Page 79 of In Love with Lewis Prescott
“Wait, are you serious, Lewis?”
He looks at me like I just asked him if he enjoys acting. “Of course I’m serious.”
“You’re okay with my cousin and her fiancé having their wedding here—in the house that you’re hiding out in? You’re okay with everyone seeing you?”
He takes a second, like he’s rethinking what we’ve both said. “Yes. I’m okay with it.”
“Remember when you first moved in and said you didn’t want anyone coming over so they wouldn’t recognize you and give away where you’re staying?”
He smiles softly. “Okay, yeah, I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous at the thought of being around a group of people. But meeting your family put me at ease. They haven’t told anyone about me. Yeah, I know that’s because they have no idea who I am, but that showed me that I can be around people if I trust them. And I trust you, Harper. If you tell the people in your life who know who I am that I’m staying with you and to keep it private, I’ll be okay with this. Plus, look at me.” When he shakes his head, his blond hair falls in shaggy waves around his face. He runs a hand over his short golden beard. “I haven’t gotten a haircut or shaved since I’ve been here. I look a lot different from how everyone is used to seeing me. I bet some people won’t even recognize me.”
I’m speechless, so moved by his kind words and thoughtful gesture, at the same time in disbelief that he’s figured out a solution to my cousin’s wedding nightmare.
“If you’re truly okay with this, I promise, I will do everything to protect your privacy, Lewis. Every person who comes to this wedding will be sworn to secrecy. They won’t say a word about you, I swear.”
He walks over and pulls me into a hug, then presses a soft kiss to my lips. For the millionth time since Lewis came into my life, my heart flutters.
“We could come up with a fake name for you. And tell them you’re a celebrity look-alike or something. Just to be extra safe.” I run a hand through his hair.
A smile appears in that sea of golden whiskers. “It’s okay. You don’t need to do all that. I trust you, Harper. If you trust your family to keep things discreet, then I trust them too.”
I try to speak, but all I can do is stammer through a breath. To have Lewis’s complete trust means everything. I hug him tight, then kiss him.
He smiles down at me. “Let’s give your cousin the wedding of her dreams.”
I’m buzzing. “We’ll have to put the renovation on hold until after the wedding in order to get this place set up in time,” I say.
“Totally understand.” He cups his palm against my face. “Put me to work—I’ll do whatever I can to help.”
I tiptoe up and give him another kiss, then I bring my phone back to my ear.
“Naomi? I have an idea. Put me on speaker so Simon can hear too.”
“Please tell us you’ve figure out some magical solution.” Simon sounds exhausted.
“I have. Actually, it was my contractor’s idea.” I wink up at Lewis, who shakes his head, smiling.
And then I dive right in.
I watch Naomi sitting at the makeshift vanity I threw together in my bedroom: I moved the coffee table from the living room next to the full-length mirror in here. She’s clad in a silky pink robe, perched on a small padded stool I found in the garage, swiping on the last of her makeup.
“How do I look?” She twists to me, and I go teary. Again. Just like every other time I’ve looked at my cousin today.
“You look like the most beautiful bride ever.”
“I don’t even have my dress on yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. You still look like an angel.”
I fan at my eyes with both hands to stop the burn from morphing into full-blown tears. She swipes two tissues from the box next to her makeup and hands me one.
“Hold it right under your eyes, hurry! Otherwise your mascara will run.”
I do exactly that, and so does she. Snotty chuckles fall from our glossed lips.
“I am sorry for what a mess I am today,” I say. “But I can’t help it. I love you, Naomi. I’m so happy you found your one.”
I reach over and hold her hand in mine.
