Orange Blossom Brides

by Tara Randel

  “She’s your source?”

  “I think your meeting each other will be mutually beneficial. You need an idea and she needs something to be involved in.”

  “So you’re playing wedding broker, here?”

  He chuckled. “Gram was sick for a while. She’s been getting better, but I think your project will really put her back on track.”

  “So you’re doing it for your grandmother.”

  “And I’m hoping if I help you, you won’t talk me into any more volunteer duties down the road.”

  “Sneaky man.”

  “We all have skills.”

  He turned onto a quiet street, traveling about halfway down before pulling into the driveway of a small, tidy house. The front yard, overgrown with a profuse collection of mature tropical foliage, greeted her. Pink bougainvillea grew wildly along a trellis by the side of the house and soft white impatiens lined the walkway to the front door.

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. She usually gets that reaction. You should see the backyard.”

  She’d just started walking up the sidewalk when the front door opened and a big dog loped out, picking up speed as he saw his master. Lilli sidestepped as the Lab jumped up on Max.

  “Hey, buddy.” Max scratched behind the dog’s ears, a genuine smile tilting his lips. Lilli found herself enjoying his relaxed, handsome features.

  The dog savored the attention for a few minutes then set his sights on Lilli.

  “Oh, no.” The dog beelined for her and before she knew it, his big paws rested on her. What was it about dogs jumping on her good clothes? She tried to redirect him but the dog had other ideas.

  “Jake Riley. Down boy.”

  Lilli scratched behind the Lab’s ears. “You’re just a big ol’ friendly one, aren’t you, boy?”

  An older woman joined them on the walkway. She wore a pink velour jogging set and sneakers. “Max, get that dog off the poor girl.”

  Max leaned over to the woman and kissed her cheek. “Hey, Gram. I brought you a visitor. This is Lilli Barclay. Lilli, Laverne Sanders.”

  Lilli held out her hand and it was enveloped by Laverne’s smooth fingers. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

  “And to what do I owe this visit?” Laverne asked, clearly pleased by the prospect of company.

  “I’ll let her explain,” Max told his grandmother. “Why don’t we go inside.”

  They were headed for the door when Max’s cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen. “Excuse me, ladies. I have to take this.”

  “Come in.” Laverne led the way into the house while Jake Riley bounded off after some critter in the yard.

  They entered a living room cluttered with books, knickknacks and pictures. A floral-patterned couch, flanked by two easy chairs, faced a television, which had to be Max’s contribution judging by the sleek flat screen and sheer size. It had male written all over it. In fact, it was the only male item in a room filled with pretty hand-embroidered pillows and other girly touches tastefully exhibited.

  “Would you like some iced tea?”

  “I don’t want to put you out.”

  “Nonsense. I just made some. Besides, I love company. Don’t get anywhere near enough of it.” She motioned to the couch. “Please, sit down.”

  Lilli took a seat, continuing to survey the room until Laverne returned with two tall glasses.

  “Now, what can I help you with?”

  Lilli explained the Tie the Knot benefit and the concept of featuring a beautiful love story.

  A dreamy expression flitted over Laverne’s pretty face. “You’ve come to the right place.” She crossed the room to a curio cabinet, removing one of the many framed pictures inside. She handed it to Lilli before sitting down beside her. “My husband, Clifford. We were married nearly forty years before he passed away.”

  Lilli glanced down at the distinguished gentleman smiling back at her. He wore a military uniform, the cap sitting at a jaunty angle on his head.

  “He was quite a looker.” Laverne smiled with the same charm Max possessed. “So many of the girls had a crush on him, but he only had eyes for me.”

  Lilli could see why. Laverne had retained her pretty features in her twilight years, but also the sweetness Lilli sensed would attract anyone. Especially a man used to the stringent world of the military. “How did you meet?”

  “He relocated here with a friend after being discharged from the army. They had this great plan to open an auto repair garage. They needed a bookkeeper and I wanted to work to help my family financially.

  “My parents didn’t think I should work, but at the time, women were moving into the work force out of necessity. Believe me, we had plenty of arguments over my decision.” Laverne chuckled. “I’ll never forget the first time I walked into his office. Clifford smiled and offered me the job right on the spot. It was love at first sight.

  “My parents didn’t like that Clifford hired me and that caused some tense moments when we started dating. In the end, it all worked out.” She winked at Lilli. “Sanders men usually get what they want.”

  Lilli lowered her face, hoping Laverne wouldn’t notice her heated cheeks.

  “We got married six months later. We waited that long because my mother wanted a fancy church wedding. I was the first girl in the family to get married, you see, so my mother scraped together enough money for a big to-do.” She chuckled. “I had a grand gown and a fancy reception at the church. It made everyone happy.”

  Laverne went to another cabinet along the wall and pulled a large book from one of the drawers. When she brought it back, Lilli recognized it as a wedding album. The older woman lovingly ran a wrinkled finger over the worn edges before handing it to Lilli.

