You Say It First--A Small-Town Wedding Romance

by Susan Mallery

  “Good.” Nick put his arm around her. “Want me to take your picture with the zebras?”

  “Maybe later. Do they seem calm? They were tense when they arrived.”

  “I gave them valium. They’re fine.”

  She spun toward him and grabbed his arm. “Don’t joke about that. I mean it. I’m one crisis away from snapping.”

  “Sorry. No drugging zebra jokes, although that really kills my best material.”

  Pallas returned to the main building and waited for the service to end. She made sure everyone made their way to the reception area and was grateful when Catherine gave her a thumbs-up.

  While the wedding party took postceremony pictures, Pallas made sure the guests had plenty to drink and that the appetizers were circulating briskly. She was so focused on that she almost didn’t hear the loud shrieks from the far side of the open area. Almost.

  “Oh no! They’re loose.”

  Pallas hurried to the gates just in time to see three zebras running down the road.

  “Should have let me drug them,” Nick murmured as Carol and Cade got in his truck and hurried after them. Pallas spotted four teenage boys laughing by the temporary fencing. She narrowed her gaze and started toward them.

  Nick grabbed her arm. “Slow down there, little lady. What are you going to say?”

  “That they’re jerks and they have to leave.”

  He didn’t respond—instead he held her gaze until she slumped against him. “You’re right. I can’t yell at them—they’re with the wedding party. I hate this. The rain was an omen. What do we do now? How can we help Cade and Carol get back the zebras?”

  “Aren’t there horse people who work at the ranch?”

  She brightened. “Yes. You’re right. I’ll call them. I’m sure Cade has thought of it, so I’ll check with him first.”

  Nick took her cell phone from her. “Let me do that. You focus on the wedding.”

  “Thank you.” She turned back to the guests only to see Silver walking toward her. Her friend didn’t look happy. “What’s wrong?”

  “My vodka stash is missing. I don’t know who took it but based on the number of bottles, we’re going to have some very drunk people around in the next hour.” Silver crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s my own damn fault. I didn’t lock the cabinet. I always lock the cabinet. I don’t get it. That’s not like me.”

  “It’s the rain,” Pallas told her. “I thought everything was going to be okay, but it’s not.”

  “At least the wedding is behind us. We only have a few hours until the reception is over. We’ll get through it.”

  Pallas hoped she was right.

  The meal service went off without a hitch, as did the toast. Right before the first dance, small cups filled with rose petals were passed out for the guests to throw at the bride and groom. Sadly one of the grandmothers must have gotten into the vodka because instead of throwing rose petals, she tossed her cup of coffee right on Catherine’s dress. The bride’s shrieks were loud enough to wake the dead.

  Pallas and Alan got most of the stain out and dried her off as best they could. She returned to the reception, ready to have her first dance. The DJ got on the microphone and asked everyone to gather around for the special moment.

  “The first dance symbolizes the true love between a man and a woman,” he told them. “But in this case, not so much.” He pulled a handgun out of his jacket pocket and pointed it toward the guests. “This is a robbery, people. I want your money, your keys and your cell phones.”

  Pallas almost wasn’t surprised. Who knew rain could be so dangerous.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  PALLAS DIDN’T GET out of the police station until nearly four in the morning. By the time everyone had told their story, the DJ and his getaway driver had been apprehended and all the stolen items had been returned. The gun had turned out to be a paint gun instead of the real thing, which was a little comforting. Still, despite the almost-happy ending—how much better things would have been if there hadn’t been a robbery at all—she was tired and hungry and had a killer headache. Nick walked with her, his hand on the small of her back.

  While she appreciated the support and that he’d stayed with her through the incredibly long ordeal of helping Catherine and her parents press charges, as well as giving a statement, she was honestly too exhausted to express much more than a heartfelt “Thanks for staying.”

  “Happy to be there.” He pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. “You beating yourself up about what happened?”

  “Maybe. Sort of.” She leaned against him. “Everything about the day was a disaster.”

  “Not true.”

  “What went right?”

  “The ceremony, the weather, the food. We got the zebras back.”

  Cade had texted a few hours before to say all three were safely in their barn.

  “They shouldn’t have escaped in the first place.”

  “You aren’t responsible for that,” he told her. “Jerks did it.”

  “I should have thought to have a lock on the gate. Only who lets out zebras?”

  They passed Catherine, crying in her new husband’s arms. The harsh streetlights made the coffee stain on her dress stand out even more. Pallas looked away.

  When they reached Nick’s truck, he helped her inside. He drove out of the parking lot but instead of heading for her neighborhood, or even Weddings in a Box, he drove toward the highway.

  “Are we running away?”

  “No, we’re getting you something to eat. You haven’t had anything since breakfast yesterday. You’re starving and probably have a headache.”

  “I do,” she said, rubbing her temple.

  “There’s a fast-food place by the off-ramp that’s open twenty-four hours a day.”

  “I’m impressed that you know that.”

