Page 59 of Perfect (mis)Match

“We should get down there. Stuff is happening,” she said.

Yeah, stuff was definitely happening inside me as well. I stared at Piper as we headed for the stairs and back down to the madness.

It was an unfamiliar sensation for me, but as long as it felt this good, I wasn’t going to question it.

17

PIPER

“You know, back in my day, a bride exposing her shoulders was considered scandalous,” Nana Dee said with a conspiratorial glint in her eye.

We were standing in a quieter section of the massive room as the cocktail hour began, feeling the love swirling all around us. After the stressful prior day, we were all thrilled that the wedding itself had been a perfectly perfect dream of swoony romance. I’d done my bridesmaidly duties like a pro during the ceremony and the beginning of the reception, and I finally felt like I was off the clock and could enjoy the rest of the night.

Nana Dee and I had finally met, and I’d instantly felt like the woman was my long-lost grandmother. She was an elegant, white-haired stunner in a sparkly purple blazer and dress who loved to laugh as much as I did.

“Really?” I asked. “Scandalous? So you’re saying Chloe’s strapless gown would’ve raised some eyebrows.”

She nodded primly. “Yes indeed. And you’ll never guess what I wore to my wedding.”

“Um, a turtleneck?” I joked.

She threw her head back and downright chortled, the sound of her laughter lighting up the room. It wasn’t just a laugh—it was the kind of full-bodied joy that pulled you in, made you feel like you were in on a secret with her. “Aturtleneck! You’re a piece of work, you know that? No, I wore a strapless dress too, because scandal is my middle name!”

I laughed along with her, our connection natural and easy. She launched into the details of her wedding gown, describing the event with the kind of humor and grace that told me this woman had lived through and seen it all, yet managed to keep her spirit intact.

“What are you two gossiping about over here?” Vincent’s father Richard grinned his way over to us then touched his tumbler to our champagne flutes.

“Cheers, love,” Nana Dee said to him as they toasted. “Just chatting about the not-so-good old days, when women were judged for being fashion forward.”

“Then I’m completely out of my depth.” Richard turned to me with a laugh. “I just got back from playing a round of golf at Augusta National, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you, Piper. Have you ever played that course?”

I sighed, because I’d never been lucky or well-connected enough to play what just happened to be the second-best course in the country and home to the Masters Tournament. “I haven’t, but I’d love to someday.”

“Well then, I think we need to make that happen! What’s your handicap again?”

I didn’t even notice someone walking by close to where we were chatting until he turned and joined us.

I gulped. It was the last person I wanted to spend time with—Prentiss in a ridiculously preppy polka dot bow tie. I’d managed to avoid him during the ceremony and keep my distance during the photos afterward. I craned my neck to find my mom. She never stood up to Prentiss for me, but she could be counted on to steer him away from me to avoid a scene. Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be seen.

“Are we talking golf over here?” he asked, inching closer.

“We sure are! I just played Augusta National. You a golfer too?”

Richard was unaware that he’d just invited the enemy to join us. I had no choice but to introduce him.

“Everyone, this is my mom’s husband, Prentiss Mercer,” I said in a flat voice.

I didn’t bother mentioning Richard or Nana Dee’s names because I hoped he wouldn’t be staying long.

“Iama golfer, quite a good one, actually,” Prentiss answered. He pointed his drink toward me. “I taught this one everything she knows.”

“Oh, not really,” I corrected quickly, managing a fake smile. My stomach dropped; I knew exactly where the conversation was going, and I didn’t want to deal with it in front of an audience. “I started when I was like ten. You didn’t even meet my mom until I was fifteen.”

Prentiss smirked. “You think that duffing you did as a kid was actual practice?”

“Hey, hey, not so fast,” Richard said gently. “Starting young provides a strong foundation.”

“A foundation full of bad habits for me to come in and correct,” Prentiss cackled. “It’s what I’ve always done for her. Not that she listens. I have so much good advice for this one, and she blows me off constantly. Take her career choice, for example. She insists onphotographyof all things. That’s a hobby, not a job! All you have to do is point the camera and push the button.” Prentiss pulled his phone out of his pocket and pretended to take a picture. “Hey, look at me, I’m a photographer too! All that’s missing is the three-thousand-dollar camera. I keep telling her she’ll never amount to anything if she keeps chasing her crazy dreams. Have you heard about the ridiculous camera strap idea she seems to think she can make into a real business?” He shook his head, full of pity for me.

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