Page 19 of Hers to Marry
Chapter 6
Drew sent another text to Parker asking where she was. He’d been sitting at the tailor’s for ten minutes, and she was nowhere to be found.
Typical Parker.
He was amazed they still communicated enough to get married. Well, if she wasn’t around, she might miss the wedding. A few of his guys already had a pool going about that. Odds were against Drew that he’d get Parker down the aisle.
It frustrated him that Parker wasn’t taking this as seriously as he thought all brides did. Sure, she agreed to the wedding in his hometown, and he actually got her on the plane, but since they had arrived, she’d been virtually M.I.A. Would she be that way during marriage? What would happen when they had kids? Would he be raising them alone?
“Hi, Drew.”
Drew’s head snapped to the side, and there stood Kat, who shrugged and awkwardly smiled. Drew stood from his chair. “Kat! What are you doing here?”
“I’m here to help you get the perfect tux for your wedding.”
“What?” he deadpanned.
Kat’s gaze went up and to the side. “Yeah, yesterday Parker asked me to help fill in as the wedding planner. Something big is going on at work that needs her full attention right now.”
“Well, her fiancé needs some attention,” Drew muttered.
Kat pressed her lips into a tight line and frowned. Drew blasted a breath in frustration. “Okay, so what are you supposed to do?”
“Everything. I’m the official wedding planner. We can get you in a tux today, and then we can go look at venues—”
“Shouldn’t you be at work?”
Kat shoved hair behind her right ear, and averted her gaze. Today she wore it down in spiral curls that touched her shoulders. She looked carefree and beautiful, but the woman he wanted to be here was Parker.
“Um, I went in really early and baked the supply we needed for today. Typically Tuesdays are slower because everyone’s started their week off right with sweets. Susie said I could have a couple of hours since I never take any time off.”
Drew figured being a wedding planner was a huge inconvenience to her and Susie. “Okay, no offense, but you bake cakes. You’re not a wedding planner, or do I have that wrong?”
Her lips slanted down to one side. “You’re not wrong. I told Parker that. She thinks I’d probably have a better eye for this because I’ve baked cakes for weddings and, well, I know her. I have a pretty good idea of what she likes, and we could marriage that up with what you like.”
Drew chuckled. Marriage. Was his even going to happen? “Right. That’s funny. If you really knew Parker, this is her show. I’m just supposed to show up and say ‘I do.’”
Kat laughed to be polite. “No, you’re right. But…I think a wedding involves two people. If you want any say-so, then now’s the time to do it.”
“Tap into my Marine training and assert my authority going into the marriage.” He slowly nodded. “I like that, Kat.”
Kat touched her cheek. Were they warm? “I…I didn’t exactly mean it—”
He winked. “Yeah, you did. When did you become so meek? You used to have no problem asserting yourself when we were younger.”
“Asserting herself?” A harsh laugh barked behind them. “Katrina? That’s funny.”
Kat stiffened, her eyes shooting to Drew’s, her gaze crying out for help. Drew eyed the guy from head to toe. Shirt fitted too tightly underneath a jacket that was an inch too short at the wrists. His pants also looked like he picked them up at Baby Gap. He wore a slick expression, his sardonic gaze raking Kat. He didn’t recognize him at all, but apparently he knew Kat.
Kat slowly faced him. “Marcus,” she said coolly.
Marcus?Was that her ex?
“Katrina,” he sneered. “Where have you been hiding? Still at that bakeshop?”
“Would’ve been in my own bakery if it wasn’t for you.”
Drew took a step forward, his gaze zeroed in on Marcus. He caused his best friend to lose her dream, to be this insecure person Drew didn’t know. Drew felt a growl shoot up his throat.