  “Sometimes work goes late. It helps to know things like that.”

  “Apparently.” She leaned back in her seat. “I can’t believe everything that happened. Did you see the stain on Catherine’s dress? I’m sure her grandmother feels horrible. Did I tell you Silver texted me to say everything was closed up? She and Alan stayed and took care of that. I owe them.”

  “You have good friends.”

  “I do.” She looked out the side window at the dark and empty streets. “At least we’re going to have quite the story to tell. One day this will be funny.”

  “It’s kind of funny now.”

  “Not for me.”

  She was upset and embarrassed about everything that had gone wrong. Zebras? Really? What had she been thinking? Sure they’d been a favorite with the guests, but they’d gotten loose. She should have paid attention to the rain. It had been an omen for sure.

  Nick stopped in front of the drive-through window. “They’re serving breakfast. What are you in the mood for?”

  She ordered an egg sandwich and coffee. Despite her exhaustion, she was going to have to go to work and check on everything. Then she could go home and get some sleep.

  After paying for their order, Nick drove back to her place. They went inside and put their food on the kitchen table. Pallas started a pot of coffee because a single cup wasn’t going to be close to enough.

  They ate in silence for a few minutes, then Nick put down his breakfast sandwich. “What are you thinking?”

  “That I should have listened to the rain.”

  “Was it talking?”

  She managed a slight smile. “It was making noises, warning me of the danger to come.” She picked up her coffee. “I feel stupid,” she admitted. “I’m supposed to be good at my job.”

  “You are.”

  “The wedding got out of control.”

  “It didn’t.” He held up one hand and ra
ised a finger. “First, a couple of guys let out the zebras, not you.”

  “I should have anticipated that.”

  “That drunk idiots would release zebras into an area where there were cars? No one could anticipate that.”

  “I should have locked the gate. If not to keep the zebras from getting out then to keep someone from going in.”

  “Carol and Cade were there. Why didn’t they stop the guys?”

  “They were off getting something to eat.” She sighed. “I should have told them to eat in shifts.” She looked at him. “I’m sorry, but you can’t talk me out of the zebra guilt. It’s all mine.”

  “I don’t accept that, but I’m willing to move on. You’re not responsible for what happened to the dress.”

  Pallas winced. “That was awful, but you’re right. Not my fault.”

  “The DJ isn’t, either. The bride and groom brought him in. You didn’t recommend him.”

  He was right but... “How do you know?”

  “You would have checked him out. You won’t hire just anyone to be a vendor.”

  A really good point, except... “Oh, no. I hired you to be a Roman guard and I didn’t know you at all. What if you’d been a serial killer?”

  “You are tired, aren’t you?”

  “Is that your polite way of saying I’m not making sense?”

  When Nick didn’t say anything, Pallas got her answer. Talk about embarrassing.

  “Ignoring what went wrong, did you like having different elements in the wedding?” he asked.

  “I thought it was kind of fun. I’m not sure I’d do zebras again, but it was nice not to have everything be the same.”

  “Good. Then if there’s a message from the universe, it’s the alien wedding. You’re being told to branch out and try new things.”

  Pallas wasn’t sure universe messages were that clear, but she got his message. She did like working with her friends. The brainstorming was fun, as was watching it all come together.

  “I do like helping them,” she admitted. “Nova and Joel are darling and her dad is incredibly brave. I want to see them get married.”

  She sipped her coffee. “I wonder if there are special needs couples out there and if I could help with those weddings.” She shook her head. “I’m not making any sense, am I?”

  “You are. I think you should get some sleep, then figure it all out in a few hours.”

  “I have to go to the office.”

  “Not at five on Sunday morning.”

  “Oh.” He might be right. After all, Silver and Alan had locked up Wedding in a Box. She could check things out later.

  She collected their trash and threw it out. Nick rose and walked around the table. He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her.

  “Does that ‘oh’ mean you agree with me?” he asked. “That there’s nothing that can’t wait until sometime this afternoon?”

  Before she could figure out an answer, he leaned in and kissed her. And then an answer didn’t seem all that important. Her brain was so fuzzy and the exhaustion, when combined with the delicious feel of his mouth on hers, scrambled any coherent thought.

  She looped her arms around his neck and leaned into him, then sighed as he deepened the kiss. His tongue caressed hers with slow strokes that made her tired brain even less lucid. Heat poured through her, chasing away a bit of the tired but not doing anything for her ability to think. She couldn’t remember why going to the office had seemed so important, because it wasn’t. She should listen to Nick and get some sleep. Or maybe just stay here in his arms, because that was nice, too.

  His hands moved up and down her back. She liked the way he dipped lower each time until his hands cupped her butt. She arched toward him, bringing her belly into contact with his groin. It took her a second to realize that hard ridge wasn’t some designer element in his jeans. It was him. Aroused.

  Her eyes popped open and she stared at him. Before she could stop herself, she blurted, “You want to have sex!”

