Never. Not that it mattered. His job was satisfying, and he’d been able to stop worrying as much these last five years as Ally settled into being an adult and building her own life. “Besides the team-building project at Logan Circle?”
“That wasn’t a vacation. Please tell me you know that.”
“But the scavenger hunt and escape-room activities really helped us bond.”
“Okay, I have an outrageous suggestion: take some time off and spend the summer with me. You never take vacations, and we’d have so much fun!”
He opened his mouth, automatically ready to decline, then shut it. For the first time in a while, he was a bit restless. He loved his job as a hacker, but there was an odd stirring in his gut. Almost as if he were searching for . . . more. He just wasn’t sure what it was.
Spending time with his sister might be the solution. She was his only family, and helping her plan the most important day of her life would be like stepping back into the past, when they were together 24-7. Getting the time off shouldn’t be a problem. He’d accumulated a ton of vacation days, and he’d finish up this latest project by the end of the month.
“Let me see what I can do. Are you sure I wouldn’t be crashing in on your time with Avery?” He knew he was a bit overprotective and overwhelming at times.
“As long as you don’t give me a curfew or limit my alcohol intake, I’d love it.”
“Okay, Ally-Cat, you convinced me. Let’s do it.”
Her squeal made him grin. “This is going to be the best summer of our lives.”
Carter wondered why her words suddenly seemed like a forewarning of something to come. He shook off the odd thought, said goodbye to his sister, and began to make a list to prepare for his time off.
Avery selected a croissant from the platter. The flaky crust and buttery texture showed a perfect bake, and just a hint of chocolate peeked from the sides. She licked her lips and settled at the head of the conference table—a gorgeous mahogany antique that she’d grabbed at an estate sale and repurposed. The standout centerpiece of the room was paired with softer touches: fresh blush roses, lavender-mint soy candles, soft buttercream carpeting, and delicate lace curtains. The walls were adorned with black-and-white photographs of some of their most esteemed weddings, clad in ornate frames that beckoned new clients.
This was different from the war room, since they brought all prospective clients here for meetings. Avery had learned that showcasing a ruthless business purpose paired with appealing to all five senses was a winning combination in the wedding business.
She flipped open her planner and laptop, then glanced around the room. Her sisters were all seated and ready for the meeting, along with Gabe, her full-time assistant and right-hand man. “Good morning, ladies and gentleman! Let’s make this a great day! Bella, do you want to start?”
Her sister’s calm energy blanketed the room. Avery didn’t know if it was being a mother or the tragic past of losing her husband, but she was continually impressed by Bella’s ability to keep focused in any crazy situation. It was like she owned a yogi’s heart, though she’d never taken up the practice, preferring to run on the boardwalk every morning before Zoe awoke.
“I have the Cameron wedding this upcoming weekend, and everything is on schedule. We discovered there are two nut allergies, so we changed out the cake. The family descends on the Chalfonte Hotel on Thursday, so I’ll need all hands on deck. The MOG offered to treat the wedding party to a spa treatment on Friday, and the FOB requested jet skiing.”
Avery winced. “Well, the mother of the groom will earn points, but you couldn’t talk the father of the bride into a safe golf outing instead?”
“Nope,” Bella said. “He was insistent, but I spoke with Ralph at the marina, and they’ll send a guide to make sure no one goes daredevil in the water.”
Taylor snorted into her coffee cup. “Let’s just hope they fare better than the Sullivans. I still think that ranks as one of our worst weddings.”
Avery lifted a brow. “Really? What about the Cruz ceremony during Hurricane Sandy?” The bride’s veil had been ripped off by the wind, the reception flooded, and a bridesmaid got hit in the face with part of the trellis. Thank God for their liability clause or they’d be bankrupt.
Gabe put down his latte, no doubt doctored with a double shot of espresso, and cut in. “Sorry, boss, but Taylor is right. The Sullivan FOG ended up stealing a Jet Ski and crashing it, remember? Broke his leg and couldn’t walk his daughter down the aisle. I never took him for a wild one, but he got on that thing when nobody was looking, jumped the roped-off area, and headed for the wild blue ocean beyond. Ralph thought he’d drowned by the time he caught up to him.”
