The Wedding Planner

by Pavan Kaur

  The weather is so nice today, I decided to walk to work. It takes me about twenty minutes which I don't mind when the sun is out, but if it's cold I taxi all the way.

  “Morning Jess,” I say as I walk past her and head straight to my office. I hear her heels clicking on the floor behind me. “What is so important that you have to tell me before I even get to my office?” I smile at her.

  “Well Cassie and Neil are in there. They got here ten minutes ago.” I look at my watch, they should not be here yet. “They said that they needed to talk to you about something before they talk about the engagement party.”

  “Okay, can you bring in some coffee for us, please?” Jess gives me a nod and walks away from me. “Cassie, Neil, I hope you had a good break,” I greet them as I’m walking around the desk to my seat. I grab the planner so I can get started and I see another box on the table. I grab the note quickly.

  Morning beautiful.

  From, Pretty Boy

  Putting the card on the desk, I get back to the couple. “You’re not going to see what’s inside?” Cassie says.

  “No, I can wait until…”

  "Since we walked in here she has been dying to know what is in there," Neil stops me from talking, and I open the box and narrow my eyebrows together.

  “Coffee and a blueberry muffin,” I say taking them out of the box. Seriously, this man is way too good to be true. I look back over at Cassie. “How was your break?”

  "It was good. Sorry we're here early, but someone really wanted to see the cards." I smile and walk over to the bookshelf and grab the envelope with the cards in it.

  "I spent the last two days working on them, so I really hope you like them." I put them on the desk and they both stand and take a better look at them. "If anything needs to be changed, please let me know and I can get that fixed," I add as they both look at each other then back at the card. I'm worried they don't like them.

  “You made these by hand?” Neil points at the card in his hand.

  “Yes, sometimes I think it looks nice when you…”

  "I love them, they are just amazing. They look beautiful and classy." Cassie walks around the table and gives me a hug. "We got a list together with everyone's address for you, as I take it that you have a fun way of posting them."

  "I do. The envelope will be pink and the address in gold. Now that the cards are ticked off, shall we start on the engagement party? Are you having pictures taken or are you planning on using the ones that you've taken yourself?"

  “We have an appointment with someone to take them for us next week,” Cassie informs me.

  “Will this be the same person who will take the wedding pictures?”

  "Yes, they have been taking the family pictures for many years." Cassie takes Neil’s hand, and I can't help but smile.

  "Great. If you can give me his number, I can talk to him about a few things if that is okay?" Grabbing a pen so I can jot down the number, she hands me his business card instead. "So the party, we have a month and if you...." I stop talking as the office door opens, and my heart jumps into my throat as I see pretty boy walking into my office. Why is he here?

  "Emma, this is my little brother and best man, Ocean," Neil stands next to him I can't take my eyes off him, my sexy dream guy is off limits.

  “Nice to meet you,” he walks over to the desk and puts his hand out for me to shake. My eyes are locked on his and he can see it on my face that I’m surprised.

  "Nice to see you again, Ocean," I take his hand in mine as I take in a deep breath. "I'm just going to tell Jess that we will need an extra coffee," I tell them and leave the office, grabbing my phone on my way out.

  As the door closes, I text the girls.

  Emma - OMG! OMG! OMG! Pretty Boy is the groom’s little brother and best man. He has a sexy ass name too, Ocean.

  Tanya - WTF! You are screwed.

  Amie - I’m sorry Emma. What are you going to do?

  Emma - Well I’m stuck with him for a month for the engagement party. Just my luck that the sexy guy I have the hots for is off limits. Have to get back in the room, chat later xx

  Chapter 8

  Ocean

  “I don’t think that was the way you thought this moment would go. I mean she ran out of here pretty fast.” I look over at Neil, he has a point, I didn’t think that would happen.

  "Ummm, what is happening?" Cassie looks at us.

  “Ocean has been trying to win her over, and I don’t think this was part of his plan.” I can see him trying very hard not to laugh at this.

  “Ocean, I’m going to tell you this once, you mess up my wedding, I will kill you, slowly.” She stands up and walks over to me, “But if this is not a quick fuck, then go for it.”

  “If this was a quick fuck, trust me, I could have had her twice by now. The last time I saw her, we were close as we danced and I wanted to kiss her but I stayed strong and resisted.” It’s not like I need her permission, but she really did just scare me the way she said she would kill me. It really did have an evil tone to it, and I really don’t want to get on her bad side until after the wedding.

  I smile as Emma walks back into the room, she doesn't even look at me. I think maybe I should have told her. "Can I just use the powder room please," Cassie asks her.

  “Yes, it’s the second door on the right,” she opens the door for her.

  "I will just make sure she gets to the right door," Neil says as he follows her out. This gives me a few minutes with her.

  I slowly walk over to her as they both leave the room. "Did you like the coffee? I wasn't sure what you liked," I ask her and she walks over to her desk.

  “I did, but now that I know who you are, you have to stop…”

  “And why would I do that?”

  "You're my client’s brother. Number one rule, never date anyone involved in the wedding, it can get messy." I keep my eyes locked with her to see if she is messing with me, but she is serious.

