You’re Still The One by Erika Kelly

Chapter Fourteen

Stella couldn’t believehe’d done this. Pulling a yogurt from her new mini refrigerator, she stood there for a moment taking in the contents. Salads, protein shakes, chicken stir fry…don’t tear up.

You are not crying at work.

But come on, Griffin was an amazing, loving man. He didn’t want her to miss meals, so he’d bought it for her. Didn’t even tell her. She’d just walked in, got busy, and noticed a low hum in her office.

When she’d looked over to see it, her heart had nearly exploded.

Her phone buzzed, and she hurried over to her desk to open the text message.

Quinn: The princess is here!

Stella: Is she wearing a tiara?

Quinn: She’s wearing RED cowboy boots. And they’re badass!

Stella: Never keep a princess waiting. LOL. Send her in.

A moment later, Quinn swept in. “May I introduce Princess Rosalina Anais Isabella Villeneuve.” Then, with a flourish, she gestured to the doorway.

In walked a beautiful brunette wearing black leggings and a colorful blouse. “Oh, my God, look at your face right now.” She laughed. “You were expecting crown jewels and a Chanel suit, weren’t you?” When she reached the desk, she held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Rosie.”

“Can I get you coffee?” Quinn asked. “Sparkling water? Prosecco?”

Stella laughed. “Yes, champagne for everyone! Here, we drink it instead of water…as one does.”

Rosie laughed. “I’m fine, but thank you.” The stunning woman could dress like a local all she wanted but nothing could hide her regal bearing.

“Hey, Rosie, I’m Stella, and I’m afraid to admit I’m a shabby stand-in for Diane. But fortunately, she’s done all the work, and you’re going to have a spectacular wedding.”

The sparkled dimmed in the princess’s eyes.

Now, what’s that about? “Please, sit down, and let’s talk.” Stella hadn’t even had a chance to clean up her desk. She’d been swamped for three weeks straight. Nothing I can do about it now.

Rosie dropped a stuffed diaper bag onto the chair next to her. She smoothed her hair behind her ears, revealing dangling silver and turquoise earrings.

Stella smiled.

“What’s so funny?” Rosie glanced down at her blouse. “Don’t tell me I’ve been walking around with spit-up on me. I left the house feeling like such a badass. I showered, put on make-up…I even brushed my teeth.”

“No, that’s not it at all. I just didn’t expect a royal princess to be wearing red cowboy boots and turquoise earrings.”

“Oh.” Rosie smiled. “I’ve been here a couple of years now, and I still haven’t had my fill of line dancing and bull riding. Have you been to the rodeo in Jackson?”

“More times than I can count. I’m actually from here, but I also lived in Dallas for several years and never missed an opportunity to hit the Stockyards.” She got up. “Come on. Let’s go into the conference room. We’ve got your wedding up on the screen.”

The moment they entered, Rosie took in the photograph of the grand staircase with its plush burgundy carpet, and her features fell.

Okay, so I didn’t imagine it.She’s not happy.

But why?

“This is your chance to make last-minute tweaks.” Though, she wasn’t sure she could deliver on that promise. Everything was set. The wedding was in two weeks.

“No, no changes. It’s perfect. Diane’s done a lovely job.”

It’s me. She doesn’t think I can pull it off. “Now, if you’re concerned about me running it, keep in mind, Diane’s taken care of every detail. All I have to do is hold my baton and conduct the production.”

“Believe me. I’m not worried. With my mother running the show, I have no doubt everything will come off perfectly.”

“Okay, great.” Then, why aren’t you glowing? “So, what can I do for you? Do you want to go over the details?”

“No. Actually, I’d like to add an event. A pre-wedding dinner for close friends. Well, and my sister and her husband, if they can get here in time. She’s got a project due before the school break.”

“Okay.” Stella wasn’t following. She didn’t need a wedding planner to put together a dinner. “What did you have in mind?”

“I was thinking…maybe the weekend before the wedding, we could rent out a space, like a community center or something like that.”

“Not a restaurant?”

“No…I thought it might be fun to bring in a DJ and do line dancing. Could we rent a mechanical bull? Is that a thing?”

“Yes, we can absolutely do that. If you want, I could help your sister or your friends put together a bridal shower for you.”

