Annie’s hands went to her chest. “Heisdreamy. I owe you for this.”
Olivia patted Annie’s leg. “Before you owe me anything, let’s see how the date goes. He can be kind of quiet until he gets to know you. But being outgoing is one of your talents, so you’ll be fine.”
Annie shot Riley a glance then returned her attention to Olivia. “I hope you found someone just as dreamy for Riley or she’ll claim favoritism.”
“I decided to go to the wedding without a date,” Riley said. “I thought you made a good point about going stag so that I could dance with lots of Carson’s single friends.”
Dancing with Carson’s friends would have many benefits. It would remind her that there were other men in the world besides Mr. Hot-and-Too-Distracting Ex. She needed to find someone to get her mind off him. Also, if she showed the ones who were staying at the inn what a wonderful place it was, maybe Carson wouldn’t have a hard time finding an investor.
Riley joined the others on the couch. “What do you need help with for the wedding?”
Olivia spent the next few minutes talking about last-minute details. “I told my mother I wanted something simple because, let’s face it, Carson is paying for all of this. But my mom keeps adding things and people to the venue. And then there’s my father…” She let out a long sigh.
Olivia’s parents divorced when she was young, mostly due to her father’s drinking problem. When she started dating Carson, her father had hit him up for money, and Carson had not only refused, he’d lit into the man for being a lousy father.
Since then, Olivia’s father hadn’t had anything nice to say about Carson.
She shifted uncomfortably on the couch. “We’ve decided to have a dry wedding so my father isn’t tempted to drink, but Mom is afraid he’ll cut out at the reception for long enough to find someplace that serves alcohol. She’s told him that if he gets drunk, she’ll have the police haul him off the premises before he can make a scene. She’s totally serious about that.”
Annie’s brow wrinkled in concern. “Are you worried he’ll make a scene?”
“He’ll be fine if he’s sober,” Olivia said.
Ifwas the operative word.
“I’m not expecting any problems,” she went on. “But I have to ensure that my wedding isn’t turned into a police spectacle. Every guest in the place will have a camera, and the last thing I want is someone selling photos to the media of Carson Clark’s father-in-law being arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior.”
“Your friends wouldn’t sell your wedding photos,” Annie said, aghast at the suggestion.
“Notmyfriends,” Olivia said, “but that might not be true of all the relatives, friends, and acquaintances my mother invites. So I’m asking a few people to keep an eye on my father and make sure he doesn’t leave the church. And if he does leave, Carson has let him know he can’t come back. But it’s not like we’ll have guards posted at the doors. Other guests will be coming and going, so I need a few people to keep an eye on him.” Her gaze turned to Riley. “Annie will be with Emmett. I can’t ask her to take a shift watching my father.”
Annie nodded in agreement. “I’ll be busy flirting.”
“What exactly do you want me to do?” Riley asked.
Olivia fluttered a hand. “Just make small talk with him. And when you’re not talking to him, you know, have eyes on him. My aunt, uncle, and brother will take shifts too, but I thought I’d give you the first one since my family will be greeting guests at the beginning of the reception. Also, out of the four of you, you’re the most likely not to be swayed by any of my father’s pleas that a wedding calls for champagne, and he’s ordered some for the occasion.”
“Anything for you on your big day,” Riley said. “But will he think it’s weird that one of your friends is hanging out with him?”
Olivia shrugged. “He knows we don’t want a repeat of my high school graduation. Or my college graduation. Or for that matter, Great Uncle Phill’s funeral.”
Riley had heard about that event. Great Uncle Phill was probably the only person in the history of Lark Springs to have a heckler removed from his funeral.
“I’m happy to take the first shift,” Riley said. “But after that, I’ll be trying to out-flirt Annie.”
“Good luck with that.” Annie touched the ends of her blonde hair, examining it. It was thick, swishable hair. “I’ll have to get highlights. I need to look stunning for Emmett.”
“You already look stunning,” Riley said. It was the truth. Annie always looked beautiful, but Riley didn’t, and it just occurred to her that if she wanted to get Carson’s friends’ attention, she would have to look the part. They were used to trophy women. “I think I want to get a makeover.”
“You do?” Annie asked, perking up. “You’ve always withstood my beauty suggestions. Delancey had to practically beg you to grow out your hair.”
“My ex-boyfriend is going to be there. I’ve got to look good. I’ll need a facial, highlights, glam makeup, eyelash extensions, and whatever Annie does to look so beautiful all the time.”
Olivia tilted her head in question. “But you see Lucas all the time at work.”
“Yes, but you know how competitive I am. I want to look better than whoever he brings.”
“As far as I know,” Olivia said. “he’s not bringing a date. So I guess you win by default.”