Page 111 of Just Say Yes
Lorcan gave a small headshake.
‘I’ve been a real sucker, haven’t I?’
‘No, not at all. You’re kind and sweet and sometimes less moral people manipulate qualities like those for their own ends.’
‘I feel so stupid. I don’t even know if I can go through with it all now. When Patrick finds out, he’s going to be so mad and my parents are going to be talking about what a waste all this effort was.’
‘Forget all that,’ Lorcan said. ‘And I can guarantee Patrick won’t be mad. He’s just going nuts with worry. Unfortunately, word’s gone round that the bride is MIA and he’s been ringing every two minutes asking me if we’ve found you. I’ve told him everything’s in hand and you’re safe with us, but he’s been worried sick.’
Peyton’s blue eyes filled with tears again. ‘I never meant to hurt or worry him. I… I just love him so much,’ she said and burst into another fresh round of tears. Without a word between us, Lorcan and I swapped jobs as I wrapped my arms around Peyton and rocked her gently, glancing over the top of her head to where Maria was watching, worry and care creasing her face. Lorcan, in the meantime, slipped quietly out of the back door, shucking on his coat as he did so.
* * *
Ten minutes later, Maria and I had combined to calm Peyton back down and I’d taken her up to my room to let her use my bathroom to freshen up and brush her hair before returning to the kitchen. As we entered from one door, Lorcan came in through the back door, Patrick following him in. His brow was furrowed with distress and his hair was sticking up at odd angles from, I imagined, several hours of running his hands through it.
‘Patrick!’ Peyton’s voice cracked. ‘But you’re not supposed to see me the day of the wedding. It’s bad luck.’
He was already hurrying past us to her side, taking her hands in his. ‘I wasn’t sure if there was even going to be a wedding, and, right now, I don’t care about superstitions. I just had to see you.’
‘I wanted to see you too.’ Peyton smiled, tears beginning to flow.
‘Peyton, my darling. If you’re not ready for this, that’s OK. If you don’t want to marry me, that’s OK too.’
Her perfectly sculpted brows shot up as far as the Botox would allow.
‘Now, don’t interpret that as meaning that I don’t want to marry you. I’ve wanted that from about a week after I met you, but if you’ve changed your mind, then I would never try and force you. This has to be your choice and your choice alone. If you want to wait, I will wait for you. If you don’t want to be…’ he swallowed audibly ‘… us any more, then I will accept that but—’
‘I do want us!’ Peyton broke in, almost wailing. ‘I do, I do, I promise. I just got all confused and overwhelmed and then Vance…’ She looked up through her wet lashes, cheeks flaring.
Patrick’s jaw hardened. ‘Yes, Lorcan filled me in about Vance. Don’t worry. Although, assuming you want to go ahead…’
‘I do! More than anything!’ Her voice had shot up several octaves and there was a hint of panic in it now as the tears began once more in full flow as she clung onto him.
‘OK, darlin’. It’s OK,’ he said, his voice gentle as he stroked her hair. ‘God, I love you.’
‘I love you too!’ she wailed. Lorcan winced and, over at the stove, Maria chuckled to herself at his reaction.
‘Well, that all works out well now, doesn’t it?’
‘I can’t guarantee I’m going to want to smile for the photos with this Vance bloke the other side of the camera, though,’ Patrick commented.
‘Not a problem,’ I interjected. ‘Back-up is on the way. She’ll be here within the next half an hour.’
‘Really?’ Patrick and Peyton’s heads both swivelled towards me.
‘Yes. I hope that was OK. She’s excellent. I’ve worked with her a lot and… well, Vance wasn’t really being terribly co-operative so I pulled in a favour and had Ellise on standby.’
‘What about Vance?’ Peyton asked.
‘If you want to use him still, then that’s up to you.’
Patrick’s face suggested he most definitely didn’t want to. ‘No, no, I don’t,’ Peyton said, still clinging to Patrick’s hand but beginning to regain some of her normal poise. ‘I thought he was a friend, but I don’t really think he is. I don’t think he loves me either. All he’s interested in, ever has been interested in, is what my family’s name and money can do for him.’
‘Do you want to tell him that his services are no longer required, or would you prefer me to?’ I asked.
Pick me! Pick me!
Peyton looked at Patrick, then me. ‘I’m happy to do it,’ Patrick interjected.
