by Lynn Galli
My eyes slid to his left and halted. I had to concentrate on not doing the same with my stride. Ainsley stood beside him in a one piece black jumpsuit with flowing trouser legs. The halter top clung to her like a second skin under a short form fitting jacket with sheer arms that offered a teasing glimpse of the bare arms beneath. Her hair, that marvelous bunch of curls and frizz, had been tamed into corkscrew curls that must have taken hours of winding around a finger and applying product individually. I’d never seen it so domesticated. When I reached her eyes, clear cornflower blue unhindered by falling locks of hair, I paused. She’d seen me check out every inch of her and her expression wasn’t the usual taunting I’ve seen in the past. It looked just as approving as mine.
I forced myself to look past her to the other two groomsmen. Both in tuxes just like Colin only their ties were white. Logan’s hair looked pretty damn good for a dude with long hair and Ross’s beard had been trimmed to something respectable.
Finally, I made it to the front and climbed the three steps to the altar. The quartet changed to the bridal march and Dallas and her dad stepped into view of the doors. Everyone stood and watched as she made her way down the aisle. I knew I should be watching every step she took, but I felt my eyes slide to Ainsley again. A woman should not look that good in an outfit that offered only a peek at the skin beneath.
When Dallas reached the steps, I jerked my eyes back to her. Her father gripped her elbow as they ascended the stairs. He shook Colin’s hand and placed Dallas’s hand in his. I leaned forward and took the yellow and orange bouquet from Dallas so she could grip both of Colin’s hands and face him.
Now was the easy part. No one was looking at me anymore. All eyes were on the bride. At the right moment, I handed over the ring. Dallas slipped it on Colin’s finger and Colin slipped one on hers. They each had their own vows, a little sappy but genuine. Denver sniffled behind me and dabbed her nose with a tissue.
Barely twenty minutes since Dallas walked down the aisle, the ceremony ended. I was happy she’d gone with the shorter version of the ceremony. I didn’t know how much longer I could stand here and be assaulted by nerves. It didn’t help that I’d only had two bites of brunch this morning and had been running around since I woke up.
Dallas and Colin leaned in for their first kiss as a married couple and everyone applauded. They turned and descended the steps together. I looked over at Ainsley and realized that we hadn’t really rehearsed this part. The minister just said we’d walk back together. Did that mean side by side or arm in arm?
Ainsley and I stepped forward together as if we’d practiced this many times. She barely needed to move her elbow before my hand was looping through and resting on her forearm as we walked down the steps together. It shouldn’t make me giddy to walk arm in arm beside such a beautiful woman. I was almost never giddy, but again, I was probably lightheaded from the lack of food. Or it might be the way she smelled, cedar and orange blossom, or the warmth of her skin through the sheer material under my fingertips. One of those things.
Gary directed us outside where I barely noticed the bagpiper because of all this annoying giddiness. Denver and Ross joined us, then Savannah and Logan. Dallas’s eyes sparkled in the sunshine as she looked back at us then dropped her eyes to my arm in Ainsley’s. I almost jerked it back, but Gary was shuttling us down the steps and over to the side of the building for the first set of photographs. If we didn’t have a million steps to navigate, I would have dropped Ainsley’s arm. But we had a million steps to navigate, and I really liked the way she smelled and the feel of her skin.
“I’ve got to get everyone onto the shuttles. Can you both handle the photos?” Gary asked Ainsley and me.
His voice broke whatever giddy spell I’d been under. I pulled my hand back and stepped to the side. I wanted to take another step because I could still smell her alluring scent, but that would seem rude.
“We’ll do what we can,” Ainsley told him and he dashed back to the front of the church.
“Let’s get the whole party together, please,” Isaac said as he set his wide lens camera on a tripod and waved his hands to get everyone lined up.
We took what felt like several hundred photos with Dallas’s party on one side and Colin’s on the other. Different variations of Dallas and Colin with their parties separately, and onto two different locations for all the same photo groupings again. When he moved on to pair up the wedding party, I ground my teeth. How many more photos could possibly be necessary and did we really need photos of only Ainsley and me?
“That’s not really working,” Isaac said after he’d placed Ainsley behind me in the standard prom pose. Unlike the other couples, there was only a two inch difference in height between us. The prom pose wouldn’t do Ainsley justice as the taller of our pairing. “Try side by side with Ainsley partially behind Skye’s shoulder.” Snap, snap. “Good. Now face each other.”
I immediately stepped away. “You’ve got enough pictures.” I searched the area until I caught Dallas’s eye to ask for help in shutting this down, but either she was still too blissful in her wedded state or that glint in her eye meant she was having a little fun with me.
“Take lots of pictures,” Colin encouraged before stealing another smooch from his wife.
“Skye.” Isaac looked at me insistently. “The faster we get this over with, the faster we get out of here.”
Ainsley was studying me from her spot three steps away. So far, she hadn’t said anything. She must be objecting to this, too, but maybe that was the difference between us. I felt like I’d already done and given everything I needed for this wedding. Posing for uncomfortable photos was one ask too many. Seeing that she was willing to do this for her cousin motivated me. Or it might be everyone was staring at me stubbornly refusing to take any more photos. I didn’t want to become the new spoiled brat of the group.
