P.I.T.A. (L.A. Liaisons #3)(30)

"We shall. Later, hooker," I called over my shoulder before heading out of Shayne's office and down the hall to the conference room.

Once we were seated, Ace unbuttoned his suit jacket and crossed one of his ankles over his knee. "Thanks for meeting me. I figured this was one of those things that should be done in person."

"No problem. I'm curious to hear what one of the most wanted men in the world wants with li'l ole me. I've got my fingers crossed for a threesome."

"Uh … not exactly the proposition I had in mind."

"I figured you weren't here to talk about your sex life, but it was worth a shot. How is that going, by the way?"

Ever the gentleman, Ace just shook his head. "I know you're a busy woman, so I won't keep you long. But I was hoping-well, Dylan and I were both hoping-that you would agree to plan our wedding."

Whaaaat? Holy shit. Okay, that wasn't what I'd been expecting him to say.

"You want me to plan your wedding," I repeated, making sure I heard him right. Normally, I'd be patting myself on the back already, like, Damn right I'm a kickass planner, and I can rock the shit out of your wedding, so let's do this, but since every bride-to-be I knew was currently giving me the evil eye, best to make sure. 

"We figured it's time to get the ball rolling on plans, and we don't have the faintest idea where to start. We need someone we know puts on a great event, and you've said yourself that weddings are your thing."

Yeah … I had said that, hadn't I? "And you want me even with all the current backlash." Not a question, more that I was making sure he knew I wasn't exactly the most desired person on the celebrity wedding planner list at the moment. Oh, how the mighty fell.

"Backlash?" he said.

"You know. The article thing."

"What article? I don't exactly keep up with the papers, Paige."

Ahh, good point. I wouldn't either if I was plastered all over them constantly.

"Well," I said, "in the interest of full disclosure, I feel I should tell you that you may not want to hire me."

Ace let out a surprised laugh. "I shouldn't?"

"No. Apparently some comments I made off the cuff made it into LA Today, and there was a feature about how I don't believe in marriage, how it's all a crock and a business arrangement."

Ace's brows shot up. "Uh … is all that true?"

"Sort of. But in my defense, it was bad timing. I was trying to get my marriage annulled, so I wasn't exactly in the best mood."

"Hold up. You're married? When did this happen?"

"Oh … right. I'm surprised Shayne didn't fill you in on that. Just one of those spur of the moment when-in-Vegas decisions."

"Wow," he said, sitting back in his chair. "So I suppose congratulations are in order."

"Um." Were they? After last night, I was inclined to say yes, but I didn't really know where things would lead. "It's complicated."

"Huh. Well, I never thought you'd be talking me out of hiring you."

"Just giving you fair warning. Your wedding is going to be the event of the year."

"Which is why I need the right person making sure I don't fuck it up."

"And you think I'm the right person."

"You were the one who threw my birthday party the night Dylan and I … well … first got together." A small flush crossed his cheeks. "And you were the one I turned to to show him a good time in Vegas. I know you. I trust you. And regardless of whatever the media is saying-which, for the record, is usually a load of crap-I think you have a good heart, and you wouldn't be in this business if it didn't hold some kind of meaning for you." I opened my mouth to protest, and he held his hand up. "Yes, ballsy Pita, I know you'll disagree on that one, but believe me when I say there's no one else Dylan and I would rather have plan our wedding than you. And we won't take no for an answer."

I was rarely surprised in my line of business, but Ace? He always surprised the hell out of me.

"Well, then." I put my hand out toward him. "I guess you've got yourself a wedding planner."

He shook my hand and gave me a big smile. "Perfect."

"Of course there's paperwork to be done to make it all official, but I didn't think to bring that here. And I'll want to meet with you both to start thinking about a timeline and location. Have you already given that any thought?"

"We've talked a little about it, but nothing set in stone."

"That's okay; we can go over that later, as well as some themes. I'm so happy for you guys."



       
         
       
        

Ace cocked his head to the side, that smile still in place. "Now that doesn't sound like someone who thinks marriages are a crock."