“Vivi’s in business school in Boston. She’s got enough on her plate, and I already told my friends not to do anything. But between the wedding and the holidays and all the guests visiting from St. Christophe…my mom’s got one party after another planned.”

Okay, so Mom’s calling the shots here, Rosie can plan her own party, but she’s asking me to do it…

A picture was forming. Stella sat on the edge of the table. “This could be fun. So, your parents won’t be at this event, right?”

“Oh, God, no. They’re uncomfortable with loud music and big crowds. Plus, with their security team, it always changes the tone. Everyone becomes hyper aware of the royals and tries to be on their best behavior. And I don’t want that. I want everyone to have fun.”

Yes, Stella was getting a clear picture. “So, if I plan it, you’re not responsible for anything, and you can let go and have a good time and not worry what the queen will think.”

Rosie stuttered out a laugh. “I feel so seen right now. Yes, that’s exactly right.”

“Why do I get the feeling that your wedding isn’t exactly what you’d had in mind?”

“Way to read the room, lady.” Rosie grinned. “My mom’s great, and I love her, but once I started planning things here, she poked her royal nose in and started making suggestions. Then, she and Diane were having regular conversations, and by the next time I checked back in, they’d replicated the royal wedding in St. Christophe. Including the guest list. And I’ve been blaming my busy life—I just had my second baby, I’ve got a toddler and a business to run—but now, thanks to you, I have to accept that I let myself get cowed by my mother.”

“What, you can’t picture the queen on a mechanical bull?”

Rosie grinned. “Now I can. But, no, never in a million years would she go for that. She’s too proper, and my dad’s too…scholarly.”

“But it’s what you want, right?”

“Very much. I want beer and line dancing and a live band. My parents want Dom Perignon and orchestral pieces.”

“Gotcha.” Stella clicked to the page of a wedding she was planning next May. “So, for your pre-wedding party, you had something like this in mind?” On the screen, she had snapshots of a wild-ass country wedding. Under the bride’s frothy Cinderella gown, she wore pink cowboy boots, and the groom wore a Stetson on the dance floor. All around them, the guests were two-stepping. Everyone was laughing and having a blast.

With a sudden intensity, Rosie sat forward. “Yes, just like that.”

Creating a split screen, Stella put the formal wedding on one side and the fun one on the other. “What if we could combine the two for your Calamity wedding?”

Hope flared in the princess’s eyes but quickly died out. “We’re getting married in two weeks. Besides, my mother’s worked so hard on this.”

“She has, but you specifically asked for something informal here, and she didn’t listen. And…you only get one wedding.” She smiled. “Well, in your case two. But your mom gets her ceremony in St. Christophe. So, here…what if we throw your dream wedding, but also make the king and queen and their guests comfortable?”

“That doesn’t seem possible, but I’m listening.” Rosie looked at her with so much interest—like she needed to hear the right words to convince her.

Stella rose to the challenge. “What if we keep the ceremony in the church, just as formal as your mom and Diane planned, but what if instead of the grand ballroom, we rent out Wild Billy’s?”

Her eyes went wide. “You want the king and queen in a bar for my reception?”

“I do, but only after we transform it for the night. We can replace the bar stools and tables with linen-covered seating areas for the royals, make it formal with plush chairs and candles and dinner service—no buffet for them—and then we leave the dance floor as-is for the live band and line dancing. On the other side of the room, we hire a bunch of chefs with their jackets and toques to serve your friends buffet-style. What do you say? You get the wedding of your dreams, and your mom gets most of what she wants.”

Rosie smiled at her. “I love it, but I can’t do that to my mom.”

“Well, the only thing we’re changing is the reception venue. Your mom still gets her formal ceremony in the church, the same food, and the chef she’s already arranged. The only difference is that you get the party you and Brodie want.” She grinned. “You get your mechanical bull.”

Color rose in her cheeks, and Rosie grew animated. “I want that bull.”

“I know you do. Look, things went off the rails. You just had a baby, so you let things get away from you, but it’s not too late to course-correct.” Stella’s palms grew damp, and she felt a little nauseated. She was making promises she might not be able to keep. Why did she even think she could get Wild Billy’s to shut down for a night during ski season? Worse, she might be causing trouble between Rosie and her mom.

