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“No, that’s not my style at all,” said Piper. “It’s okay for the parties, but not for our wedding.”
Mr. Hamilton chuckled. “If it weren’t for parties in Vegas the two of you might never have gotten together.”
Mary Ellen loved the way Cam and Piper smiled at each other. She hoped that someday she and Antonio would have memories that made them smile like that.
“What will happen with all the arrangements you made?” asked Antonio.
She looked at him. He couldn’t know what she’d gone through canceling all of her own wedding arrangements all those years ago. It surprised her that the thought even occurred to him.
Cam smiled. “I’ll take care of it all on Monday.”
Mary Ellen smiled. Of course he would. Piper wouldn’t have to go through what she had—even if it was under much happier circumstances, no bride should have to cancel her wedding arrangements.
“And what about you? Have you made any plans yet?”
Mary Ellen’s heart jumped into her throat as Gene smiled at her. How did he know that her getting married was even a possibility? He smirked at her and a wave of relief rushed through her as he turned to look at Chelsea.
“We haven’t decided yet, have we?” She smiled up at Grant.
He laughed. “I’m just waiting to hear what you want, and we’ll do it.”
Mr. Hamilton smiled at him. “Just don’t agree to anything too crazy?”
Grant shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll try, but I can’t make any promises.”
Chelsea made a face at her dad. “You can make all the noises you like. If I want to get married while skydiving, you’ll be there.”
They all laughed as Mr. Hamilton nodded sadly. “I will. I will.”
The server came to take their orders and they caught up with each other’s news while they ate. Afterward, everyone went their separate ways with promises to catch up soon. Mary Ellen felt a little deflated as they walked back to the car. She’d been expecting to hear everyone’s reaction to her moving in with Antonio, but it hadn’t been the time or the place to talk about it. Everyone had enough going on in their own lives.
When Antonio reached the car, he held the door open for her and pecked her lips before she got in. “Is everything okay?”
She nodded.
“I’m disappointed, too, but we’ll tell them when we see them next.”
Chapter Seventeen
They spent the rest of the day hanging out at the house. Antonio didn’t usually spend much time at home, but with Mary Ellen there, there was no place else he’d rather be. She’d set herself up on one of the loungers out on the terrace. She looked so at home reading her book, and that was what he wanted her to be—at home, here with him.
Her phone rang, and she reached for it, but then looked up at him. “It must be yours. It’s not mine.”
It made him smile that they both had the same ringtone, though it did get a little confusing sometimes. He went to fetch his from the counter. It was Muse.”
“Hello?”
“Antonio. I’m sorry to disturb you.” It was Rodney. “I’ve found something of a discrepancy in the accounts. I think I know what’s happening, but I don’t want to act on my intuition until I know that you agree.”
Antonio frowned. “You think someone’s stealing?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Antonio blew out a sigh. “Are you there now?”
“Yes, but it can wait. I know this is your weekend.”
“It’s okay, hold on a minute.” He looked at Mary Ellen. He hated to leave her, but employee theft wasn’t something to take lightly. He couldn’t just let it ride, and it wasn’t right to offload all the responsibility onto Rodney.
