Page 116 of Undeniable
“Okay.” The elevator chimed, and the doors opened to our floor. “But—” she backed into the hallway and cupped her mouth “—it’s Juliana freaking Wright,” she whisper-yelled.
I smiled despite myself, more curious than ever to meettheJuliana Wright. Olivia rarely got excited about celebrities. She’d been surrounded by them thanks to my career, and she often interacted with famous authors in her line of work. So, for her to get this excited about a wedding planner… Well, I was certainly intrigued.
And I was kicking myself for not looking her up ahead of time. Considering the amount of research I put into football—both as a player and now as a color commentator—it was surprising. But I’d been so busy preparing for the wild-card game, then there’d been that night with the woman at the wedding expo, and a photo shoot, that there hadn’t been much time to research Olivia’s wedding planner. I’d just been grateful to get an appointment. And I’d never expected for Olivia to ask me to come with her.
I adjusted myself at the reminder of the night of the wedding expo. I’d gone there on a whim, hoping to catch Talia’s contact. I still didn’t know my mystery woman’s name, but if I closed my eyes, I could trace every slope and curve of her body. I could recall all the ways I’d made her come and envision all the ways I still wanted to. If only she hadn’t been so hung up on her ex…
Perhaps it was for the best that it would never happen again. I didn’t have any way to contact her. And much as I might want a repeat of that night, I couldn’t give her what she needed beyond a brief escape.
“Here we are,” Olivia said, bringing me back to the present.
She pushed open the frosted glass door with an interlocking J and W etched in a cursive font. I hesitated a moment, trying to get my brain to catch up with reality. This was happening. My baby was getting married.
“Welcome to Juliana Wright Events,” said a man at the front desk. He smiled at Olivia, but his eyes lingered on me, scanning me from head to toe with an appreciative grin, a knowing grin. “Do you have an appointment?”
He looked familiar, and I frowned as I struggled to place him. I shook away the thought—he was probably just another fan or something.
I shoved my hands into my pockets. “Harrison Hayes. Talia Winters referred me.”
The office was clean and stylish. Everything was blush pink and gold and white—definitely feminine. But also…welcoming.
He glanced at his computer screen. “Yes. Harrison.” He smiled at me and rounded the desk to shake my hand. “Welcome. And…?”
“Olivia.” She held out her hand.
“Landon.” He shook her hand. “Right this way.” He led us to a conference room, though he kept glancing back at me. All the while, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should know who he was.
Framed photographs lined the hall, happy couples smiling as they said their “I Dos,” a child blowing out her birthday candles, a glowing mom-to-be embraced by her girlfriends. The conference room had a wall of windows overlooking LA. A large pair of orchids rested in the middle of the glossy table, surrounded by a few leather-bound books.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Landon asked once we were seated. “Water, champagne?”
“I’d like a water, please,” Olivia said before turning to me. “Daddy?”
Landon coughed into his hand.
“You okay?” I asked, and he nodded. “I’ll take a water, thanks.”
I picked up one of the leather albums from the table and thumbed through it. More smiling couples. More weddings and parties. All elegant, extravagant, and…expensive, I was sure.
I didn’t think much could faze me considering the life I’d led, but staring at some of the parties, I realized I was wrong. Cirque du Soleil at a five-year-old’s birthday party? I shook my head and closed the book, afraid to see what else it might contain. I had no idea what Olivia had in mind for her wedding, but I didn’t think a flock of albino peacocks was on her must-have list. At least, I hoped not.
“Oh my god,” Olivia said from beside me. “That is stunning.”
I furrowed my brows, glancing between the album and her. The wedding looked fit for royalty.
“And those flowers. I love peonies.”
“Peonies?” I asked, to which she just laughed.
I had a feeling I was in for a long afternoon. When Landon returned with our waters, I began to second-guess my decision not to request alcohol.
“And here she is now.” Landon turned toward the door and smiled as if amused by something.
A phone rang in the background, and I looked up when I heard the click-clack of a woman’s shoes against the marble floor. A familiar blonde with legs for days entered the room, her eyes on her tablet. Olivia and I stood, both of us smiling, albeit for different reasons.Well, well, well.Talk about life being unpredictable.
She looked the same as that night at the bar—well-dressed, polished, fucking stunning. Her fuchsia dress and pumps were professional, but they only made me want to undress her. I wanted to pull her hair from the bun she wore and watch the waves tumble over her shoulders. I wanted to—
“Hi, I’m…” She glanced up, and when our eyes met, she faltered. She quickly composed herself, masking her surprise with a smile. “Juliana Wright.”