Page 27 of Make Me Want it Too

“Saundra—uh, Mrs. Hayes. Hi.”

“Saundra is fine, dear. I thought that was you. You look”—she takes a step back and looks Macy up and down, assessing—“different.”

“Doesn’t she look beautiful?” I step closer to Macy.

The woman’s eyes dart toward me, the coldness sharp, yet her face remains in a poised, calm expression. She’s good. “And who are you?” she asks, and for the first time I’m glad I have so much experience dealing with the rich uppity-ups my dad does business with.

“Oh! I’m so sorry.” Macy’s cheeks flush, and I’m about to steer her away from this woman. “This is Saundra Hayes, mother of the groom. This is her place. Isn’t it lovely? And this is… Uh… Um…” Macy looks at me, panic in her eyes, and I realize she doesn’t know my first name.

I’d laugh at the situation if I couldn’t tell she’s mortified.

“Hey, Mrs. H! What’s up?” I take her hand in both of mine and move in for my signature side shoulder hug. “I’m Wade. Wade Woodall.”

Saundra stands like a statue as I give her shoulder a pat and then slowly removes her hand, narrowing her eyes. “Woodall, as in William and Jack Woodall?”

“That’d be my grandad and dad, yeah.”

“Hmm.” Her demeanor immediately changes. Her smile curls up higher, highlighting her prominent cheek bones, yet not creating any lines on her face. “I thought you looked familiar.”

“I also went to the same prep as Spencer and Jake. I was in the year between them. Spencer and I were on the rowing team together. I was captain, actually.”

Her eyes light up. “Ah yes, that’s where I know you from. How wonderful.” She takes my hand, this time shaking it firmly, her cold eyes assessing but apparently approving.

She looks back to Macy.

“Macy, darling, I was so sad to hear about you and my dear Spencer.” She glances at me, an eyebrow raised without the slightest crinkle of her forehead. “But it seems you bounced back quickly. And someone from the same social circle and economic background, too.”

Macy’s face goes pale.

“It was so nice to meet you,” I say with a big smile, keeping my grip around Macy firm. “You have a gorgeous home, and this is a fantastic event. We won’t keep you from your other guests.”

And with that, I swing us in a hard right and away from Saundra Hayes.

Macy exhales. “I need?—”

“More wine. On it.”

We score some more wine but there’s only one beef Wellington left, and I let Macy have it.

“So, any other relatives or guests we should be avoiding?” I ask as we make our way over to a standing table in the corner by the roses, partially shaded by a grove of aspens.

She shakes her head. “I don’t know everyone here.” She leans in and points to a man sitting near the bar with salt-and-pepper hair and wire-framed glasses. “That’s Spencer and Jake’s dad, Charles. He’s the head of the oncology department at the hospital. He’s nice, but he lets Saundra do most of the talking.”

I can’t help but smell the hint of citrus and peach in her hair.

“Over there,” she continues, “are a couple cousins and an aunt I’ve never met. His grandfather is over there in the tweed with the cigar.” She swivels her head around. I’m doing the same, surprised I haven’t spotted him yet.

“I think the only family here for Bex yet is her mother.” She points across the patio to where Noah and Livvy are talking to a woman in a lavender dress and cream cardigan.

Noah and his throat tattoos are obviously making quite the impression on his new girlfriend’s mom by the look of panic on her face and the way she’s clutching the little gold necklace around her neck.

“Oh, and there’s—” She pauses, and I follow her gaze, expecting it to land on Spencer, but she’s looking at a petite blonde in a pink mini dress who’s headed straight for us. “Margot,” she finishes. “Spencer and Jake’s younger sister.”

“Macy!” Margot runs up to us, instantly hugging Macy around the middle. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you since…” She tilts her head and puts on a little frown.

“Christmas,” Macy finishes for her.

“Yes! That’s way too long.”

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