“True,” Avery said. She popped the rest of the croissant in her mouth and tamped down the urge to have one more. She loved morning breakfast meetings with pastries.
“And the bride was a crier,” Taylor added.
“I hate the criers,” Bella said. “Everything takes so much longer when you have to calm them down.”
Gabe shrugged. “I don’t mind the weepy ones. Most of them are easy to handle, especially compared to the divas.”
“I don’t think there’s a woman you can’t handle,” Avery teased. Gabe embraced all things bridal and owned it. He was charming with the ladies, best friends with the guys, and adept at sewing up loose ends that could end up biting them in the ass. The entire town of Cape May was madly in love with him, as evidenced by his being named Bachelor of the Cape for two years in a row in Exit Zero magazine.
Avery scratched a note into her calendar. “Okay, we’ll keep a tight watch on the FOB. Let us know if you need any backup. T?”
Taylor casually glanced at her purple glitter Passion Planner and tapped her matching purple nail. “I just have the afternoon tea service on Sunday for a bridal party, but next weekend is Elsa’s bachelorette party in Wildwood.”
Avery stared. “Wildwood?”
Taylor gave a snort of laughter. “Yep. The bride wants an old-fashioned boardwalk experience with fast food, cotton candy, and rides. It’ll be easy, but you know Jersey girls can get a bit wild. Anyone care to jump in and help?”
Avery and Bella both shook their heads. “I think you got this one,” Avery said, hoping her sister didn’t insist. Taylor was the best with bachelorette parties, entertainment, social media, and intimidating the hell out of wayward grooms and bitchy maids of honor. Still, they had instituted a rule of always having a backup in case of emergencies. “Gabe, would you mind being on call in case T needs an extra chaperone?”
“Yep, not a problem.”
“Excellent,” Avery said. “I’ve got the Peretti wedding at the Pelican Club. They’re forecasting rain, and I’ve already fielded a bunch of calls regarding their plan for outside photographs. I spoke with Pierce about a plan B, and he set up an alternate studio on-site with those professional beach backgrounds he made that work really well.”
“Let’s hope it’s just a drizzle. I love when the mist settles and gives that dreamy glow,” Bella said.
Avery noticed Gabe was looking at Bella with an odd expression as she spoke, but she didn’t call him out on it, wanting to get the last part of their meeting over and done with. “Agreed. Our final agenda item is the summer schedules. Let’s get a rundown,” she said.
As each of them rattled off a full list of weddings and bridal events for every weekend through Labor Day, her heartbeat sped up. They were not going to be happy with her announcement. Was there a way to spin it in a positive light? Dammit, she should have plied everyone with mimosas beforehand. She was losing her touch.
She pasted a smile on her face. “Isn’t it wonderful how well we’re doing? And I have even more good news!”
Her sisters looked up from their planners.
Gabe narrowed his gaze in suspicion. “What news?”
Avery clapped her hands together, pretending they were going to be thrilled. “I got a call from Ally Ross. She was my best friend b
ack in college. You met her two years ago when she came to stay with me, remember?”
“Yeah,” Taylor said slowly. “What about her?”
“She’s getting married and asked if I’d take her on as a full-service client.”
Everyone relaxed in their chairs. “Oh, that’s nice,” Bella said. “If they haven’t settled on a date yet, you may want to encourage her to look for something after next summer. It’d be tough to fit her into the schedule next year.”
Nerves jumped in her belly. She shook them off and reminded herself Taylor and Bella couldn’t really hurt her. Gabe would protect her, right? “Actually, it’s this summer. August twentieth. Isn’t that wonderful? We’ll finish the season with a bang.”
Silence descended.
Avery closed her laptop and stood up. “Okay, meeting adjourned. See you guys later.”
“Stop right there!” Taylor jabbed her finger in the air. “Sit your ass back down.”
