Page 29 of Whatever Lola Wants

“They should put Booze and Boobs on the tourist brochures,” Grant said from behind them. He strode out onto the patio, casual in cargo shorts and a t-shirt, a beer in one hand, the dog at his heels.

Lola sent her friend an I-got-this look and turned her attention to Grant. “Is there a reason this wedding is happening in such a rush? Something you two forgot to mention?”

Grant snorted into his beer and earned a glare from his beloved. “I’m not pregnant,” she said through gritted teeth. “He’s just being stubborn.”

Grant settled a hip on the arm of her chair, amusement dancing in his pale eyes. “I’m not putting up with a year of dithering back and forth over the perfect shade of flowers or the right photographer or whatever the hell else.”

Lola narrowed her eyes. “What kind of wedding are we talking about here? Big fat shindig, or close friends and family only?”

“Close friends and family only,” Anna supplied, still glaring at her fiancé. “We’d like to have it at his mom’s place in Michigan. It’s beautiful, and it’s where we met.”

Lola nodded. “First things first. Have you talked to your mom about it?”

“Not yet.” Grant sipped his beer. “I figured I’d call her when we had everything set.”

Lola just stared at him. “Really? You think you should wait to ask your mother if you can use her home to host a wedding until the wedding is all planned?”

Grant’s eyes flickered with unease. “Why don’t I go call her now?”

“Yes, why don’t you?” Lola said sweetly and turned back to Anna while he made his escape into the house. “Is there a caterer up there that can handle the food?”

“I have no idea.” She reached down to pet Henry, who’d wandered over to snuffle at her. “I could do most of the food myself, actually?—"

“No.” Lola held up a hand to forestall any arguments. “You’ll be a complete mess if you try to cater your own wedding. Put it in someone else’s hands, honey.”

Anna hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod. “You’re right. I’ll see if Grant’s mom has any ideas.”

“Good. Now for the big problem. What are you going to do for a wedding dress? You won’t be able to order one.”

“I know.” Anna bit her lip. “I could go vintage, or there are places online where I could probably find something that would do.”

“Honey.” Lola reached out to cover Anna’s hand with hers. “This is your wedding dress. That’ll do is not good enough. We’ll put our heads together and come up with something.”

Gratitude shone in Anna’s brown eyes. “You’re saving my fiancé’s life.”

Lola’s lips twitched. “You wouldn’t have killed him. Maimed, maybe. But you love him too much to permanently damage him.”

“I don’t know,” Anna muttered. “It was touch and go there for a while this morning.”

Lola opened her mouth to reply, then turned as the patio door opened. The little hitch under her heart when she saw Simon in casual shorts and a white t-shirt made her want to scowl…or leap on him and rip off his clothes.

Henry abandoned Anna to greet the newcomer, and Lola satisfied herself with a sharp smile. “Big Dick Hastings. Nice of you to join us.”

His eyebrows drew together at the nickname, pleasing her. Unfortunately, the thunderous expression just made him look sexy and dangerous, and she was already horny, so she was only screwing herself.

Ignoring her hormones, she nudged a chair with her foot. “Have a seat, and put your thinking cap on. We’re wedding planning.”

He sent her an unreadable look, but sat down, Henry collapsing at his feet. “Guys don’t wedding plan. We bachelor party plan.”

“Not this time.” She nodded toward Grant, walking out of the house. “You can thank your friend there for throwing you in the planning end of the pool, since he’s the one insisting the wedding happen at the end of June.”

“This June?” Simon said incredulously and jerked around to glare at Grant. “What the fuck, man? You knock her up?”

Grant shot his friend a quelling look as Anna hissed with annoyance. “No, jackass. And shut up.” He glanced at Lola. “My mom did a lot of yelling, but she’s happy to host the wedding. And she says she has a friend that can do the food.”

“Good. Ceremony on Saturday afternoon?” she asked Anna.

“I thought Sunday might be better,” she said with a frown. “That way I have an extra day up there without having to leave the city early, and the people coming in from out of town have an extra day, too.”

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