Page 138 of He Loves Me Knot

The reception, Liddy and Elle had decided on the car ride back from the failed dress retrieval, would be on the beachfront right where they’d done yoga that morning. Kat would bring in a dance floor and a long table and chairs—which were on their way here from where she’d ordered them.

And when Liddy had described an idea for the reception to Kat, her eyes had immediately lit up. Liddy had no idea where she’d gotten drapery fabric from so quickly, but it had arrived by the bolt a couple hours later, forcing them to have to cut it to the correct size while Elle went out for some much-needed pampering. Quinn and the groomsmen, on the other hand, had gone out for an impromptu stag night. The women had plans to crash the men’s party after they got some wedding work done.

Which I’m dreading.Liddy didn’t even want to think about seeing Callum right now.

The office was the only space big enough for the rest of the bridal party to work together, so here they were. Rebecca also volunteered to help since Mason was occupied with his brothers.

“I should check on the men. Make sure they’re done with the tasks I gave them,” Kat said, checking her watch. “And if they are, we can all probably take a break for the night. It’s late, and the big day is upon us! I’ll still need a few helping hands tomorrow, though.”

“I’ll help. I don’t have to be with bridal hair or makeup,” Rebecca said, coming in from the other room with her arms loaded with fabric. “What do we still need to do?”

Thank goodness for Rebecca.She’d been such a calm, steady presence the entire time.

“There’s so much.” Kat appeared red-faced. “I have trucks of flowers and dinnerware coming in. The caterer I’d found can’t accommodate us here, so I’m talking to one of the local restaurant owners to see what we can manage locally. Honestly, I’ll probably be up all night.” She twittered a bit as though the craziness of this wedding was catching up to her. “But that’s the biz. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’ll be perfect.”

She grabbed an umbrella and hurried out of the office.

Hunter raised a brow. “Am I the only one who gets the impression she’s trying to convince herself of that last part?”

Liddy smoothed her hands on her knees, then used the wall to help herself stand. Her back was really aching now—between the work they’d done today and not having taken it easy on herself the last few days.Not to mention a night of sex.

She needed pain meds, but she didn’t want to say anything and cast doubt on her ability to push through this for Elle.

“It will be perfect, Hunter. Because even if the tables and chairs and flowers don’t arrive and we have to walk down to one of those sodas on the beach to eat dinner, it’s all going to be fine.”

“Yes. That.” Taryn gave Liddy an impressed look. “Elle mentioned you’ve found a new sort of let-it-ride attitude down here. That’s just what this wedding needs.”

“Let it ride or take a ride?” Rebecca gave an impish smile.

Isla gave Liddy a cautious look as Liddy’s face warmed. Somehow, Liddy got the feeling Isla already knew about Callum’s decision to abruptly end . . .whatever it is we were doing.

“We all know you’re talking about sex, ladies,” Hunter said in a flat tone.

Taryn came over to Liddy and slipped her arm around her shoulders. “This is practically my little sister, y’all. You leave her kitchen blow jobs out of the conversation.”

Liddy’s jaw dropped. “Oh my gosh!” Her gaze went from Isla to Rebecca, and then she covered her face. “I can’t believe you told them.”

Good lord. How many people are going to find out about that?

Taryn squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Now Hunter, on the other hand, has a big mouth. So I would highly recommend keeping a babysitter on that one when he starts drinking around your family.”

“I do not need a babysitter.” Hunter raised his chin. “And can I help it if I’m just proud of this carefree, bold—and happy—version of our Liddy?”

She smiled as brightly as she could, then knelt to fold the cut drapery fabric. Once again, she wasn’t telling people everything about Callum, but this time, it was because it would hurt to say anything.

She wanted to close her eyes and pretend it was still last night when she’d actually been as happy as Hunter believed.

Happy . . .

She was happy in some ways . . . Elle was finally getting the wedding she’d wanted.

The dress was no longer an issue, and—best of all—she was no longer hiding secrets from her sister.

Trying to pull the wedding together for tomorrow evening had forged a bond of camaraderie with everyone here, no longer leaving Liddy on the outside.

. . . and then there’s Callum.

When she’d seen him in that river earlier today, there had been a moment when her heart had squeezed so hard that she’d just jumped in that water after him.

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