Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
“Apparently the app she uses to rent the place did a software upgrade the day you made your reservation, and a glitch allowed you to book it even though it was already reserved. She had no idea.”
“But I paid a deposit?”
“She initiated a refund already. And she was apologetic, not that it helps our situation. Unfortunately, she only owns the one cabin.”
Naomi sighed. “Alright, well… I’ll find somewhere else to stay. I thought about it, and you were right. You made the reservation first, so you should be the one to get the cabin.”
“It’s not a big deal. I asked my assistant to find me a place. She should be calling me back soon.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’re already settled in. And Leonardo has already christened the place.”
“That reminds me. Did you happen to leave a bag of shredded coconut behind?”
“I thought I’d left it at home. I guess you found it?”
“Leonardo did. He tore it open and ate some, so I had to throw it out.”
“Damn.”
“What were you going to do with it?”
“Eat it.”
“It was a giant bag. It looked like it came from Costco.”
“I really like coconut.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. Lily promised me coconut cake at the rehearsal dinner.”
“Oh, and I think I found something else of yours.” She smirked and dug into her purse again, this time coming up with a strip of condoms. “Leonardo came trotting out with these after you left. I’m guessing they’re yours. You were hoping to do some christening of your own at the cabin?”
“How do you know someone else didn’t leave those behind?”
Her cheeks pinked. “They looked like your size.”
That comment and the big XL splashed across the front of the packets had me beaming. And here I thought I’d given a poor showing.
Naomi rolled her eyes. “Alright, alright, don’t let it go to your head. Big dick or not, you still seem like a jerk.”
“What did I do?”
“Well, for one, you’re a defense attorney. That in itself is the biggest clue. But you also insulted Leonardo.”
“And drove you to the hospital…”
“Maybe that part wasn’t so jerky. I’ll give you that one.”
“And insisted you stay at the cabin while I bunked on a hard couch.”
Naomi’s face softened. “Oh no, was the couch uncomfortable?”
“It was fine. But it could’ve been hard.”
She chuckled. “Nope. I was right. You are a jerk.”
The brigade of golf carts slowed in a clearing. I wasn’t much for weddings, but even I was impressed at what I saw. We were in the middle of a forest, but every tree around the perimeter of a small square of cleared space had been wrapped with twinkling lights. A wedding arch made of branches stood at the front, and white chairs were set up for guests. I’d never let Ben or any of the guys know, but I thought it looked…
“Magical.” Naomi whispered the word just as I thought it.
She looked around, even more wide-eyed than me. In fact, everyone was silent, doing the same thing.
“Well?” Lily said. “What do you all think?” She flaunted the biggest smile, probably because she already knew the answer. This was the coolest place for a wedding ceremony I’d ever seen.
The ladies all swooned.
Lily squeezed Ben’s hand. “This is why we made you come all the way up here to Michigan. We found this spot on our first date during our last semester of law school at U of M. We were hiking and stumbled onto this clearing. It didn’t have the lights or the chairs, of course, but we sat down and didn’t get up for eight hours.” Lily looked at Ben. “When we finally left the park, I knew I’d met my future husband. Four years later, Ben proposed in this very spot, and tomorrow evening we’ll get married here.”
Every woman either had tears in her eyes or was sniffling. Naomi was the former. She used her thumbs to catch droplets. Even I felt a little choked up.
The wedding planner stepped forward and cleared her throat. “We should probably get started with our run-through so we don’t make you late for the wonderful dinner Ben and Lily have planned. Tomorrow night there will be a temporary wooden floor down so it’ll be easier to walk. We had some rain the day before yesterday, and it takes a while for the earth to dry in here, so be careful when you step. The grass is still a bit mushy, and there’s mud under the trees where there isn’t any growth.” Cat walked to the back of the chairs. “If we could please have the bridal party line up here with their partners.”
I hopped out of the golf cart and went to walk around to help Naomi, but before I could get there, Jack, who’d been seated in the front row, already had his hand extended. I wasn’t a big fan of the guy and never understood why Ben was friends with him in law school. But at the moment, I liked him even less.