"Guess I'm ruining my newfound reputation, then."

"Nah, if whatever was in that article had any effect on your job, we'll make sure everyone knows who was the one in charge of things for us. I have a feeling you'll be booking out years in advance when that happens."

"I think you're right about that," I said, and the relief I felt then was enormous. I'd been doing my best to pretend that getting snubbed didn't hurt, but in reality? I loved my job. The brides and their entourages were fucking nuts, but I thrived well under the pressure of guaranteed last-minute mishaps-it gave me an outlet for my creative side-and I wouldn't trade it for anything. So this opportunity Ace was offering? It ensured job security. "I really appreciate this, Ace. Not many people out there would lift up someone when they've fallen down, so thank you for trusting me. I promise I will plan the biggest, most fabulous wedding the world has ever seen. Unless you want a small, intimate affair, and then that can be arranged too."

Ace's hearty laugh echoed off the walls. "Well, we can't wait. And Paige? I know what it's like to have people kick you when you're down. One bit of bad press and it's like the world converges to tear you down. But you're not the type to take that shit, so I'm gonna give you a bit of advice I got once: go out with your middle fingers held high. And remember who's got your back."

"Dammit, Ace," I said. Fuck me twice if I wasn't getting emotional at his words. "Are you sure you don't want that threesome? Because I think I'm in love with you."

"I think we're good here, yeah?"

"If it helps, I love Dylan too."

He just chuckled and straightened in his chair to button his suit jacket. "Let me know when you want to get together to go over the paperwork, and I'll check our schedules. Dylan's in Antigua shooting until next week, but then he should be home for a bit. I hope."

"Ooh la la, must be a nice gig," I said, and then I had a thought. As long as I was fixing up one part of my life, why not take care of the other? "Hey, Ace? You wouldn't be willing to give me a referral for your lawyer, would you?"

"My lawyer? Sure, why?"

"I'm looking to buy out my father's part-ownership claim on my house. He's not the type to give in easily, so I need a shark. I figured you'd have one."

"I've got a shark, all right," Ace said, grabbing a pen and one of Shayne's business cards. He quickly scribbled the name and number on the back and pushed it my way. 

"Logan Mitchell of Mitchell & Madison … in Chicago? Your lawyer is in Chicago?"

"You want the best? He and his brother, Cole, are the best. Your father won't stand a chance against them."

"Perfect. I'll give him a call today."

"I'll touch base with him when I leave to let him know to expect you."

As we stood up to leave, I couldn't resist giving that man a big, airtight hug. And not because I wanted to feel all of those glorious muscles or anything, though those were a nice benefit. That Dylan was a lucky bastard.

"You guys done already?" Shayne said, as we walked out into the front.

Ace gave me a lopsided grin. "Yep. We both got what we came for."

"You make that sound so dirty," I said. "I approve."

Nodding at what we all referred to as the Love Locker, Ace said, "Next time I come by, remind me I need to bring a lock to put on that thing."

"You got it," Shayne said, fingering one of the love locks on the immense structure in the corner that was made of thin red iron bars and had been specially designed in the shape of a heart. Clients who had found love through Shayne's services, or friends of hers, were invited to make things official by carving their initials into a padlock and hanging it off the heart. It was a throwback to the bridges and sculptures around the world where lovebirds had taken to posting their love for each other.

She glanced over at me and grinned. "And it looks like we might have to add another new lock on here soon. Isn't that right, Paige?"

I made the motion of zipping my lips, as the lyrics of one of Ryleigh's favorite songs played in my mind. Perhaps … perhaps … perhaps.





CHAPTER TWENTY

Fabio and His Mistresses





WHEN DAWSON HAD made me promise to keep the next night free, it'd been an easy promise to make, but when he told me we had plans for dinner? Well, that had me a little nervous.

"Relax," he'd said, when he opened the door of his black Maserati GranCabrio to let me in. "I won't be throwing food at you tonight. Unless you ask nicely. Later."