Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72586 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Meanwhile, James had made sure Richard and Dick were seated within earshot but at a different table. Close enough to hear discussion of Lily's business, but not close enough to intervene.
"The pressure has to be building with the wedding getting close,” James said. “I’m sure he’s already thinking about coming clean before the big day. We’ll just be creating an environment to make that confession feel a little more… front of mind.”
"And if it's not?"
He turned to face me, expression serious. "Then we try something else. We're not letting Richard and Dick manipulate their way into controlling your sister's business."
I stepped closer to fix his tie, though it didn't need fixing. I just wanted an excuse to touch him. "When did you get so protective of my sister?"
"Maybe I'm tired of watching families get destroyed by secrets. It might be nice to save a marriage instead of blowing one up for a change."
I gave a crooked smile. “Listen to you. Mr. Reformed Wedding Wrecker.”
“Easy,” James said. “Let’s not get carried away. I still have a business to maintain.”
“Mhm,” I said. Then I bit my lip and rose my tiptoes to give him a kiss on the cheek.
He looked bemused. “What was that for?”
“For caring enough to help my sister. Thank you. But we should probably go," I said. "I need to check the table settings one last time."
"Of course you do." But his smile was fond. "Control freak."
"You know you love it."
His expression went gentle in a way that made my heart skip. "Maybe a little bit."
The rehearsal dinner went exactly as planned—at first. Lily's client, Sophie, dominated conversation at their table with enthusiastic plans for franchise opportunities. She had connections with several major retail chains interested in adding pet spa services.
"The potential is incredible," Sophie gushed. "You could have a Pawsh Pets in every high-end mall in America!"
I watched Marcus's face carefully. He kept glancing at his father, who was practically vibrating with poorly concealed interest.
"I don't know," Lily said, "I'd want to be really careful about maintaining quality. These are people's pets, not just..."
"Investment opportunities?" Dick cut in from the next table. "Sometimes you have to think bigger, sweetheart. Take risks."
James's hand found mine under the table, squeezing gently.
So much for seating them too far to intervene in the conversation. I guess we underestimated how pushy Dick would be.
"I like thinking small," Lily said firmly. "Quality over quantity."
Dinner dragged on as Richard and Dick barged into the conversation, practically drowning Lily in what seemed like unwanted business advice. To her credit, she was keeping calm and didn’t look outwardly bothered. But Marcus was obviously uncomfortable, and getting more-so the longer it went on.
"But think of the possibilities," Sophie continued. "With the right investors—"
Marcus stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "Lily, can we... can we talk? Privately?"
A hush fell over the table.
"Of course," Lily said, looking concerned. She followed Marcus out onto the terrace, leaving the rest of us in awkward silence.
"Well," Dick said loudly, "who wants another drink?"
The next hour seemed to stretch on forever. James and I tried to maintain normal conversation while watching the terrace doors. The food was amazing, but it was hard to really concentrate on the taste.
Dick had slithered into the seat beside Sophie and had the nerve to talk about Pawsh Pets with her as if he was somehow part of the business. Once she got past the “who the hell are you” part, she had been happy enough to talk strategy with him, too.
Desserts were being set down in front of guests by the time Lily and Marcus returned to the room. Marcus fixed his suit, approached his dad, and actually lifted him by the arm and told him they needed to talk before practically dragging him out of the room. Richard gave a bemused smile, then played along before disappearing from view.
Lily’s eyes were red, but her spine was straight. She caught my eye and jerked her head toward the hallway.
"Excuse me," I murmured to James, "sister emergency."
I found Lily in the ladies' room, pacing the marble floor.
“Everything okay?” I asked carefully.
“No? Yes?” Lily made a sound that was somewhere between laughing and crying. “Marcus just admitted his family is in massive debt. They’re currently selling off properties at a rate they can’t sustain to maintain appearances, but they’re going to hit rock bottom soon.”
“Oh,” I said slowly. “Lily…”
She frowned, tilted her head, and then took a step closer. “You already knew? What? How?”
I carefully explained everything, from how I actually knew James to how I’d only found out yesterday about Marcus.
“I didn’t think it was my place to tell you before he had a chance, Lily. But I promise, I would’ve warned you before the wedding if we couldn’t encourage him to come clean by then.”
Lily was quiet for a few seconds, as if trying to take it all in. “Okay,” she said.