  “Well sometimes rules can be broken, or even bent a little,” I walk around the table towards her. It’s her eyes, those eyes got me that night, and every time I see them I just want to stare at them. “I mean I’m sure we can make something happen.” I stand up close to her, and I can feel her breathing on my chest.

  She quickly takes a step back, I know that I affect her, I knew it the other night in the club, and I just have to charm her into saying yes to me. "Okay, say that we go on a date, and we find out that we don't really get along , then when we meet up to do the party it will be horrible. Or say that we get along and we date for a few weeks, and then we have a fight. It will be hard to do anything for this wedding because I won't want to see you."

  Folding my arms I watch her, she has very good points but I don't think they are good enough for me to stop trying to get her to date me. "So I thought dinner tonight would be nice," I say placing my hand on the chair next to hers.

  “Did you not hear what I just said?”

  “I did, but we are together for a month planning this party. I’m sure you will fall for my charm,” I give her a wink as Neil and Cassie walk back into the room.

  “Already have,” I hear her whisper to herself as I walk past her. I don’t think I was meant to hear it, but I can’t help but smile knowing she likes me too.

  "The engagement party, do you have any ideas of what you would like?" I sit down next to Cassie and watch her every move.

  “No, we are leaving it with Ocean, all we ask is it be fun. We want everyone to enjoy themselves,” Cassie answers her, and I smile as Emma’s eyes move to me for a quick second. This month is going to be so much fun.

  “How many guests will be there? Would you like a cake? Food?” Emma grabs a folder from the bookcase and I can’t help but look at her ass. Cassie slaps my arm.

  “Focus,” she’s pointing her finger in my face. “About fifty guests, Ocean has the cake sorted for us. Other than that, we are leaving everything else with you two. I don’t want to know anything.” Cassie st
ands up, Neil whispers something in her ear and she gives him a nod and says bye to Emma and me.

  Once she leaves, Neil turns to Emma, “I spoke to Cassie about the honeymoon and she has left that to me, her words were ‘I know you will come up with something amazing’.” I turn to see Emma laughing. I’m not sure what is funny about this, but she seems to find it amusing.

  “Don’t worry, I will get a few things planned for you, and you can pick what you like. Has she ever told you about a dream holiday?” Emma grabs another notepad and starts writing something down.

  “She has a list so long I’m not sure which one to choose.”

  “Okay, this still for two weeks?”

  “Yes, I want to make this perfect, and for some crazy reason she thinks I can do it.” Neil looks at me, and I give him a blank look. I have no idea about this stuff, I don’t even know anything about throwing an engagement party for her, and making sure it’s something she will like. All this is for me to spend time with Emma and get her to go on a date with me.

  “Leave it with me,” she starts writing this down. “ This month can you both find some time and look for wedding bands please, so I can tick that off the list,” she looks up with a smile I swear could melt anyone’s heart. It’s like a ray of sunshine all over her face.

  “I will mention it to her now and get that done. Thank you for this,” Neil looks over at me. “I will let you two get planning.” Waving my hand to him as he leaves, I watch Emma as she puts her stuff together and grabs the big planner.

  "Do you have any ideas of what you would like to do?" Right down to business then. "Do we need to find a venue?"

  “No, my parents’ garden is huge. I thought a garden party would be good, and a good BBQ.” I shuffle my chair closer to her, leaving a very small space between us. Close enough I can hear her breathe.

  “Do you want someone to do the BBQ or will you be doing that?” She turns her face to look at me and I smile.

  "I plan on drinking. I don't think I should be trusted with the BBQ." This makes her smile again. "Talking about food, I thought we could go out for lunch."

  "I will get someone to do a BBQ. How about games? Oh, I just had an idea for the invites’ to send everyone," she gets out of the chair and walks to the bookcase again grabbing a card and some pens, then comes back to the table. "How does this look?" she's scribbling on the card. "I Do BBQ! please join us for our engagement party and then all the information," she hands me the card.

  “Are you always this happy?”

  “Do you think I could see the garden? So I know how much space we have to plan things?” She is going to try very hard to keep this about the party and nothing else. I always like a challenge.

  “We can go now. My parents are away for a few weeks and I have the key.”

  "Great, let me just let Jess know. Give me a few minutes."

  Giving her a nod, I watch her walking out of the office, this give me a few moments to get my thoughts together and work out how I'm now going to play this.

  Her phone beeps. It's right in front of me and there is not one part of my body stopping me to look at who it's from. Her phone is locked but I can see a few lines of it.

  Amie - Ski trip booked Austria Ischgl April 6th…

  This girl likes to ski. There is no way I'm giving up on her now. I text Marc to let him know that we are going skiing on April 6th and where, and that when I see him tonight, I will explain everything. Now I need to find out which hotel they are in, which is going to be the hard part.

  "Let me just get my notepad and we are ready to go," Emma walks back in, and I stand up as I watch her grabbing everything she needs.

  “Here I can take them from you,” I grab the planner and notepad from her. “We can take my car and then I can drop you off here, and if you get hungry we can…”

  “Nice try, but we will have to go in your car, I didn’t bring mine today.” I follow her out of the office and she stops, waiting for me to lead her to the car.

