Page 125 of The Honorable Texan
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Meredith worked outa two-week notice and gave up her job, to the dismay and regret of her boss, who hadn’t wanted to lose her.He did see that she couldn’t have a husband in Jacobsville and a job in Houston, however, and he made them a wedding present of a beautiful faceted crystal bowl.
Micah Steele offered her a job at his office, which she accepted with pleasure, on the understanding that she could work three days a week instead of six.Micah understood being a newlywed, since he and his Callie were still newlyweds as well, even with a baby on the way.
The only hitch was that all Rey’s brothers got together and took over the wedding plans, to his dismay and Meredith’s horror.
“It’s going to be a humdinger of a wedding,” Leo promised with relish, rubbing his hands together.“Cag had this great idea for entertainment.”
“I don’t want to hear it,” Rey said firmly.
“You’ll love this,” Leo continued, unabashed.“He’s got this great hard-rock band from Montana coming down to play their new hit record.They just had a hit single about getting married,” he added with a rakish grin.“And they’re having a caterer from San Antonio bring down the buffet lunch.The wedding gown is coming from one of the couture houses in Paris…”
“But you don’t even know my size!”Meredith protested breathlessly.
“We looked in your dresses,” he said imperturbably.“Got your shoe size, too, and we also looked in your drawers and got the, ahem, other sizes.”He grinned sheepishly.“Everything is couture, and silk.Only the best for our new sister-in-law,” he added sweepingly.
Meredith didn’t know whether to laugh or scream.
“We booked you a room at a five-star hotel for your honeymoon,” he continued, glancing at Rey.“You still speak French, don’t you?”
“French?”Meredith gasped.
“Well, your rooms are in Nice,” he said.“The French Riviera.You’ve got a suite, overlooking the beach.Monaco is just on down the beach from there.”
Rey whistled.“Not bad, for a rush job.”
“We try to be efficient,” Leo said, and his eyes twinkled.“We even ordered her a trousseau with formal gowns and casual clothes.Lots of pinks and blues and soft beige colors.We thought pastels would suit her.”
Her mouth was open.She was trying to take it all in without fainting.She was only beginning to realize that the horror stories she’d heard from Tess about weddings and the brothers were true.
“You did kidnap Dorie and tie her in a sack with ribbon and carry her home to Corrigan!”she gasped.
“He didn’t have a Christmas present,” Leo explained patiently.“We gave him one.Look how well it worked out!”
“You hooligans!”
“Our hearts are all in the right place,” Leo protested.“Besides, Dorie could bake.Which brings us to Tess, who could also bake…”
“You blackmailed Callaghan into marrying her, I heard!”Meredith was getting her second wind now.
“He’s very happy.So is Tess.”
“And poor Tira,” she continued, unabashed.“You arranged her wedding and she didn’t even get to choose her own gown, either!”
“She was pregnant.We had to hurry, there was no time,” Leo explained matter-of-factly.
“I am not pregnant!”she exclaimed, red-faced.
Leo gave Rey a quick, speculative glance.“Yet,” he replied.He grinned.
“If you would just give me a little time to organize my own wedding,” she began, exasperated, and thought, I’m being nibbled to death by ducks…!
Leo checked his watch.“Sorry, I’m running late.The printer is waiting for me to check the proofs.”
“Of what?”she burst out.
“Oh, just the wedding invitations.We’re overnighting them to the people we invited.The governor’s coming, so is the lieutenant governor.The vice president wanted to come, but he has to be in Singapore…” He frowned and checked his back pocket.“There they are!I almost forgot the interview questions.Here.”He handed Rey two folded sheets of paper.“You’ll have time to look them over before the camera crews move in.”
