Kelsey chalked it up to family loyalty. Still, a simple “I’m sorry” would have made such a difference, but none had come.
She’d kept waiting and hoping. Of course, she’d only contributed to the situation by continuing to plan Faith’s weddings, because Kelsey enjoyed working with Starr, but she wasn’t going to give in and do it again.
Kelsey really wanted—no, she needed to take a vacation. Just her reaction to Will told her she needed to get away from her daily routine. Designing wedding after wedding without time for herself or a little male diversion had taken a toll. A couple of weeks on the island paradise of San Montico with her cousin, Christina, was exactly what Kelsey needed. A little rest and relaxation. Maybe Prince Richard’s royal advisor, Didier Alois, had forgiven her for turning down his marriage proposal and they could spend some time together. If he hadn’t, making up would be a nice challenge. She did enjoy his company even if he’d gone a bit far by proposing after only knowing her for one week. And a casual flirtation might be fun. Yes, this vacation was what she needed, craved, deserved. “I’m really sorry, Will, but I have a plane to catch.”
“My mother’s only wish is to see Faith married. It’s more important to her than her own recovery.” He gazed straight at Kelsey, making her feel as if she needed to take a step—make that ten steps—back. “And you’re the only one she wants to help her.”
An invisible noose tightened around Kelsey’s neck, and she tried to resist caving in. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was to plan a fifth wedding for Faith. Kelsey had promised herself not to allow Starr to sweet-talk her into doing another wedding for her daughter. Now it wasn’t only Starr asking, but Will, too.
“What do you say?” He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Will you help my mother make her dream come true?”
A grapefruit-size lump of guilt lodged in Kelsey’s throat. Closing her eyes, she thought about her grandmother and how important dreams had been to her. Dreams she’d had for and shared with each of her grandchildren. But the stroke had taken away those dreams, taken away everything. There had been little time to do anything but say goodbye. Kelsey had wanted to do more, so much more. And now Will was giving her the chance she hadn’t had before.
The ding of a bell announced the arrival of the elevator, and the doors opened.
“I know your staff is gone, but I’ll help you.” Will smiled. “Tell me what you need done and it’ll be done. I don’t know much about weddings, but I’m a fast learner.”
Her eyes sprang open and her heart leaped with pleasure at the thought of being near Will. It was totally illogical, downright ridiculous. Forget about not wanting to work on Faith’s wedding. The last thing in the world Kelsey wanted to do was to spend two weeks working with Will Addison. “Faith will want to work on her own wedding.”
“She’s on location and won’t be flying in until the day before the wedding. She made me promise to oversee things until she arrived.”
This didn’t sound like the Faith that Kelsey knew. The starlet wanted to be involved with everything. She’d even overseen the flower arrangements for the last wedding. Starr was always a big help, but even she demurred to her daughter’s wishes. “Faith trusts you to oversee her wedding preparations?”
“Yes.” A wry grin graced his lips. “Do you have a problem with this?”
Kelsey’s stomach twisted and turned and tumbled. She should have eaten more than a croissant for breakfast. “Of course not. I’ve worked with grooms—men—before.”
“Does this mean you’ll do it?”
“I…” Glancing at the closing elevator doors ahead of her, she watched her vacation disappear. And with it, her stress level inched upward.
“You can’t imagine what it would mean to my mother and my entire family.”
Damn him. Damn all the Addisons. She did not want to work on another wedding for Faith. Kelsey had promised herself she wouldn’t, yet for her grandmother and Starr… “Okay.”
“Okay what?”
“I’ll coordinate Faith’s wedding.” The gruffness of Kelsey’s voice should have bothered her, but it didn’t. She was doing this under duress. “I’m not saying it again.”
“I’m not asking you to.” Will grinned. He was practically dancing like a bride-to-be registering at Tiffany & Co.
At least one of them was getting some enjoyment out of this. She knew it wouldn’t be her. She wouldn’t be happy until February fifteenth—when Faith’s wedding was over and done with, and Kelsey was back home. “I want an exclusive contract to plan weddings at Starr Properties. As many weddings as I want.”
“Fine.”
“And my normal fee went up.” Money didn’t mean much to her, but she wanted to make them pay. This seemed as good a way as any. Unlocking the door to her office, Kelsey stepped inside. “Way up.”
He followed her in. “Okay.”
“I need to pack a few things here. I’ll also have to stop by my condo, repack my suitcase and make a few phone calls.” She paused, wondering if she could make him change his mind about taking her with him. Not the fairest way to play, but she was desperate. “It’ll take a little while. I understand if you don’t want to wait.”
“I’m happy to wait.”
Anything to make her happy, Kelsey realized. She was tempted to ask him to jump to see if he would. She set her bag on the reception desk instead. With no warning, Will touched her shoulder, sending shivery sensations shooting up and down the length of her arm. “You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“Let’s get one thing clear.” She moved away from him, from his much-too-pleasurable touch. She’d brushed off advances from a few of the most handsome actors and musicians in the business—some even grooms-to-be. That had been bad enough, but this was much worse. Will was already married. M-a-r-r-i-e-d. “I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for your mother.”
And my grandmother.
“I understand.”
Kelsey shook her finger at him. “And I swear if Faith doesn’t get married this time…”
“I know my sister.” He smiled. “She’s getting married on February fourteenth.”
Kelsey flashed him one of her give-me-a-break looks. “Care to make a wager on it?”
His eyes gleamed as if amused by the idea. “It’s a sucker’s bet.”
“I happen to like suckers.” She grinned. “Lime’s my favorite.”
“Cherry happens to be mine.”
“So I’m tart and you’re sweet.” She laughed. “This could make for an interesting wager.”
He smiled. “Seriously, there’s no need for us to bet. Faith will go through with it this time. Trent’s different than her other fiancés. What you see is what you get. No games, no ego trips. Faith’s found the one.”
“The
