by Kris Jayne
"How is Sheila? Are you still thinking about taking a big trip next year?"
"Probably. I'm already going to be taking time off—hopefully—for your wedding. Sheila doesn't understand that I can't step away for every whim of hers. Maybe in the second half of the year. It depends on how the Azur deal goes. How's your research coming?"
Nick wasn't prepared to discuss work with Tom. They'd had a meeting only two days before.
"I may have a direct line to the company," Nick told him. Perhaps he stretched the truth a little. He doubted Micky Llewellyn was at a level that could offer him real intelligence. An exec wouldn't have a Toyota that needed a jumpstart. Still, she could be an in. When they met for drinks, he'd find out more about her position. At this point, anything might help him.
"Really?"
"They do have their offices in our building, and I've run into a couple of people there. Give me a few days to suss things out."
"Who are you talking to over there?"
Nick blanched. "No one at a high level, but they might help me map out the organization, get some insight into how they function."
"Let me know who it is, and we can check him out."
Nick didn't feel the need to correct Tom's pronouns. "Micky. Llewellyn." He tried not to think about the bulldog he'd just let off the chain.
"Do what you can. And bill me, of course."
Nick nodded. The memory resurfaced of the woman's hourglass figure barely concealed by her prim business clothes. He'd had worse assignments than a couple of hopefully informative dinners with a stunning brunette.
Maybe if he proved his worth to Tom in other ways, he could insure himself against any fallout from a broken engagement—not that he'd conceded on the marriage front. He could get Vivienne back, but he might need to move faster than he'd thought.
Chapter Four
Micky woke up earlier than she'd wanted on a Saturday morning. A disturbance in her bed sheets followed by insistent canine whining pulled her out of bed at 6:30 a.m. She had plans to meet her friend, and co-worker, Taryn Lieber for brunch, but brunch turned into lunch since she needed to take her car in and get the battery replaced.
Ophelia's barking her out of bed got Micky to the auto shop by eight, and she finished by ten. After a few errands, she pulled her once-again trusty Toyota in front of Taryn's uptown apartment building at nearly twelve thirty.
They had known each other since college, and when Taryn was looking for work a few years ago, Micky found a spot for her at the company. While some might have trouble working with a close friend, Micky and Taryn were a dynamic pair who managed to keep their personal relationship from ever interfering with their work.
Now, Taryn's personal life was front and center since she got engaged to her boyfriend of three years. With their work projects consuming most their time lately, Taryn blocked the day to focus on her wedding planning with her two bridesmaids, her cousin, Alexa, and Micky.
Micky got off the elevator and walked down the long, sleek hallway, arriving at Taryn's apartment door and ringing the bell.
The door flew open, and the petite blonde enthusiastically launched into their agenda for the day. Planning was her forte. What the slim, five-foot-two MBA lacked in size, she made up for in intelligence and dogged attention to detail.
"Oh, my God! We have so much to do today. I've been hoarding bridal magazines, and I've started a binder and Pinterest page for all the ideas I have so far. This is going to be so much fun," Taryn exclaimed in her rolling Oklahoma drawl, stretching every consonant. Her eyes lit up.
"It will be." Micky hugged her friend. She knew it wasn't too hard for Taryn to start pulling together her plans. She'd been kicking around ideas for her wedding even before she met Jeff McConnell.
Whenever they planned an event in Dallas or anywhere else, she took note of whether each hotel or location would make a good wedding venue. She crossed off beautiful properties because the staff was difficult or extra charges showed up on a final bill. Taryn knew the event and transportation logistics of major resort towns on four continents.
In a way, all of Taryn's education and career experience had prepared her for this very task. Her wedding will be epic. Micky was thrilled for her and Jeff, a kind-hearted engineer Taryn met dating online.
Behind Taryn, Micky recognized Taryn's gorgeous and graceful cousin Alexa. She and Taryn met up with Alexa several times when the now-former model lived in New York. Micky glanced from cousin to cousin, struck again by how different the two looked.
