Page 47 of Tease Me

His depressing tone made me think this was some form of torture,rather than the joy I’d expectfora wedding. “Oh.”I winced.“That would be bad.”

“Bad? Pfft. That’s an understatement. The bride will seriously lose her marbles, and she’s already nutty enough.”

“Is she a friend?”

“Client.” He rolled his eyes and ran his hand over his rough stubble.

“A client?” I tilted my head.

“I’m a wedding planner.”

“Oh, I’ve never met a wedding planner. How exciting!”

“Yeah.” His answerwas loadedwith sarcasm. “As long as bridezilla doesn’t come out to play.”

“I’m sure it won’t be that bad.” I slid his paperwork across the counter. “Can you please check the details and sign here?”

“You’d be surprised.Iget to seeone of the worst human emotions pretty muchon a weekly basis.”

I frowned as I stewed over which emotion that could be.

Our eyes met. “Jealousy,”hesaid, deadpan. “It can make a woman very ugly.”

“Oh dear.”

“Yep. It’s my job to make the wedding the most incredible day in a bride’s life, but ifshe’s loadedwith jealousy, no amount of makeup or rose petals will fix it.”

I frowned. “Hmmm, I can see how that would be a problem.”

He frowned with me, and despite the concerned look marring his features, Cameron was handsome, in a guy-next-door-who-you-always-dreamed-of-hooking-up-with kind of way.The knitted sweater helped.I just wanted to jump into his arms and twirl around like they did in those romantic-comedy movies. I shoved the lovely thought aside and forced my brain back into work mode. “Here’s your access card. You’re in room seven.”

He reached for the card, and I noticed he wasn’t wearing a wedding band. Maybe he didn’t believe in marriage anymore.

“I hope you have perfect weather tomorrow.”

His shoulders sagged even further. “Me too. I was the one who convinced the bride to have a beach wedding.”

“Oh.” I had no idea what to say.

His lips tugged into a thin line and he sighed, grabbed the handle on his suitcase, and headed toward the elevators. I felt for him.Tohave so much pressure based on something that was completely out of his controlwas awful.

The phone rang, and I picked up the handset. “Welcome to the Hot Horizon Hotel, this is Jane, how can I help you?”

“Hey, baby-cakes. How’d you like to go on a date with me on Saturday the 24th of August?”

Henry? It sounded like Henry, but what if I’m wrong?I clutched the counter as the names of all the men I’d been with this year whizzed around my head.

“Jane, are you there? It’s Henry.”

“Henry! Oh jeez, you had me worried there for a minute.”

“Really? Who else would it be?”

Oh God, don’t make me answer that. “Ummm . . .”

He chuckled. “You don’t have to tell me. But you do have to answer my first question. So, what do you think? Fancy a hot date with a senile old bugger in two weeks?”

Relief came as an ice bath that flooded through me as I sat down. “I told you, you’re not old, and yes, I’d love to go out with you.”

---