Avery nodded, her fingers flying over the keyboard. “Got it. Unique cuisine—sit-down or buffet?”
“I guess sit-down, but I don’t want the guests to feel stuck for too many hours while they wait for food. Oh, and I want a DJ, not a band, and none of those traditional things that have been overdone. No bouquet-throwing, or garter toss, or ridiculous themed dances with props.”
“Not even the Macarena?” he teased. “That’s a fan fave.”
His sister grinned. “Not unless you lead the charge, big brother.”
“Right. No Macarena.”
Avery didn’t even bother to look at him. “How many guests do you want to invite?”
“About seventy-five. I love intimate round tables so people can talk. I don’t want those giant ones where no one can hear you speak over the music.”
“Got it. Because of the timing, I’m restricted to certain vendors, but I have a few ideas. There’s this amazing gourmet restaurant with a terrace that may be able to fit that many guests. Would you be willing to cut the list to fifty if you liked the place?”
Ally wrinkled her nose. “I don’t know.”
“Why should she have to make such a sacrifice?” he said. “I’m sure you have enough contacts to give her both—right?”
Ally hit her brother’s shoulder. “Shush. I told you no fighting.”
He threw up his hands in defeat. “I’m not! I’m just asking an important question about her vendor list.”
Avery smiled at his sister, but her voice flicked with ice. “My contacts are substantial, but I like knowing what aspects are flexible since it’s rare to find a venue that is an exact match to all of the bride’s wishes. Wedding planning is quite complicated. It’s totally understandable if you can’t keep up. I can finish with Ally if you’d like to wander around town and get a cup of coffee.”
Amusement flickered again. Damned if she wasn’t trying to get rid of him. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and settled deeper into his chair. “No, thanks. I find this fascinating. I’m learning so much.”
Her smile never slipped. “Good. Now, I’ve always pegged you as daring but elegant. You’ll take risks as long as they don’t run the verge of tacky. Correct?”
“Exactly.”
“What about Jason? Likes, dislikes, anything I need to avoid?”
“No, he’s totally open.”
“Great. Anything specific you’d like to incorporate for yourself?”
His sister’s face clouded, though a smile touched her lips. “Yes. Before our mother passed, she wrote me a letter. I’d like this quote included someway in my wedding theme.” She reached in her purse and pulled out a piece of paper, carefully smoothing it out and handing it over.
A lump rose in his throat, and the familiar grief shook through him—the undeniable realization that their parents wouldn’t watch Ally walk down the aisle, and the frustration that he had to be both mother and father to her. He was afraid he’d fail on both fronts on the most important day of her life.
Avery read the quote aloud, her voice a mix of smoke and honey, drifting and pouring over his ears. “‘I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.’”
The Elizabeth Barrett Browning quote hit him like a sucker punch. He reached over and squeezed his sister’s hand, trying to impart strength.
“It’s beautiful,” Avery said. “I think I can do something special with this if you give me some time to brainstorm.”
“Thanks. Mom loved poetry. She always said she was a terrible poet, but I loved the stuff she wrote. It made her happy.”
Avery gave her an encouraging nod. “She’ll be part of your day because it’s filled with love. Whenever I see a couple exchange vows, it’s like the air vibrates with the people in their life, all gathering around to bless them. Your mom and dad will see it all. I just know it.”
Carter jerked slightly at the emotional words that should have sounded cheesy and fake. It was probably a canned response she used on all her clients who’d lost their parents. But why did it feel like she was sharing a piece of herself, as if her heart meant every sentiment she uttered? Either she was wicked good at her job or the woman had drunk the Kool-Aid on this lovefest thing.
Sure, he was happy his sister had met the man she wanted to build a life with, but he simply didn’t believe in all the hearts-and-flowers junk that came with the decision to marry. The more someone allowed pumped-up sentiments like poetry and fiction and pretty trappings to affect their relationship, the more danger threatened.
God knew he’d seen it firsthand.
