Ex on the Beach (34 page)

Mark opened his eyes to find Roni propped against the bar beside him. She had a salad in her hand and an evil eye trained on him. Her short black hair was once again exploding from her head.

“Am I in the way?” he asked. “I can get out. I was just waiting for a call.” He looked at his watch and had the thought,
And wishing Andie were here with me
. He was such a sap. “Shouldn’t the afternoon ferry have already arrived?”

Roni nodded and climbed onto the seat next to him. “Ten minutes ago.”

That’s what he’d thought. His phone should be ringing soon.

“What are you doing with Andie, Mark?” Roni leaned over the counter to grab a fork, then sat back down and dug into her salad. “Playing? Planning to break her heart?”

Mark swiveled around on his stool so they sat side by side, both facing the row of liquor bottles behind the bar. He could see her in the mirrored areas between the bottles, and watched her watching him.

“Planning to steal her away from us?” Roni asked.

“I’m not playing,” Mark said, carefully choosing the words she had used. “Nor am I planning to break her heart.”

Roni lifted a brow, silently asking her third question again.

He returned the look. “How would that one be any of your business?” he asked.

“You head out of here in less than forty-eight hours, right?”

Mark nodded. He did.

“Ginger and I will be left to pick up whatever pieces you scatter. I want to know what we’re looking at.” She chewed and swallowed another bite, then jabbed the fork toward the mirror, toward his reflection. “Plus, she’s my friend, you arrogant prick.
That
makes it my business.”

A smile fought to make its way out. He loved that Andie had friends like Roni. But he wasn’t about to tell
her
that he was going to propose before Andie heard it herself.

He picked up the beer he’d been nursing for the last thirty minutes and took a long drink. When he set it down, he turned and faced Roni head-on. “I’m not going to hurt her,” he said. “That’s all you need to know.”

With his words, he gave her a nod and stood. Time to find his brothers.

Andie walked from the kitchen area of Gin’s to stand behind the bar, where she surveyed the dining room. Kayla had done well. Cream-colored linens covered clusters of tables. Not overly elegant, but with a nice touch of class. Simple centerpieces stood with handfuls of fresh-cut flowers for each of the guests to take with them. Huge baskets of flip-flops, serving as party favors, sat by the patio doors. And candles were flickering everywhere.

As the sun set, the room, along with patio, would become an intimate setting.

On the wall behind the table where the bride and groom would be seated with their parents and grandparents, there was a family tree of photographs. The branches showcased both families separately, before coming together with Penelope and Rob mixed in among the members of the two families.

The collage made a lovely statement about two becoming one, and Andie suspected Penelope would love it. The bride’s and groom’s mothers had hatched the idea, then kept it a surprise from Penelope. They’d worked closely with Kayla over the past few days to create it.

If only it were for two people who were genuinely in love, it would be a treasured gift. As it was …

Andie shook her head. She would not think about seeing Rob flirt with Wendy the night before. Nor would she think about the fact she was going to do
nothing
to change the course of the upcoming events.

She had a photographer for
Today’s Brides
in town — who’d arrived in time to attend the earlier rehearsal on the beach, one hundred of the couple’s closest friends and relatives gathering, and nothing but beautiful weather ahead.

They were having a wedding.

And it was going to be spectacular!

Seaglass Celebrations would pull off an amazing event, and everyone would go home giddy from the happy times that had been had by all. Michael, the photographer, would extol the company’s virtues to the magazine. And Seaglass’s phone would soon be ringing off the hook.

And there would be no guilt for knowing that this wedding was a sham and Andie was doing nothing about it.

Well, not much guilt.

The outside door opened and the first of the guests arrived.

As the tall, good-looking blond came in, Andie was impressed. He stood straight and proud, and he had the short haircut that spoke of the military, but she couldn’t remember having seen him before. Penelope stepped in behind him, bursting with excitement, and Andie got it. This was her brother. He’d been unable to make it to Georgia until now.

Andie gave Roni, who stood off to the side in a knee-length sundress and strappy wedges, a slight nod, and she headed to the piano to begin softly playing a medley of classical songs. At the same time, Andie stepped to the bartender and reminded him to go light on the alcohol.

“This bunch is going out later tonight for bachelor and bachelorettes parties,” she told him. “We want at least a few of them sober by the time of the wedding tomorrow afternoon.”

“Got it, boss.” Kevin, the bartender, winked at her. “I might mix you up a strong one, though. You look wound a little tight.”

“Don’t you dare.” Andie saw the photographer come through the door with the next batch of guests, and her nerves cranked up a notch. “I have too much riding on tonight.”

Kevin chuckled, then turned to the first guest to approach the bar. The evening had now officially begun.

It was cocktail hour, and the family members and guests would take the time to meet and greet one another. Derrick, the chef she’d coerced from Chicago, would then serve a selection of his seafood specialties. He enjoyed the receptions because they were opportunities for him to try out new dishes. With many couples choosing buffet-style dinners, Derrick always included a unique dish or two.

Tonight would be plated dinners, however. And then a buffet of desserts, all pink — in honor of the bride.

Andie hurried to the kitchen to check on Derrick and the waiting servers. When she saw that Kayla was going over the schedule and assignments with the crew one last time, she knew all was fine. At least with this, she could take an easy breath.

She returned to the front at the exact moment that Mark walked through the door. He entered with Grayson McTavish, and though both men were striking — in their dark slacks and button-down shirts — he had eyes only for Mark.

Seemed he had the same issue.

He zoomed his gaze directly to her the moment he’d cleared the door, and she could tell from the glint in his eyes that he was not thinking about the next couple of hours. He was thinking about tonight.

