The Paid Bridesmaid(2)
Which meant I was going to have to find a way to manage Camden Lewis and his pesky questions.
“It is. I should join them.” He stood up, started to walk away, and then stopped. “You and I should get together later and talk about our mutual responsibilities. Maybe tonight at the cocktail party?”
“Sure,” was what I actually said. What I wanted to say was, I plan on spending this entire week avoiding you, thank you very much. He seemed the naturally suspicious type and I did not need that in my life right now.
Sadie was a huge client, not only because she had five million followers on Instagram, but because she had an impressive network of fellow influencers just like her, young women who were on the cusp of getting married in the near future and might need professional bridesmaids and maids of honor. It was a fantastic opportunity for my business.
“Nice to meet you,” he said.
I nodded, not quite able to say the same. I’d developed a good instinct for people at weddings who would be an issue for me, and this guy was trouble with a capital T.
In no small part because for the first time in forever, I wanted to bend my no-mixing-business-and-pleasure rule. It was the most important rule that I had for myself, and while I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my company or the women who worked for me, I felt a bit tempted.
Especially once I saw the smile of delight on Dan’s mother’s face at seeing Camden. Their entire interaction was so sweet. I thought of what she had gone through and resolved to do my best to ensure that she had a good time during this week. There was a bridal shower scheduled for tomorrow, and I made a mental note to sit next to Irene and do whatever I could to help her have fun.
As a camera operator nearly slammed into me, I reminded myself that Dan’s mom wasn’t the only parent I was going to need to concern myself with. Sadie’s mother and stepfather had gone through a nasty divorce and hated one another. Sadie had made a throwaway comment that her mom, Brandy, tended to get drunk and make scenes. I needed to keep an eye out.
Especially since every moment of this wedding was being broadcast live to Sadie’s Instagram account. She was a lifestyle, fashion, and travel influencer. She was giving her fans full access to all of the activities, and I heard the director sending two of the camera crew in opposite directions to prepare for Sadie’s arrival. The director wanted her to make a grand entrance at every event, wearing a different couture gown from her fashion designer sponsor.
My gaze traveled back to Camden. My brain told me he was a threat, but the rest of me had other ideas about what it’d like to do both to and with him. I figured this was obviously a sign that I needed to get out there and be dating more. I’d been so focused on building up my company that I hadn’t had time for relationships.
Maybe it was time to correct that. After this destination wedding came to an end. I averted my gaze to look out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the white sand beach, palm trees, and turquoise water in the bay just outside the hotel. I brushed my fingers against the pink-and-white floral lei around my neck. I’d always wanted to go to Hawaii, and it was living up to all of my expectations. If I closed my eyes, I could almost smell the salt air of the ocean beckoning me outside.
Despite the gorgeous scenery just a few steps from this room, I couldn’t help but look back at Camden, who was laughing, again. Somehow the joy on his face made him more attractive.
“Who is that?” Krista asked as she sidled up next to me and handed me a mimosa. I took it but didn’t drink it. I’d never been much of a drinker and so I tried to steer clear of it while I was working. Falling down drunk at a reception would have ruined my reputation.
My initial instinct was to pretend like I had no idea who she was talking about. I chided myself for being so obvious in paying attention to him. “Camden Lewis. He’s the best man.”
“I agree. He is definitely the best man here,” she said with a wink. “They should serve him up as a dish at this fancy welcome brunch.” She reached out to grab one of the sandwiches. “Seriously, look at this thing. Have you ever seen anything more perfectly cut?”
I nodded in agreement. The hotel was another one of Sadie’s sponsors. Every single aspect of her wedding had a corporate sponsor—from her shoes to the travel to the alcohol—and the camera crew was here to capture every moment for all her fans, who wanted to be just like her and would go to the same hotel and buy the same jewelry and order from the same bakery that did her wedding cake.
As far as I knew, she and Dan weren’t spending any of their own money on this wedding.
Other than what she was paying me.
“The food is fancy,” I agreed.
“All of this is over the top. I mean, the party I had after I got engaged was my wedding.”
Krista surprised me. She never mentioned her ex-husband, and certainly not in a joking way like this. “This is the gig. And speaking of abusive jerks from your past, are you staying away from the cameras?”
“Yes, Mother Hen.” She gave me a slightly impatient smile. “I’ve told you, you don’t have to protect me. I’m fine. Even if I’m on camera, I don’t worry about him anymore. Things have been changing for me recently. Did I tell you I went out on a date last week?”
That made me almost giddy with joy. Krista deserved the absolute best. “You did?”
“I did.” She looked very pleased with herself. “But when I tried to describe to him what we do—I wish you could have seen his face. I said women pay us to pretend to be their bridesmaids so that when they get married it looks like they have more friends than they do. He didn’t get why that mattered.”