Confetti Hearts (Confetti Hitched, #1)(10)

“Jesus Christ,” Helena snaps.

“What should I do, Joe?” Louis asks. I raise my eyebrow, and he looks as contrite as it’s possible for an arsehole to be. “Please, Joe. I’m very sorry.”

I consider the fact that I’ve been paid, and I don’t have to actually do any more for this horrible pair. Then I look at Helena. She’s my bride, though, goddammit.

“Okay,” I say wearily. “Go up and take the clothes away from Edward Scissorhands. I’ll have a chat with the hotel who are getting understandably nervous about your hack happy friend, and then I’ll join you.”

“Thank you,” Helena says and goes back to sipping her drink as calmly as if nothing has happened.

I shake my head in disbelief and turn, only to stand stock still in amazement. “Lachlan,” I gasp.

He’s leaning against the bar, eyes full of humour. He’s obviously been the source of the chuckles I’ve been hearing. He’s wearing jeans and a navy shirt, his dark hair ruffled by the tropical breeze.

“What are you doing here?”

He gives his crooked smile. “Convention for work.”

“Good heavens. Do they know what a bunch of kleptomaniacs they’ve invited onto their premises?”

He throws his head back, laughing. “I saw you earlier,” he says, smiling. “I’ve been waiting for you to finish.”

“You have?” I gape at him.

“I didn’t think I’d see you again,” he says, looking a little awkward.

“Well, unless you get married and can’t organise things on your own, it would be unlikely.”

“Joe,” Louis snaps. “I’m waiting.”

I ignore him and grin at Lachlan. “So, how long are you here for?”

“Until tomorrow.”

“Well, this has a familiar feeling.”

He studies me, his eyes dark and knowing.

“Joe?” Louis snaps.

I spin to face him. “Louis, do you remember ignoring my words of advice? In fact, do you remember the lovely afternoon when you called me a nagging old woman?”

He shuffles his feet. “I thought it would be fine.”

As if on cue, a cascade of clothes comes sailing past us. Freya has obviously moved to the second balcony. Maybe she’s filled in the other pool and is looking for other options. The clothes land in the pool and sink, rather like the subject of the song currently playing. “Recent events are proving that’s fairly wide of the mark.”

He rallies. “Well, I think you’re being paid as our wedding planner. You got an enormous amount of money to do your job so you should get on with it.”

I put my hands on my hips. “And are you married now?”

“Yes, but—”

“But me no buts, Louis. You’re married. Ergo my work is done. I’m the planner. The clue is in the title. Are you expecting that I’m going to stay with you for a few years afterwards and smooth your way through life? Maybe until you’ve had your fifth child. Does that need to go into my job description now? I’m a wedding planner. Not Nanny McPhee.”

He subsides. “I’ll wait.”

“Thank you,” I say graciously. I turn back to Lachlan whose face is alight with laughter. “So?”

He raises his glass. “I’ll wait for you.”

I incline my head rather regally which makes his mouth quirk. “Okay. Louis, let us go and sort out the mess you’ve created.”

I sweep away, and the bridegroom follows like a lost sheep.

An hour later I return to the bar and try to ignore the rush of relief that Lachlan’s still there. He’s nursing a glass full of amber liquid and tapping his foot as the band plays, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”. The sweet tune mingles with the sound of the waves hitting the beach a few yards away. It’s a seductive sound.

I slide onto the seat next to him and he smiles at me. “All sorted?”

“Well, the psycho ex is sorted. Don’t ask me to speculate on the length of the marriage, though.”

He laughs. “In my experience they rarely make it.”

“How can you even think of saying that to a wedding planner of all people? Of course, most of them will make it.”

“Really?”

I shrug and smile at the bartender. “A mojito please,” I request and turn back to Lachlan. “Okay, maybe a third will make it.”

“Does that bother you? You’re in the business of peddling happy ever afters.”

“No, I am in the business of making the best weddings ever. The happy ever after is down to them.” I accept my drink and take a welcome sip. “God, that’s good.”

“You look like you need it. I’m sensing today might have been a bit stressful.”

“You have no idea.” I look round cautiously and beckon him closer. He obliges, a heated look in his face. The scent of his cologne weaves around me. “These two make Brad and Angelina look like they have the secret to a good marriage.”

He bursts into laughter, and I’m struck by how handsome he is. I avert my eyes before he catches me mooning over him. I turn my gaze to the sky and sigh involuntarily. “God, that sky is pretty. You don’t see stars like that unless you’re in the country.”