Undercover Bridesmaid: City Complications Series, #2

By Tara Kennedy

Rafe has been using charm both in and out of work.  Finding himself the only groomsman at a weather interrupted bachelor party isn't going to stop him from having fun.

Felicia has made a living for herself helping out brides by posing as one of their bridesmaids. She's used to handling all sorts of unexpected hitches, but a solo groomsman who keeps showing up at all the bachelorette events is a new one for her.  It doesn't matter if he's hot, Felicia's there to make the bride happy not herself.  Not even if the bride decides a little matchmaking might make her happy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tara Kennedy
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393611639

Book preview

1

Rafe Leon's phone buzzed in his pocket, but he kept moving towards the taxi line. Having just been in Las Vegas for a work trip, he wanted nothing more than to relax, preferably with a cocktail, where his only job was to figure out how much fun to be having. The rest of the bachelor party crew, including the groom himself, were flying in later today.

The two women ahead of him in line had on floral dresses that seemed to indicate they were also here for a fun trip. Rafe texted his parents that he had arrived safely, while keeping an ear on the ladies. He heard the words bachelorette party.

He shifted little closer. One had long blonde hair and a very large diamond ring on her left hand, so she was perhaps the bride to be. The other woman had dark hair in a sleek ponytail and no rings at all.

He leaned forward, Hey, ladies, forgive me for interrupting. I'm headed to the Camden Hotel in the Quarter, but my buddies don't arrive until later. Would you two be interested in sharing a cab?

Blonde looked intrigued, but dark hair looked, well, unimpressed.

We're staying at a different hotel, Dark hair said.

But I think they're close, Blonde said. We can ask this guy. Blonde bounced forward and asked the man running the taxi line.

Dark hair sighed. Rafe thought about apologizing to her, but he wasn't sorry, and he felt honesty was a good policy.

Yeah, he says they're super close, Blonde said.

Thanks, ladies, I appreciate it. Rafe smiled his best salesman smile.

They slid into the taxi. It was an eighties style sedan, and the seats were textured pleather. The blonde turned to him and held out her hand, leaning across Dark hair. I'm Amanda.

Rafe, he shook her hand.

Dark hair smiled politely but didn't offer her hand. I'm Felicia.

Rafe, as you probably just heard.

She smiled and turned back to her phone.

What are you guys in town for? the cabbie asked.

Bachelorette party, Amanda said.

Bachelor party, Rafe said.

Oh, for the same couple? the cabbie asked.

No, different couples, my fiancé is in Atlantic City this weekend, Amanda said. Guess this is a popular weekend for it. We had trouble with one of our party rooms. So many other groups in town.

We found a good place, Felicia said, everything is going to be fine. She sounded soothing but professional.

I know, I know, Amanda said.

The cabbie pulled into the Rafe's hotel first, so Rafe slid out, and tipped the cabbie generously. He leaned back in, Maybe I'll run into you guys again.

Felicia smiled vaguely. Amanda nodded and waved.

He walked into his hotel room. Two queen sized beds took up most of the space. Once the others arrived, Seth would be sharing the room with him. John and Prasad were also sharing. The room was quiet, no traffic sounds or hallway sounds. Having been in Vegas for a few days, and then in airports and airplanes, the quiet was almost eerie.

Rafe put his bag down on the luggage stand and opened the curtains to see he had a view of the hotel across the street. It wasn't the one the bachelorettes were in, so he was unlikely to run into them again.

His phone buzzed, and he sat on the bed, checking the group chat for the bachelor party. Rain in Texas, where most of the other members of the bachelor party were connecting through, had stranded John in Texas, and Seth and Prasad before they were even able to take off. Delays, delays, delays. John, was still trying to get rebooked for the next morning. He was camping out at the airport.

Rafe opened a message just to John. Dude, it's your party. You cannot be at the airport. Need me to use my points to book you somewhere? Rafe used to work for a hotel chain, so he still had a reasonable number of points and employee favors racked up.

