Chapter One
Rose
“Is everything to your liking, Miss Haviland?”
I look up from my organizer to survey the room. It’s the day before my best friend’s wedding, and I’m the one in charge of making sure everything is perfect.
“It’s all looking good,” I tell the hotel manager. “Although aren’t we missing one of the arrangements over there? Where’s the florist?”
“Ah,” he says, seeing the problem too. “I’ll get right on that. I apologize.”
Just then I hear my name being called out in the hallway, and then a pair of hurried footsteps approach. When I turn, I see my best friend rushing toward me.
“Rose! We’ve got a problem. Evan is stuck at the airport.” Courtney’s face is flushed and she’s wringing her hands together. “The car we sent never showed up.”
Evan’s name sends a little tingle through me, but I ignore it, closing the organizer in my hands shut with a snap. Draping an arm around Courtney’s shoulders, I steer her away from the dining room staff, who are setting up for her rehearsal dinner tonight.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it,” I promise her. “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be getting a mani-pedi right now?”
“Am I? Shit.”
I lift my phone and swipe at it, Courtney’s itinerary immediately popping up. “Yep. You are. Come on, I’ll walk you down.”
“Okay. Thank you.” She hugs me. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, girl. You’re singlehandedly running this entire circus. You’re the best friend—and best maid-of-honor—a girl could ask for. Seriously.”
“Hey, it’s what I do.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, but I’m secretly thrilled inside. I’ve been a wedding planner for the past couple of years, and I love it to bits—but there’s nothing quite as satisfying as helping your best friend with her wedding, especially when you’ve been best friends with her since you were thirteen.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Courtney continues as we head down the hallway toward the hotel spa. “You’re seriously the most organized person I’ve ever known. You’re incredible.”
“Okay, now you’re just going for brownie points,” I say, laughing.
She scoffs. “What, I can’t compliment my best friend?”
“Here we are. In you go.” I push open the frosted glass doors to the hotel spa and wave Courtney through. Inside, soft grays and greens immediately soothe the eyes while the sounds of gently flowing water surround us.
“Aloha! Welcome to the Blue Jade Spa,” says the young man at the desk. “How may I help you ladies?”
“Hi, there. This is Courtney Simmons,” I say, urging her forward. “She has an appointment.”
“Ah, of course. Our bride.” He smiles pleasantly at Courtney, then gestures down the hall. “This way, Miss Simmons. We’re all set up for you.”
“Thanks again, sweetie.” She gives me a quick hug and heads off into the jasmine-scented recesses of the spa.
“Make sure she gets a massage, too, please,” I tell the receptionist. “Charge it to my room. 1409.” I thank the receptionist, then make a beeline over to the hotel concierge to arrange a car to pick up Courtney’s brother from the airport.
Truth be told, I’m a tad nervous about seeing Evan.
Okay…more than just a tad.
Back in high school, I had a crush on Evan. I definitely wasn’t the only one crushing on him, either. He was insanely hot back then: a big, confident dude with a shock of black hair that flopped over his forehead, which he was forever flipping out of his eyes with a toss of his head. I swear you could hear panties dropping in the cafeteria every time he did that.
I’m guessing he probably has the same effect on women these days—especially now that he’s the lead singer of an up-and-coming indie band.
Even though Evan is my best friend’s older brother, our paths haven’t crossed in forever. There just hasn’t been any reason for it, not to mention that he’s on tour with his band a lot of the time. So this will be the first time I’ve seen him since…well, since the joint high school graduation party that Courtney and I threw, I guess.
Not that it matters that he’s here in Hawaii. He never noticed me back in the day—we’re talking about a guy so popular that he took two freaking girls to his senior prom—and I doubt he would notice me now.
Why would he, now that he’s headed for big-time stardom?
Besides, even if he did notice me, it’s not like it would be a good idea to pursue him. Not only is he Courtney’s brother, but Courtney has made countless comments over the years that have made it clear Evan is busy living up the rock star lifestyle. She’s always joking about his groupies and how there are probably some little Evans running around out there that he doesn’t even know about.
So…yeah.
Definitely not getting involved in something like that.
Forty minutes later, I’m absorbed in the final details of tonight’s rehearsal dinner when I hear a deep, resonating voice speak my name.
“Yes?” I tuck my pen behind my ear and turn around. “Can I help—”
My words falter when I see who it is.
Evan is standing in front of me. I’m not prepared for the lust that lashes across me. Oh, good lord, the man is beautiful. Muscular as hell, too. How is he this hot?
“I thought that was you,” Evan says, grinning at me. One side of his mouth quirks up slightly more than the other and it gives him a sexy, brash look that must kill at his concerts. “Court told me you were running the show for her.”
“I, uh…yeah.” Jesus. All it takes is a few seconds of being in Evan’s presence and I’m a stuttering high school girl again. Now all I need is for a pimple to pop up and we’ll be all set. “I am.”
“Cool. Well, thanks for sending the car. I told Court it really wasn’t necessary, but she insisted on it.” He shakes his head with a smile and glances around. “Where is she, anyway?”
“She’s at the spa.”
“Ah.”
I nod at him, my head bobbing up and down like one of those bobble head things.
Get yourself together, Rose. This isn’t cute.
“So…” Evan’s voice trails off as he glances around the lobby. I can’t help but stare at how strong his neck is. If the muscles of his neck are that strong, I can only imagine how ripped the rest of him is.
I strike the thought from my mind and clear my throat. “Did you get checked in?” I ask, infusing professionalism into my voice. I’m a professional wedding planner and I’m going to act like it, damn it.
Even if my thighs are on fire.
“Yup. I was just headed up to my room.” He lifts his suitcase slightly.
“Okay. Oh, by the way, I’ll need to touch base with you about the set up for the wedding reception. I understand you’re playing a song for the first dance, correct?” It was a last-minute change that Courtney informed me of a couple of days ago.