Page 86 of Just Say Yes
‘So, your flights are all booked?’ Peyton asked me for the fourth time.
‘Babe, she’s already confirmed that,’ Patrick said, taking her hand and coaxing her to sit down. ‘Stop worrying.’
‘I’m not worried,’ she said. ‘I know Maddie has everything totally under control.’
‘The only person I haven’t met yet is the photographer,’ I pointed out. ‘Ordinarily I’d have liked to have gone over things with them by now. I’ve made a few attempts at getting in touch with him, but he’s not called me back. Would you mind speaking to him and asking him to ring me so that we can set up a meeting? I’d really like a chat with him and to do a walk-through at the venue before the day itself so that I know exactly what the plan is.’
To be honest, the lack of communication and cooperation from the photographer was the one thing about this wedding that had me nervous. I didn’t really do nerves. I couldn’t afford to in my job. I was there to smooth things over for everyone else, which I was able to do because I knew exactly what and when everything was happening. Usually. But I’d never worked with this photographer. I wasn’t sure he was even a professional photographer, which was fine. I’d seen amazing moments captured in beautiful shots by amateurs over the years, but I did need communication from him. Ordinarily I’d have spoken to Peyton about considering having a back-up – although finding one at this late notice would be a challenge, but I would manage. The situation, however, was proving more tricky as Peyton was adamant about using this guy. Apparently she’d known him since college and thought it would be lovely to have a photographer she knew and trusted and felt she’d be more relaxed for the photos that way. All that was great – but I had my reservations.
‘You’re worried about the photographer, aren’t you?’ Lorcan said as I turned back from waving the bride and groom-to-be off.
‘Stop reading my mind. You know it unnerves me.’
He shrugged. ‘I’d say sorry but then I’d be lying. It amuses me.’
‘Such a child,’ I said, moving him out of the way to get to my filing cabinet. ‘But yes, I am. I’ve normally got all this locked down by now but I haven’t even been able to speak to the man yet.’
‘I’m sure Peyton will get onto it now.’
‘I’ve mentioned it to her a few times already and he’s still not made contact. It’s odd, not to mention unprofessional.’
‘Maybe he’s a bit of a prima donna and thinks – don’t take this the wrong way – that he doesn’t need a wedding planner poking her nose into his “art”.’ He did the actions. ‘Remember this is just a theory and not what I think,’ he said, eyeing the letter opener glinting under the lamplight on my desk. ‘Just to be clear.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to stab you,’ I said, following his eye line. ‘I don’t have time to clear up the blood.’
‘Right. I’ll just keep an eye on any of my drinks tasting a little funny, then.’
‘Oh, sweet boy. You don’t really think I’d use anything you could actually taste, do you? Bless you. So naïve,’ I said, giving a shake of my head. Lorcan’s deep chuckle made me smile as I tidied up my desk, making sure everything was in place to start again tomorrow morning. Peyton’s wedding was going to take all my time once I was in Ireland – ordinarily I’d only go for a day, perhaps two for big weddings, but Peyton had a week-long hen night booked in New York, meaning she wouldn’t be getting to Ireland until shortly before the wedding. That meant it was up to me to make sure everything was perfect. Now that Calum had found out there were some well-known faces going to be at the wedding, he’d had a flutter of nerves, which Lorcan had calmed by saying I’d be there several days prior to go through everything with him.
‘Hungry?’ the deep lilting voice broke into my thoughts.
I glanced up at the dove-grey wall clock, highlighted against the white walls of the studio.
‘Crikey, is that the time?’ Lorcan had fed Bod some time ago but I’d been on a call and hadn’t really taken note of the hour. The dog was happily snuggled up in his bed now between the sofa and the desk, snoozing away, one ear flopped over the edge of the fabric. ‘You must be starving. Why didn’t you say something ages ago? You don’t have to stay anyway, you know. Half of this stuff is for other clients and if anything comes up with our wedding, I can always call you.’
Lorcan’s eyes were fixed on mine and I frowned for a second before my brain hit ‘replay’.
30
‘Notourwedding, obviously! I didn’t mean…’ I flapped a hand that roughly encompassed the two of us. ‘I just meant… you know, the one we’re… Patrick’s wedding.’
Lorcan was still looking at me.
‘What?’
‘I think that’s the first time I’ve ever seen you get flustered.’
‘I wasn’t flustered. I’m not flustered. Why on earth would I be?’ I said, a trickle of laughter following the words that, even to my ears, sounded totally awkward and fake.
‘You know you’re not making it better, right?’
‘I have no idea what you’re talking about,’ I replied, hoping to God that my foundation was strong enough to cover the blush I knew was lighting up my cheeks right now. ‘So, anyway. I’m sure you’re hungry so you should probably leave and get yourself some dinner.’
‘And what are you going to do?’
‘I have a bit more to do here and then I have something in the fridge.’
‘Don’t tell me, you have a Monday to Sunday pile of tubs that you prepared in advance.’ The deep, annoyingly sensuous laugh filled the small, low-lit studio.