He flicked back to the chat. Seth had headed back home. Probably to his girlfriend. He was going to call the airline again tomorrow but the best they had been able to promise was getting him to New Orleans by Sunday. The group was scheduled to fly back Monday. Rafe's ticket home was being picked up by his financial services firm, or he would have tried to call in a favor there. But he didn't think the low level of points he had racked up was good for much more than a free beverage right now.

Prasad was in Boston trying to cobble together a new route. But they had some sort of reservation glitch and now couldn't find the next part of his trip, so he was trying to fly standby.

Rafe wondered if it might turn out he was the only one making it to this bachelor party.

John hadn't answered Rafe's text. But he had updated the group chat, the airlines had offered to get him back to New York right away. Oh man.

Rafe texted quickly, Let me check with the airlines, John, I can fly back to you. We'll party in Dallas or New York or something.

Rafe's phone rang so fast after he sent that text he stared at it for a sec. Hi, John. Wasn't I just talking to you?

Yeah, I know. But seriously, dude. You made it to New Orleans. You should enjoy it. Someone should get a good weekend out of this.

Yeah, but if you're going back to New York, I can meet you there, we can still make an epic night out of this.

I really just want to be somewhere that's not an airport. Once they can get me home, I'm going to crash.

That sounded, well, not terrible, but Rafe could understand some people were homebodies at heart. He loved to travel. Loved seeing new places, meeting new people, getting their stories. But, he had a suspicion there was something else going on here. Was Kinsey able to make it to her bachelorette?

They are doing their thing next week.

Ah. And there was the real reason, John could be home with his girl, and well, John totally would have lived it up and been awesome fun here, but his plan B did not need his groomsmen following him home. Okay, we'll text you pictures of the fun you could be having.

Good deal. I know you'll have a great time.

Rafe checked the group chat. With the groom out, Rafe's friend, running buddy, and apparently now also an epic traitor, Seth was bailing too. Rafe texted Seth, You always say you don't have time for non-working vacations and now you are bailing on this?

Seth: Hanging out in airports is not a vacation.

Rafe: Airports are a necessary evil to get to the vacation.

New Orleans had seemed like such a fun idea for a bachelor party when it was the four of them. This idea of a solo bachelor party, especially one that lacked the groom, well, Rafe wasn't a fan of being solo. But maybe he should try to embrace it. But that didn't let Seth off the hook.

Rafe: You are going to owe me a vacation together.

Seth: I am not worried about you figuring out how to entertain yourself in New Orleans. I'm more worried you'll end up in a parade or something. Going viral for having too much fun.

Seth: Actually, I'm not worried.

Rafe: Haha.

Fall was hardly peak parade time in New Orleans. But, that gave Rafe an idea. His cousin Karina ran a lifestyle blog. He texted her, Need a piece on a solo bachelor party? He wasn't expecting to garner internet fame, but it would at least give him a reason to do all the fun things they'd planned. He had never been to New Orleans before. Now that he was here, even if none of his friends made it, he was going to eat delicious food, drink, and golf, and maybe find some bachelorettes to hang out with.

With his friends Seth and John coupled up,his parents hoped he would catch the love bug too. Love was great. But for every Seth and John there was a friend he'd watched depressed after someone dumped them, after they got cheated on, or came home to discover all their stuff gone. Rafe liked risks to stay confined to the day job.

So, he was going to keep on keeping on. Sex he would seek out. Love could not be forced.

He took a selfie of himself on the hotel bed looking forlorn and posted it to Twitter. When none of the other bachelors make it to the bachelor party. #solobachelorparty

Now, what to do. He looked at the original schedule. Leisurely brunch. That he could do. Now to ask the nice concierge downstairs where to go for the best brunch tomorrow.

