Page 35 of 4 Weddings and a Feud

A light flickered on at Mrs. Wong’s house next door. “You’d better go. I’ve got nosy neighbors.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Maybe…maybe we can go out sometime? Without the birthday party and strippers.” She laid a lingering kiss on his lips before reluctantly stepping back.

“A do-over, twenty years late? I’m here for it.”

She squeezed his hand. “So am I.”

ChapterFourteen

“I’m concerned,” Alex said as they disconnected another call with Rochelle and Rohaan on the first of July.

Mary’s heart rate kicked up, and she knit her fingers together on his polished conference table to hide their tremble. Had she forgotten something? Did she seem off her game? She’d practically run here from Twyla and Teagan’s dress fitting, but Alex didn’t know that. She was holding it together and doing an excellent job on the Richardson wedding with less than a month to go…right?

“Concerned?” she squeaked. He wasn’t going to bring up razzle-dazzle again, was he?

“About you. Are you getting enough sleep?”

She forced a chuckle and waved her hand. “Who needs sleep?”

He didn’t smile. “Most humans do. Are you getting help at the shop?”

“Rafe and Michael are working just as hard as I am.” Harder even, given her split attention lately. She’d expanded into wedding planning to lessen the load on her brothers, but all she’d done so far was hire Evie to free up her own time to work on weddings.

“I’m not asking about their work. A trained monkey could polish a car and vacuum out sequins.”

Heat rose in her chest. “That’s not all?—”

“Sorry.” He took a breath. “I just meant that you’re the one who does all the customer service and bookkeeping and taxes. I don’t know when you have time to work at the shop at all with your new responsibilities for this wedding.”

“I have time. I’d never abandon my brothers or our family business.” Or tell him how much other work she’d taken on.

“I know. And that’s what I’m saying. I have a team of accountants here. I could temporarily assign one of them to your business. Or I could lend you one of my front desk clerks. One of them lives right around the corner from your shop. She’d be thrilled to cut her commute.”

“That’s sweet of you. But I’ve already hired a part-timer for the front desk.” She was not about to tell Alex who it was. He’d march right over to the shop and try to fire her. Again. “And now that we’ve made all the decisions on Rochelle’s wedding, we’re in a bit of a lull until we get closer to the big day.”

His concerned expression turned calculating. “A lull, huh?”

“Don’t tell me you need help with another wedding. I plan to enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet. And sleep.” Tears prickled behind her eyes at the mere thought of eight straight hours of sleep.

“What if I have an idea that fits right in with your plans for peace, quiet, and sleep?”

“You’re not firing me, are you?”

“Firing you? Absolutely not. I’m kidnapping you. Have a weekend bag packed and ready to go at noon on Friday.”

Her pulse kicked up at the idea of being kidnapped by Alex Villa. But she had responsibilities. “Weekends, especially July 4th, are the busiest times at the shop. We’ve got two weddings and three bachelorette parties.”

“Your new assistant can’t handle it?”

“I wouldn’t ask her to.” Not with the way she and Michael circled each other like a pair of lions protecting their turf.

“Then we’ll go during the week. Go home and pack your bag. I’ll pick you up at three.”

“Threetoday?I couldn’t possibly.”

“You said you had a lull, and weekdays were your least busy time.” He leaned back in his chair, a portrait of smug victory.

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