“Dear,” Auntie Bren started to say in a scolding tone, “I didn’t realize things were moving so fast between the two of you.”
Neither did I, Maggie thought to herself, but since she couldn’t get a moment alone without a reporter, blogger or even a friend of the Archibalds nearby, she decided not to say anything until she talked to Caden—or as everyone called him, her fiancé. That had been one sly move, making them a team.
“He is coming to the wedding, isn’t he?” Auntie Bren asked. “You never RSVP’d.”
“It’s a small wedding, and considering I’m family, I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal.” Another person stopped Maggie and asked for a photograph before congratulating her.
Auntie Bren followed close on Maggie’s tail. How was she supposed to play this? Was she seriously going to go along with this harebrained idea of his?” At the top of the deck where the rest of the Archibalds finished their lunch and took pictures with local reporters, Caden sat next to his mom. Everyone else, including herself, had managed to wear something in a variety of yellow hues. Caden was no different, with the hint of it in his paisley tie against his blue-and-white-checkered oxford shirt and blue jacket, yet he once again managed to make himself stand out against the crowd. He also managed to avoid eye contact with her after his big announcement. Maggie figured he didn’t want to venture too far from his mother’s skirts without fearing for his life.
The light weight of her gauzy dress combined with the river’s wind forced Maggie to walk carefully as she approached Caden. Once she got close enough, he stood to greet her with open arms. His large hands reached for hers, and with the cameras snapping, Maggie played it cool and held his hands—tight, but she still let him touch her.
“Dear,” Caden said kissing her cheek, “I know this wasn’t the way you wanted everyone to find out, but I figured Mama would be so happy, and she was looking sad.”
“You did look sad,” Auntie Bren concurred.
Kit gave her friend a tight-lipped smile during the banter the two of them kept up. “And how long have you known about these two, Brenda?”
“I’m just finding out like everyone.” Auntie Bren wedged her arm between the freshly “engaged” couple and pulled Caden in for a hug. “I swear it was just the other day Maggie started bringing you around.”
“You could have told me about Brenda’s wedding,” said Kit, swatting Caden’s hand. “We just had a video conference.”
“That conference,” Jason said, coming over to the foursome, “last week was during one of your all-night keggers.”
“Bachelor party,” Caden corrected before offering a tight-lipped grin. Clearly he hadn’t thought this through. Whatever his endgame, Caden couldn’t play the engaged playboy.
“Future Mrs. Archibald. Sweetheart?”
Maggie glanced up at her fiancé when he touched her shoulder. Someone with a camera made a joke at her expense about forgetting her name.
“This must be overwhelming. Shall we go inside?”
Auntie Bren called out to them. “Oh, kids? Since this is all out in the open, does this mean you won’t be staying at the hotel with me?”
Caden reached for Maggie’s hand. “Maggie’s staying with me.”
She liked how she had a choice in the matter, Maggie thought silently, yet she followed Caden’s long stride back inside. The weather felt mild and comfortable outside, but the cool air inside refreshed her face. It took a few blinks for her eyes to adjust from the sun.
Maggie leaned a step in either direction in the hallway to make sure no one was round. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Caden stood in front of her, already with his hands in the air for another surrender.
“Before you light in to me,” he said through a laugh, “I just want you to know what I did out there was for the benefit of the pageant.”
“What does us being married have to do with anything?” Maggie swatted her hand against his bicep. “Are you nuts?”
“Hang on now, it’s a fake engagement,” Caden tried to explain. He stepped backward and pressed a button to the elevator.
“And there’s no way in hell I’m staying here with your parents.”
The elevator arrived, and Caden opened the door to a brass gate. The floors were marble flecked with gold and a gold letter A in the center. Maggie stood in the corner while Caden tried to process her question. It took them just a few seconds to get to the third floor. Polished cherrywood shone on the staircase and banister. Maggie assumed if she glanced over the white painted railing she’d find the foyer. Instead of looking, though, Maggie followed Caden down to the end of the hall. He must have his own wing, she sniffed. Her apartment would fit in here.
“All right,” Caden announced, “we’ll have more privacy in here.”
It was obvious Caden’s favorite color was gray. The walls were a dark thunder cloud and the molding slightly lighter. A four-poster California king pressed against one wall, facing a set of open French doors with a balcony overlooking one of the rivers surrounding the mansion. Maggie inhaled deeply. She could get used to a room like this.
Off to the left, Caden had a small living room area with side-by-side theater seats facing the wall where a scaled-down movie screen hung. A table between the two chairs held a bucket of ice and few bottles of beer.
“So how long have you planned on getting me up here?” Maggie wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or not. She didn’t drink beer. Why would he think this was okay?