2

Felicia Ming Laufer checked her list app. All the bachelorettes had arrived except Amanda's sister Jeannette who was driving in and had confirmed she would arrive later tonight. Felicia had confirmed the pickup time with the swamp tour company for tomorrow morning and also confirmed the afternoon tea reservation. She would follow up with the walking tour company and the champagne tasting groups tomorrow. The museum and costume warehouse folks didn't require reservations, but she had alerted them they were coming. So, everything was set per Amanda's schedule.

He was cute, Amanda said.

Felicia looked up from her phone. Who? she asked, although she had an idea where Amanda was going.

Duh. Who? That guy, Rafe, from the car, like an hour ago? Amanda tucked her legs under her on the bed.

Felicia emailed the whole party to remind them of the pickup time tomorrow. She was sure Jeannette, Amanda's sister was rolling her eyes. Felicia's job was to make Amanda comfortable that everything was under control and yeah, that sometimes meant the other friends and family members thought she was an annoying control freak. What they didn't know was that Amanda was paying her to be an annoying control freak.

As far as the other bridesmaids knew, Felicia and Amanda met through their shared love of yoga and super bonded such that Amanda just had to include Felicia in the bridal party. The yoga part was kind of true. But Amanda had actually bonded with Moraya, who had hired Felicia for her wedding. Moraya had hired Felicia as a professional bridesmaid for her own wedding, and when Amanda had told Moraya she was worried about her sister Jeannette taking over and causing issues, Moraya had suggested Felicia. And now it appeared it was time for girl talk.

Oh him. Rafe was cute. But they were here for Amanda's bachelorette. The point was for Amanda to have a great time which meant Felicia needed to keep on top of tons of tiny details, none of which involved charming strangers who wanted -- well who knew what he wanted? Probably to check 'banged a hottie in New Orleans' off his list.

You could accidentally run into him tomorrow. You know what hotel he's in.

This was turning quickly into a goal on Amanda's part and Felicia needed to squash that. We have plenty to do tomorrow. And if you let me derail the schedule now, it will all go haywire fast.

Amanda sighed. You're right. Jeannette would use that as an excuse to make her own changes to the schedule.

But hey, Felicia smiled, It's going to be a great weekend.

I know, but I can want good things for you to.

Of course you can. But I'm fine. I do this for a living because I like doing it. Don't worry that you need to find other ways to make me happy.

Okay, Amanda said. Swamp first tomorrow?

Swamp first tomorrow. The car is picking us up after breakfast.

Okay. I'm going to call Levi and then I will be ready for bed. All we did was get here and I'm exhausted. Amanda yawned.

Felicia stood. I'm going to run downstairs to the lobby for a sec. Do you need anything?

No, I'm good. By the way, have I said thank you?

You have. I'll be back in a bit. . Felicia went down to the lobby and found a seat over by the gift shop where her reception was better.

Digame.

Hi, Salma, Felicia said, we made it to New Orleans.

I know. I got your text.

Felicia smiled. Her aunt Salma did not consider texting actual communication, she always told Felicia to call too, when she had a moment. But when Felicia did, this was often the response. It looks like we'll have good weather while we're here.

I'm glad you'll have fun on your vacation.

Felicia kept the smile bright on her face as she bit back the words that she was being paid, that this was work, that she had created a job for herself. So what if it wasn't a job your average career counselor would suggest. But she and Salma had had that conversation both quietly and at top volume and neither version had led to greater understanding. So, for now, she kept Salma and her cousin Nina up to date on her whereabouts, so at least Salma could stop telling her neighbors that Felicia would be dead in a ditch somewhere and she'd never know.

I take the train back Tuesday from Philadelphia. So I will see you then. Felicia was flying home with Amanda, and spending the night there, so she could talk with Amanda and her fiance about some upcoming wedding details before she headed back home.

I'll probably be at work when you get here, Salma said.

I know. And I can cook something for dinner if you want, Felicia said.

You don't have to, Salma said.

I know. I want to. Felicia held onto her smile. Cooking was one of the few things Salma let her do. She wouldn't let her pay rent, even though Felicia could afford to. It was part of the reason Felicia hadn't moved out. If she moved out, when she was home, which she usually wasn't for more than a few weeks at a time these days, her aunt would never let her come over and cook. But as a member of the household, she was still allowed to.