Alexa stood up from the couch to greet Micky and stretched to nearly six feet tall. She maintained her fit model figure, but looked a little different since Micky last saw her. Taryn mentioned Alexa now did fitness modeling while working as a personal trainer in Austin. Toned biceps extended from a sleeveless silk blouse. Her curly caramel hair, naturally streaked with blonde, formed a spiraling halo around the same heart-shaped face Taryn had, but with skin the shade of honey instead of cream.
"It's good to see you," Alexa said in the low-toned, smoky voice Micky remembered.
"Good to see you, too. I haven't seen you since you moved back to Austin. How are you adjusting to Texas?"
"I'm loving it, actually," she answered. "I live right near Zilker Park with all its trees and trails. I don't miss the concrete jungle at all. Austin is a great mix of the down-home feel I missed from Oklahoma, but without the endless boredom." Alexa laughed and winked at Taryn.
"Oh, honey, why do you think I moved here instead of going back home?" Taryn asked.
"Now, aren't we here to talk about you? I can't wait to get you married," Alexa replied.
"I can't wait to get married. And then we can work on the two of you." Taryn poked Micky in the ribs and flashed her characteristic sly smirk. Alexa rolled her eyes.
"Here we go. Why is it that people in love can never leave well enough alone? I'm not even seeing anybody, and Micky doesn't look like she's too keen on your little plan either."
While love and weddings were in the air—for Taryn and for Pete—Micky was circumspect about whether marriage was in her future. The idea of settling down with one man and living together—day in and day out—didn't only scare her, it baffled her.
How did people manage that life without killing each other? Not to mention her own sad experiences. Eric was the latest, but before him, there were all the men who fell short for various reasons. Some of them were good guys, but they didn't want the same things in life. Some of them were unparalleled jerks.
No man she'd met managed to turn on the gene so many other women had. They dreamed of having their day as a princess, but to Micky, ending a relationship with a sparkly white dress and champagne was a foreign concept. Usually, hers ended with tears, ice cream, and a depression headache. She needed men only as interesting distractions from the more enduring aspects of her life.
However, she had no intention of letting her cynicism dampen Taryn's abundant excitement. After all, Taryn had asked her to be her maid of honor.
"I'm okay with step one of the plan—getting Taryn and Pete married. I say we handle that one before we move on. We're starting with your colors?" Micky plopped down on the living room floor where Taryn had fabric swatches and magazine clippings laid out in groupings around a laptop where she had her Pinterest page pulled up. Alexa grabbed a large, floral print floor pillow from beside the sofa and sat down next to Micky.
"Yes, and first thoughts on venue. I'll pick different colors depending on whether we have the wedding at a beach location, at the Arboretum or outside somewhere else, or inside at a hotel or something. I'm leaning toward an outdoor wedding, which will probably mean a destination wedding. We're thinking next July, and Jeff doesn't want to have an outdoor wedding in Dallas." Taryn knelt on the opposite side of the table from her friends, firing her words off like a pistol.
Micky looked down at each pile of clippings and samples. Taryn had ocean vistas with pale colors, garden locations with bright colors, and ballrooms
with rich blues and black.
"I like the idea of a garden. Green, with lots of flowers." Micky picked up one picture. "Where's this? It's beautiful."
Taryn sighed and looked wistfully at the photo. "That's Chaparral Garden in Napa. I did an event there right out of college before I started at Azur. It's amazing. The food is beyond fabulous. You can do a whole wine-tasting weekend in the area. Funny that you pick up that one. It's a total dream. There's another in Hawaii, but I think that's too far to ask people to go. It'll be easier and cheaper to get flights to San Francisco. Plus, Jeff has family in Sacramento," Taryn said. "The only issue with Chaparral Garden is I don't remember there being a backup option indoors in case the weather doesn't cooperate. That's an absolute must. Luckily, there are a couple of other estates in the area."
"Sounds like Napa is your spot," Alexa said.
"We'll see." Taryn got quiet. "It depends on the cost. The more I look at everything, the more I think we may have to pick a roadside motel off I-35 and serve Boone's Farm."
"Come on. It can't be that bad. Don't you have your wedding stash?" Micky asked.