“Fine.” I took a step closer.
Ainsley’s mouth twitched and it irked me that she was now having fun at my expense. Dallas had already abandoned me. I didn’t need someone else poking at me. I stepped right up to that smirk and watched it drop when my breasts inadvertently brushed against hers. I bit down on the sizzle that shot through me and would have resulted in a soft moan if we were in another setting and it was another woman. Shifting slightly so that I was partially facing forward, I tilted my head toward Ainsley and waited for her to follow. It took her five seconds to match my pose, the first four in stunned silence before she moved into position.
“Nice,” Isaac said as he snapped the last picture. “Denver and Ross, you’re up.”
I turned and hustled down the stairs to stand next to Isaac as he let the other members of the bridal party stand in the usual prom pose. I waited for him to tell them to face each other, but it didn’t come. Dallas must have told him to screw with me. She probably thought I’d be really uptight about now or she might have wanted to make sure every one of my nightmares came to life at her wedding. I was in a slinky dress I’d never wear again, at a wedding in which I was the MOH, that took place in a church, and now I’d had a hundred photos snapped of me in the group and with the person who, until we were forced to get along, hadn’t been someone I’d willingly choose to spend time with.
“Are we getting the family here?” Isaac asked me.
I wanted to look for Gary but realized he was too busy herding guests. My eyes automatically sought out Ainsley. She and I had been making decisions for the past few weeks. She had the same thought as me and we made the decision without even asking the couple. Not that they seemed to notice. They were completely lost in themselves. I’d never seen Dallas like this before.
Logan and Ross went to get the rest of the immediate families. The group sauntered around the corner as if they had all night or maybe that’s what it seemed like because I wasn’t having a lot of fun standing out here in these heels and a dress that showed more of my skin than I liked and near a woman that had been confusing me all damn day. I bit back on the ba
rk to get organized and clustered for the photos.
Ages later, Isaac was still taking all the shots he could with every possible combination. Thankfully, other than a few more poses with Dallas, then Dallas and Colin, I was mostly an observer and assistant, handing him different cameras and digital cards.
The temperature seemed to rise while the pictures went on and on. I hadn’t put on any sunscreen because I didn’t want to feel greasy and didn’t think I’d be in the sunshine this long. Almost as I thought about how my fair freckled skin would probably become lobster red if I stayed out here any longer, a coat was draped over my shoulders. I looked back and saw Ainsley straightening the coat in place.
“What?” I stopped, unable to form a complete question.
“Your shoulders were getting a little pink.”
I noticed she still had on her jacket and looked around. Her dad was smiling and waving at me, seemingly happy not to have to wear his suit jacket in this heat. I waved back and thanked him. I turned away from the sun so my face didn’t end up getting fried but realized too late that put me face to face with Ainsley. “That was very considerate. Thank you.”
“I burn quickly, too.” She smiled brightly. “It’s one of the reasons Scotland suits me so well.”
I chuckled. The weather held no pull on her. I knew that without needing the sarcasm in her voice to tip me off.
“Have we got everything?” Gary called as he rounded the corner and joined us. “Everyone’s off to the reception. Let’s get the rest of these folks loaded onto the last shuttle and you guys into the cars. Mia is waiting to direct everyone to their seating assignments. The first course will be served ten minutes after you arrive.”
This was why we’d needed a wedding planner. As much as I thought I’d done, we definitely needed Gary to pull off everything in the order it was intended. Not to mention the cleanup at each location.
“Did you want to do the change now?” Gary asked Dallas. “We still have the fitting room for another fifteen minutes. Or there’s a room we can use at the reception.”
Dallas looked at me, seemingly content to let me make the decisions tonight. “Here, I think. Everyone saw you in your wedding gown and we got all the shots we need with that. If you change here, you can take a few photos in the other dress before we go to the other location.”
“Whatever you think.” She giggled and I realized she’d gone into the bridal daze where everything seemed to be happening in a dream. That or her dress was too tight.
“Colin, we’ll be down in a few minutes for more photos.” I turned to lift the coat from my shoulders but Alastair waved me off. I could get it to him at the reception.
“Do you want us with you?” Denver asked her sister as she looped an arm around her husband. She probably didn’t realize the gesture told us she’d rather wait out here.
“We’ve got it covered.” We followed Gary inside. He’d gather everything from the groom’s room first before doing the same with the bride’s once we were done.
“I feel kinda silly now changing into another gown,” she said as we entered the changing room.
I tilted my head and looked up at her. “You wanted something lighter for the party, remember?”
“That’s right,” she agreed, the haze filtering back over her.
“Are you having fun?”
She laughed and cupped my cheek. “I’m having the best time, and I know you’re the reason I can enjoy myself tonight.”
“You’re giving me too much credit. Let’s get you changed and put this gown away.” I began unbuttoning her gown as she unzipped the garment bag that had the less formal gown for the reception.
“When I get back from the honeymoon, I’m going to be your servant for a full week. Anything you want.”
“Not necessary. I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself. You deserve it.”