We have onions and peppers. I'll pick up a chicken Sunday. Let me know if you'll need anything else.

Okay, and the smile felt real this time, as Felicia thought through what she could do. She might swing by the market on her way home. She had a new recipe she wanted to try. But she'd see how she felt Tuesday. After this weekend, anything more complicated than pozole might do her in.

I'll check in again Monday and let you know if there are any changes in our schedule.

Okay.

I love you. Bye, she ended the call before the lack of response could echo. Her aunt wasn't expressive like that. Not with words. But Felicia knew sometimes all you had was the memory that the last thing you said was I love you. She pocketed the phone and went to take the elevator back upstairs.

When Felicia got back upstairs, Amanda was done talking to her fiancé Levi. Plenty to do tomorrow. No time at all to sneak over to the other hotel, if she wanted to. Good thing she didn't want to.

Charity met Felicia and Amanda in the hotel lobby for breakfast. The van for the swamp tour was picking them up at ten thirty. Breakfast had not been slated as an official group activity, but seeing Charity, with her short cropped hair, in capris and a light colored shirt looking fresh and ready to go even before she sat down and poured herself some coffee was promising. As the only bridesmaid from the groom's side, Charity had insisted on a single room for the trip. Amanda and Jeannette did better when they had time to themselves, so Felicia and Amanda were sharing, and Amanda's cousin Delia had agreed to share with Jeannette.

Jeannette waved as she passed them, racing into the small gift shop. Charity looked back at Felicia and Amanda, Probably getting hangover supplies.

Amanda's shoulders tensed.

Did she go out last night? Amanda asked in a tone of innocence.

Charity smiled knowingly. I took a sleeping pill last night, but Jeannette's Instagram is cocktail after cocktail.

Jeannette is already up, and we don't leave for - Felicia checked the time -- another thirty minutes. It will be fine.

It was forty minutes before everyone was actually on the van. Felicia's shoulders relaxed a bit as the door slid closed. Well, they'd gotten everyone on the van. Delia had been out with Jeannette. Jeannette was fine this morning, able to mention that a swamp tour was hardly the kind of fun they could be having on a bachelorette trip. Delia, who clearly didn't have the same constitution was dragging. Felicia had gotten her some Gatorade to go with the pain pills Jeannette had gotten her. Hopefully they would not have to find out how the driver felt about people puking in his van this morning.

We're just making one more stop, the van driver, Lars said. He pulled in front of a hotel and Felicia looked up, grasping her phone tighter so she didn't drop it in surprise.

3

H i, Rafe, Amanda said as he paused in the van doorway.

He smiled. Amanda and her less excited friend Felicia sat in the front row. There were two more ladies in back, and only one lady in the middle. He ducked and slid into the middle row, realizing from the alcohol fumes wafting from her general direction that the others may have left her alone for a good reason. Oh well. They were going to a swamp. Hi, I'm Rafe, he said to the curly haired girl who was leaning her head against the window but had carefully turned to peak out one eye at him. She gave a half smile.

Amanda said, Delia's resting up from all the travel, but Delia, Felicia and I shared a cab with Rafe yesterday. Oh my gosh, she glanced over at Felicia who had a polite expression affixed to her face.

Alright, the driver said, we're headed out to the swamp. Shouldn't be more than twenty minutes.

Felicia nodded like the message had been for her. She seemed to take schedules seriously.

I'm Jeannette, said the blonde from the row behind him.

Rafe twisted and introduced himself.

So you ran into Amanda and Felicia just randomly yesterday?

Jeannette was doing a subtle uptalk thing that made the question sound simultaneously innocent and accusing. Rafe had a sibling and enough cousins to recognize a trap when he saw it.

"Yeah, my friends all got stuck thanks to the storms in Dallas yesterday, so