  Opening the door for her, she gets into my Audi. When I get in and see her typing on her phone with a smile on her face I say, “I hope that smile is because you’re telling your friends about me.” I look over at her just before I pull out onto the road.

  "No, just booked a weekend away and I can't wait." She gets back to typing, as I make my way to my parents' house. "Have you lived in London long?"

  “Yeah, I’ve got an apartment about ten minutes away from here. How about you?”

  “Yep, the three of us moved in together as soon as we finished Uni.”

  “That must be fun and…” I stop when she starts laughing.

  "It can get interesting," she tells me, and if her friends are anything like what I saw at the bar the other night, I bet they can be an interesting group.

  “We will have to join you for a night out this week.” There is silence in the car, and I think this is one of the moments she won’t answer me.

  The rest of the car ride is quiet. I need to find out other things that she likes so I can talk to her about them. I just need to figure out how without sounding like a stalker and making her hate me.

  ***

  "Your parents’ garden is beautiful, there is so much space to play with," I watch her walking around a little. I try to stay as close as I can to her, but still far enough, so I don't seem like a creep. Emma stops by the table and takes a few things out of her bag. "Do you have any idea what you would like, other than a BBQ?"

  “I have no idea, I was hoping you would. I just want it to be fun,” I sit down at the table. One thing I can already say about her is that she loves her job. I mean the smile on her face is full of excitement.

  “How about games? Do both sets of friends get along, or not so much?” Opening her laptop she starts typing away, “I have one game where it’s team groom vs team bride.” She turns her laptop to face me and I look at the screen.

  “I like this idea. After this would you like to have some lunch?”

  She smiles at me, “I brought a salad with me, thanks. So back to the party, what about music, decorations…”

  "I'm going to be honest with you, I have nothing planned. This worked out well for me so that I got to spend time with you, so whatever you think, is good with me." I know I could have planned this, but she is asking questions that I haven't even thought about. I mean I know nothing about planning a party.

  She stops writing and looks at me. I don't know her well enough to know what her facial expressions mean, but this one is blank. Biting the side of her bottom lip, she looks back down at her notepad.

  “You’re playing this game to the end I see.” She looks through the planner not looking back up at me.

  “Yes, I am playing this game to the end as you put it. But believe me, this ain’t no game.” Even though she thinks we won’t get along, I think we would. She looks like so much fun to be around, and I can see already that she likes to take life and have fun with it.

  “Well, if you go on a date with me, the end will come sooner.”

  "How about we go for a few games? I was thinking giant Jenga, snakes and ladders, and any other giant games you can get. If it's okay with your parents, we can paint a giant twister on the grass," she stops and flips through her planner again.

  “Will you be playing twister?”

  "I won't be here. I will come the day before to set up, and then it's a fun day for you."

  "Then I will pass on twister. If I can't get bendy with you, then I'm not playing." The next girl I plan on getting close to is sitting in front of me, and I still think I can break her down.

  "Do you want to play team groom, team bride?" She's ignoring my comment, which makes me smile. She's asked me a question but all I can picture in my head is her getting bendy with me. “Well, I will put you on the groom's side then," she says.

  "Yes, that would be a good idea." I end the conversation there. If I'm going to win Emma over I'm going to need some help, and there are only two people that can help me
. Her friends.

  ***

  I thought after everything from the cakes to seeing her today, I would have walked away with a date but nothing. She was serious about not dating anyone involved with the wedding, but I have a month, and even after that I will think of some reason for us to see each other.

  “Finally pulled you away from her have we?” Blake says as I sit down. “I hear we are going skiing in Austria,” he looks at me closely. I know he wants to say more, but he’s waiting for me to say something.

  “I thought this was you just wanting to hook up with her, but looks like…”

  “When have I ever been the type to just hook up with someone?” I ask him. I can answer that question. Never.

  “So, why is she not here joining us?” Marc looks behind me with a big smile on his face.

  "There seems to be a bump in my road, she won't date anyone involved in the wedding," I grab my beer off the table and drink a mouth full. I needed this. I needed a drink after today.

  “So, she didn’t fall to her knees for Ocean, like all the others?” Blake starts joking now. “Seems like you’re losing your touch.”

  “I’m not losing my touch, I just have to…”

  “To become more of a pussy and send her more cakes,” Blake interrupts me again with his stupid comment.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, Ocean Rivers is about to be whipped.” Marc starts laughing, and Blake joins him.

  "I'm not about to be whipped. Trust me I don't think she is the type of girl to have me on a short leash. Once I can get past the work Emma, and get the clubbing Emma out, I know she will be a lot of fun." I look over at Marc, "Did you get my text about the ski trip?"

  “Yeah, and why are we going there?”

  “Because Emma and her friends are going there, just don’t know where they are staying yet.”

  "You've found a girl that likes skiing, and you can't even hook up with her," Blake start laughing louder. I hate him sometimes. "The one thing you have always said you want in a girl, she has to be adventurous, seems like…"