She reluctantly obeyed. “What’s the problem?”
Taylor glared. “Problem? We cannot handle another full-service wedding this summer! We’re already over capacity, and so are the vendors. She’ll never get a venue, or food, or . . . anything. Have you lost your mind?”
Bella lifted her hands in the air. “Maybe you can explain it’s impossible to fit her in, but you’d make it happen next year?”
Avery shot an imploring look at Gabe, her last ally. He was always up for a challenge. He thrived on doing the impossible.
He sipped his latte and quirked a brow. “I don’t know what you’re looking at me for. I’m good, but even I can’t produce a time-turner to save us all. I’m no Harry Potter.”
“Hermione was the one who had the time-turner. She let Harry use it,” Taylor pointed out.
“Really? We’re going to have an argument over who’s more powerful, Hermione or Harry?” he asked dryly.
“Hermione,” Taylor and Bella said together.
Gabe glowered but refused to rise to the bait, and everyone was once again staring at Avery.
Damn, she was on her own. Avery decided there was only one way out of this: complete and utter positivity. She refused to back down just because it was more work. She’d read Rachel Hollis’s Girl, Stop Apologizing, so she’d channel Rachel and handle it. “Guys, it’s going to be amazing. First off, she’ll bring us more income, so we can cut back our schedule for the winter. Imagine being able to say no to a last-minute Christmas ceremony. How good will that feel, right?”
Her team stayed silent and definitely disgruntled. She’d have to rely on their emotions to convince them.
“Okay, I understand it’s a lot, but Ally is a really important person to me. I couldn’t say no. Besides, this is going to be easy. Her fiancé basically gave her full command of choices, and she’s rented a house on Beach Avenue for the summer, so she’s available at our convenience. Plenty of people in town owe me favors. I’ll just collect—I know I can make it work.” She allowed a slight tremble in her lips for Bella’s benefit. “Please. I promise this wedding will go off without a hitch. I can do it all by myself, and you don’t have to worry about a thing.”
Taylor slammed her planner closed in disgust. “Fine. But that fake almost-cry didn’t convince me. As long as you know you’re in this one alone. I mean it, Avery. I’m too damn busy with my own clients.”
Avery beamed. “I understand. Bella?”
Bella sighed. “If you think you can handle an extra full-service client and plan a wedding in three months, go for it.”
She glanced over at her assistant. “Gabe? The only things I may ask for help with are the tuxedos and if they need direction with the bachelor party.”
He grunted. “Have I ever been able to say no to you?”
“No, which is why I adore you. Thanks, guys. You’re the best. She’s coming in later this week.”
“Let’s just hope she doesn’t spring any surprises on you,” Taylor muttered.
“She won’t. This wedding is going to be smooth sailing the whole way. I can just feel it.”
Her sisters shared a glance. Then burst into laughter.
“Said no other wedding planner—ever,” Bella quipped.
“You’re a hoot,” Taylor said, shaking her head.
Gabe scooped up his latte and laptop. “You do realize you probably jinxed the event by saying that, right?”
“Oh, ye of little faith,” Avery announced. “I can’t wait to prove you all wrong.”
She meant every word. Sure, wedding planning for close friends or family members could sometimes be challenging, but Ally was easygoing and rarely worried about the small things. It was another reason they’d bonded so closely in college and kept up a solid friendship in the years apart.
No, she had a good feeling about this wedding.
Maybe it could even be fun.
Chapter Three
Avery flung open the door, threw back her head, and yelled, “The Double As are back!”
With a squeal of delight, her friend dove into her arms, and they hugged while jumping up and down. Giggling like a teen, she tugged Ally inside her house and managed to step back, grinning.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” Ally said, gripping Avery’s arms. “We get to spend a whole summer together planning my wedding.”
“I know! You look amazing.”
“So do you.”
