Shadows and Spice

by Grady, D. R.

  “You and Emmy already discussed this?” Jenna asked incredulously, and TJ smiled as she watched Jenna’s hand reach out to grasp her fiancé’s. O’Malley curled their fingers together and tugged his future bride closer.

  “Yep. We’ve got the dinner all planned. Nerdboy is bringing drinks,” she said, indicating the source of her awareness and irritation.

  Fred smiled lazily. “We’ve taken care of the meal.” He took a swallow of coffee and she watched his throat work. This had to stop. No more watching the man. No more reacting to him. No more thinking about him.

  “Let’s get back to the actual ceremony,” TJ suggested and flipped through her own notes.

  “Yes, I think your idea of Damon and Fred coming out with Owen is good. You and Emmy walking down the aisle before me should work just fine,” Jenna said in a voice that sounded tight.

  “Breathe, Jenna. You’re not the only bride to go through this. It doesn’t mean you’re having second thoughts about your groom, but that you want your day to be special. Relax. It will be,” she coached. Having been through this countless times, she usually didn’t have to deliver this speech until the day of the wedding. But knowing Jenna, with her aplomb and poise, she’d be fine once they had everything in place.

  “You’ve seen this before?” O’Malley asked, and she saw the flare of interest in his eyes.

  “Of course I’ve seen brides panic before. If she weren’t nervous, then I’d be worried, but this is totally natural and expected. So calm down,” TJ replied, feeling a little exasperated.

  “I’m glad we’re normal,” Jenna said and slanted a secret smile at O’Malley. His eyes went soft as he gazed back at her, and TJ felt something catch in her chest. She loved seeing people in love.

  Fred coughed and she turned to glare at him. He sent her an innocent, come-hither smile. She bared her teeth at him.

  This elicited a flare of interest in his eyes. He wiggled a brow at her. She rolled her eyes and turned back to the engaged couple. The sooner they had them married off, the sooner she was free of Fredren Savage. The sooner the better. And she really did feel that way. Yes, indeed she did.

  “I think we’ve got the ceremony covered, and since you’re getting married and having the reception in the same place, the meal shouldn’t be too difficult. The hotel is taking care of that, right?” she asked and flipped through more pages.

  “Yes, they are, and we chose everything already, thank goodness,” Jenna answered.

  “You’ve got the person marrying you lined up, right?”

  “Yes, he’s booked and has directions,” Jenna answered.

  “Okay, what about decorations?” TJ poised her pen over her notebook and looked up at Jenna. Who scrabbled through her notes. She tugged one out near the bottom of the stack and read it.

  “The hotel is taking care of most of them, but I do want to add a few touches here and there.”

  “You already discussed this with the hotel, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do we need to get in early in the morning to finish your additions, or what’s your plan?” TJ asked. The more they nailed down today, the less they’d have to do when the wedding came perilously close.

  “Actually, Annie and Julia are taking care of those, so we’re off the hook. Giselle will probably help, too,” Jenna said.

  “Are Julia and Giselle back?” she asked. Mallen and Julia Saltaire and Stephen and Giselle Bannette had flown over from Sandovia at around the same time she and O’Malley had arrested a serial rapist who had attacked Jenna. The two couples returned to their country soon after, with promises to return for the wedding. Since Mallen was king and Stephen headed the largest corporation in the country, while Giselle lead national security and Julia focused her attention in the palace laboratory, none of them could stay away from their work for long.

  “Not yet. They’re coming a week or so before the wedding. I’ll need Julia to keep me calm,” Jenna said with a shaky laugh.

  “You’ll be fine,” TJ soothed absently. She stared at her lists. “We’ve got the dresses, but need to specify the colors, and then coordinate the men’s cummerbunds and bow ties to match. What about vests?”

  Jenna frowned before looking at Fred. “Do you want to wear a vest?”

  “It’ll probably be hot, right?” he asked.

  “Probably, since the wedding is in the beginning of September,” TJ replied. “Let’s nix the vests. The coat should be plenty.” She drew a line through vests on her list. “You’ve ordered the cake and party favors; the meal is taken care of, what about flowers?”

  “We’ve got them on order, too. Took care of that last week,” O’Malley replied and he ran a hand over Jenna’s hair, which seemed to have a calming effect. She visibly relaxed beneath his touch.

  “We’re almost finished, aren’t we?” Jenna said happily.

  TJ grinned. “Yes, you are. What about honeymoon clothes?”

  “Honeymoon clothes?” Jenna repeated, and blinked.

  “Yes. You’ll need beachwear – and lingerie.”

  O’Malley’s hand stalled on Jenna’s hair and a light gleamed from his eyes. “Lingerie?” he repeated in a thick voice.

  “Yeah, lingerie’s a good thing for a honeymoon,” she answered and stared at Jenna, who looked bewildered. “Oh, my,” she said and tapped her pen against her notepad. This could prove interesting.

  “We’ll have to go shopping.” Jenna’s voice sounded strained.

  “You know what to buy?” O’Malley asked, still in that croaky voice.

  “Yes, your worthless friend let something slip the other day. I know exactly what to look for,” she replied without looking up. But she caught O’Malley turn to Fred and mouth, Thank you, and Fred’s subsequent salute of acknowledgment.

  “Lingerie?” Jenna asked again, and TJ noticed she’d gone pale.

  “Don’t worry about this, Jenna. I know exactly what to buy.”

  “You do?” she whispered and TJ saw hope spark in her eyes. “I hate lingerie shopping. It’s as bad as bathing suit shopping.”

  “Trust me, I’m a professional. I’m good at this.”

  “You hate shopping, TJ”

  “I like lingerie shopping, it’s the only kind I’m capable of.”

  O’Malley’s brow pleated. “Who buys your clothes?”

  “Our moms. And some of the nieces now.” TJ frowned. She wasn’t that good at dressing herself, but her nieces had begun choosing garments that didn’t meet in the middle. Maybe they’d have to reassess her size.

  “Why do we need to do this?” Jenna sounded like she had reentered panic mode.

  “To blow O’Malley’s mind, of course. What else?” she replied, frowning at her friend.

  O’Malley choked on the sip of coffee he’d just taken.