With the last button undone, the dress came off in a heap on the floor. I held up the second dress and bent to let her step into it. She pulled it up and I zipped the side for her.
We stood back and examined her appearance in the mirror. Her hand flew to her now naked mouth, her husband having kissed off her lip color. I reached into my bag and grabbed the extra that Betsy had left for me.
“Can you fit in that bag?” she joked.
“Yep.” I handed her the lip color and watched her apply it expertly. “Here, take the last of the water. It’s hot out there.”
She stopped applying color and drank from the offered bottle. Her eyes dropped to the coat on my shoulders and she leaned in to study my cheeks. “You have the rest. You got more sun than I did.” She handed me the almost empty bottle. The liquid felt like heaven sliding down my parched throat. “Nice of Ainsley to get you some protection from the sun.”
“It was her dad.” I shimmied the coat off now that we were inside. I could stand in the shade for the next round of photos.
“Only because she insisted he take it off.”
Ainsley had been worried about me? That felt really good. More than was appropriately good, really. I recognized the twinkle in Dallas’s eyes again. “What are you trying to do?”
“Nothing. I think she likes you.”
“She’s barely at the point of tolerating me.”
“That’s not what Colin says.”
I stepped back. “What does he say?”
“That’s she’s too proud to admit she’s smitten with you.”
“She is not.” The denial was automatic.
Dallas shrugged and applied one last layer to her lips. “They’ve talked.”
“She wouldn’t tell him.” Would she? “She’s not one to talk about stuff like that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because she never said anything to our roommates when we shared an apartment. They’d try to get her to talk about women she dated but she wouldn’t spill.” I always admired that about her. Or it could be that I was just sick of hearing about Gwen and Petra’s boyfriends. All of them. In great detail.
“Colin’s a professional interviewer.”
“I’m not buying it.” I shook off her claims. “You’re trying to stir something up, and I can’t figure out why. It’s your wedding. Chill out and enjoy the night. Stop trying to get me riled up.”
“But you’re so fun when you’re riled.” She turned gave my cheek a pinch. “I’m not telling you anything I haven’t seen for myself. I think she’s got the hots for you.”
“You’re in marital bliss mode, chica. You’re not thinking straight.”
“I’m not.” Her eyebrows waggled. “I’m thinking my lesbian best friend might be hooked up by the time I get back.”
I shook my head and pushed on her back to get us moving from the room. I turned and gave my appearance a last once over, noticing I’d either gotten a lot of sun on my face or I was blushing.
Thirty-Two
Outside the Newseum, guests mingled. Food, beverages, and air conditioning were just inside, but these folks were lingering. Half were puffing away on cigarettes. The men had all shed their jackets and the women were walking around barefoot with their heels slung over a shoulder. Until I saw the two photographers standing on the sidewalk snapping pictures, I didn’t understand why the guests had chosen to loiter out front instead of on the upper terrace with the gorgeous views.
Every sign listed this as the Baird-MacKinnon Wedding. When Colin suggested it, Ainsley and I flipped out. It wasn’t so much the tie to her that I objected to. I just didn’t like seeing my name on a wedding placard. Ainsley had objected to the tie with me. But after we realized that the marriage of co-anchors would garner interest from tabloids to the tune of several thousand dollars per wedding shot, we agreed to use our names instead of Dallas and Colin’s.
“Dammit,” I swore and told the driver, “Slow down, we’re providing cover.”
“What’s going on?” Ainsley and Denver asked at the same time.
“Freelance photographers. Dallas and Colin didn’t want
their photos getting out.” They’d agreed to release their photos to a newsmagazine in an interview they’d do after their honeymoon.
“I thought Gary arranged to book another location for a fake wedding and reception at a hotel downtown?” Ainsley asked.
“He did, but when they don’t show in those locations, they figure out they’ve been duped.” Or when they’ve been tipped off by an asshole network COO.
“What do we do? Dallas deserves to control where the pictures are published. This is her day,” Denver said.
I flicked through my contacts until I found the one for Colin’s dad and placed the call. “Conrad, we need a diversion so we can get Colin and Dallas inside without their photos being taken.”
“What?” He obviously hadn’t spotted the photographers from his car at the back of the pack.
“There are two photographers camped out, waiting for photo ops of Colin and Dallas. We need to convince them this isn’t their wedding.”
“What do you want to do? It’s not like Colin and Dallas can convince them otherwise.”
“No, but you’re in a tux and your wife is wearing an off-white dress. Would you mind being the happy couple of the day?”
“Damn,” he said with wonder in his tone. “Colin said you were smart. We’re on it.”
“We’ll keep going to underground parking garage, but your driver should come to a sudden halt as if you decided you’d rather walk through the front door.”
“Well done. See you inside.”
Everyone in my car was staring at me like I’d snorted a line of cocaine in front of them. “What?”
“How’d you come up with that?” Denver asked.
“You get used to throwing stuff together in the news business.” I called Dallas’s driver and gave him instructions and to let the couple know.
Our car made the turn at the corner and provided a good view of Conrad reaching into the car to help his wife out onto the sidewalk. I knew without being able to see every detail of her expression that she was eating this up.