Page 20 of Free to Dream
“No offense or anything but, Jared, aren’t you a damn lawyer?”
“I am, Caleb. And all I can say is that I was highly surprised by the degree taken to ensure everyone’s privacy. But given the nature of the information we have in the file Cassidy provided, I now fully understand why Amaryllis Events insisted on having us sign it. If we were a competitor, we could do some serious damage with what she turned over for your brother and I to have unfettered access to her.”
Again, not helping. I growl at Jared before I start pacing. Both are laughing, which I suppose is better than the crisis mode we were in not thirty minutes earlier. I reach for my glass of Scotch and turn my head to Ryan. “When are you calling Jason?”
“Oh no. There’s no way he rolls on his sister-in-law, Caleb,” Ryan warns me with a hardness in his eye.
“Actually, I want to meet with Jason as well. I need to offer my thanks, Ry.” My brother slowly nods his head, understanding my need to atone. It isn’t easy to comprehend that I wasn’t around to protect my baby brother. “I’m hoping he’ll be in the city over the next few days. I’ll deal with Cassidy on my own.”
They know I’m going to get eaten alive by a five-foot-four jewel-eyed, pixie-sized pit viper. Ry and Jared start laughing while choking on their Scotch.
I think I know how the praying mantis feels right before he has sex for the last time.
Eager and petrified at the same time.
8
Cassidy
“My damn brother wouldn’t give me your schedule. Do you know that?”
I close my eyes before opening them to a gorgeous face linked to the frustrated, yet amused voice at my office door two days later. I figured Caleb would show up sooner or later. Later worked for me. Much, much later.
Work was moving at the speed of light on the Lockwood-Dalton wedding. After the contract was signed, I’d spoken to Ryan and Jared three times. We’d solidified significant blocks of rooms with the Old Greenwich Ritz-Carlton and the Delamar Greenwich Harbor, locked in the caterer, and had a conference call to discuss the floral arrangements so Phil could start estimating the flowers—primroses would be spotlighted. Em and Corinna were already on Ryan and Jared’s calendars with locked in dates for tailoring, menu selection, and cake tastings. Holly was meeting the guys in the city tomorrow to take their engagement photos.
As for me? I had already sent at least fifty emails pertaining to narrowing down options about save the dates (which had to be sent out by next week), the invitations, signature drinks, gift bags for the hotel guests, charitable donations in lieu of wedding gifts, and about one hundred reminders, including one for Ryan and Jared to buy their rings.
I warned them, this was just the beginning.
Things were progressing fast. I didn’t have time for my heart to skip a beat at the husky sound of Caleb’s voice, but my body is a traitorous bitch. I can feel myself squirm slightly under his gaze. As my nipples start to harden, I’m grateful I had decided to wear a military-style jacket over formfitting jeans.
Damn the man for being so gorgeous with his thick brown hair and inky dark eyes. I realize I don’t need to give him any more ammunition against me. Hadn’t I humiliated myself enough with him for three lifetimes?
Meeting his gaze head-on, I say coolly, “I don’t believe you’ve signed the required non-disclosure agreement in order to have that information, Mr. Lockwood. It’s a damn good thing your brother didn’t share that information or I would have been well within my rights to terminate his contract and sue him.” I pause for effect. “While keeping the retainer, of course.” I reach for a folder sitting on my desk. “I’m fairly certain we’re past the point where we would solely be keeping just the retainer. In fact,” I snap open the folder, “I know it.”
“You wouldn’t do that,” Caleb says with the charming smile.
The fuck I wouldn’t. “No?” I raise an eyebrow while ignoring my traitorous body. “You want to push us that far to find out?”
“You gave me your personal cell phone number, Cassidy. I would think a good lawyer and a reasonable judge would reason an implied consent.”
“And any reasonable judge would understand it was provided under complete misrepresentation of yourself, Mr. Lockwood. As you remember, you represented yourself as one of the grooms.” I uncross my legs and stand to my full height, fully ready to do battle.
“Calm down there, warrior princess. I see you’re dressed for battle.” He gives my outfit a quick but obvious once-over. Arrogant, cocky ass. He slowly pulls his arm from behind his back and tosses the flowers he’s been hiding onto the desk. Purple hyacinth. Shit. Apology flowers.
“I know,” he says as he saunters into the room, closing the door behind him. “I was a complete asshole.” He read my mind.
“You think?” I huff as I slowly sit back down. I don’t make a move to touch the flowers. “And you could’ve left the door open. You won’t be staying long.” My voice is pure ice, not giving an inch.
“We have things to talk about, Cassidy,” he cajoles.
“No, we don’t.” My mask slips a bit, and I’m suddenly drained. “I’m your brother’s wedding planner. You got what you came for, Caleb. I understand you were pushing my buttons as a kind of test to make sure I could handle the stress of an event this size. I passed, obviously, since the contracts are signed. There’s no need for you to be here.”
“I disagree,” he counters.
“Why does that not surprise me?” I mutter.
“Tsk, tsk, Cassidy. Not nice,” Caleb mocks.
