That’s how Hopeless Romantic was born.
Not many wedding planners had actual storefronts, but Teddi was very successful, had a sterling reputation and five stars on Yelp. In fact, for a while she’d had three storefronts in three different areas…
Nope. Nope, not going there right now.
It was a mantra and she used it. A lot. But it worked. Her brain diverted from its path and looked for an alternate direction. In a display of perfect timing, the phone rang, and she snatched it up before Preston even got close.
“Hopeless Romantic wedding planning, this is Teddi. How can I help you today?”
Chapter Two
A little late.
That was going on her tombstone, Leah Scott was sure of it. Beloved daughter, wonderful sister, always a little late. Her tardiness used to drive her family and friends kind of crazy, but at some point, they’d mostly gotten used to it.
I’m going in. Get here!
She could almost hear the panic in her little sister Kelly’s voice as she read the text and checked her watch. The appointment was for four o’clock and it was barely four fifteen. She pulled her Lexus into a parking spot three doors down and across the street from Hopeless Romantic, the wedding planning place that Kelly had talked nonstop about for longer than Leah could even remember. She’d been so thrilled to get an appointment with Theodora Baker, the owner, the woman Kelly called the “brilliant mind behind the fantastic designs all over Pinterest.” She’d gone on and on about the colors and the hanging muslin and the tablescapes and the unique flower arrangements, all of them coming from the incredibly creative mind of Ms. Baker. Leah had spent the past too many months nodding and smiling and working hard to keep her eyes from glazing over as her sister went on. And on. And on. Interestingly, she’d said at one point, Ms. Baker used to have three locations across the city, but two had closed within the last two years or so and now there was only the one Kelly had been stalking. She’d been following Ms. Baker’s work for nearly three years, since the moment she realized Dylan was The One and she would marry him. Leah had been instructed to periodically check Kelly’s own Pinterest board, which was an enormous array of designs and dresses and locations and food, all the things she wanted for her own wedding. Which would take place in exactly eleven months, one week, and three days.
Not that Leah was counting.
Except of course, she was. Because while Kelly’s intensity around her wedding slowly grew in strength—and annoyance, if she was being honest—it didn’t matter. Kelly could be as intense as she wanted and Leah wouldn’t mind at all. No, she couldn’t be happier. Her baby sister had found the love of her life, and that was the most beautiful thing in the world. She’d look at all the Pinterest boards and flower varieties and tablecloths Kelly wanted her to. This was a big deal—a huge deal—and Leah was thrilled to be a part of it all.
Where are you?! Another text.
“I’m not even that late,” she muttered as she grabbed her purse, got out of her car, and took in the place. The storefront was neat and classy, with Hopeless Romantic Wedding Planning scrolled in elegant gold lettering on the glass over the top of an absolutely breathtaking window display. Well, that Baker woman was certainly showing why she was the most expensive planner so far.
With a shrug, she crossed the street and pushed through the door.
“There she is.” Kelly’s voice hit Leah just before the lovely smell of—was it lilacs?—did. Her gaze followed the sound to her left where Kelly sat with a brunette who had such an instant effect on Leah, she couldn’t move. My God… Her heart began to gallop. Any and all moisture left her mouth until her tongue stuck to its roof. She blinked way too much. And she just stood there as if her feet had grown roots. Stared.
Put together was probably how most people would describe Ms. Baker, at least that’s what Leah thought. Elegant. Classy, maybe in her early forties, and a little intimidating because of the combination. Her features were very dark—dark hair that fell a little past her shoulders and looked like she’d used a wide curling iron on it; the darkest brown eyes Leah had ever seen, accented by liner and mascara that only increased their intensity; super tan skin. She wore a simple black skirt that ended just above her knees and a creamy ivory lightweight sweater with a low neckline and three small gold buttons decorating the front.
She did things to Leah. On a physical level. Weird things. Weirdly sexy things. What in the world was going on with her?
“Teddi Baker, meet my eternally late sister, Leah Scott.”
Kelly’s words unstuck her somehow, thank the good Lord above. Leah tried to shake off the strange feeling that had rendered her paralyzed. Move your feet, Leah. Stop acting like a weirdo. Hand outstretched, she put on her best professional face and crossed to the table. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”
“It’s great to meet you,” said the woman through full pink lips that shined with a hint of gloss, and her grip was firm, her hand soft and warm. Teddi held on a little longer than necessary, with her hand as well as with her eye contact, and Leah was totally okay with both.
What is happening?
A loudly cleared throat. Leah’s gaze shifted to Kelly, whose eyes were slightly wider than usual, and she used them to gesture to a chair. Leah sat.
For the next half hour, the three of them talked weddings. Colors, designs, venues, food, music. Leah was no stranger to what went into planning a wedding, but she’d never been smack dab in the middle of it like she was with Kelly. It was daunting, yes, but she’d never seen her little sister so happy, her hazel eyes constantly bright, her radiant smile part of everyday life now, and if helping Kelly pay for the wedding of her dreams was going to keep her that way, Leah was all for it. Their parents had little money. Well, their mother had little money. Their father had some but was by no means wealthy, and Kelly didn’t have a ton of interest in asking for his help. He’s never been there for us. Why would I expect him to start now? was her very valid reasoning.
Bright. Excited. A little fidgety in her chair. All being displayed by Kelly as they talked. Yeah, this was the planner for her. Leah could feel it. They’d seen three others, none of whom had impressed Leah a whole lot, though Kelly liked one of them quite a bit, but Hopeless Romantic was going to be the one.
“So,” Teddi said as she wrapped up her pitch and slid a pale pink folder toward Kelly. Teddi smiled, and Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the dimples. Leah swallowed hard. “Why don’t you take this information home, look it over. Talk with your sister.” Teddi’s gaze shifted her way, and her eyes were the darkest Leah had ever seen. She was pretty sure she could get lost in them. “Check out the gallery on our website—see what we’ve done. It’s a great way to pick up ideas. Then give me a call or shoot me a text and let me know what you think.”
None of that will be necessary. Leah almost said it out loud but was able to stifle it under a grin. Kelly was practically vibrating in her seat, and Leah stood, hoping Kelly would follow so she could stop wiggling around like a five-year-old on too much sugar. She did, bouncing up as if the chair had ejected her.
“I will.” Smile wide, energy high, Kelly held out a hand and shook Teddi’s. “Thank you so much. I’ll definitely be in touch.”