Lost in Paradise (Paradise Club #2)(71)

“You never know … stranger things have happened.” I chuckle.





26





IVY





“Thank you for the flowers.” I’ve called Alex, as a large bouquet of red roses was delivered to my office after my drunken weekend.

Silence greets me on the end of the phone for a while before he states,

“I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t send you flowers.”

What? Oh shit. He didn’t?

“There wasn’t a card, so I assumed they were from you. Must have been a client, I guess. We did finish a couple of large projects last week,” I add because it isn’t uncommon for clients to send us thank you gifts. “The card may have fallen off during the delivery process or something.”

“Now I feel like a dick for not sending you flowers.” He chuckles down the phone.

“Better up your game, Mr. Lewis. I might have a secret admirer,” I joke with him. “I’ve got to go, I have a meeting. I’ll see you later.”

“Sure will.”

Later that afternoon, the largest bouquet of pink peonies is delivered to my office, but this time there is a beautiful note attached in gold embossed writing.

Ivy,

I make no secret I admire you.

Alex

I hold the card to my chest—could he be any cuter.





“I can’t believe he flew you up here in his private plane.” Olivia squeals as she holds on tight.

“It was a shock, but it’s such a nice way to travel.”

“Did you join the mile-high club?” Camryn asks, popping the champagne cork, which makes us shriek at the pop. She’s flown in tonight for Olivia’s wedding tomorrow. We’re staying in a hotel in the village where the wedding will be held. Camryn pours us all a glass. “So … did you?” my sister questions. They want answers, and they want them now.

“Yes,” I reply simply.

Camryn and Olivia squeak with excitement, raising their glasses of champagne at me.

“Who is this woman?” Camryn jokes.

“I don’t know. But I am happy,” I tell them both.

Camryn walks over and gives me a cuddle.

“Alex seems like a good guy. Can’t wait to meet him again at the wedding,” Olivia says.

“He’s different than anyone I’ve ever dated before. He’s caring and considerate. Even with both of our schedules as busy as they are, he still finds time to see me, and he’s happy if it’s only ten minutes for lunch on the run.”

“You’re in love,” my sister teases.

“No, I’m not! It’s only been a couple of months.” I shake my head slowly at her words.

“You can fall in love that quickly quite easily,” Olivia adds.

“Liv did with Axel,” Camryn states, and as soon as the words fall from her lips, the room goes completely silent. That was not the right thing to say, and especially not the night before Olivia’s wedding to another man. Liv is probably thinking about Axel anyway and how her chance of a happily ever after is evaporating as we speak.

“I did,” Liv says quietly before throwing back her glass of champagne.

“There’s still time for you to back out,” Camryn states.

Damn! I know my sister is trying to help, but I’ve already said all this. I’ve tried to get Olivia to see reason, but there is nothing that can derail this wedding and change her mind, other than Eddie fucking a woman right in front of her parents. It’s happening, and it is happening for a reason.

“Axel is beside himself since you two broke up,” Camryn declares.

“And you think I’m not?” Olivia hits her chest while asking my sister the question, and the look on her face is one of sheer frustration and absolute despondency.

“I don’t know. You’ve turned into a fucking robot for this wedding, so I don’t know what to think,” my sister argues back.

“My father is sick. If I don’t go ahead with this wedding, the shock could kill him. Do you want me to kill my father, Camryn?” Olivia asks my sister angrily.

“That’s a stupid question, Liv. Eddie is probably spending tonight fucking some random. You think being married to a fuckhead is going to save your father’s life? If you do, then you’re delusional.”

This is not at all how I thought the night before Olivia’s wedding would go. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked Camryn to come. I don’t want Olivia to feel any worse than she already does, and Camryn is not helping the situation at all.

“Don’t you think I know that? My own sister is fucking my fiancé,” Olivia screams at Camryn. “Don’t you think I wish the man I am marrying tomorrow was someone else? Do you think that I haven’t thought for one second what it would be like if I said fuck it! I want Axel Taylor? I have every single night, Camryn. And then there is the image of my father in the hospital looking like I could lose him at any moment, and that image chills me to my bones. My parents may not be perfect, but they are my parents,” Olivia tells Cam as tears rush down her cheeks. She swipes them away before pouring herself another glass of champagne and throws half of it back.

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to sit back and watch you make the single biggest mistake of your life?” my sister asks Liv. “Because it’s like watching someone die. Do not give this man the best years of your life, Liv,” Camryn pleads with her.