Lucky In Love?
A/N
I simply wanted to write some simple Zax fluff, I had a look on Tumblr and came across the below prompt... Enjoy!
"i'm the wedding planner, and you're the best man/bridesmaid"
Will be a 2 parter. AU.
Reviews welcome,
Laura xxx
Zoe Hanna's alarm began to trill at 6AM, indicating that it was time to get up. The female yawned. Today was possibly the biggest day in her career, she needed to get on.
She was a wedding planner, it had been her dream ever since she'd attended her elder sister's wedding at the age of 15, and had got chatting to the person who'd planned it. Zoe was never lucky in love herself, but found happiness in making other couples' special day perfect.
This particular wedding was in a large hotel just outside Holby. The happy couple were Lucy Walker and Robert Carter, a consultant and footballer respectively. Several celebrity magazines were covering the wedding as Robert played for Holby United, so everything had to be perfect.
Zoe finished dressing and checked the time-6:20. She, the bride to be, and several of the bridesmaids were staying at the hotel, the ceremony started at 11 and the hairdresser was arriving at 7.
She made her way downstairs, after checking that the bride and bridesmaids were awake, to check that the room where the wedding reception was being held was ready.
The hotel was quiet, nobody was about save a few members of staff.
Zoe checked the room where the ceremony was being held and the room adjacent where the reception was being held. The places were set, chairs out-everything was perfect. Even so, Zoe checked every name against the table plan, making sure that every guest was seated where they were supposed to.
Her phone buzzed-it was 7'oclock.
She hurried back upstairs to check that the hairdresser had arrived, and in her haste walked into someone.
"Whoa, slow down." Zoe found herself gazing into a pair of the most gorgeous pair of blue eyes she'd ever seen.
"Um, sorry." She went red, taking in the male in front of her. He had a boyish grin, messy brown hair, and the slightest hint of a beard.
"Max Walker, the bride's brother and Rob's best man." He held out a hand.
"Zoe Hanna, wedding planner-and yes, I am aware that it rhymes." She shook his hand.
"Nice to meet you. I just came to check on my sister."
"Ah, fair enough." Zoe smiled. "I don't think that she's got any last minute nerves-hopefully."
"Good, I'll just say a quick hello and then I'll get back." He held her gaze. "Forgive me if I'm being forward, but are you going to be at the reception?"
"It's okay, you're not." The corners of Zoe's mouth twitched upwards into a smile. "I am."
"See you there then?"
"Definitely." Zoe nodded.
A few hours later...
The wedding had gone without a hitch, much to Zoe's relief. Her mind kept wandering to Max- she was denying it in her mind, but she'd fallen for him. At the ceremony, she'd spotted him wearing a suit and her stomach had flipped over- butterflies. To top it off, he'd given her a big smile, and she'd only managed a brief one before she'd had to dip her head so he couldn't see her go scarlet.
She didn't really believe in true love very much- she'd had a string of failed relationships and one night stands- the relationships usually ended when she informed her partner that she couldn't have children. But, she sensed that Max was different- she had a feeling that he would take care of her- maybe even love her.
Once she'd checked that everyone was seated where they were supposed to (the table that she was sat at was quite near to Max's), that the were guests happy and the press had gone, Zoe made her way upstairs to get changed.
The wedding planner usually wore smart dresses, or in winter, suits at ceremonies- but now Max had been added to the mix.
Zoe always brought a spare outfit with her, just in case, on the off chance, she met someone whom she liked. It had never happened in her 15+ years in the business, but her best friend, Rita, who was also a wedding planner had met her partner Connie at a wedding so Zoe had always hoped that a similar fate would befall her.
"Today's your lucky day." She murmured to herself.
She got changed into a purple three quarter length dress, one of her favourites.
When she went back into the reception room, Max spotted her and he had to stop himself from gaping in awe-she truly was the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen.
Zoe caught his eye and gave him her signature cheeky wink before sitting back down at her table.
The speeches were nearly over and it was almost time for Rob and Lucy's first dance. Zoe's heart was aflutter- would Max ask her to dance with him?
Max saw Zoe frowning, and sat down in the vacant seat next to her. "Afternoon."
The female jumped. "Oh, I didn't see you. Afternoon." She smiled shyly.
"You look beautiful." He informed her, his voice low as to not to disturb the speeches.
"Thank you." Zoe blushed. "You don't look too bad yourself." She replied, making Max chuckle.
"Thanks." Max held her gaze again, just as he'd done earlier. The tension between them was palpable.
"So..." Zoe tried to think of something to say.
"How about a walk?" Max suggested.
"Pardon?"
