We’re at the coffee shop near Summer’s townhouse in Primrose Hill. It’s a cosy little place and among the top ten rated for coffee in London.
"Here." Summer grabs some paper towels. She dabs at the spilled mess before putting it aside. "Liam seems to have you all worked up."
"Worked up?" I huff. "You bet, he has me worked up. It’s his and Lila’s wedding, for chrissakes. It’s the most important day of her life. He could, at least, try to be more engaged in the preparations for her sake."
"And how is Lila taking it?" she asks in a serene voice.
This is what I love about her. She doesn’t get worked up easily. Summer has the most happy-go-lucky nature of anyone I know. Sunny and optimistic. She always looks on the bright side. And she’s so full of life. It’s why I love being around her. Normally, meeting her brings a smile to my face. Today though, Mr. Reprobate Kincaid has shaken my self-control enough that not even Summer’s smiling face is working its magic on me. I blow out a breath. "Lila is annoyingly calm about the situation. She’s happy working out the details of the wedding and has thrown herself into the organizing. She’s not perturbed by Liam’s less than enthusiastic response."
"There you go. If it doesn’t bother her—" She shrugs.
"You’re right, of course. She’s the bride. She’d know better if there there was something to be worried about." I rub at my temple. "Of course, heisfooting the bill, and he didn’t ask to cut anything. He didn’t seem surprised by the figure I threw down." I shake my head, still marveling at the lack of response when he saw the figure I quoted.
"'Course, the bastard’s a billionaire. He can afford many times that sum. Still, it would have been nice to get some kind of a response from him, you know?"
Summer takes a sip of her coffee and nods. "You seem more upset that he wasn’t taken aback by the budget you need for the event. He’s agreed to everything you asked for. Surely, that’s cause for celebration?"
I nod. A small smile curves my lips. "It’s going to boost the bottom line of my little company. Not to mention, shine the spotlight on me. After this event, hopefully, I’ll be one of the most sought-after wedding planners in the country," I murmur.
"And it seems he’s giving you a free hand with organizing everything," Summer adds.
"He is," I agree. "And Lila’s a sweetheart to work with."
"Sounds like you’re in a good position." Summer smiles.
"I am." Some of the tension fades from my shoulders. Perhaps, I was getting worked up for no reason. It's his demeanor that rubbed me the wrong way. He didn’t seem pleased to see me. And couldn’t wait to get me out of his office. And he was curt… But he signed off on the money. Which means, I can give Lila the kind of wedding she desires. And that's the most important thing, right?
"Guess I was overreacting." I return Summer’s smile gratefully. "Thanks for helping me sort through my thoughts."
"Anytime." She looks past me and a huge smile wreaths her face. I don’t need to turn to know that it means her husband is nearby. It’s that softening on her features, that leap of joy in her eyes, the way her entire being seems to glow and vibrate, which indicates the love of her life has arrived. Sure enough, Sinclair Sterling stalks around the table and when he reaches her, he grabs her chair and lifts it with her in it. She squeals, "Honey, what are you doin—" He lowers his chin and closes his lips over hers. His biceps strain as he holds her up and continues to kiss her for an uncomfortably long period of time. Around me, people watch them with smiles on their faces. I, myself, wear a grin. It’s incredible to see two people so in love. The kind of love that, when they kiss with such passion, you feel you’re in their bedroom with them and should be looking elsewhere to give them privacy. Before I can avert my eyes, Sinclair leans back with a big smirk. And Summer gazes into his eyes with a loving expression.
"Hi baby," Sinclair says softly before easing her back to the floor. He presses another tender kiss to her forehead, then turns to me. "Isla, how are you?"
"I’m good." I smile hugely at him, then rise to my feet. "I was just leaving, actually."
"Oh, don’t let me run you off," Sinclair says in a voice indicating he’s actually not sorry to be doing so because now he gets his wife all to himself.Goals, yeah?
"No, I really must go. I’m working on what’s being labelled 'the society wedding of the year.' Can’t leave anything to chance." I gather up my handbag.
"You mean Liam’s wedding?"
I nod. Liam is brother to one of the Seven—as Sinclair and his friends like to call themselves—and, as a result, a friend to all of them. Sinclair and his six partners in the 7A Company are among the richest men in the world. And they’ve stayed good friends since they were kids in school.
The gossip I’ve caught tells me the Seven were kidnapped and held, then later released. That kind of shared life experience changes you. No wonder they’ve stayed friends and are always there for each other. I’m glad to be included in the circle of their friendship. It makes me feel like I’ve found my tribe. If I needed help, I have no doubt, Summer and the other wives of the Seven would come to the rescue.
Not that I’d ever ask for it. I’m too independent. Too self-made. That’s what happens when you go through your own life experience, which changes you. Nothing as threatening as what the Seven went through, but it’s the kind of thing that defines my life. It forced me to look deep inside myself and find reservoirs of strength I didn’t know I had. It also made me independent and pushed me to take risks—like starting my own business. It made me realize that I have one life and I'm lucky to be here, to be alive. And healthy enough to do things.
It made me want to pursue my ambition to run my own wedding planning organization, and not back down. It gave me the courage to hold my own when faced with an alphahole like Liam-f’ing-Kincaid. I nod toward Summer, "Lovely to have met you, my dear, but I must take myself off and make sense of thecomplicated list of demands the bride messaged me on my way here."
Summer blows me a kiss. Sinclair, who’s put his hand on her shoulder as if he can’t bear to be this close and not touch her, nods in my direction. "Liam’s a tough guy. He can come across as unreasonable, but his bark is worse than his bite."
"Hmm," I tilt my head. "Why do I find that difficult to believe?"
4
Isla
Liam m’f’ing Kincaid: Come over to my penthouse now. I want to discuss details of the wedding
