Page 7 of Bear's Midlife Bridesmaid
“Sure.” Why not? Gretchen was so drunk, shewouldn’t remember anything Erin told her that night, anyway.
Her head wobbling back on her neck, Gretchen sucked her lips against her teeth and then let them go with a loud smack. “I’ve still been practicing a bit.”
“Have you?” Erin had occasionally wondered if Gretchen still harnessed her natural talent. “I wasn’t sure how something like that would fit into your lifestyle with a guy like Hugo Bradford on your arm.”
“Well, how do you think I got him?” Gretchen asked, her dark eyes shining.
“What do you mean?”
Gretchen rolled her eyes. “I know how to make things happen. I know how to put myself in the way of the right people. Back then, we used our magic to scare kids on the playground, but now I use it to climb the social ladder.”
“Oh. Gotcha.” Erin didn’t really understand, but she didn’t need to. It was dangerous to talk about such things right there in front of other people. Granted, everyone seemed so focused on their own lives that they wouldn’t have cared if Erin got up and did a song and dance routine.
“Here it is!” Blaire came trottingback to the table, waving her cell phone. “You’ve just got to see the stripes on this dress!”
Gretchen scooted back to her own seat, and Blaire resumed her seat next to Erin. Her thong was no longer around her ankles, at least. In fact, there was no sign at all that Blaire had done anything beyond going to her cabin and getting her phone. If anyone noticed that it’d taken her a surprisingly long time to do that, they didn’t comment.
Hugo returned a few minutes later and picked right back up where he’d left off, trying to lecture Jace about his own profession. Erin simmered inside as she picked up the wine bottle on the table and topped off her glass. Gretchen had gone on and on about how happy she was with Hugo. The more Erin knew about him, the more she hated him. How could Gretchen be with someone like that? Sure, he was rich, but he was also a pompous jerk.
Erin had no idea how she was going to handle this.
4
“Come in,”Jace said when a knock sounded on his cabin door.
Ian entered and looked at his father. “Wow, really going all out today, aren’t you?”
Standing in front of the mirror, Jace readjusted the jacket of his full dress uniform. It’d been quite a while since he’d worn one since his usual job didn’t require such formality. “I kind of have to if I’m officiating this shindig. Funny thing is, it just doesn’t look as good on me as it used to.”
His son snorted. “You’re just nervous because you have to wear it in front of agirl,” Ian teased.
“That doesn’t have anything to do with it. I’m just not used to it anymore.”
“Riiight,” Ian replied. “Whatever you say, man.”
Jace sighed at his reflection as he combed his hair first one way and then another. He knew Ian was right, even if he didn’t want to admit it. There was no shame in his feelings for Erin, but it wasn’t time to talk about the subject yet. He’d barely scratched the surface on what was between them.
But if Ian was noticing, he wasn’t doing a very good job of keeping it quiet. He turned away from the mirror to grab his hat. “Is it that obvious?”
“Hey, I’ve never worked with you on a boat like this. I don’t know how you normally operate. I guess I wouldn’t know howanycaptain on a fancy yacht operates, but I doubt any of them would slip off to talk to a particular guest outside or make eyes at her over dinner.”
“What can I say? She’s not a snob like the rest of them,” Jace groused.
Ian wagged a finger at him. “Now, now. We have to be professional. This is our job, and we agreed to do it.”
Jace laughed. “I always knew you’d use my words against me someday. Anyway, I assume there was a specific reason you came in here. Or was it just to tease me?”
“The teasing is just a bonus,” Ian replied with a grin. “I actually came to let you know Marissa and Igot the last of the flowers put out, and the ribbons are tied along the railings like you wanted. The music is ready to go. The only thing we have to do to start the ceremony is to literally press play.”
“Perfect.” Jace was no wedding planner, and he was glad that Rodney had everything in place with detailed instructions. “Since we have so few people to work with, this ought to go fairly smoothly.”
At least, he hoped so as he made his way back up to the deck. Though the yacht wasn’t huge, he and the crew had made quite a bit of room by moving some furniture around. White folding chairs were placed in a row, and an arch had been set up. The ribbons fluttered in the gentle breeze, and the late afternoon sunlight was golden and gentle. Ian had started up some light classical music. It was beautiful, an intimate setting inside an almost infinite expanse of water. Jace checked over his notes and then took his place in front of the arch. Now, all he had to do was wait.
The wedding guests were the first to appear. Jace knew them all by name now. Hadley and Blaire sat together, giggling and talking with their heads close. Florence sauntered up next, carefully arranging herself in her seat. Last came Phillip, jogging up from below deck, still adjusting his tie. He nodded atthe women before plopping into a seat, earning a disdainful look from Florence.
Hugo came next, dressed in a designer tux that’d been custom-tailored or perhaps even custom-made. He strode coolly down the aisle and took his place. Jace noticed that he didn’t look the least bit flustered. Every groom Jace had ever seen was always a bit nervous, rubbing his hands together or making too many jokes. Hugo was simply there, casually waiting for his bride.
The groomsman, Archie, looked a bit more flustered as he came down the aisle next, picking at the buttons on the front of his tux.