Avery took in her friend’s vivid red hair, cut in a chic bob, and fashionable dark-washed jeans with a gauzy white top. Her almond-brown eyes tilted slightly upward at the corners, framed by thick, lush lashes. Avery loved her familiar signature scent of Light Blue, a fresh fragrance that matched her personality. But her real beauty came straight from her heart. “Come in and sit down. Is it too early for wine?”
Ally wrinkled her nose. “Darling, it’s never too early for wine. Especially rosé?”
“I have some Whispering Angel chilling right now,” Avery said, heading to the kitchen. “How was your trip?”
“Uneventful. The moment I turned on Beach Avenue, my whole body began to relax. I’d almost forgotten how beautiful it is here. Very different from our crazy days in DC.”
Crazy, indeed. Whenever they jumped on the phone or spent time together, the years melted away, and brought Avery back to that kick-ass, wild young woman she had once been. Even she admitted she’d gone a bit crazy during her time away from home. Her parents had always been strict, so finally having her freedom in DC had been a heady cocktail that had gotten her a bit drunk.
Avery poured two crystal glasses, pulled a cheese plate from the refrigerator, and walked to the aqua-blue sectional with tons of yellow throw pillows. She had a thing for bright color and couldn’t imagine living in a home with neutrals. Life was too short for beige. “True. But DC had a type of energy I needed to experience. Fast paced, aggressive, and goal oriented. Striking in its tainted glory but with an American pride I really loved.”
Her friend laughed and took the offered glass. “No wonder you got an A in poetry,” she teased. “I don’t remember any of that. I always dreamed of living by the ocean.”
Avery took a seat across the faded beach-white coffee table. “Yeah, but I needed to see what else was out there to know I wanted to come back. I felt trapped here growing up. At least, Georgetown made me realize I truly did want to run the family business. How’s Texas?”
“Hot as hell, with real gun-toting cowboys. But full of character and good-hearted people who’d do anything for their neighbors and friends. For the first time, I feel like I belong to a real community. Jason’s marketing business is booming. And my students? Amazing. They’re going to change the world one day.”
Avery’s heart squeezed at the joy on her friend’s face. “I’m so happy for you, babe,” she said softly, raising her glass in a toast. “All your dreams have come true. To you.”
“To friendship.”
They clinked glasses and settled back on the fat cushions, kicking off their shoes. For the next ha
lf hour, they chatted nonstop, catching up and then finally settling on the wedding. “I can’t thank you enough for doing this, Avery. I know how busy you are. I just hope I don’t cause you undue stress.”
Avery shook her head. So typical of her friend to be worried about others. “First up, I think it’s important for you to remember you’re paying me. Yes, I squeezed you in, but you’re a client, and I need you to be a little selfish for once in your life. I took all of the pictures you sent me over the past few weeks and already created lists of vendors and items I think you’ll love. I’ve got files for your dress, cake, favors, centerpieces, flowers—all of it, so don’t panic. If you don’t like something or disagree, tell me. If you want something specific, tell me. If you hate one of my suggestions, tell me. There’re no hurt feelings. My job is to give you the wedding of your dreams—that’s what makes me happy. Sound fair?”
Ally smiled. “Yeah. I’ll try to be a bitch.”
She laughed. “Your resting bitch face looks like a kid going to Disney World.”
“Okay, I’ll practice.” They giggled again and tore into the cheese. “I love your house. Reminds me of a fairy tale.”
“Thanks! When this cottage went up for sale, I had to grab it. Living in my parents’ house was too weird. I needed my own space to do me.”
The purple Victorian cottage had a small fenced-in yard, a tiny porch, and charming tilted shutters. The roof sloped. It was cold in the winter and too hot in the summer. The floors creaked, the radiator hissed, and the upstairs bathroom leaked. She didn’t have a tub, and the closet was a postage stamp. The yard seemed to yield only colorful wildflowers that burst from every corner and were technically called weeds. But the cottage vibrated with a goodness and joyous vitality that had obsessed her from the age of ten. When she was young, she’d sworn to her mother one day she’d live in the purple fairy-tale cottage with her prince.
Love on Beach Avenue Page 3