The moment the palace doors closed behind her, Gabriel announced to them, Phillip, and the assorted footmen handling their luggage, “The palace is now closed to outsiders for good!”
“Gabriel, it was only one—” Phillip started.
Gabriel whirled on his brother and slashed a hand through the air. “No more weddings. No outsiders period.”
The doors creaked open, and they all turned to see who it was. Josh thought Bonnie might’ve come back for some last minute dig, but it was a woman with a mass of brown curls and huge white-framed sunglasses, wearing a tight sleeveless dress with giant pineapples on it.
She left her wheeled suitcase by the door and hurried over to Gabriel in her leopard-print heels. “I love this already!” Her voice was clearly American. She stood next to the dour-faced, tight-jawed Gabriel and whipped out her cell phone, snapping a selfie with him.
“The palace is closed!” Gabriel barked. “And hasn’t anyone ever told you it’s rude to take one’s photo without permission?”
The woman startled and then muttered, “You’re the rude one yelling at a guest. Geez, I flew ten hours from Tampa for this?”
A muscle ticked in Gabriel’s jaw. “Do not speak to me of feminine products. Now get out.”
Josh stifled a laugh. Hailey giggled.
“Feminine?” the woman asked. “Oh! Ha-ha, not tampon,Tam-pa.” She enunciated the word slowly and clearly. “That’s where I just flew in from. It’s a beautiful place.” Her brows furrowed. “I’m not sure anyone would dare call tampons beautiful.”
They all stared at her.Awkward.
The woman cupped her mouth and spoke in a stage whisper to Hailey. “He’s a cranky butler.”
Gabriel stiffened even more, if that was possible. “Who are you?”
The woman tossed her dark curls over one shoulder and thrust her hand out. “I’m Polly Lyon and that’s no lie.”
Gabriel stared at her hand and made no move to take it.
Polly finally dropped her hand. “You might be the hottest butler I’ve ever seen, but…that stick up your ass really kills it for me.”
Everyone’s heads swiveled back to Gabriel to see how he would take the pseudo-compliment.
And then Crown Prince Gabriel Rourke, that grim dour son of a bitch, cracked a smile.
~ ~ ~
Three months later, Hailey carefully edited the quotes fromLuxury WeddingsandBride Specialto craft the perfect marketing lines for Villroy Island if they ever got back into the destination-wedding business. It turned out Bonnie had lied and there were no other weddings planned. Her sole purpose had been to sabotage the inaugural wedding to ruin Villroy’s chances as a wedding venue. How she thought that would restore her family’s royal blood ties was beyond comprehension. The woman was certifiable.
Hailey would use these lovely quotes for Love Junkies too, which was still going strong. They’d picked up momentum thanks to her and Ally’s efforts, along with Mad’s stellar marketing plan. Hailey admired the quotes, smiling to herself. Personal experience with a deeply loving wedding could only work in her favor as a wedding planner.Luxury Weddings: “One look at this crazy-in-love couple could’ve made any wedding a success.”Bride Special: “A classy serene ceremony and reception that radiated love.”
She was much too Zen about her growing baby to dwell on the hiccups. Josh had battled manly tears when they saw the ultrasound and got the news that the baby was a girl. Her warrior beast would make a fantastic dad.
La-la-la. Please ignore the following bit of paper recycling! (If only she could shred the internet.)
Luxury Weddings
Destination Wedding or Cursed Wedding?
I’m not going to pretty it up—the debut wedding on Villroy Island was anything but glamorous. But it was full of love. And I do love romantic touches. How about a groom who works behind the scenes to pull off the reception after the caterer goes on strike? The bride who doubles as her own wedding planner right up until the vows to make up for an incompetent wedding planner, who was later banned from the island! We won’t mention the furry wedding that unexpectedly took place three hours prior to the debut wedding. (See sidebar.)
Our intrepid couple pulled it off and then some, showing love was more important than any traditional detail. Did I mention the musicians were in full Viking gear, fresh from a reenactment? Or that the gown was a replacement for one that was ruined by a freak fire? How about the “Happy Birthday Hailey” cake instead of a wedding cake?
And the bride was thrown overboard at her own bachelorette party! As if that wasn’t bad enough, the flowers were plucked from the side of the road when the florist couldn’t deliver on the promised order. Some might’ve said the wedding was cursed. Not this happy invited guest. Because one look at this crazy-in-love couple could’ve made any wedding a success.
REDACTED BY ORDER OF HIS MAJESTY KING GABRIEL ROURKE OF VILLROY ISLAND.
I say let’s give Villroy Island as a destination wedding the benefit of the doubt, provided they hire a new wedding planner. Can’t beat the location!
~ ~ ~
