“Look.” Kelsey tried to keep her tone polite yet firm. “I appreciate that you came on behalf of your family. That’s very…noble of you, considering my past with your sister. But nothing you say will change my mind.”
His assessing gaze made her self-conscious. It was all she could do not to smooth her skirt and check to see if a piece of spinach was caught between her teeth.
His eyes twinkled, at odds with the tension. “Are you always so stubborn?”
“Out. Now.” At least the band of gold wasn’t the only negative thing about Will Addison. “Get out of my office before I call security and have you thrown out.”
GROUP CHAT #1
Kelsey put away the veil and wreath, ignoring a sense of regret at having tried them on, which was ridiculous. It was a part of her job to try on items and make sure they went well together.
A glance at the time told her that she had a few minutes to finish up before she had to leave. Kelsey also wanted Will Addison to have had time to leave the building. She wanted to wrap up loose ends so she wouldn’t have to work while on vacation. She was biding her time to make sure he would be well and truly gone, so she might as well let Serena know how perfect the veil was and update her friends. Though friends never felt like a true enough descriptor for what those three women meant to her. Kelsey was close with Christina, but they were family by blood. Serena James, Jane Dawson, and Elle Cavendish were family by choice.
Her sisters.
They’d met during recruitment their freshman year of college as part of the same sorority pledge class and become sisters in every sense of the word. Even though Jane had to drop out of school and no one lived near each other, the four of them had stayed in touch over the years. That was the beauty of technology.
Kelsey typed a text.
Kelsey:The vintage veil works perfectly with the wreath, Serena. Thanks.
Elle:Pic?
Kelsey:Not yet, but I’ll take one when I get back from vacation.
Elle:I love the idea of vintage wedding apparel. Not that I’m ever getting married.
Serena:Give it time.Your heart needs more time to heal.
Jane:You deserve so much better than your ex.
Kelsey:He was the wrong guy, but nothing wrong with being single.
Elle:I like being single.
Kelsey:Same.
Serena:Don’t you have a flight to catch, K?
Kelsey:Yes, but I was waylaid by a potential client. Told him no, and I’m getting ready to leave for the airport.
Elle:Safe travels. Hope you get to hang out with that Didier guy.
Jane:Take lots of pics in San Montico!
Serena:Have fun with your cousin.
Kelsey:Thanks.I’m hoping to digitally detox while I’m away, but I’ll check in if I get the chance. If not, I’ll be in touch when I get home.
CHAPTER TWO
Waiting for Kelsey to step out into the hallway was far from Will’s idea of a good time, but he wasn’t leaving until he had a chance to speak with her again.
The seconds turned into minutes, the minutes into an hour. How much longer before she left for the airport?
He stared at the door to Kelsey’s office. No catchy name for her business, simply Kelsey Armstrong Waters, Wedding Consultant, in a script font. Too bad there was nothing simple about the woman herself.
He should have handled it better, but Kelsey had caught him off guard, and he wasn’t a man used to being caught off guard. He didn’t like the feeling one bit.