Still, the princess had been railroaded, and anyone could see how very much she wanted a reception at Wild Billy’s. “We don’t have to actually do anything, but what if you test the waters, explain to your mom how things got so far away from what you’d wanted, and you’ve come up with a compromise to make both of you happy?” There, that would give Rosie the time she needed to decide if it was the right choice. If she came back and said she’d rather leave it be, then Stella wouldn’t say another word.

“It can’t hurt to bring it up.” Rosie gave a cautious smile. “You really think you can pull this off?”

“I know I can.” What just came out of my mouth?

I don’t know anything.

But if Rosie wanted this, Stella would move heaven and earth to make it happen.

Something happened to the princess. She went from anxious to thoughtful to…resolved. She smacked her hand on the desk. “Let’s do it.”

“You don’t want to talk to your mom first?”

“I’m a grown woman, a mother of two, and this is my wedding. I told them very clearly, multiple times, what I wanted, and they both agreed to make it happen, and the next thing I knew…I was getting Royal Ceremony Redux. No, Stella. What you described is exactly what I want. It’s on.” Rosie got up and met her at the side of her desk. Hugging her she said, “Thank you so much.” Her voice was filled with emotion. “It shouldn’t matter this much to me.”

“But it does.”

“Yes, it does.” When they pulled apart, Rosie swiped the dampness from under her eyes. “Sorry. New baby and all.”

“We got this.” Maybe?

Oh, my God, what have I done?

“I’ll transform that bar. You’ll see.” If they’ll actually rent it out to me.

Will they?

Already, her mind scrambled to think of who she knew with the kind of connections to make that happen.

“I just met you, but somehow I know you’ll deliver.”

The moment Rosie left, Stella collapsed into her chair. Anxiety spun through her system like a cyclone, wringing her out.

What if the queen calls Diane to ream her out, vowing to ruin the reputation her boss had so carefully built?

Energy started rolling in. What if it’s the best damn party this town has ever seen?

What if I can make Rosie’s dream come true and keep the queen happy?

She could dwell in fear, or she could get to work.

She needed to call Wild Billy’s—wait, her mom might know the owner. She would absolutely use her family’s connections to make this happen. Just as she picked up her phone, Quinn came rushing in.

“Did that just happen? Did you just turn the royal wedding into a hoe-down?”

“Yes. Is that a bad thing?” She meant it as a joke, but Quinn didn’t smile.

I just came back to town, I faked an engagement, and now I’ve thrown a Molotov cocktail into the most important and visible wedding Diane’s ever done. “It won’t be like that, I promise. It’ll be amazing.”

Quinn pressed a hand to her forehead. “Diane’s been planning this wedding for a year. With the queen. She’s going to have a fit.”

“Well, then, I’d better get to work convincing her I did the right thing.”

* * *

Griffin lowered the hydraulic platform, damn pleased with this bike. He was about finished, which meant he could move onto the vintage spec one he’d started a few weeks ago. And with Stella letting Austin hang out at the office on days he didn’t have training, he could actually get other jobs done—

“Wow, that’s cool.” The clack of heels on the pavement had him looking over.

Stella. Every time he saw her, his body had the same reaction. His engines revved to full throttle.

Even when she’d just rolled out of bed and come over for breakfast. Or when he glanced out his window and saw her doing yoga—and no, he wasn’t creeping on her. She did it with the curtains open and the lights on in the carriage house.

And sometimes, usually when Austin was in school, she wore this tiny peach-colored sports bra and bike shorts that made it look like she was naked.

Kill me now.

Strutting toward him, she looked like a runway model. Skin-tight black pants with tiny crystals on them, leather ankle boots, an oversize scarf, and an enormous coat that hung well below her knees, made her look like she belonged at a film festival in Cannes.

Winter in the mountains, you’d think she’d look ridiculous.

She didn’t. Every single person in the shop stopped what they were doing to track her. It had always been that way, all the way back to elementary school. Stella was the girl everyone wanted to be, every guy wanted to date, and when she sat down at your table in the cafeteria, you couldn’t believe she’d chosen you.

And yet, she had no idea. She didn’t know there were kids you didn’t hang out with. Stella lived in the moment, so if she were looking for a place to sit and saw someone from her chemistry class, she’d plop right down and start up a conversation about the cool project they were working on.

Then, she’d get to talking and include you in her plans that weekend.

“Does it need a test rider? Because I’m game.”

“Ha. I’ve just spent three months on this. Soon as the roads are cleared, I’m taking her out.”

“What is it?”

