The Mills & Boon Ultimate Christmas Collection. Kate HardyЧитать онлайн книгу.
“They’re so pretty, Aunt Bessie!” I said, ogling a tray of mini gold-glitter donuts.
“I’ve got the most amazing cake pops too, done with edible black lacquer, so shiny you can see yourself in them.”
We went briskly back to work, setting up her dessert table. Before I knew it, cars were crunching the gravel and our first guests arrived, drawing excited squeals from us all. Amory and I would usually be hosting a party near Times Square, waiting for the ball drop, but here we were, making Cedarwood Lodge the place to be. Even though we were technically working, it felt like a fairy tale come true to be sashaying around the lodge in a flapper dress.
Taking a moment, I watched as everyone got into position. We were getting more organized, my team, like a finely tuned machine, and I beamed with pride.
“Well, everyone. Let’s go welcome our guests to the jazz age and show them one hell of a party!” Amory whooped and we swarmed to the entrance.
Amory welcomed guests, checking them off the guest list, while Micah showed them the way and Isla handed them a glass of champagne as they floated past.
Men wore dapper suits and women were dressed flamboyantly. I was impressed people had made such an effort, as it wasn’t always the case – but who didn’t like the glitz and glamour of another era? The romance, the poetry, the shunning of rules and regulations in the twenties. It was impossible not to smile at the women speaking huskily, or throwing their heads back, laughing hard, as if they were truly transported to another time.
When Vinnie arrived we fussed and fawned over him and his guest of honor, Mr Whittaker. As soon as they even thought about another drink their champagne flutes were refilled. When one of them fumbled with a napkin, another was pressed into his hand. When I sailed past them for the third time, checking everything was going well, both of them were smiling as Amory regaled them with a hilarious story.
The jazz band played the Charleston, and people danced and kicked up their heels. They tangoed and foxtrotted, only stopping to guzzle champagne as though it was water. Even the most sedate of guests was inspired to join the others on the dance floor. The tap of high heels made me smile; this was what I wanted for the lodge – fun, frivolity, dancing!
With the party in full swing, the guests’ sunny faces and raucous laughter high in the air, I signaled to the girls that it was time to take a breather – safe in the knowledge everything was on track, the skill-hire staff were working well, and everyone was having fun. Tim was wooing his clients and gave me a thumbs-up whenever I dashed past him. Maybe he’d hire Cedarwood every year for parties. The possibilities were endless!
Amory and Isla huddled by a wall, sneaking their first glass of champagne and gossiping about the guests – who had the prettiest dress, and who danced like no one was watching.
“Look how happy they are,” Amory said. “This is one of the best parties we’ve ever done, Clio, and we’ve done some truly spectacular ones.”
“I think so too,” I said, grinning as I sent up a silent thank you to F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, for making the jazz era so fashionable and so much fun to recreate.
Isla sipped her champagne and, as she craned her neck back to sip, a slim necklace she was wearing caught the light. I hadn’t noticed it when we were getting ready. It was truly beautiful, a delicate constellation of stars, shimmering and twinkling under the lights.
“What’s the symbolism of your necklace, Isla?” I asked. “It’s gorgeous! Is it to do with the stars Micah named after you?”
She flushed deep scarlet, bringing out the freckles on her nose. “Umm, yeah. We, ah…” She frantically waved Micah over, who was restocking the champagne behind the bar. When he got to her, they clutched hands, and he searched her face for clues. It must have dawned on him because he nodded. “We were going to wait until the party was finished before we asked you, but…”
“Ask me?” Isla darted a nervous glance up at Micah, and he grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “Oh my God, ask me what?” I had a feeling I knew what it was and goose bumps broke out over my skin in anticipation.
“So, ah… would you and Amory be our wedding planners?”
Amory and I jumped and squealed as quietly as we could. Which under the circumstances was pretty damn loud, but hey, this was the most amazing news! There was nothing quite as romantic as planning a wedding, but to plan the wedding of two of your best friends, well, that was even better.
I grabbed Isla and gave her a hug, “You’re getting married!” I pulled Micah into the hug, and Amory clasped her hands around the outside and we were one big circle of shrieking joyfulness. I was immediately in the realm of neither here nor here, stuck happily mentally planning their big day… A winter wedding, the lodge lit up with fairy lights, their special constellation twinkling above, an ice sculpture, white roses, simple yet elegant…
“You guys… oh, you’ve made this year end on the highest of notes.” I waved Kai over, and Amory dashed to the kitchen to get Cruz, and came back with a bottle of bubbly under one arm and a bewildered Cruz in the other.
“Will you do the honors, Micah?” She handed him the bottle.
The cork popped, and foamy bubbles raced up and over. As flutes were filled, I said, “On behalf of Cedarwood Lodge, and all who inhabit the grand old dame, I’d like to congratulate Micah and Isla on their engagement.”
Kai and Cruz shook Micah’s hand in turn, slapping him on the back the way men do, and hugged Isla, kissing her on the cheek. Tears welled in my eyes; it felt like the most enchanted moment and I was so thrilled they’d shared it with us tonight of all nights, when magic was in the air and anything could happen.
We clinked glasses and toasted the happy couple. Everyone around me was falling in love and yet I couldn’t even get Kai to spend a moment with me without dashing off with some excuse thrown over his shoulder. Maybe I’d always be the wedding planner, never the bride.
One of the waiters bustled over and tapped me. “Ready for the countdown?”
“Is it that time already?” I asked. The night had flown past. It felt like it had only just started and here we were on the cusp of a new year. Time sure did fly when you were having fun.
“Yep, I’ll get the mixologist to count it down?”
“Please.”
The mixologist had turned out to be seriously popular among the guests – not only could he mix a good gimlet but he laughed and joked with the crowd, making them feel special. And it definitely helped that he was easy on the eye… Amory had chosen well, and I hoped to secure him for every future Cedarwood Lodge event. If we could continue to tempt him out to the wilderness of Evergreen, that was.
“Ready for a new year?” I asked my friends, eventually settling my gaze on Kai. He took my hand and squeezed it, giving me a look loaded with meaning. But what that was exactly, I didn’t dare interpret.
The countdown started as everyone paired up and raced outside to the decked area to watch the fireworks. Ten. Nine. Eight. We all chorused, a whole group of people together in one moment in time. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. I felt Kai pull me away from the crowd. Two. His arms closed around my waist and all I could do was stare into his eyes. One. Cheers rang out as the fireworks lit up the sky in a riot of color. But I didn’t see them at all because Kai’s lips were pressed firmly against mine, and I felt as if I was floating. Here I was, surrounded by my friends, a deck full of strangers, and Kai exactly where he should be – with me. Did this mean he felt the same, or was it the magic of New Year’s Eve rubbing off on him?
The world spun dizzyingly around as the opening to ‘Auld Lang Syne’ rang out and the guests joined in… this truly was the most magical of moments. That song always made me cry, dammit, and I tried very hard to rein in my emotions, which were scattered like marbles.
Amory came up behind us. Once again