Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 417(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 278(@300wpm)
Betsy drew back and gave her daughter the widest smile. “I’ve always loved your natural confidence, Mila,” she said. “No matter what life throws at you, you meet it head on. It’s a joy to see.”
Mila smiled back, her heart full. There was nothing nicer than a compliment from her mom.
Tessa returned, carefully laying the dress in its protective bag over the back of a chair, and then sat down.
“Well,” she said, looking around the table, “now that the hardest part is done, let’s talk about this fancy Scottish castle party.” With a giggle, she opened her folder and began to walk them through elaborate plans for bagpipes and vintage champagne glasses.
Suddenly, a dreadful thought occurred to Mila. “You aren’t expecting us bridesmaids to wear thrift-store gowns, are you?” She hoped she didn’t sound as horrified as she felt.
Now even mild-mannered Erin looked concerned. She obviously hadn’t considered that a bride who was willing to wear a secondhand gown might expect her attendants to do the same. But Tessa giggled again and said, “I wish you could see your faces right now. And no. I thought we might go shopping together and find dresses you both like. Can we go this week?”
Mila relaxed. That seemed reasonable. “Sure. Let’s plan a shopping trip.”
Erin agreed.
“Are you feeling nervous about the big wedding?” Mila asked. “There will be a lot of people there and probably fans lining up around the perimeter, which means a lot of security… Plus, the paparazzi and media will be flying overhead in helicopters. And don’t get me started on the drones. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you seem way more relaxed than I thought you’d be.”
Tessa seemed unfazed. “Now that I know I’ll have my perfect small family wedding in the world’s most gorgeous secondhand dress, I’m happy. Besides, Arch will be by my side for the splashy event, so I know I’ll be just fine.”
As the conversation turned to the smaller, family wedding, Betsy took over with some ideas about catering, as she’d lived in Carmel for so long and had thrown many parties. “Howie and I thought we might tell the caterers we’re having a party for our wedding anniversary. That way, no one will suspect a thing.”
“Oh, that’s a wonderful idea,” Tessa agreed, sounding enthusiastic.
There were a few big questions remaining, like who would conduct the ceremony, but Tessa said Archer had some ideas about that and, with a coy smile, she refused to reveal any more.
Fueled with some more coffee, they had fun looking through the file. But Mila couldn’t keep her mind focused on wedding planning. Every so often, she surreptitiously checked her phone to see if there was any news on Hersch’s house.
Nothing got past her mom. “Waiting for news on this big deal?” There was a twinkle in her eye, but Mila avoided her gaze.
“Nothing yet,” she replied, and then, seeing how much time had passed already, got to her feet. “I’ll get this dress to the dry cleaner tomorrow when they open. Once you and Arch announce your engagement, people will start snooping around.” And with that, she hugged three of her favorite people in the world good-bye and headed for her SUV.
It was four o’clock in New York. How long did it take to see a great deal when it was staring you in the face?
Chapter Eleven
Hersch was working out in the hotel gym, thinking about how much he couldn’t wait to have his own place. He might not be as famous as Archer Davenport, but since he’d sung “Happy Birthday” to his mom from space, he’d become memorable, as Jay Malone had pointed out. Repeatedly.
He could tell by their furtive glances that people in the gym recognized him.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time that morning. A glass wall separated the gym from a studio that had so far been empty, but today a yoga class was in there. One woman had noticed him and done a double take and then nudged her friend with her elbow, and the next thing he knew, an entire yoga class of women doing downward dog was checking him out while he pedaled up a mountain on the stationary bike. It was not the kind of attention he relished, especially not when he was dripping with sweat.
He was trying to ignore the stares when his phone rang. He’d kept his phone with him all day, hoping to hear from Mila, and had stopped himself several times from texting her to see if she had any news. Obviously, she would call him when she did. He had to relax.
But now his stomach jumped when he saw Mila’s name on his phone. He wiped sweat off his face and then answered.
Without even bothering with a hello, she said in an excited voice, “Great news! You got the house!”