by Aliyah Burke
Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Nyree Belleville, Oak Press, LLC. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original Four Weddings and a Fiasco remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Nyree Belleville, Oak Press, LLC, or their affiliates or licensors.
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The Wedding Snafu
By
Aliyah Burke
Blurb for The Wedding Snafu
Donal O'Keefe is aware that although he's the best man at his friend's wedding, in truth this is more of a dry run for his wedding, if the mother of the bride has anything to say about it. He's the CFO for a gaming company and has little time to think of marriage, much less to a woman he barely dates. A call from another groomsman has him waiting for the little sister of the man who will be running late. She's filling in for her brother until he arrives.
Mindy Watkins isn't quite sure how she got into this situation. A trip to visit her brother has turned into a snafu. Now she has to hang out with the groomsmen until he arrives. What she doesn't count on is falling for the best man. Determined not to ruin anything she fights the attraction best she can. However, weddings are magical times and although it may not seem like it at the time, things happen for a reason.
With his spiteful ex-girlfriend, snobbish parents, and her overprotective older brother, will these two ever be able to find their own happily ever after?
Dedication
My heartfelt thanks to Lucy Kevin for allowing me to be part of her Kindleworld series. It’s such an honor.
To my family who understand what it’s like to have a writer in the family, thanks for not rolling your eyes when I whip out a notebook and make notes about something we may have seen.
Chapter One
Donal O’Keefe tugged on the sleeve of his suit coat as he waited for two of his fellow groomsman to step from the idling town car. As they stumbled out, he gazed around Rose’s Chalet. Stunning facility—he could easily understand why the location was so requested and sought after. And, he’d not even been inside, yet. It wasn’t huge, but there was a definite elegance many places didn’t have, anymore. This was an elegance that, for most things, had faded into the past. Hard to tell you were in the middle of San Francisco.
Tim Kane and Roland Driver joined him. Tim whistled. “This place is incredible. It was definitely not Todd’s idea to get married here. He doesn’t have the sense. You know Tiffany is going to want this place for you two.”
Donal’s skin bristled. “We’re not engaged. And, I believe it was Todd’s mother who picked it out.”
“Your mother-to-be,” Roland teased.
“Tiffany’s mother.” He strode for the door.
“Your future mother-in-law,” Roland stated again.
Was it bad manners to kill one of the groomsmen? Probably. Donal waited for them to come along and thought about it. Todd Larkin, the groom and one of their best friends, was Tiffany’s brother. Donal and Tiffany dated. She was under the impression it was something more, but he was too focused on business to be more than that. However, his friends were right. She would be thinking more for her own wedding after being here.
“Sure,” he remarked dismissively. He ran over the files he’d left in his office needing his attention. “Come on. I have an appointment to keep then I have to get back to the office.”
“Why are we here instead of Todd? Or Tiffany? I mean, one of us, maybe, but all three?”
He shot Tim a frustrated look. “Tiffany is in Paris for the final fitting of her bridesmaid dress. Her mother couldn’t make it, and Todd is at a meeting with his father. As for the other, we were at lunch when the call came in.”
His friends grunted, and he ignored it. They all knew the reason he was being pulled into this. Todd’s father owned a huge software company, and with them being the founders and owners of DKO Gaming, they were assuming a marriage and a merger were in the immediate future.
“Is Tiffany going to be around for any of the week-long festivities?”
“Course she will; her mother won’t allow her to miss any press ops, Roland. You know that.”
“So, both women are in Paris. The groom is absent. Anyone seen the bride?” Tim asked with laughter in his voice.
A woman made her way toward them over the reception area, her red hair coiffed perfectly, and her dress seemed to fit her perfectly in both style and coloring. Donal discreetly checked his watch. Hopefully, this would be wrapped up in no time, for it was money wasted while not in his office.
“Mr. O’Keefe, I’m Rose Martin, owner of the Chalet. We just have a few final things to go over before the actual ceremony.” She glanced at the other two men briefly. “I realize you’re just stepping in for the bride and groom today.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am. Thank you for making time. These are two more of the groomsmen. Tim Kane and Roland Driver.”
“Lovely to meet both of you. Shall we, Mr. O’Keefe?”
“After you.” He gave them a look and trailed the woman to her office.
Three hours later, he climbed in the back of the town car with the other two.
“How was it?” Roland asked.
“I learned more about this wedding in the three hours there than I did the eighteen months they’ve been planning it. I don’t care about cake type, flowers, or if it’s lace or organza. Pretty sure Todd doesn’t, but I guess this is best man duties. Still think should’ve sent the maid of honor. Porscha would have known.”
“We’re the men; we’re not supposed to know that.”
Donal shook his head at Tim’s comment as the car began moving. “No wonder they get coined bridezillas. It’s insane. Not that I see Bianca acting in such a way, but Tiffany? Absolutely.”
“This is sobering.” Roland gave an impromptu shiver. “When does Kurt arrive? Don’t the planned festivities begin tonight?”
