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  "I will. Call me Lori, please."

  "Cost is not an issue, Lori."

  Amber nudged him with her elbow. "Hey! Just because you're paying doesn't mean I can't watch the menu costs."

  "That's exactly what it means," Graham said.

  "Amber, I promise I'll get you the best deals. Your wedding will be perfect. You'll cherish those memories for the rest of your life."

  A hint of a sarcastic smile played on Graham's lips. I caught his eye and cocked a brow. He kept my gaze until I looked away squirming. So my instincts had been right. He wasn’t big on marriage... yet he was footing the bill for the wedding menus. Intriguing combination.

  "I have some layouts for the save-the-date e-mail that I think you'll like. I have to see the location as soon as possible so I know what type of tent will fit best, where to locate it, things like that. Next, we'll be talking about the menu. Once you choose a few options, I'll arrange for a tasting. At the tasting, I'll also have my florist make a few arrangements you can choose from."

  "Wow!" Amber blinked. "I feel like half the wedding is in the bag. I'm starting to feel like I'm de-stressing."

  "Leave the stress to me, Amber. That's what I'm here for. I’ll show you save-the-date templates right now. I also have pictures of invitations."

  "Sounds great. But can we get some drinks first?" Amber suggested.

  Graham rose to his feet. "I'll go buy some. What do you want?"

  Everyone agreed on coffee, and I ended up walking to the counter with Graham. He couldn't carry four cups by himself.

  "Thanks for taking on the wedding on such short notice," he said as we waited for the barista to prepare the drinks.

  "My pleasure. I'll be sending you the menu budget as soon as I put it together. Do you need a list of best man duties?"

  "Amber already took care of that."

  "All set to be best man, then?"

  "I'd say I am." His tone was challenging, as if he was daring me to disagree. He smiled, and the left corner of his lips caught my attention. Was that a... a dimple? Moving on. I debated bringing up the best man speech, but I wanted to have a plan first, what with him being Jace's boss and all. He fixed those baby blue eyes on me. They looked hypnotic. His light brown hair was messy in a sexy way. I wondered if that was how he looked when he woke up in the morning. I wasn't just squirming now; I felt my body temperature go up.

  We spent the next two hours combing through the materials on my laptop, deciding on the save-the-date text, the type of printed invitations, as well as crosschecking our calendars for the next appointments.

  "Want to have dinner with us?" Amber asked after I closed my laptop.

  "Thank you, but I already have plans. I'll keep in touch."

  We chitchatted for a while longer, but then I had to excuse myself. I didn't want to be late to pick up Milo from school.

  As soon as I was alone with Amber, I was going to pepper her with questions. I liked to get the scoop: When did he propose? How had he proposed? Had he dropped on one knee? Did they have an audience? I'd barely refrained from asking all those things today. I lived vicariously through my brides. I'd been twenty-three when I discovered I was unexpectedly pregnant. My announcement was certainly not met with a marriage proposal, or hell, even a hug.

  I arrived at Milo’s school in time for pick-up, and once we were both inside the car, I asked “How was your day, baby boy?”

  "Mom! I told you, I'm not a baby anymore. I'm a grown-up boy."

  "Okay, okay. How was your day, grown-up boy?"

  "We have a new soccer coach. He's cool. I'm starving."

  "We'll be at Aunt Val's house in no time."

  My siblings and I got together every Friday to have dinner at my sister Valentina's house. It was hands down the best way to kick off the weekend and catch up. There were six of us, so there was never a shortage of news. Everyone was already there and gathered around the table when Milo and I arrived.

  My oldest brother, Landon, was fussing over Maddie—his pregnant wife. Next to him, Jace was trying to convince our brother Will to be his wingman when they went out later tonight.

  "Afraid you can't get a date without my help?" Will was sporting a shit-eating grin.

  "I'm wounded!" Jace exclaimed.

  "Detective William Connor. My, oh my. Being a wingman is a bit like cheating on a test. Isn't coloring outside the lines a little beneath you?" Val teased.

  "Hey, once the badge comes off, I'm officially not on duty. I break the rules in my free time, for a change of pace."

  My other sister, Hailey, pulled Milo into a hug then kissed my cheek.

  "Do you think we should remind Will that Jace is a sports celebrity? If anything, Jace is probably getting him dates. I mean, Will knows how to work the hot cop angle, but hanging out with a professional athlete sure doesn't hurt the prospects," Hailey fake-whispered, chuckling. Will gave us the evil eye.

  "Nah, let's wait until after he eats to be mean to him," I said.

  My mouth watered as I took in the goodies: sweet potatoes with chili sauce and a mix of garbanzo beans, diced avocado, and chicken. Next to it was a small bowl with lime and coriander dressing. Val was the best cook I knew.

  Our parents passed away in an accident when Jace, Hailey, Will, and I were still kids. Valentina and Landon were the only legal adults, and they practically raised us. Mama's cooking had been delicious, but Val's was even better.

  As soon as I sat between my sisters, Hailey showed me pictures of a fiery red mane; she was considering changing her hair color. Hailey's hair was a beautiful hue of brown, a rich chocolate. I was the only blonde in the family. My siblings’ hair ranged from dark brown—Landon and Valentina—to light brown—Jace and Will.

  Milo wedged himself between Will and Jace. My boy worshipped my brothers. His dad took off before he was born, so my brothers were the closest things he'd ever had to father figures.

  "Lori, how did it go with Amber?" Jace asked.