They had two nights left together, and she’d had Kayla move him to a bungalow. She’d given his room to Michael.

She did not intend for him to spend his time there alone.

Mark came to her side immediately. She tossed him a quick glance and a soft smile, but then refocused on the room in front of her. So far everything was as it should be. Rob had arrived, and he and Penelope were giving the appropriate
ooh
s and
ah
s over the family tree and other decorations, and had formed a receiving line of sorts to greet their guests as they arrived.

Michael was snapping pictures and jotting notes.

The wedding photographer was also there, taking his own set of photos.

“You’ve been busy today,” Mark said, speaking softly so as not to draw attention to himself.

“I barely have time to remember to shower on the day before and day of a wedding.”

“You can shower at my place,” he murmured.

She couldn’t help it, she turned to him. And then she got lost in the warmth of his gaze. And that’s when she got it. It wasn’t naughty thoughts he was thinking so much as heartfelt ones. The knowledge caused her anxiety to register another notch higher. She couldn’t get swept away with promises he wouldn’t keep.

“You like your new room?” she asked, returning to surveying the crowd. She didn’t do a lot during these events, but was there with Kayla to oversee the details and handle any issues that might arise.

“It’s spacious,” Mark said. “And has a nice view of the ocean.”

“You lucked out. One of the groomsmen went home sick this morning.”

“Ah.” He gave a small nod, which she noticed from her peripheral vision. “That explains the standin during rehearsal.”

“The standin fit the tux.” She laughed softly. “He’s now the fourth.”

Mark laughed with her and narrowed the gap between them. The heat from his body made her lean an inch closer. She wanted to go away with him right that very moment. It was disconcerting how she couldn’t seem to get enough of him.

She kept telling herself it was because she knew their time was limited.

He touched a hand to the small of her back and put his mouth to her ear. “I hope you plan to be in that space with me tonight.”

She closed her eyes and enjoyed the closeness of the man she was pretending she hadn’t fallen in love with. Heck, the man she’d never fallen
out
of love with. “I already packed an overnight bag,” she whispered in return.

She turned her head to his, and the heat that filled his eyes was all she needed.

It might hurt when he left her on Sunday, but she was going to enjoy these next two nights to the fullest.

As she watched him, something over his shoulder caught her attention.

“Oh shit,” she muttered.

Instead of following her gaze, Mark went still. “What is it?” he asked.

“Rob.”

Mark’s eyes closed on a sigh. “What the hell is he doing now?”

Andie casually glanced around, noting the photographer had not seemed to notice Rob standing off in the side hall. Or if he’d noticed, he remained focused on the crowd in the dining room instead.

Mr. Jordan had noticed, though. His gaze was trained on his future son-in-law. And on the bridesmaid he was standing with.

“He’s flirting with Wendy again,” Andie said through gritted teeth. “He’s even leaning into her as they’re talking. He has a hand braced on the wall above her head.”

It was obvious they were having more than a hey-how-are-you-doing conversation.

“I’m going to say something,” Mark told her.

“No.” Andie reached out and put a hand to his chest. “Please don’t cause a scene,” she pleaded. “Michael from
Today’s Brides
—”

“I won’t.” Mark picked up Andie’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it. “I won’t do anything to hurt your business. I’m simply going to suggest —
politely
— that he get back to his bride.”

“Oh.” Andie nodded. She let out a shaky breath. “Yeah. That will be okay.”

She looked back at Phillip Jordan, to find him still watching. The man then glared in her direction, as if Rob’s behavior were her fault.

“Phillip is not happy,” Andie muttered. “Please get Rob away from that woman.”

“Will do, babe.”

Mark winked, then leaned in and pressed his lips against her mouth. Calmness engulfed her with the heat of his touch, and she closed her eyes. She could almost pretend they were somewhere else and she didn’t have to worry about her company climbing or falling, depending on the outcome of a single event.

Then Mark pulled away, and she opened her eyes and remembered that she was in the middle of a party. And she was the host. She glanced at Phillip again. The man was still glaring.

Terrific. Another public display of affection on her part. She wondered if he would read her the riot act again.

Because if he did, she just might tell him where to shove it. She was pretty much tired of tiptoeing around the man.

Mark headed off to talk to Rob, and Andie caught sight of Rob’s grandparents being ushered in by his parents. The elder couple had arrived only that afternoon, and had settled in at the inn to rest before this evening’s dinner.

Andie crossed the room to greet them. As she did, she caught sight of Gray heading over to sit with Roni. Roni looked up from the keys of the piano, saw who’d sat down beside her, and gave him a wolfish smile. Andie watched for another minute, wishing she could keep things as simple as the two of them had.

They were just having fun. Gray would leave, Roni would not be hurt, and both of them would move on to their next adventure.

Andie shot a look at Mark.

He would leave, she would be crushed, and she had no idea if she’d ever have another adventure.

After greeting the Mastersons, Andie moved on to the Kavanaughs. The entire clan had come in as she’d been talking with Rob’s family, and she couldn’t help the huge grin as she approached them.

“Andie.” The greeting came from Jonathan’s wife. Though the woman was several years older, they’d gotten along like sisters from the moment they’d met. “It’s so good to see you. Celeste has done nothing but brag on you for a week.”

Hugs were shared all around, and Andie took a few moments to stand with them and reminisce. As they talked, she couldn’t help but admire all the Kavanaugh men. Even the father, Wayne. Every one of them was dashing. With their dark hair and tall, broad frames, it would flutter a girl’s heart to see this group walking down the street.