He groaned. Tiffany’s mom loved attention and being society’s darling. With this union, she was pushing the family’s exposure, and he could only imagine what it would be like for his and Tiffany’s wedding. Why did that pop into my head? I’m not marrying her.
“Stop thinking about your wedding you’re pretending isn’t going to happen. You know they want the merger between the two companies, and it’s just that it’s going to come with a ball and chain for you.”
“No need to sound so smug about that, Tim,” he growled. “As for Kurt, he’s on his way. Asked if he could bring Mindy since she was visiting him.”
“Why would he ask to bring a date? Don’t we all get a plus one?” Tim asked.
“It’s not his date, Tim. Mindy is his sister.”
“So, the gay guy brings a chick? Todd’s parents’ idea to not raise an issue in the wedding photos?”
“Kurt’s not gay. And, I dare you to call him that to his face.” He rolled his eyes trying to avoid the desire to punch Tim. “We’ve been friends since I was the skinny nerd boy and he the token black kid at school. He liked me before we made millions, and Todd has met him many times when he would visit over the years. They are good friends, too. He’s not changed with our success.”
“So, why didn’t you invite Mindy if you’re so close?” Roland fixed himself a drink.
“I’m not close to her; she was eight years younger. Barely remember her aside from him leaving college when their parents died. He left to raise her.”
Donal accepted a bottle of water from Roland and tried to remember Ku
rt’s sister. He drew a blank.
“Guess he wanted to make sure it was okay.”
“Does he like to party?” Tim, again.
“Does she?” Roland waggled his brows.
“Didn’t I just get done saying I don’t remember her?” Donal pointed at them. “I know you’ve not met them but…”
Thankfully, they both nodded their understanding.
“Remind me again what’s happening this week?” Roland requested.
Cracking the lid, Donal sighed. “The itinerary is on my phone. Right now, all I know is it begins in less than two hours.”
“What about the test we have for Myst of Death 3?” Tim sat forward.
“Exactly why I wasn’t pleased about being ordered to this.” He drank. Donal stared at his friends. “Look, we all know why they sent me. But, we also know Tiffany and I are dating. Occasionally sleeping together, but it’s not serious. I’m serious about this merger, but I really can’t promise I’ll go through on the stipulation of having to marry Tiffany. I don’t see her as wife material. I don’t see her as my wife material. To be fair, I don’t have any woman in that category.”
He leaned back and stretched out his legs. “My dad told me to think of it as a business transaction as if I were marrying in Vegas. I tried, but I can’t. I don’t have time for a wife, now. We’re all just getting this rolling, we’ve made money and, god willing, will continue to do so, but I don’t know if I’m ready to sell out my freedom to a woman who would rake my ass over the coals if we got divorced. I didn’t work this hard to let her take it away or threaten to go to daddy if she doesn’t get her way.”
“You know she will, anyway. Threaten to go to her daddy, that is.”
“Exactly, Tim. Which is why I will not risk our company in that situation. I didn’t want to lead you guys on and not let you know where I stood on that. Right now, I’m focusing on being there for Todd, the launch, and getting through this without losing my temper.”
“The bridesmaids?” Roland began. “Are they hot?”
“Attractive enough. Don’t pay attention. Fairly certain they are. Todd’s mom won’t let someone who isn’t going to complement the pictures standing up there.”
“Already sounding married; it’s okay to look.”
“Not married, and I’m not looking, because right now, I don’t care.” He shook his head. “Your wife okay with that, Roland?” Donal gave him a pointed look. “That’s right; you don’t have one. Until you do, opinion to yourself.”
Roland, unfazed, flipped him off. Donal and Tiffany were fine. In fact, they could be a little less. He could spend the extra time on the business.
“Can we please focus on the game plan?” His words had faded from the air when his phone chimed.
Tiffany’s personal ring tone. She’d downloaded “Fever” to be her song. His friends smirked as he answered.
“Hey, baby,” Tiffany cooed. “Calling to find out how it went at the Chalet.”
“Everything went fine. Ms. Rose has everything well in hand.”
“Mumzie said you haven’t called to update her on how it went. You need to call her and keep her in the loop.”
“Tiff, I’m running a business, and we’re getting ready for the launch of a new game. A highly anticipated release. I don’t have time to hold your mom’s hand. Everything is fine. Rose has it under control. That woman won’t let a detail slip.”
The car paused before the tall building with the large black and silver DKO Games on the side, and they climbed out, heading for the door.
“She’s my rock through all of this, Donal. Besides, it’s good practice for our preparations. You need to show me you can do this.”
He clenched his jaw and slowed, waving his partners and fellow groomsmen ahead. “I’m aware of how important your brother’s wedding is. I’m also aware that, had there been an issue, I would have let her know. You wanted us to take a two-week trip together after his wedding. I have to get my share of the work done before I’m gone. I’m CFO of DKO Games.”
“You’re doing it for me, I know,” she said, voice awfully whinny. “I’m just getting nervous. Call me tonight before bed, and I’ll give you nice dream material.” Her seductive tone, however, didn’t do anything for him. His mind, too focused on the hours of work ahead, had sex in the back.