He vowed to protect his sister, so keeping this entire process logical and real was his priority. He wouldn’t allow Avery to fill his sister’s head with unreal expectations, either of her wedding day or her actual married life.
He watched Avery finish typing, take a sip of water, and flip some pages in her big book. “Now, how about the wedding party? Have you picked them yet?”
“Yes, Jason will have his brother as his best man and three friends as groomsmen.” Ally rattled off the names. “Since you’re my wedding planner, I didn’t get to ask you to be in my bridal party.”
“Oh, you’re so sweet,” Avery said. Her face flickered with emotion. “That means a lot to me, but this is even better. I can be involved in everything.”
“True. I’ll be having two friends from Texas as my bridesmaids, Judith and Noelle, and Jason’s sister, Maddie. And of course, Carter will be my man of honor.”
Avery blinked. Slowly, her gaze fastened on him, and a sudden connection seared between them, fiery hot and full of dislike, animosity, and something else—something he refused to delve into or try to name. “Man of honor?” she questioned.
“Yes, that’s okay, right? I read that Ryan Seacrest was the man of honor at his sister’s wedding, and Carter is my only family.”
Avery ripped her gaze away. “No problem,” she said crisply. “I’ll collect everyone’s emails so we can keep the whole wedding party informed of decisions that affect them, and of course, you can FaceTime your brother anytime you’d like his opinion.”
His sister laughed. “Are you kidding? He has video phobia. Thank goodness I convinced him to stay with me the whole summer and help with everything.” Her phone rang and she glanced down. “I’m sorry, do you mind if I step out for a bit? It’s Jason.”
Avery nodded, and Ally walked out, shutting the door behind her.
Thick silence settled over the room. Curiously, Carter watched Avery’s face. She’d managed to school it into a calm expression, pretending the announcement didn’t affect her, but he knew better.
She was pissed.
Those eyes couldn’t lie no matter how hard she tried. Sparks of temper flew at him like jagged pieces of glass, looking to wound. Her features were tight, and her shoulders squared as if ready for battle.
Carter held back a grin. It was kind of fun torturing her a bit. As the bride’s most important person, he was suddenly the one she had to please, which was completely different from their relationship back in DC. No, back then she had loved making fun of him, dragging his sister into dangerous situations in the name of adventure, and encouraging Ally to live big and rebel against her big brother’s strict and unfair rules.
She cleared her throat, but he didn’t speak, knowing quiet was a more powerful weapon than speech. Finally, she forced out words. “It’s nice of you to be here for your sister this summer to support her. The good news is you won’t have much to do. I’ll have guided appointments set up, and I know already what Ally’s taste is, so you can just enjoy a beach vacation and leave all this boring wedding planning to us.” Her smile was bright and completely fake.
He cocked his head. “Is that so?”
“Of course. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop, but I want to assure you, I have everything covered.”
He straightened the knot on his tie. Shot his cuffs. Adjusted his glasses. Then peered
over the lenses to address her. “I’m sure you think you do. But after that debacle I saw on the street, I beg to differ. My sister’s wedding means everything to her, and I intend to see she gets what she wants. I’m not here for a beach vacation. I’m here to be involved in every single step of planning this wedding. I’ll be going to every appointment, every tasting, and every fitting. I’ll help with the parties, the favors, the flowers, and everything in between. Do we understand each other?”
He pushed back from the table, crossed one ankle over his knee, and waited for her response.
Damn, he was enjoying this.
Maybe this summer would be more interesting than he’d thought.
Avery refused to flinch. Refused to back off from his mocking blue-gray eyes or his smug grin. Oh, he was a bigger ass than she’d remembered—a complete control freak who’d try to muck up her processes and drive her insane just for the fun of it. No way was he about to intimidate her. She was an expert in taming fierce mama bears, overprotective fathers, and zealous bridesmaids. Handling one older brother should be a cakewalk.