"I do, and Jeff has some. A lot depends on how things go with his business. My mom also said she could give me five thousand dollars."
"Call that photographer I mentioned. When I told him you were an event planner, he said he could give you a discount if you do a testimonial for him and send some other work his way," Alexa mentioned.
"That's on my list, and it'll save me some money. Jeff's parents are covering the rehearsal dinner, of course, and said they'd do more if we need it. I'm trying to be practical even though I've dreamed of having a beautiful, unforgettable wedding my entire life. I've been saving money for it since I got my very first job. Now, I'm wondering if I really want to blow this huge chunk of savings on one day."
"But it's your dream. You'll regret it if you scrimp and don't have a real wedding," Alexa pointed out.
Taryn glanced at Micky. "You must think I'm insane. I know you're not the romantic type."
Normally, Micky did think it was crazy to spend money on an extravagant wedding. Having a fairy tale wedding was never in Micky's plans.
In her experience, the more elaborate the wedding, the more disastrous the marriage. Her father's last wedding was a gorgeous, romantic, and legendary event on the edge of a Hawaiian volcano. There were dozens of hula dancers, performers with blazing fire knives, and four roasted suckling pigs. The marriage lasted seven months.
Plus, she'd seen friends go tens of thousands of dollars into debt, chasing their princess fantasy. She knew Taryn wouldn't go that far.
"I don't think you're crazy. In the end, shouldn't you spend your money on things that will make you happy? If you've always wanted this, then we'll make sure that you have the day that you've dreamed of."
"I agree. It's not like you haven't prepared for this. You have to know what's really important to you. I can't imagine not seeing you in the perfect dress, standing next to Jeff with all the pomp and circumstance you deserve. We'll do whatever we can to help you. You know that." Alexa smiled wistfully and blew Taryn a kiss.
Taryn scooted across the floor and pulled Micky and Alexa into a group hug.
"Thanks," she said before falling backward on the floor and screaming. "It's way too soon for me to be a bridezilla. I can't deal with being so emotional."
Micky and Alexa's eyes met with amusement. Taryn's legendary flair for drama burned brightly. Too amiable to be a bridezilla, maybe, but Micky expected Taryn to be weepy, panicky, and then resolute in waves. Exploring the full range of her emotions was her process.
Alexa redirected the conversation. "What does Jeff want for the wedding?"
Taryn sat up and threw her hands in the air. "You know, Jeff. He's pretty easy. Olivia has to be a flower girl. He doesn't want to broil in the Texas heat. The food has to be good, and he wants to keep the guest list to people we don't mind buying a hundred-dollar dinner. Other than that, he said I can do what I want."
Olivia was Jeff's six-year-old daughter from a previous, short-lived marriage. The ex took off when Olivia was two, and Jeff has been a single father ever since. One of the main reasons Taryn fell in love with Jeff was how adorable he was with his little girl.
The shy engineer who'd spent his childhood taking apart electronics and playing on his computer now spent his Saturdays having imaginary tea parties and going to the American Girl store. From the minute Micky met Jeff, she knew he was the perfect foil for bubbly, extroverted Taryn.
"That sounds like Jeff. He's very practical," Micky said.
Taryn nodded. "Yes, he is. And he knows what he wants and what matters to him and what doesn't. He's been keeping me sane."
"You two are great together. Imagine if you hadn't answered his message on that dating site?" Alexa pondered.
"I know. He seemed so nerdy and reserved. Remember that turtleneck in his profile picture?"
Micky and Taryn laughed.
Alexa's eyes bulged. "You never showed me his profile picture. I must see."
Taryn scrambled to her computer and, with a few taps on the keyboard, pulled up the photo. "I'm warning you. It's bad."
Alexa took a peek and raised her eyebrows. "You saw that picture and still went on a date with him? Plus, he had a kid. You used to swear you'd never get mixed up with some guy's baby mama drama."
"Sweetie, I had a lot of nonsense ideas back then. But other than the references to World of Warcraft, which I had to Google, the honesty of his profile hit me right here," Taryn said, bringing her palm to her heart. "I could overlook a kid for an honest man. I've never been so glad that I let go of all my rules. I can't imagine not having Olivia in my life now, and I would have missed out on the kindest, sweetest, most loyal man I've ever known."
