Paradise Found

Miranda’s eyes narrow on Elle—she knows Elle is biting back. “My wedding planner has it all covered. She knows everyone.”

“Of course, she would. But if she doesn’t, my cousin is the editor, so I can give her a call if need be. She owes me a favor or two,” Elle says, then gives her a blinding smile.

Miranda’s jaw falls open at Elle’s name drop, but she quickly recovers. My mother thinks this is exciting and is gushing all over Elle. And I am blown away because this is another fascinating tidbit about Eloise that I did not know.

“We didn’t know you were dating anyone, Alistair?” Miranda adds as if she’s trying to dismiss Elle like she is nothing.

“He mentioned it to me when he got back from vacation,” my mother declares, not realizing she’s in the middle of some tension.

“How long have you been together?” Miranda asks.

Eloise places a reassuring hand on my arm as if letting me know she’s got this. “I’ve known Alistair on and off for a while now,” Eloise says, looking up at me. “Unfortunately, work took me to the other side of the world for the past six months. But we reconnected again recently, and this time we decided we were sick of having an ocean between us, so I moved back to London to be with him.”

“Elle lives with me,” I add.

“Oh, this is wonderful. I’m so happy for you two. It might be your wedding we are planning next,” my mother says with a wide smile.

Slow your roll there, Mother. I just got Elle to come back to London with me, I don’t think we are ready for that step just yet.

“Might be a while before that happens,” Elle answers with a deep chuckle. “I have some career goals to meet first.”

“What is it you do?” Miranda questions Eloise.

“I’m a baker. I create decadent cakes and sweets,” Elle replies.

“That sounds like fun. Would I have seen you anywhere? You look familiar, and I can’t quite place it?” my mother questions Elle.

Eloise tenses beside me. “I don’t think so. Perhaps I have one of those faces.”

“A common one,” Miranda adds bitchily.

“I swear you look like a friend’s daughter, but to be fair, I haven’t seen her in probably ten years,” my mother muses.

“Must have a doppelgänger,” Elle answers, but I can see the tension that’s written across her face.

That’s awfully strange for my mother to say something like that.

“Sorry, can you excuse us for a moment? We have a couple of questions we’d like to ask,” the wedding planner says, interrupting our conversation.

Perfect.

Saved by the bell.

“We’ll leave you to it. I’m going to take Eloise for a walk before getting ready for dinner,” I tell my mother, giving her a kiss on the cheek as we say our goodbyes. I take Elle’s hand and pull her out of the marquee and away from Miranda’s frostiness. We walk in silence, removing ourselves from the chaos of wedding preparations. It’s not until we are deep inside the formal gardens that I push Elle up against one of the stone walls and kiss the shit out of her.

“You did so well. Especially when Miranda was coming for you,” I tell her as I run a hand down her cheek.

“I knew she would say something. I’m sure she wants you to stay unhappy to make herself feel better. I was surprised at how bold she was at dismissing me. She probably thinks she can get away with it because your family wouldn’t pull her up on it, especially not during her wedding weekend,” Elle states, and I can tell she’s not upset over it, even though it makes me feel like shit that she must endure Miranda’s bitchiness. “How are you, though?” she asks me.

“First hurdle down. Next one is my brother,” I tell her on a sigh.

“There’s nothing he can do or say that will make me fall for whatever charm he thinks he has,” Elle says, reassuring me as if she can read my mind.

“I know you won’t.” I run my thumb against her cheek. “It’s just men with those kinds of egos, the ones who are never told no, they don’t understand the word when they hear it.”

“I’m a big girl, Ali. Also, I’m trained in self-defense. I’m not above kicking him in his balls at his wedding if he decides to get handsy,” she tells me, which makes me smile.

“I’d fucking pay to see that,” I tell her, chuckling.