Unfortunately, she was still off her game after being completely humiliated by that awful scene he’d witnessed. Even worse? He’d taken charge when she’d floundered, exhibiting a natural command that was part of his DNA. In all her years of dealing with PITAs and planning snafus, she’d never seen such a turnaround from a stern lecture. She’d made a call to Al, the Majesty owner, and found a smaller room at a large discount that satisfied Ms. Pappadelle’s requirements. They’d retreated, chattering away like old friends, leaving her head spinning like those old cartoons with little birdies circling above.
Some cakewalk. Carter had exploited her moment of weakness in order to convince Ally to let him help plan the wedding. Now Avery was stuck with him.
He kept staring, not budging an inch while he waited for her response. The only thing that stopped her from giving him a verbal tongue-lashing was his obvious love for Ally. He’d taken her hand with no pause, his presence a comfort to her friend when she spoke about their mother. It was the only redeeming quality the man had.
Still, she needed to teach him how the game rules worked.
“You like being in charge, don’t you?” she asked, tilting her head to study him.
He smirked. “So do you.”
“When it involves my business and clients, yes. Personally, I think you’re just pissed you’re being forced to listen to me. I have the expertise and knowledge you simply don’t have. It’d be best for all of us moving forward if you stepped back and let me guide Ally without your interference. I promise to take good care of her.”
He gave a deep laugh, and her nerve endings tingled. Bastard.
It was eighty degrees out and the man was dressed in a slim tailored suit like he worked on Wall Street. The charcoal fabric fit him snugly, emphasizing his lean, whipcord length. He radiated a calm intensity that had always thrown her off, even when she was young. Those misty blue-and-gray eyes seemed to hold all the answers, even hidden behind glasses. As if the deeper and longer he stared at her, the more secrets he’d catch. As if he were imagining things she had no access to but wished for a hint.
Back then, the only thing she’d focused on was her irritation with his unfair demands on Ally. No boys, no frat parties, no staying out past curfew. No drinking, no smoking, and no fun. He’d treated Ally like a high school student rather than a college woman, so Avery had made sure to drag her friend on adventures and allow her to experience life.
Now her brother wanted to do the same thing with her wedding.
Too bad there was a new sheriff in town.
He pushed his glasses up his nose and regarded her with disdain. “Taking care of her once ended with my sister in jail. Remember that? When I specifically asked you to promise you’d be home by midnight for her biology test the next day?”
“I was nineteen then! What do you think I’m going to do before her wedding? Get her arrested for drunken misbehavior? Propositioning a stripper? Cheating at cards?”
“All of those are possibilities,” he said dryly. “After all, I just witnessed a bride war on your front steps.”
Those glasses only made him look stodgier and intimidating. Hadn’t he heard of contact lenses?
“It’s simple. I don’t trust you, Avery. I never did. There’s only one person who can take the best care of my sister.” A grim smile rested on his lips. “Me.”
She growled low in her throat, fisted her hands, and almost blasted a tirade at his arrogant declaration, but Ally came back through the door.
“Jason says hello to both of you,” she sang merrily, flopping back in the chair next to her brother. “What’d I miss?”
Carter smiled and draped his arm across the back of her chair. “Not much. Avery was just telling me how happy she was to work with both of us on the wedding. She understands how important me being the man of honor is for you and felt I should be involved in every step of the planning. That’s okay with you, right?”
“Yes! I love that we’re doing this together,” Ally said.
Carter threw Avery a triumphant look, and she smothered a groan. Damn, he was good.
Avery had no choice but to smile back, pretending she was on board. Being older, he had more experience than she did in the business world, honing his slick moves to get a client to do what he wanted. But this wasn’t her first rodeo. She reminded herself she’d handled far worse clients. He might be a challenge, but she’d win eventually. For now, she’d let him believe he’d bested her.
“This is going to be so much fun,” she said, smiling even brighter. “Our three most time-sensitive tasks are booking the venue, getting your dress, and picking out invitations. I contacted Vera’s Bridal, and she can fit you in Wednesday at two.”
“What if Vera doesn’t have what she wants?” Carter asked.
