Avoiding Temptation (Avoiding #3)(49)

“Ramsey Bridges,” she said with a bright smile. “Pleasure to finally have you here.”

“Sherri,” he acknowledged, shaking her hand carefully, “it’s great to see you. I’ve heard such great things.”

She waved him aside. “Don’t flatter me. I’m just doing my job. Now, introduce me to your beautiful bride-to-be.”

Lexi stood stoically through the entire conversation. She had never wondered how Ramsey had selected the wedding planner. Did he know her personally? They sure seemed to know each other, but Lexi didn’t know how they were acquainted.

“Sherri, this is Lexi,” Ramsey said, drawing Lexi closer to him.

“Hello,” Lexi said politely. She extended her hand out, which Sherri took.

“So nice to meet you. You are positively stunning!”

“Thank you.”

Lexi could tell that Sheri was trying to assuage whatever nerves were floating around inside Lexi, but that wasn’t likely to happen.

“Please, come back into my office. I’m so excited to work with y’all on your special day,” she said.

They followed her down the hallway and into the back area of the boutique.

Sherri chatted away the entire time. “I don’t normally work with the grooms as well. It’s a real treat to have you along to help plan. You know I would do anything for the Bridges. After working on your sister’s lovely wedding, I am just thrilled that you contacted me for this.”

Lexi froze in place in the middle of the hallway. Bekah. Ramsey had selected Bekah’s wedding planner. That was how they knew each other because Ramsey had been in Bekah’s wedding—the wedding he had walked out of with Lexi.

Ramsey’s hand slid into hers, and he urged her to continue walking, but she stayed rooted in place. There were a million planners in the city, and he had chosen the one who had worked with Bekah.

“Why?” she whispered.

She could see in his eyes that he knew what she was asking.

“She’s the best. You deserve the best.”

“But Bekah…”

“That was two years ago, Lexi. Bekah can’t dictate our choices.”

“Yet, you selected her planner.”

“I’m having you meet with the planner that she used, yes. She’s so popular that she books out two years in advance. Just the fact that she is meeting us is out of her normal schedule. But she likes me, and she likes my family.”

“Why does it always have to be about who you know?” Lexi asked.

“Because that’s the world we live in. I can’t help that my name holds influence. It just does. I don’t think you deserve anything less than Bekah on your wedding day. In fact, you deserve much more than her. I’m simply asking you to try this…for us. Please.”

“Fine,” she said, only because he was pleading with her.

A part of her just wished that something had changed during those two years since she had agreed to get back together with Ramsey. They were better but still, he hadn’t told her about the planner. How hard would it have been to just tell her?

It was probably as hard as it had been for her to just tell Jack she had gotten engaged, yet she still hadn’t.

That thought sprang her into action, and she moved forward down the hallway. The wedding planner had stopped at her door, pretending not to listen during the exchange. Lexi wondered how many other women had breakdowns and freak-outs during the earliest stages of planning.

Sherri ushered them into her immaculately decorated office. The room had soft sand-colored accented in varying shades of green and supplemented with plants to make the room feel more natural and inviting. Lexi and Ramsey took the seats opposite Sherri, waiting for her cue.

After giving a lengthy introduction about the company, Sherri turned the spotlight on Lexi. “What is your vision for this, Lexi? I’d love to know what your dream wedding looks like. I’m in the business of making dreams come true,” she said with a big toothy smile.

Lexi just stared at her. What did she want her wedding to be like? She had no idea. She thought most weddings were the same. She had been in a few, and they had been all right, but most had been expensive and rather annoying. She knew she didn’t want their wedding to be anything like what her friends had done—and absolutely nothing like Bekah’s. Lexi wasn’t really sure how to articulate that though.

Sherri waited for Lexi to say something. When she didn’t, Sherri asked another question, “Do you see this as a big event, small event, beachside, or intimate night wedding? We can do whatever works best for you. I know with the Bridges, the guest list tends to get pretty long, so it might be good to think local. Of course, it’s your choice though. I’m here to make your wedding a reality.”

“I don’t know,” Lexi finally answered. “I haven’t thought about it.”

“How long have you been engaged?” Sherri asked, turning her attention to Ramsey.

“Almost a month,” he answered immediately.

Sherri clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth and then stood. “I have another idea. If you’ll follow me,” she said.

They left Sherri’s office behind and tailed her into a large open room with an oval table taking up the center and several large bookshelves filled to the brim with magazines, booklets, and folders.