform—a last-minute addition ensuring the larger than expected crowd could see the ceremony.

But all Callie wanted to watch was Matt, in his chain mail and leggings and boots and the sword hanging at his side. A small grin on his face as he watched Tommy take Penny’s hand and step in front of the officiant dressed as, of all things, a wizard.

And falling for the man who lived a thousand miles away felt significantly more terrifying than failing at this publicity event.

Jeez, what had she done?

A hand lightly gripped her elbow, but she didn’t budge as Colin whispered in her ear.

“We were supposed to meet twenty minutes ago,” he said.

“I know.”

Still, she didn’t move. No matter how many times she told her feet to start walking.

“What’s the matter?” Colin leaned forward, his gaze landing on her face. “Good God, Callie. What’s gotten into you?”

She stared up at Colin, her mind still stuck on her personal epiphany. And then she felt a drop of water hit her cheek. Concerned, Callie glanced up at the sky. Still no clouds. She touched her face and finally realized she was still crying.

Despite her ridiculously romantic ideals, she’d never cried at a wedding before. Of course, realizing she’d fallen hard for the brother of the groom was a first, too.

Concern clouded Colin’s voice. “Are you okay?”

Callie didn’t respond, simply watched Tommy and Penny begin to repeat their vows. And the signal that the ceremony was quickly coming to a close provided the impetus to move. With one last lingering look at Matt on stage, hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on his little brother, Callie turned and followed Colin silently through the throng of people to a quiet spot well away from the crowd and the ceremony.

Colin still looked at her as if she were about to go off the deep end. “Callie, are you sick?”

“No.” She shook her head, hoping the motion would clear her spinning brain.

No such luck.

Colin crossed his arms, a skeptical look creeping up his face. “I know you love weddings. But this is kind of over the top, even for you.”

She wiped her cheek again and found her cheek just as wet as before. Good grief, she felt as if she’d sprung a leak.

“So what’s wrong?” Colin asked.

She stared up at her ex, a million responses flitting through her brain before the only one that fit came out.

“I love him.”

Colin suddenly looked as though he’d prefer to be identified as the evil Zhorg and taken into custody by the crowd to be hanged by the neck until dead. And then drawn and quartered. Followed by a massive festival as the townsfolk danced while he burned, his body cremated just to be sure the deed was done.

Her ex’s eyes shifted from Callie’s face to the focus of her gaze, the small party standing on stage, and then back to Callie again.

Worry laced his tone. “I hope you’re talking about Matt and not Tommy.”

Forcing back the bubble of hysterical laughter, mostly triggered by panic, Callie rolled her eyes. “Of course I’m talking about Matt.”

“Good.” Colin winced. “Because falling for a man who just walked down the aisle probably wouldn’t end well.”

A surge of fear hit. “Matt lives in Manford, Michigan. A thousand miles away.”

“I’m sure y’all can work something out.”

She wished she felt so optimistic. And why hadn’t she concerned herself with this detail before? Suddenly pulling off a fabulous event without losing her focus seemed a terribly stupid reason for avoiding a relationship with Matt. But this? Falling in love with a man who lived so far away? One who clearly felt responsible for his brother?

She’d only just begun to realize how complicated their relationship was.

Callie had ten years—and most of her identity—invested in Fantasy Weddings. Her business wasn’t portable. She couldn’t just pick up and start over again. And she loved New Orleans. Her family was here. Her friends were here.

The tension in Callie’s stomach expanded.

“Hey.” Colin laid his hand on Callie’s shoulder. “Now’s not the time to fall apart, okay?”

The concern in his face only highlighted how truly screwed she was. She wiped her cheeks and forced herself back to the matter at hand. “Of course not. I can handle this.” She tried for a confidence-inspiring smile, hoping it didn’t feel as weak as it felt. “Let’s go talk to the news crew and figure out the best place for the interviews.”

Right.

Interviews.

Medieval wedding reception.

Dungeons of Zhorg.

Callie turned her back on the end of the ceremony—and the view of Matt standing on stage—and followed Colin in the direction of the news crews. Focusing on getting through the rest of the day appeared to be her only option.

* * *

The sun was setting as Callie forced herself to focus on the staff taking down the tents. When Matt came up beside her, she gave strict instructions to her heart to calm down. Much to her distress, her instructions went ignored when he slipped an arm around her waist.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Absolutely.”

