Page 87 of The Last Resort
He’d made it most of the way to the bathroom when Rachel appeared in the doorway. She walked past him, heading straight for the table. And Chloe.
Oh no.
“Rach. Stop.”
When she reached Chloe, Rachel held out her arms, ready to embrace the bride. This was going from bad to worse.
He staggered toward them, unsure of what to do. Did he haul Rachel off the bride, or let her smother Chloe in more snotty fan drool?
But instead of Chloe moving away, she slipped her arm around Rachel’s waist, and they turned to face him. Both the bride and his date were grinning.
“That will teach you to let your poor girlfriend meet a famous person without giving her fair warning, Matthew Royal!” exclaimed Chloe.
Jordan, Bryce, and Vivian all burst out laughing. Rachel and Chloe gave each other a quick high five. Matthew was left to hang his head in relieved shame. “Okay, you got me. I deserved that.”
“Yes, you did. I’d already guessed who the bride was before we left New York, but you should have told me,” replied Rachel.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell her,” grumbled Jordan.
Rachel was still shaking her head as she took her seat next to Matthew. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You can punish me later.”
“No, you can apologize to me later. And I expect afullapology.”
She was mad at him, but not furious.Phew.And if Rachel wanted afullMatthew apology later, he would be more than happy to give her one. He was particularly gifted at naked apologies.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Dinner with the New York Royals was nothing short of wonderful, though Rachel had to stop and mentally pinch herself whenever she chanced a look the bride’s way. Everything about this wedding trip had been fantastic, but actually sitting across the table from her pop idol was the absolute icing on the cake. Meeting Matthew’s parents came a close second.
Alice Royal was warm and welcoming. She asked a few questions about Rachel’s background but when her guest’s responses were the barest that politeness permitted, Matthew’s mother didn’t press for details. Alice’s well-honed social tact allowed Rachel to enjoy the evening without the concern of having to talk about her own family.
“Matthew tells me you are the designer who is working with him at the Aspen resort. I heard you gave him a hard time at the council planning meeting, so when he said he was bringing you to the wedding, I must confess I was more than a little surprised.”
“Matthew and I had become friends before then. We only discovered we were both working for the different partiesinvolved in the ski lodge when we got to the council meeting that night. To say that it came as a bit of a shock to the both of us would be somewhat of an understatement.”
Alice Royal leaned closer, patting Rachel on the hand. “Tell me, my dear, are your accommodation arrangements suitable for your particular friendship? I mean you and my son are sharing a room. I could move you, if that presents a problem.” She cleared her throat. “Though you might have to stay on board one of the Royal family boats, which are moored offshore if you did wish to change. Do you speak Italian?”
Rachel caught Matthew’s eye as he leaned forward. She was stuck in a veritable Royal family sandwich. “I think Matthew and I will be able to work something out, thank you.”
“Very good. Since I’ve been advised that he failed to mention to you who the bride and groom where, I thought it only proper to check that everything is alright.”
Matthew huffed. “I make one mistake with my wedding date, and now everything I say or do is getting judged.”
Alice Royal looked from Rachel to Matthew and slyly grinned. Whether he meant it or not, he’d just confirmed the state of his and Rachel’s relationship, and from the look of it his mother was beyond delighted.
“I’m sure my son has learned his lesson, and he won’t make any other mistakes when it comes to future weddings.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Chloe and Jordan’s wedding was held on the beach late the following afternoon, with Matthew standing as his brother’s best man. It was the most casual wedding Rachel had ever attended. The bare-footed, dreadlocked celebrant, was dressed in a pale green linen suit. There were no seats, just everyone standing in small family clusters to witness the nuptials.
“The bride didn’t want chairs in rows, as she said it looked too much like a concert. Chloe just wants to be herself today, not a famous popstar,” explained Vivian.
Rachel stood with the members of Matthew’s immediate family. It was nice to be included in such a moment of happiness. She wasn’t officially one of them, but they had made it clear that if she was Matthew’s guest, she was a de-facto part of the Royal family.
Her floral knee length Carolina Herrera organza gown received several nods of approval from the European cousins, which filled her with pride. Next to her, Vivian who glowed with joy in her tropical print silk halter neck gown,whispered, “I think we have shown them that the Americans can match it with them for style.”
“Family, friends, please come closer. The bride and groom want you all to bear witness to their vows, and to welcome the newest member of the Royal family,” instructed the celebrant.