"A walk around the gardens. Don't worry, I'll ask you to dance later." It was as if he'd read her mind.
"Okay." Zoe smiled slightly. "That sounds good."
The two slipped out of the room and into the hotel gardens.
Zoe sighed contentedly, the warm summer sun beating down on her back.
"You like the sunshine, then?" Her companion asked.
The female nodded. "Definitely." She opened her eyes to look at him. "I'm enjoying the view in front of me, too." She flirted.
"That's a ditto. So, what are your interests? Hobbies? Dislikes? Pet hates?"
"Pardon?" Zoe frowned.
"I like you, a lot, and want to get to know you, if that's okay?" Max asked, worrying that he'd misjudged the situation.
Zoe smiled-he wasn't just interested in her looks, he was interested in her for her personality, too.
"Well, when I'm not working, I like watching medical programmes-Grey's Anatomy is one of my favourites. Don't have any hobbies really... I like seeing my family occasionally-my mum is lovely in small doses." She said.
"Ah, bit overwhelming?"
Zoe nodded.
"My mum was like that, bless her. She died 5 years ago, just before Robbie got his big break in footie." Max said.
"Oh... I'm sorry." Zoe whispered.
"It's okay. So, dislikes?"
"Football, I'm sorry to say. Chocolate orange, romantic tragedies because I always cry like a baby, and pushy mothers of the brides at weddings." She continued.
"You and me both-I'm not fond of football either. But how can you not like chocolate orange?!" Max asked in amazement.
Zoe wrinkled her nose. "The combination is absolutely horrible." She shuddered.
"Hmm, it is when you think about it-I rather like it myself."
Zoe chuckled. "So, what about you?"
"Well, I work at a car dealership, when I'm not doing that I like video games, the occasional round of golf, and dog-sitting Petunia and Lexi." Max answered.
"Who?"
"Lucy's dogs, lovely pair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels." The male smiled. "I don't have time to have my own dog what with work, but whenever Lucy's on holiday or whatever I look after them."
"Oh, I met them a couple of times." Zoe remembered. "They're adorable."
"They are." Max nodded in agreement.
The two walked through the gardens, chatting away. Zoe found that she could talk to Max about every little thing and he wouldn't get bored, unlike other men that she'd been interested in.
It began to get a little cold, only then did the couple realize how long they'd been talking.
"We've been gone for almost three hours!" Zoe realized, looking at her watch.
"Time flies when you're having fun."
"That's true." The wedding planner replied, and shivered slightly.
Max took his jacket off and put it around Zoe's shoulders. "Here you are."
"Thank you." She smiled up at him.
Max stepped closer to her, and with some hesitation, slipped his hand into hers.
"Max..." Zoe breathed, her hand tightening around his own.
"Yes?"
"I've fallen for you." She admitted. "And I don't want this to be just another one night stand, if you don't feel the same, then-"
Zoe was cut off by Max's lips on hers. She looped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss.
When they broke apart, Max smiled against her lips. "I feel the same, if you haven't already gathered."
Zoe's smile was as wide as his own. "I can't believe it." She admitted.
"Me neither." He replied. "Shall we get back to the party, by the way?"
"Yes please, I'm dying for something to eat." The female admitted.
Max took her hand again, and they made their way back to the reception room.
Thankfully, the party went on after the wedding right into the evening (and a great deal of the early morning of the next day, most likely) and the hotel staff were just setting the evening buffet out as Zoe and Max returned.
"You sit, I'll get us something to eat. Is there anything you don't like, apart from chocolate orange?" Max asked, a smile on his face.
"I'm not fond of pork pie, that's it." Zoe replied, sitting down.
"See you in a while." Max surveyed the queue.
"Good luck" Zoe wished him.
"Thanks, I think that I'll need it!"
A while later...
Zoe and Max had eaten, and were now sat together on a sofa in the far corner of the room.
Zoe hesitantly cuddled up to Max and laid her head on his chest. He smiled and kissed her on top of the head. "Comfy?" He asked, taking her hand.
"Yeah." She nodded happily. "I do want to dance at some point though." She closed her eyes. "I'm happy here for now."
Max smiled again. "Ditto." He whispered.
Some time passed, Zoe and Max chatted about nothing in particular.
"Thinking Out Loud" came on. Max stood up. "May I have this dance?" he asked Zoe.
"You may." Zoe giggled, and took his outstretched hand.
The two made their way on to the dance floor, and began to dance.
Zoe smiled as Max began to whisper the lyrics in her ear-the song was true for them, she realized.
"Zoe Hanna, I think that I may be falling in love with you." He said.
"That's a ditto." Zoe grinned.