“I’ll try. The activities begin tonight.” He pushed inside and nodded at Gerald, the security guard as he held his ID up to the panel at the elevator to get to his office. “Do you know when you’re coming back?”
“I have one more fitting. I lost two pounds and need to make sure of the fit.”
He shook his head as the car took him up to the tenth floor. She was already a stick. Providing the obligatory comments about her figure, he ended the call as he reached his office door.
Donal didn’t have a secretary, didn’t want one. His partners were after him to get one. He paused to glance at the empty teak desk then entered his personal space. Loosening his tie, he claimed his seat and had just reclined when the gray phone lit up, announcing an incoming call. He reached for it as he brought his computer to life.
“Donal O’Keefe.”
“Hey, man, it’s Kurt.”
He grinned. “Where are you? Everything starts in a few hours, and we need the other groomsman here.”
αβ
Mindy Watkins stared at the glowing sign to the restaurant. She glanced at her Bulvaria, noting the sparkle of diamonds before checking the time. Three minutes to spare. Approaching the door, she peered past the doorman to her reflection as she neared. I hate things like this. Gods, the dress, the proper way to walk, sit, and eat.
“Good evening, ma’am.”
“Sir.” She smiled as he held the door. “Thank you.”
Soft music, gentle lighting, and patrons wearing more perfume and jewels than she cared to do personally. Then again, she grew up frugal, and while she had a six-figure income, she still lived as if she did so paycheck to paycheck.
It wasn’t hard to find the wedding party, for it was the largest group in the back of the establishment.
Please let me do this, right.
Pasting on her public and I’m-in-an-uncomfortable-situation-and-want-to-be-anywhere-but-here smile, she approached the group. There were two older couples on either side of the group and ten bridesmaids—she assumed—and ten men on the other side. Nine groomsmen and the groom.
The chatter slowly died as she neared; everyone stared at her. One man at the end of the table wiped his mouth with the blue linen napkin and stood. Her heart skipped a few beats as he approached. Not one to put much stock in the lust at first sight aspect, she found herself doing a one-eighty on that at the sight of this man with his thick black hair—stylishly rakish and messy—tanned skin, and a body to die for.
Men shouldn’t be that attractive; it’s just not fair. And, it was not to mean the other men were ugly, for they weren’t. All could easily be on the cover of GQ. The women were beautiful—in that I’m-rich-and-cold way.
The man stopped before her, with a small uncertain smile, like the act of smiling wasn’t common for him.
“Mindy?”
God, he smelled divine. Teakwood and dark amber. “That’s me.” There wasn’t any hint of her brother’s childhood friend that she remembered; thankfully, her brother had said he would be there to meet her. “Donal, right?”
He took her hand, his dwarfing hers. “That’s me. Kurt called and said he couldn’t make it for a few days.”
Her pulse kicked into high gear, and she attempted to retrieve her hand, but he held on. There were some calluses that teased her skin, making her desire things she had no business thinking about.
“I’m sorry about that. I know I was his plus one. I wasn’t sure he’d get a hold of you, so I came by, anyway, to let you know.”
“He did. And, he said you’d fill in for him. We’ve got some outings planned.”
Her eyes widened. “He said what?”
Donal gestured to the table. “Said you’d be a groomsman until he arrived.”
I’m going to kill my brother. What the hell do I know about being one of his rich friends? “Okay, then—” she smoothed a hand down her body-hugging dress— “I’ll do my best to be a groomsman.”
He ran his gaze over her. “You look nothing like the other groomsmen,” he muttered, guiding her to the lone vacant seat. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet Mindy Watkins. This is Kurt’s sister.”
His large hand finally released hers, only to settle on the small of her back, fingertips grazing along her exposed skin, courtesy of her open back. More knots rose in her gut.
“He’s unable to be here for a few days, and Mindy will be filling in for his groomsman duties.”
She caught the frowns before they were disguised. Donal made introductions around the table. Smile firmly in place, she found herself seated between Tim and Rory. A best friend and a brother.
Out of all the women up there, the bride seemed the most genuine, but the nine bridesmaids struck her as false from the smiles on their faces to the lashes on their eyes.
“So, what do you do and how long have you known my man, Donal?”
She looked to the man at her left. “He and my brother, were—are—friends. Have been since childhood.”
Tim leaned closer. “And, you two?”
“Us two?” She blinked. “Barely spoke. And, you two?”
His smile overflowed with charm. “Met in college at a bar fight. He, Roland, and I got tossed in the same cell. Been friends and partners ever since.”
She sliced her gaze back to Donal. His dark green stare waited for her. There came another wave of visceral reactions. “Nice.” Sure, she could have come up with something a bit more sophisticated, but he was sapping her common sense. Focusing on the plate before her, she smiled at the waitress who came to her side.
“What can I get you to drink?”
She glanced around at everyone with their wine glasses. Nope, wasn’t feeling it, not right now. “Hot tea, please. Chamomile.”
“Right away.”