“It’s got the heart of a ’47 Harley. I added more chrome and rubber elements to give it a more elegant feel.”

Her fingertips traced the hand-formed metalwork. “You’re an artist. I can’t believe you did this. Is it Owl Hoot?”

“It’s the original settlement of Calamity, yes.”

“It’s amazing.” She glanced up at him. “Who ordered this? I’m guessing a Bowie.”

He chuckled.

“What?”

“You’ve got a gift. Yes, Lachlan Bowie’s, actually.”

“Oh, man, I can totally see him riding through town on a bike like this with his white pompadour.”

“Boss.” Jinx strode by, heading to his station. He gave Stella a nod.

Stella watched him for a moment. “Whoa, who’s that?”

“Settle down. That’s Skylar’s husband.” He’d discovered the insanely talented artist when a group of bikers had stopped in for repairs one summer day. They’d all had custom paint jobs, and Griffin had asked about the work. Best he’d ever seen. They’d told him about Jinx Costello.

“Your sister’s married?”

“Yep. Two kids.”

Her features softened. “Why does that make my heart so happy?”

“Because she had a rough go of it, thanks to her asshole boyfriend.”

“What does Jinx do?”

“Here.” He walked her over to a freshly painted tank.

“Oh, wow. It doesn’t even look airbrushed. That’s art.”

“Yeah, it is. He’s talented.”

“That’s putting it mildly. Who’re these faces?”

If you looked closely, a chalky design came through on the matte tank finish. A house, a lawn, a swing set. But on either side, faces were captured, as if stored inside the tank, peering out. “He does memorials, mostly.”

“Oh.” She cut him a surprised look. “All these people died?”

“Yeah, fire.”

“Oh, my God.”

“Jinx lost his brother and dad, so he’s made a career out of keeping loved ones close, even after they’re gone.”

“That’s strangely beautiful.”

“He’s got more work than he can handle. So, what brings you by?”

“Sorry, I’m interrupting you. I just…”

“You’re good. Talk to me.”

“Well, I was talking to Austin at work this afternoon, and he really opened up and…God, it’s just so unsettling. I should’ve waited till you got home from work, but I needed to talk.”

His body went tight. “No, it’s fine. What did he say?”

“We were talking about Thanksgiving, what kind of traditions his grandparents had, and he didn’t say much, but when I asked what he did for fun when he stayed there, he said, ‘Nothing.’ And I don’t know why, but that got him to open up. He said he doesn’t want to do anything when he’s there because then he’ll have to listen to them telling him how to do it. They correct the way he holds a fork, the way he chews, how he dresses and brushes his teeth. They won’t let him slouch or give one-word answers. They make him leave his bedroom door open.”

“What? Why?”

“He said it’s a rule in their house because that’s how people get into trouble, behind closed doors. Griffin, they don’t give him any privacy. They do these random checks of his laptop and phone.”

“Jesus, what’s wrong with these people? I’m going to talk to them. If they want to see him, they’re going to have to respect his privacy.”

“I said that. I said, Griffin will talk to them, and then he just clammed up. I hate that I shut him down, but I’m sure he doesn’t want you interfering because he thinks it’ll make things worse.”

He nodded. “Yeah, I know. That’s what makes this situation so hard. I want to help him, but there’s not much I can do. Where is he now?”

“I couldn’t concentrate at work, so I brought him home. And then I came here. I just needed to tell you.”

“I’m glad you did.” He put his tools away and cleaned up his station.

“What’re you doing?”

“Going home. I won’t tell him you talked to me, but I just want to be with him right now. I can’t fix the problem, but I can hang out with him, let him know he’s loved.” It’s about all he could do.

Everything about her went soft and sweet. That worry she’d walked in with melted away, and now she just looked all hot and sexy.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

She looked at him through her lashes. “Like what?”

“Like you want me to drape you over that bike and fuck you.”

“I always did wear my heart on my sleeve.”

Lust seized him, a fierce hunger sweeping through him. “Woman, get out of here. Go back to work.”

She gave him a sassy pout. “Hmpf.” And then she turned and strutted her sexy ass away from him.

Fuck, but he wanted her. “Where you going?”

“Home.” Her hips sashayed. “To do yoga in my living room.” She threw a sexy glance over her shoulder and winked.

And he knew exactly what that meant.

She’d be in that skimpy peach sports bra.