“I doubt Ally will have a problem finding the perfect dress there.” She smiled at her friend. “Vera has an amazing assortment of dresses in various styles you can get right off the rack, and she does all the alterations. As you probably know, extensive changes or delivery issues can be detrimental in wedding planning. We wouldn’t want you to end up without your perfect dress because we ignored the time crunch. You didn’t have your heart set on some glamorous Alexander McQueen from Paris, did you?”
Ally laughed. “God, no. There are a few styles I’d like to try out, but I’m open.”
“Great. We can meet tomorrow at the shop. Here’s the address.” She whipped out a business card and handed it to Ally. “Like I said before, I went through all of the pictures you forwarded and made a list of specific vendors that matched your style and budget. I’ll book an array of appointments throughout the next few weeks.” She lifted a fat binder and placed it in front of them. “Here’s some invitation designs that are in stock and can be sent out quickly. Look them over tonight, if possible, and tell me if you like any tomorrow. The rest will unfold as we move forward.”
Emotion filled her friend’s eyes. “Thanks so much, Avery. You’ve already made this whole thing feel special.”
“That’s what wedding planners are for.” She reached across and held Ally’s hand. “And best friends, of course.”
They stood up and hugged. She caught Carter’s judging look—the same one he used to give her when she came to pick up Ally to go out—and she couldn’t help it. She stuck out her tongue.
He thought she was still a juvenile hell-raiser? Fine. She’d let him believe it, and then dazzle him while he watched her do the job she was born to do. A job she was great at.
When he smothered a laugh, the gleam of humor in those pewter eyes made her pause, but it disappeared so quickly she figured she’d imagined the whole thing.
Carter Ross was hardly human enough to get the joke.
Chapter Five
Avery arrived at Vera’s Bridal early. The boutique displayed a stunning pearl-and-lace vintage gown in the window, and already the place was packed, with
a small line forming to get in. Thank God Vera always gave her first dibs on last-minute appointments, managing to squeeze her in amid the chaos of endless summer brides clamoring for their dream gowns.
She wove through the line and made her way inside. The racks were jammed with plastic-encased gowns, and the sounds of chattering, excited women filled the air. Three main dressing rooms were set apart with full-size mirrors, a fitting platform, and white fabric-covered chairs clustered around. She checked in at the front desk and waited for Vera.
“Darling!” She was greeted with enthusiasm. Avery rose and gave the older woman a hug, wrapped in her signature scent of cherry blossoms. With her sophisticated silver hair in a tight chignon, the carved classic features of the former prima ballerina still held a jarring presence that hadn’t left with age. Vera’s birdlike frame was dressed in a tight black dress with a long strand of pearls looped twice around her swanlike neck. Her long fingers fluttered in the air, the flash of a fat diamond ring and matching tennis bracelet a symbol of her success. At seventy-eight years old, Vera had lived a life of glamour—a lead dancer at the Metropolitan who then retired to open up her own bridal shop by the beach. She was an inspiration to Avery, and a reminder that you were never too old to pivot and claim success on your own terms.
“I haven’t seen you in a while,” Avery said, smiling. “How did you manage to squeeze in a vacation in the middle of rush season?”
Vera’s laugh tinkled like scattered glass. “Darling, you never say no to Paris. Besides, I was able to steal a few special gowns that aren’t available in the States yet. Now, who are you here with today? Are we doing the full treatment?”
“Yes, she’s my best friend. Ally Ross. She’s coming with her brother.”
“How lovely! I do adore when a man is involved as long as he doesn’t act like an ass. I’ll get champagne set up in fitting room three. Ring me when she arrives and we’ll have a chat.”
“Thank you.”
A few minutes later, Ally walked in, features flushed with anticipation and the buzz of nerves every prospective bride experienced. Carter towered from behind, dwarfing the space. Avery noticed a few women stop and stare, his dynamic presence like a vibration in the room. As usual, his lips were tight in disapproval, like he’d already found a dozen reasons not to like her choice of bridal salons.
Love on Beach Avenue Page 5