  Nick gave her a sexy smile designed to bring her to her knees. “Sure. I’m with you, aren’t I?”

  She blinked, trying to get the words to make sense. Because the way he’d said them, it sounded as if he always wanted to have sex with her. But he couldn’t. She was fun and nice, but still, well in the middle of normal or average.

  He leaned in and pressed his mouth to the side of her neck. His lips were warm as they moved along her suddenly sensitive skin. He paused to nibble her earlobe before dipping lower and kissing his way along her collarbone.

  She was still in her regular wedding planner garb—a simple black dress that allowed her to blend into the background. It wasn’t too short or too low or too anything. So why on earth...

  He kissed her mouth. “Stop,” he told her gently. “It doesn’t mean anything.”

  How could he say that? It meant something to her.

  “I’d like to have sex, too,” she whispered, before she could stop herself.

  He straightened and studied her face. His eyes were hooded and she had no idea what he was thinking.

  “Is that the coffee talking or do you mean it?” he asked, his voice low and husky.

  She shivered as need began to ease into her body. She was aware of the quiet all around them. The rest of the world was still sleeping. What a naughty way to start the day.

  “I mean it.”

  The fingers cradling her butt tightened. “Do you have condoms?”

  She thought of the unopened box in her nightstand drawer. She’d replaced the older, previously unopened box only a few months before. Because condoms had an expiration date and a girl never knew when a handsome man might make an interesting offer. Not that it had happened to her in forever but—

  “Pallas?”

  She blinked at him. “Sorry. My brain isn’t working right. Yes, I have condoms. They’re—”

  She never got to say what they were or weren’t. Before she could finish her sentence, he’d pressed his mouth to hers and started kissing her again. His hands moved up her back and paused. A heartbeat later, she felt cool air on her back and she realized he’d undone her zipper.

  The man was serious, she thought, equally amused and intrigued by his action.

  She lowered her arms to her side and the dress fell to the floor. She stepped out of her wedges and he quickly went to work on the buttons of his long-sleeved shirt. Seconds later they were both in their underwear. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but from her end, the view was very nice indeed.

  As far as she knew, Nick didn’t work out. Not in a gym anyway. But his job was, by definition, very physical, and that showed. His chest was broad and muscled, his hips narrow. There were interesting little scars on his arms she would guess came from working with something dangerous like molten glass.

  Technically, she’d seen him shirtless before—on the first day they’d met. When she’d asked, or rather begged him to be a Roman soldier for a wedding. But back then she’d been in work mode, far more focused on getting the bride down the aisle on her palanquin than paying attention to the honed body of a man she’d grown to like.

  Her gaze dipped lower, to his obvious erection straining against his briefs. She felt her insides clench in anticipation. She could tell she was already swollen and ready. Not just because it had been so long but because she wanted to be with Nick.

  Without thinking, she put her hand on his flat belly. He sucked in a breath, but didn’t move. She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the center of his chest.

  She moved behind him and drew her hand with her, lightly touching his waist, then dropping it to his high, tight rear end. His back was as defined as his chest. She trailed kisses along his shoulder blades before returning to face him again.

  She looked at his face. His pu
pils were dilated, his jaw tense. Without saying anything, he grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall. When they reached her bedroom, he tore back the covers, then reached for her. She went into his arms.

  His mouth claimed hers in a deep kiss filled with hunger and need. She dueled with his tongue, then gasped as he nipped her lower lip. She felt his fingers at the back of her bra. He unhooked it easily before tossing it to the floor.

  Still kissing her, he brought his hands up to cup her breasts. He held her gently, barely moving, as if giving her time to adjust to his touch. Then a single finger brushed across her nipples. Just the one time. Fire shot through her, jolting her down to her clit. She gasped.

  He did it again and again until the touch became a circling movement that had her breathing in short pants.

  She wanted to squirm closer. She wanted to rip off her panties and beg him to take her. She wanted him to touch her there with his fingers or his mouth or anything at all. Need increased with every second that passed, but Nick seemed content to kiss her and tease her breasts until she was nearly frantic with hunger.

  “Where are the condoms?” he asked as he broke the kiss.

  She pointed at the left nightstand. He walked around the bed and opened the drawer. She used the time to pull off her bikini briefs and slip into the bed. He set the box on the nightstand before taking off his underwear and joining her.

  She slid toward him as he reached for her, then they were a tangle of arms and legs and mouths in her bed and it was glorious. She loved the contrast of his warm body and the cool sheets and how he took her nipple in his mouth and sucked really hard. Then there was the way he managed to put his thigh between hers so there was pressure on her center and all she had to do was rock just a little bit to enjoy every blissful second of what he was doing.

  He moved from breast to breast, licking and pulling deeply. She arched her back and closed her eyes and did her best to keep breathing. When he stopped kissing her breasts, she nearly whimpered, but then she felt his fingers sliding against her slickness. He found her core on the first try and began to circle.