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Trick laughed, sobering when she didn’t laugh with him. “Wait. For real? That has happened before?”
“Yes. Maintenance received the candles for the candelabras and left them in the warehouse on a day when it was 105 degrees outside.”
He winced.
“That’s something I’ll never allow to happen again.” One of many mistakes she’d learned from since starting this business.
“I’ve been to a lot of weddings, and I’ve met a handful of wedding planners, but I never bothered finding out what was involved. Much more than I thought.”
“Were you too busy trying to take off their shoes or their skirts?” It wasn’t hard to imagine Trick with a besotted woman dangling off his arm.
“I was avoiding them. They didn’t approach me with an offer like you did. I knew that they would spot me from a mile away. Being friendly with the planner would make it harder to blend in. That’s why I crash weddings in the middle and not at the start. After everyone has eaten and downed a few drinks.”
“So this is a whole new adventure for you.”
“Completely.” He ate a cracker topped with prosciutto. “So, do you want me to hang out here and wait for Keely or head to the reception hall to meet the courier?”
Rylee blinked, surprised by the offer. She’d relegated herself to doing everything. “I’ve got it.”
He unpacked a tripod from his bag. “I want to shoot some footage of the reception hall anyway. I’m going to film the progress each day and then show a big reveal of the end result.”
“In a time-lapse?” she guessed.
“Maybe. I haven’t decided how to handle the footage yet. But people are begging for a livestream, so maybe I’ll pop open some of the boxes with you and we’ll find out if we have candles or Cottonelle.”
She laughed.
“So? Reception hall?” He pointed one thumb over his shoulder and waited for her answer. Part of her wanted to argue that it wasn’t his responsibility to meet the courier, but she couldn’t be two places at once. She didn’t want to miss Keely.
“Sure.”
He dipped his head in a nod. Before he was out the door, she called out her thanks. He didn’t turn around when he answered, “No problem, Peaches.”
On his way to the reception area, Trick encountered the courier. The girl was around his younger sister’s age, twenty or so, and wearing boots and a uniform of shorts and a shirt with her name stitched above the left pocket. She looked worried, and he’d bet a hundred bucks that her quivering chin would lead to tears if someone didn’t intervene.
The big brother in him went on high alert. He angled toward her, intercepting her as she checked the clipboard in her hands for the third time.
“Mackenzie. Are you the courier I’m searching for?” He gave her a smile to set her at ease.
“Y-yes. Are you Rylee?” There was a hint of doubt in her voice as she looked him up and down.
“Rylee sent me. I’m Patrick.” He grinned. “I’m happy to help carry the boxes if that’s the issue. The reception hall is right around the corner.” As he spoke, he watched the girl’s face go slack and mouth drop open.
“Oh, my god. You’re—you’re Trick MacArthur. The wedding crasher. Oh, my god!”
“Ah, yeah.” He sent a nervous look around the empty corridor. “I’m here on official business though, no crashing.”
“You have a camera.” The girl’s smile was unstoppable, her earlier turmoil forgotten. “What are you filming?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“Can I have a photo of you? Please?”
“Sure.” He acquiesced, leaning in and smiling as she took a selfie of them and checked the screen of her phone.
“Thank you! Thank you. Wow. Trick MacArthur.” Then her face fell as her earlier worries flooded in and washed away her smile. “Shit. I mean, shoot. I’m, uh, I have a problem.”
“Need a dolly for the delivery? Is it too heavy to carry?”
