Safari Island Shifters: The Complete Collection(25)

“We’re back to square one.” Lily came back into the shop and sat down at the table.

“I just fired Hilda,” Gummy said, sitting down. “But now we’re a little shorthanded and we need to find this dress yesterday.”

“I can help,” Max said automatically. “I don’t know anything about event planning, but if ‘assist’ means carrying around chairs and stuff, I’m your guy.”

“Thank you, but I don’t think you’ll be able to do much.”

Gummy was looking downright glum, and while Lily was putting on a brave face, Max could tell something was bothering her. He could just sense it. Hilda must have done something particularly nasty to get fired in the middle of a big job. This was going to be a disaster. Max couldn’t let it happen.

“Really, I’d like to help,” he repeated. “I may not know how to pick dresses, but I’m a pro at internet searches. I’ll be able to find whatever you want. Plus, I’ve been told I have a very sexy voice. I can make all your phone calls while you do more important stuff.”

“Your speaking voice is very pleasing.” Gummy laughed and then rubbed his chin. “Maybe. I’m out of options, really. My second and third assistants are both busy with other events. What the heck. We’ll try.”

“Great.” Max rubbed his hands together and smiled at Lily. “First things first. We need to find you a dress.”

Gummy went to the big bag Hilda had left behind and took out a laptop. “We need to find a designer that will ship a dress here overnight. It has to fit her almost perfectly. The tailor is good, but she’s only human. We want to make it as easy as possible for her.”

“Right.” Lily nodded. “We only have a five days before the big day, and I don’t want to be walking down the aisle in a potato sack.”

“If anyone could make that look good, it would be you,” Max said.

“Shut up.” She pretended to push him, but a little of the fire returned to her eyes. She took the laptop and started opening web pages. In less than five minutes, she had six different websites opened. She showed them eleven different dresses she thought would work.

Max pointed to a long, peacock blue dress. “I know this is the wrong color, but I think it’s the best one.”

Gummy tilted his head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I agree. I know Addison agreed to orange, but I think this is our best bet. Lily if you think you can convince her to change the color, I think we have a contender.”

“I like this one too,” Lily said gleefully. “Do you think you can get it here?”

Gummy clicked around the website and looked through his phone. “I know a lovely boutique owner who may be able to help us. Excuse me for one second. Cross your fingers, ladies.”

“Good thing Addison left,” Lily said when they were alone. “She never would have been able to change her mind so fast.”

“I know what you mean. Finn has a total one-track mind. Once he gets an idea in his head, it has to be his way or it won’t get done. It’s really annoying.”

“So you’re not like that?”

“Obviously not. I’m helping you pick out dresses when I had planned to go out and grab some food with my bros. I’m pretty flexible. I bet you are, too.”

Lily licked her lower lip. “I’ve been known to get myself into some pretty interesting positions. But I’ve never failed to get myself back on the right path before too long.”

Max laughed nervously. Was she flirting? He thought she was flirting. He was moving her from the ‘maybe’ to the ‘definitely’ category. She was into him!

With any luck he’d be able to convince her to let him get into her too.

If he’d known hooking up with an event planner would get him a hot girl, he would have done it a long time ago. And Lily wasn’t just any hot girl, either. Max was starting to think she was the hot girl. The one and only. The girl he and Finn had been waiting for. Their mate.

It was early, but he had a good feeling about it all. Fate had brought her back into their lives for a reason. Even Finn couldn’t ignore the signs. All Max had to do was get them in the same room.

“Hey, are you free for dinner tonight?” Max asked her. “I was going to eat with Shane, but he canceled on me while you guys were outside.”

“I don’t have any plans.” Lily flipped her dark brown curls over her shoulder. “What are you going to make me?”

“Whatever you want. Between Finn and me, we can make anything,” Max boasted.

“Sounds great. Pick your favorite food and make me that.”

“Great.” Max leaned back in his seat with a big grin on his face. Shane was going to be disappointed when he canceled their dinner, but he would understand. As long as he could get Finn to cook something, they were in good shape. Max was lying when he said they could cook anything. Finn did most of the cooking while Max did the prep and clean up. He couldn’t predict Finn’s reaction to an unexpected guest but he had high hopes. It was Lily after all.

***

Finn was home again and digging through the fridge. Max had sent him a vague text about cooking for three earlier. It was a good thing he’d gotten out of work early or he wouldn’t have even had time to cook. He’d thought Max and Shane were going out for dinner, but they must have changed their plans. Of course they expected him to be able to cook for them with almost no notice. It was a selfish move, but Finn wasn’t surprised. Max wasn’t a great cook and Shane was useless in the kitchen.