  Slowly, Lilli paged through the album, lingering on pictures featuring the couple. Had she ever seen anyone that much in love? Only in pictures. And these pictures spoke volumes.

  In her mind’s eye, she imagined placing framed photos from the album around the event room. She’d start with a collection of wedding pictures beside a bouquet of fresh flowers displayed on a lace-covered table as the guests entered the room. Smaller photographs would be displayed on the silent auction and historical society information tables. Maybe even the actual gown Laverne had worn—Lilli was certain she’d still have it somewhere safe—either modeled in the fashion show or on a mannequin, displayed at a pivotal point in the room.

  Now that she imagined the Sanderses’ love story, the next question to enter her mind had to be: would Laverne go for it?

  “Laverne, I have a question for you.”

  The older woman brought her loving gaze from the album. Tears shone in Laverne’s eyes. Lilli had to swallow hard not to tear up, as well.

  “What is it, dear?”

  “Would you let us use your wedding dress and pictures during the fund-raiser?”

  Laverne leaned back against the cushion, her hand over her heart. “These pictures aren’t anything fancy.”

  “They are to me. There’s a world of love encapsulated in this album.”

  Laverne glanced back to the closed book, her fingers lightly tracing over the lace design of ringing bells adorning the cover.

  “And the dress would be perfect. It’s exactly what I’m trying to capture. A love that transcends time. I promise anything you lend me will be treated like gold,” Lilli assured her.

  Laverne glanced over at Lilli, her insightful gaze exactly like one Lilli had received from Max on occasion. “Only if I might make a suggestion.”

  “Anything.”

  “Will you allow me to write the love story as it progresses along with the pictures?”

  “Are you kidding? I’d love it.” With a sense of rightness, Lilli knew the photos connected to the story would be a hit. “And the gown will be the fin
ishing touch to the story.”

  “All right. Let’s do it. The gown is in storage, but I’ll get it out.” Laverne beamed. “In the meantime, I can start working on the story and give you portions as I finish it.”

  “Finish what?” Max asked as he sauntered back into the living room.

  “Lilli wants to feature my love story with your grandfather at her event.”

  Max grinned at Lilli as if to say I told you so.

  “This is wonderful,” Lilli told Laverne, pointedly ignoring Max’s gloating smile.

  “I’ll have Max deliver the photos once I gather them all together.”

  Yet another reason to get together with Max. Funny how that made her heart beat a little faster.

  Max eyed Lilli, a glimmer of promise shadowed in the smoky depths. “This keeps getting better and better.”

  Lilli visited with Laverne awhile longer before Max took her back to the church to pick up her sedan.

  “I can’t thank you enough for taking me to meet your grandmother. She’s exactly the right person for my idea.”

  He shrugged. “When you’re right, you’re right.”

  “And modest, too?”

  He didn’t hide the heat in the depths of his eyes. Her stomach dipped. Instead of growing immune to the man, her reaction was only growing stronger.

  “I have a full schedule this week, so I’ll check my calendar and see when I can drop the pictures off.”

  The calendar with a bunch of other women’s names penciled in on different days? Yeah, she remembered. Frowning, she wished she hadn’t noticed the names the first time she’d gone to his office. He claimed to always be working, but who knew? Not that it mattered to her. She was too busy to worry about his social life anyway.

  “You’re okay with that, right?”

  “Hmm. Oh, yes. Fine,” she muttered, torn between the displeasure at becoming another one of his calendar women and the dissatisfaction of being just another person he worked with. Why were things never easy with this man? And what did she really want from him, anyway?

  * * ** * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Max walked into his office to find Blanche behind her desk, as usual, typing away.

  “Heard you created quite a stir at the business forum.”

  He paused beside her desk. “I got our name out.”

  A smile quivered on Blanche’s lips. “People noticed, that’s for sure.”

  “And since you weren’t there, who is your source of information?”

  Her smiled blossomed into a wide grin. “You’d be surprised, but mostly I know from the calls I’ve already gotten this morning.” She pointed to her monitor screen. “Typing up your schedule now.”

  Max took a look. He had appointments scattered throughout the week. “All that from one meeting?”

  “I’d say it’s because you stood up for yourself. Folks around here like that.”

  “Huh.”

  He knew he’d taken a chance, but if he wanted to establish Sanders Security in this town, he had to do it right away. When Mrs. Lyons had given him the evil eye, he’d figured he was done for. Guess he’d figured wrong.

  “The bulk of calls came from businesses on Main Street. A few homeowners. Also,” she said, glancing down at a memo pad, “a Mr. Rawlings’s office called to confirm.” She looked up at Max. “Is he the man you met at the country club?”

  “Yes. He’s interested in using Sanders Security. I don’t have all the details yet, but I do know I’d have to travel.”

  “But you just got to town.”

  “I know, but this client could put us in the black.”

  “If you travel, how will we run the office?”

  “I’ve been in touch with a friend in Atlanta. I told him he has a job here if I get the Rawlings account.”

  “Another man I have to train?”

  Max chuckled. “Don’t get ahead of yourself. I haven’t even met with Rawlings yet.”

