“Wow, Will looks hot in a suit.” Jocelyn pointed to the phone. “And I thought that baseball uniform did him justice.”
“How about Clay?” Lacey gave a nudge. “That boy is sexy.”
They all looked expectantly at Tessa, who managed to pull her gaze from the dizzying sight of Ian Browning—groom.
“Well?” Zoe asked. “Boyfriend assessment?”
“He’s not my…” She straightened and slid the mascara wand from Zoe’s hand. “I’ll finish this.”
But they all continued to stare at her with twinkles in their collective eyes. Oh, this would all get worse on Monday when she had to tell them that John took off, too freaked out by the speed of their romance, and they’d split up. Then the happy eyes would turn to pity hugs.
At least she wouldn’t have to fake a broken heart.
“What?” she finally said. “I’m telling you, this is a fun fling with a hot guy. I can already tell he’s getting itchy to fly. Don’t be surprised if we’re looking for a new chef soon.”
“Why are you doing this?” Jocelyn demanded.
“Why am I being realistic?” she fired back, irritation making her stomach burn. Although she’d pretty much felt like throwing up since she’d gotten up this morning and remembered it was her wedding day. You know, the day before her “husband” disappeared forever.
“Why are you being fatalistic?” Jocelyn replied. “It’s like you won’t even give the guy a chance.”
“I know him better than you.” Much better. “I know the signs of a man who won’t settle down and, honestly, I’m fine with that.” She leaned back from the mirror and checked out her makeup. “I look a little—”
“Gorgeous,” Lacey said. “You look gorgeous.”
Actually, she was going to say pale and suggest more blush, but she went with Lacey’s assessment. “Guess it’s time for the dress, huh?”
Three loud knocks at the door cut into the reaction. “Tessa, you in there?”
At the woman’s voice, they all shared a quick, slightly panicked look. Lacey held up a finger to hush them. “One second, Willow.” She leaned closer to the girls. “I haven’t heard a peep from them since last night, have you?”
“They loved the spa treatments,” Jocelyn mouthed.
“I saw them on the beach this morning,” Zoe said. “They seem really happy.”
“And they were walking around the wedding setup when I came in here, so”—Lacey held up two sets of crossed fingers—“let’s keep up the good work.”
She walked to the door and opened it, letting in all three of their VIP guests to fill the tiny room with a whole lot of female squealing and laughter and jokes.
Tessa, terrified she’d say one wrong thing about the fake-wedding-that-wasn’t-really-fake, played the subdued bride.
“Where’s the gown?” Gussie had short blue hair this weekend, and wore it quite well. “You know that’s my specialty?”
“It’s not exactly a gown.” Tessa opened the closet door where the dress she’d picked in Naples hung. An onslaught of oohs and aah ensued.
“So, not your first time, huh?” Gussie asked, fingering some pearls. “That’s usually why the blush color.”
“Not my first time,” Tessa confirmed. “That’s why the whole event is so low-key.”
She could practically hear Lacey, Joss, and Zoe’s shared thoughts.
“I like low-key weddings,” Arielle said, crossing her arms and leaning against the counter. “As a set specialist in charge of all the logistics, I can tell you it’s the over-the-top events that give me consulting headaches. This place is tailor-made for small and intimate, which is very much in keeping with the economy and mind-set of a lot of brides.”
Lacey couldn’t hold back the smile. “So you guys like what you’ve seen so far?”
It was the wedding consultants’ turn to share a look, one that had its own secret language that Tessa and her friends couldn’t quite read.
“So what shoes?” Gussie asked, breaking the awkward silence.
“No shoes for the ceremony,” Tessa said. “Because of the sand.”
“It is Barefoot Bay,” Zoe added. “And our motto is ‘Kick off your shoes and fall in love.’”
The women laughed and exchanged another impossible-to-read look.
“Great motto,” Gussie said. “For a great place.”
“I’m really intrigued by how you built this resort from nothing,” Willow commented. “What was here before?”
“My grandparents had most of the property and I bought the neighboring lots,” Lacey told her. “But, trust me, it’s been a group effort.”
“We’ve never been anywhere quite like it,” Willow said.
“It’s like a little oasis in the middle of nowhere,” Gussie added.
Well, that was damning with faint praise. Did they like the place or not?
Lacey was obviously thinking the same thing. “Not going to lie,” she said. “We’d really love it if Casa Blanca made your recommendations list.”
Willow gave a quick smile, a little too noncommittal for any of them to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Is there anything you think we could do to attract more destination-wedding business?” Jocelyn asked.
Once again they shared a look, and Tessa felt that same sensation of sickness roll around inside her. Something was up with these three. Did they know the wedding was a charade? Did they hate the resort?
“A better dressing room for the bride,” Gussie said, gesturing to the surroundings. “This is a massage room.”
“We could create a dressing area,” Jocelyn said quickly. “The spa’s always in flux.”
“And I had my baby in this room,” Lacey added with a smile. “So we think it has good vibes.”
The other three women gave the unexpected dropped jaw.
“My fiancee delivered it,” Zoe added.
“And my husband proposed while the baby was being born,” Jocelyn finished.
Gussie gave a hearty laugh. “Sounds like you guys have stories.”
Once again the three guests gave each other a look no one could decipher.
“Well, we gotta hear these stories,” Arielle said, pushing up from the chair she’d taken. “But you better get your wedding on, ladies.”
“Good luck today, Tessa,” Gussie said. “What’s your ONBB?”
Tessa gave her a confused look. “My…what?”
“Old, new, borrowed, blue,” Willow explained. “It can take brides weeks to figure that out.”
Not this bride—a real one. Was this a test? Did they know that the whole thing was a farce?
“Oh, we’re covered there,” Lacey said quickly. “I was about to give her my grandmother’s earrings for something old.”
“And the dress is new,” Jocelyn added.
The all looked at Zoe expectantly. She lifted her foot gingerly, a bright-blue shell ankle bracelet dangling. “Borrowed and blue,” she assured them, slipping it off. “We have every angle of a wedding covered.”
Willow gave a wave and Gussie blew a kiss. “You’ll be a beautiful barefoot bride,” she called out as she left.
Right before the door closed, Willow exclaimed, “Barefoot bride! Clever, Gus. We could work with that.”
The remaining four women stood stone still until the others were out of earshot. Then Lacey collapsed in a chair and Zoe let out a grunt of frustration and Jocelyn shook her head.
“That was kind of a weird vibe, wasn’t it?” Tessa asked.
“What does ‘We could work with that’ mean?” Jocelyn mused.
“I can’t tell if they love this place or not.” Lacey dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “I hope this whole thing isn’t a complete waste of time and money.”