Her smile felt forced, and Callie knew Matt suspected something, but she concentrated on remaining calm so she could finish her job. During the reception, Tommy and Penny’s brief interview had come out really cute, mostly because they were both so ridiculously happy. Callie had no doubt their two minutes of fame would be well received by viewers. As the maker of the video game, Colin’s interview was less emotional. But Colin was more than just a geeky gamer. He excelled as the marketing guru, as well. His smooth, well-polished blurb mentioning Fantasy Weddings and the
Dungeons of Zhorg
sounded casual and didn’t come across rehearsed at all.

“How much longer before I can get you alone again?” Matt murmured, a crooked smile on his face.

She discreetly fished her small pocket watch from the bodice of her princess dress, her favorite costume to date. The overdress of robin’s-egg-blue split in front, forming an inverted V to showcase the design of the white satin and gold brocade pattern beneath.

And, despite the fear now curled around her spine and setting up house, she had to laugh at the expression on Matt’s face.

“I was thinking I’d like to get you out of that dress and see how you’d look in chain mail.” His sex-filled smile started a thrumming vibration in her belly and spread outward. “With nothing underneath. So...” he said.

He leaned in close, sending a spike in her pulse, heat between her legs and anxiety twisting in her stomach.

“How long?” he finished.

“My assistant volunteered to oversee the cleanup,” she said. “And I already spoke to the vendor who supplied the table and chairs, so I’m free to go.”

Free to go.

Free to go where? Back to her place with Matt and have sex? Or free to go back to her regularly scheduled life, the one without Matt in it?

“Perfect,” Matt said, steering her in the direction of the parking lot.

Swallowing hard, she glanced down at her dress and smoothed a hand down her skirt. “How did your week at Manford Memorial go?”

“As uneventful as ever,” Matt replied.

She pounced on the one thing she knew for sure. Matt held no deep abiding affection for his job or his hometown. Surely that meant he’d be willing to move? No matter how much she loved him, she simply couldn’t afford to start all over again.

Desperate for something to do with her hands beside reach for Matt, she picked up her skirt as she walked. “Have you ever thought about living somewhere other than Manford?”

Matt shot her a guarded look, the expression doing little to ease her nerves. So she hurried on before she lost her courage completely.

“You know, find a new job?” she said.

“Why should I?” His steps slowed a little, making it easier to match his stride. But his tone was wary. “It’s home.”

Her feet fumbled, and Matt reached out briefly to steady her. Jeez, his hand on her arm wasn’t helping to calm her down. But she couldn’t just take him home to her bed without finding out more.

Callie opened her mouth to speak but failed at making a sound. She swallowed hard, forcing her mouth to cooperate. “But have you ever considered taking a part-time job somewhere else?” She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Moving your home base?”

Matt kept his eyes firmly ahead. “Like where?”

The loaded question felt like a shotgun aimed at her heart. Was he avoiding her gaze because he wasn’t sure of the direction of the conversation? Or did he know and simply wanted to avoid the topic altogether? One thing she knew for sure, she’d never know unless she asked. And sleeping with Matt now that she’d figured out she loved him would make letting him go harder in the end.

“Like here,” she said. “In New Orleans.”

Several seconds passed with only the sound of the gravel beneath their shoes, and Callie felt every crunch like a kick to the chest.

“I could certainly look into doing recurrent shifts as a traveling doc in their E.R.,” he said.

Not exactly the answer she wanted to hear. But the response felt encouraging.

“How often could you get down this way?” she asked.

“I could pull off six, maybe seven days a month.”

Six days a month?
And he’d be working busy shifts. What kind of life would that be for the two of them?

Callie came to a stop and stared up at him. “That’s not much time.”

A small breeze kicked up, and the setting sun finally sank beneath the tops of the oak trees, casting a shadow across them both.

“Callie.” With a sigh, Matt turned to face her, and she could see the conflict in his expression. “I can’t leave Manford.”

The words sliced through her like a sharp blade through whipped cream cheese.

“Why not?” she asked.

Matt looked out across the parking lot. Several seconds ticked by. Callie expected him to come up with something noteworthy, given the amount of time he spent formulating his response. But when the words came they were incredibly disappointing in their simplicity.

“It’s my home,” he said.

Callie slowly inhaled, searching for strength, before blowing out her breath in one long exhale.

“People move all the time, Matt,” she said. “And it’s not as if you love your job there.” She waited for him to look at her again. When he kept his eyes on the park, the trees fading as dusk claimed the rest of the landscape, she went on, “I know you don’t. So don’t even try to pretend that you do.”