  He didn’t miss her concerned frown. “Don’t worry, Blanche. Sanders Security will stay here in Cypress Pointe. Maybe with a different focus than I planned, but you’ll always have a job.”

  “I’m going to hold you to that.”

  “I wouldn’t expect it any other way.”

  “Good. Oh, don’t forget, Dane Peterson said to come by anytime. He’s free all morning.”

  Max glanced at his watch. Besides business, catching up with his old friend ranked as a top priority. “Great. I’ll head over there now.”

  “You can’t.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?”

  “You have someone in your office.”

  Max frowned. “Were you going to tell me anytime soon?”

  Blanche continued to smile.

  Switching to his business face, Max entered his office. “Good morning.” He stopped short when he glimpsed Bart seated in front of his desk. “Bart?”

  “Hi. I know we didn’t set up a time for me to get started, but I wanted to talk to you first thing this morning.”

  Max moved to his chair, quickly glancing around the room to note everything in its place.

  “I didn’t take anything.”

  “I’m not taking any chances.” Max eyed his guest. “What’s up?”

  “I heard you stuck up for me at the forum. No one’s ever done that for me. Thanks.”

  Flashbacks of his teenage years filled his mind. When he’d been out of control and needed a mentor. Just like Bart, he’d made mistakes. Plenty of them, but for some reason, the night on the beach when he kissed Lilli flashed through his mind. Why did that take precedence?

  “I thought about what you said, about making changes in my life,” Bart went on as Max brought his mind back to the present. “I’m a fast learner and I plan on taking criminal justice classes at the community college.”

  “That’s a good start.”

  “Look, I know we didn’t start out in the best way, what with you surveilling me, but since we’ve become friends—”

  “Friends?”

  “Okay, maybe not friends, but I heard you were kind of wild and you changed. I can, too.”

  Is this how the chief had felt when he first took Max under his wing? The sense of responsibility? The pride in knowing he could help a young man who needed his advice?

  “Since you’ll be tied up with groom duties for the benefit, why not let me help you? I’m going to be there anyway.” His face went red. “Jewel invited me. She’s working with Lilli on the decorations.”

  Max grinned. All it took was a girl to make Bart rethink his life choices. “Would you excuse me for a minute?”

  Bart sat straighter in his chair. “Sure.”

  Max left his office, closing the door behind him. “You heard all that?”

  “Yep,” Blanche replied.

  “What do you think?”

  She eyed him with all seriousness. “I think Bart is you twelve years ago. You had the chief. Bart has you.”

  “I don’t know if I’m up for this.”

  “You are. Give him a chance.”

  Max walked away from Blanche’s desk to stand before the window, staring down at Main Street. Deep inside he knew helping Bart was the right thing to do. And if he could help Bart make positive changes in his life, maybe people in this town would see he’d changed, too.

  He returned to the office. Bart stood as soon as Max entered.

  “Okay, here’s the deal,” Max informed him. “We’ll start out slow so I can teach you the basics. When we pick up more cases, I’ll see about paying you. You will take classes and you will stay out of trouble.”

  “I can do that,” Bart assured him, relief and happiness lighting his face. “I promise. You won’t be disappointed.”

&nb
sp; “I better not be.”

  “So, when do we start?”

  “I’ve got a few appointments today. You stay here and go over the upcoming schedule with Blanche. Make notes about what kind of security the customer is interested in. We’ll go over it later.”

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  Boss. Max hoped he wouldn’t regret this.

  * * ** * *

  MILD WAVES LAPPED the sand as seagulls dipped and dove in the shallow water. Max stood on the expansive pool deck of the newly remodeled Grand Cypress Hotel. He remembered this place, since he’d hung out here from time to time the summer Dane worked at the hotel. The elegant feel of the place had been missing back then—it’d been run-down and past its prime. Dane had modernized the entire hotel and breathed in new life.

  “The hotel looks great,” Max remarked as Dane joined him at the railing separating the deck from the sprawling, manicured lawn leading to the beach. “I’m impressed.”

  “It’s been a lot of work, but worth it.”

  Max rested his lower back against the rail, crossing his arms over his chest. Intensely bright noon sun reflected off the pool water. Max squinted behind his dark sunglasses. “I’m surprised you don’t already have a security system lined up.”

  “I do, but the company I’m using isn’t as on top of things as I’d like. I need a second opinion.”

  “No problem.”

  “Let’s have coffee out here on the terrace and discuss it.” Dane led them to the outdoor restaurant, spoke to the hostess then picked out the table farthest away from other diners. A waitress took their orders and after she left, Dane laid out his concerns.

  Twenty minutes later, Max had a good idea of what Dane needed. He hoped for a chance to implement those ideas.

  Dane leaned back in his chair. “I’m glad you came back to town. You know what you’re doing.”

  Max laughed. “You seem surprised.”

  “Nah. I expected as much. When you put your mind to it, things always got done.”

  “Like causing trouble and getting us both in hot water.”

  “True, but this security business is a good fit for you.”