The look of unabashed love and joy on Taryn's face triggered a familiar twinge in Micky's chest. She couldn't imagine feeling that sure of a man. But, it suited Taryn—a dedicated believer in passion and forever love.
"You're so smitten!" Alexa grinned.
"I am. Let's plan my love party. Then we can get started on yours and yours." Taryn agreed, pointing to each of her bridesmaids, but ultimately settling her focus on Micky. "I have a feeling you're on the verge of a love breakthrough, Micky. I can feel it."
"What? My wedding? I'm not even dating anybody."
"Not your wedding. Not yet, anyway. First things first. We'll get you some dates. Then, we'll screen them carefully for drama and mendacity."
"Mendacity is too fancy a word for what Eric did," Micky responded.
"Who? I don't want that man's name uttered in my house. He's history," Taryn declared.
"The Voldermort ex?" Alexa asked, "He was a big liar?"
"Oh, let's not even look back. We're talking about the future," Taryn continued. "I'm working on getting you some prospects."
"I can find my own prospects," Micky retorted.
Taryn snorted. "Since when?"
"Since always. I met someone last night." Whatever Nick's relationship status, Micky wasn't going to let Taryn get the best of her.
"You went to dinner at Pete's. Did he invite a friend or something? I need details, woman." Taryn handed her fabric samples for bridesmaid dresses. Alexa turned to Micky with interest.
"I met him before I even left work. In the parking garage."
"Well, he can't be someone from the company. Tell me he isn't. There isn't a decent single man in our office who doesn't play for the other team."
"Isn't that always how it is? Either married or gay," Alexa mused.
"I hope not," Micky frowned. "But no, he certainly doesn't work in our office. He's a lawyer at the law firm above the twenty-fifth floor."
"How'd you meet him? What's his name?" Taryn ramped up the inquisition.
"His name is Nick Halden. I told you that a guy helped me jumpstart my car last night."
"What else did this Nick jump start?" Taryn asked.
Micky rolled her eyes. "Can we have th
is conversation without the double entendre?"
"Do I ever have a conversation without double entendre?" Taryn countered. "Don't get off topic. So…he helped you with your car. What else?"
"Nothing," Micky said. "Except there was an energy. He was flirtatious. He told me I owed him a drink."
"Okay, okay, this is promising." Taryn bounced in excitement.
"Don't get too excited. I mentioned his name at dinner last night, and Lila said he's engaged to marry some daughter of one of her well-heeled friends."
"Forget him," Taryn said, reversing field and looking right into Micky's eyes. "You don't look like you're going to forget. This stuff shouldn't be so complicated. If there's some other woman hovering in the wings, that is not what you need right now. Even if you were just going to have a fling, it's not worth it."
"I don't know. Flings are fun," Alexa grinned.
"I'm over flings, and you're right, Taryn. Craziness and I have to part ways. I'm not necessarily interested in him. I only wanted to point out that I'm capable of attracting my own handsome, high-caliber prospects."
"He's handsome?" Taryn asked.
"He is definitely handsome. Tall, dark brown hair, and phenomenal green eyes."
"But you're not interested even though you sound totally hot for Mr. Jump Start," Alexa quipped, dropping her chin and tilting a suspicious squint up at Micky.
"No. It was just a little flirting. If he has a girlfriend, he's dead to me," Micky insisted.
"Uh huh. Clearly. 'If.' Don't make me get all Ghost on you. Micky, you in danger, girl." Taryn shook her head with doubt.
"Or you could go for that fling. A little something to clear the mind," Alexa suggested.
"You two are like an angel and a devil sitting on my shoulders. Again, we're here to focus on Taryn. Helping you with your love party and all. You should be nice, bridezilla."
Taryn laughed as Alexa raised her index fingers to each side of her head and gave her merriest hell hiss. Micky wasn't convinced herself she could forget Nick, but she would if she had to. Taryn was right. She didn't need any more drama.
