Page 26 of Bound To Be Mine

“I said I would.”

She looked me over and clearly found my appearance satisfactory. “Ready?” she asked.

“For?”

“The big show,” she said.

She started walking toward the entrance, and I fell into step beside her. I caught the scent of citrus and vanilla. It was her shampoo or lotion or perfume. I didn’t know, but I liked it.

“How many people are you expecting?” I asked, because I needed to say something that wasn’t about how good she smelled.

“Three hundred for the ceremony. About two-eighty for the reception. Some people have flights to catch.”

“And you know all of them?”

She glanced at me, amused. “Not all of them. But I know the important ones. The bride’s family, the groom’s family, the VIPs who need special handling. The rest I can fake.”

“Special handling?”

“The senator who needs to be seated away from the tech CEO he’s currently investigating. The actress who just went through a messy divorce and needs to be far away from her ex’s new girlfriend. The venture capitalist who’s hard of hearing but too proud to admit it, so we seat him close to the front.” She pushed open the chapel door. “It’s like a very expensive game of Tetris.”

I followed her inside, and I didn’t know what I was expecting, but holy shit. It wasn’t what I was looking at now.

The chapel was stunning. So many flowers. It looked soft and romantic.

“Wow,” I said, because sometimes simple was best.

“Right?” Mandy’s voice had softened. “Victoria wanted something classic. Romantic but not cheesy. This is what we came up with.”

“You designed this?”

“I design the overall themes and tones and then I coordinate with everyone else to bring that vision to life,” she said, nodding. “The florist designed the arrangements under my guidance, using my color palette and style. The lighting is all mine” She gestured around the space. “This is what I do, Briggs. I take a bride’s dreams and turn them into reality. And that’s just before the wedding. I also make sure that on the most important day of her life, she doesn’t have to worry about whether the flowers arrived or if the sound system works. Her only job is to walk down the aisle and marry the man she loves.”

I followed Mandy through the chapel, impressed by the vibes she had created. She checked in with various people—the photographer, the officiant, someone who appeared to be coordinating the music. Each conversation was brief but thorough. She knew exactly what questions to ask and what information she needed.

I noticed the way she touched things as she passed. A slight adjustment to a flower arrangement. Straightening a ribbon on one of the pews. Nothing dramatic. I didn’t think a normal person would even notice. But she noticed. And she fixed them.

“The bride wanted a romantic atmosphere without being overly feminine,” she said without looking at me. “Her fiancé is very masculine. She wanted him to feel comfortable too. So we went with white and blush instead of a true pink. Classic roses mixed with more modern orchids. It’s traditional. But wait until you hear the music. Have you ever heard of Baz Luhrmann?”

I nodded. “Of course. Romeo and Juliet. Moulin Rouge.”

“We did a little something like he does. I worked with a music producer to come up with a soundtrack that is classic and modern.”

“You did all of that?”

She finally looked at me. “That’s literally my job, Briggs. Understanding what the couple wants and making sure every single element reflects that vision.”

“The lighting,” I said, because I was genuinely curious now. “Is it candles?”

“Custom bulbs. Not candles. The fabric installation on the ceiling diffuses everything so it feels softer. No harsh shadows. Everyone will look amazing in photos, no Botox necessary.” She checked her watch. “We’ve got twenty minutes until the ceremony starts. I need to check on the bride.”

“Can I come?”

She raised an eyebrow. “You want to watch me talk to a bride?”

“No. I want to watch you work.”

She nodded. “Fine. But you stay in the hallway. Bride’s room is sacred territory, and right before the ceremony is when tension is highest.”