  "It went well. The wedding is in four weeks, which will mean a lot of hassle, but Amber seems easy to work with."

  My agency was fully booked for the next two months, so my assistants already had their hands full. I was going to work on this wedding solo.

  "She is. Best head of marketing and PR we've had."

  As I savored the sweet potatoes and bean mix, I questioned my brother about Amber. The more I knew, the easier it would be to work with her. Then I couldn't help myself, and also got the scoop on the best man.

  Chapter Three

  Graham

  I couldn't make it in time for our appointment with Lori the next Thursday. Amber and Matt were showing her my property so she could advise where to set up the tent and the ceremony aisle. A last-minute phone call with a potential sponsor took well over an hour. By the time I was halfway home, Amber called to let me know they were nearly done and would be heading out.

  Damn shame because I'd wanted to catch them. The meeting last week had been surprising in more ways than one. I hadn't expected it to be so efficient... or for Lori to be that stunning. I had no doubt she'd aimed to look professional wearing that dress. It revealed absolutely nothing. In fact, it covered far too much of her, and yet my imagination ran wild the second she sat in front of me.

  When I arrived in front of the villa, I was pleasantly surprised to see Lori pacing in front of a red Honda, talking on her phone. Her voice reached me through the open window.

  "I respect that you are my client and I liked working with you in the past, but I will not put up with excuses. If you can no longer afford my services, just say so, and we will part ways."

  Her back was to me, and since she hadn't seen me arrive, I could observe her in her element. Her tone was firm, her back straight. Lori Connor didn't take anyone's bullshit. I liked that she had a backbone. I liked the back of her too; she was wearing a pencil skirt, tight at the waist and molding perfectly over the curve of her hips and ass.

  "Okay. We have a deal. I appreciate the honest
y. Give me a call when you get back on your feet," she said. After hanging up, she spun around.

  "Mr. Frazier, hi! I didn't hear you come up."

  "Just Graham. Is everything okay?"

  She pointed to her car. "Engine won't start. Tow service is on their way, but they said it would take at least an hour and a half. Know any coffee shops or restaurants in walking distance?"

  I knew a few good restaurants, but I had a better idea. "Come inside with me. I'll make us dinner."

  She blinked, then shook her head. "Thanks, but I'll grab something nearby."

  She'd hesitated long enough for me to know she was tempted, so I pushed. Dinner in Lori's company would be a great way to spend the evening.

  "Lori, I'll cook. You’ll relax and tell me about the progress you made today with Matt and Amber. What's not to like about my offer?"

  The corners of her mouth lifted in the most beautiful smile. She crossed her arms over her chest, but her smile was even wider when she answered. "Well, when you put it like that, it is quite irresistible."

  Lori brought me up to date on the wedding arrangements within minutes. They'd already decided on the type of tent. Menu tasting was next on the to-do list.

  "The tent will be in the backyard, of course. The beach is too narrow to have the ceremony there. We can have it in the backyard as well, or on your deck, to overlook the water. Certainly large enough for eighty. But you'd have everyone traipsing through your house."

  "I don't mind."

  "I love your house. And the view is to die for."

  "Thanks. That's what sold me on it."

  I wanted to be near the ocean, and this property was the first to come up. It was far too big for one person, but I hadn't wanted to wait longer. The kitchen opened up to a formal dining area, and a tall breakfast bar separated the two spaces. I pointed to one of the two tall chairs under the counter, and said, "You can sit there while I cook."

  "What's on the menu, chef?" Lori climbed on the stool and drummed her palms on the counter, eyeing the double oven on the other side. I leaned with an elbow against the surface, placing my other hand on the short backrest of Lori's chair.

  "I have chicken legs. Could whip up a tomato sauce and boil brown rice. I also have pasta. Like gorgonzola sauce? I know an excellent recipe with cream and a mix of gorgonzola cheese and parmesan."

  She wrinkled her nose. "Chicken with tomato sauce sounds good."

  "You really want to go for the pasta, though."

  "How could you tell?"

  "Body language. So, why say no to something you want?"

  "Oh my God, you can't corrupt me like that. Of course I'll go for the pasta."

  She laughed, and seeing her plump lips open up like that for me made me wonder what else I could corrupt her to do. I came closer, moving my hand from the backrest to her back. Lori straightened but didn't pull away.

  "I'm very good at corrupting."

  She laughed again and tilted her head to one side. "And you had me all convinced you like to follow the straight and narrow path."

  "What gave you that impression?"

  "Not sure." She licked her lower lip, and I nearly closed the distance and kissed her. Then she averted her gaze, so I backed off. What the hell was I doing, anyway? I moved through the kitchen and took out all the ingredients, starting to prepare our dinner.

  "Wow, you really cook!" Lori exclaimed while I was chopping onion.

  "Yeah. It relaxes me. You thought I'd invite you in for frozen pizza?"

  "That possibility crossed my mind." I heard the smile in her voice and looked at her over my shoulder.

  "Your bar is pretty low, isn't it? Let's see if I can impress you."

  "Game on, chef."

  From where I was standing, I had a direct view of her long legs under the counter. Her skirt reached just over her knees, and my fingertips itched with the impulse to touch her and push the fabric all the way up her thighs. How smooth would her skin be? How delicious would she taste?

  "How long have you known Matt and Amber?" she asked, effectively cutting through my thoughts. I set the sauce to simmer and turned to face her.

  "Since middle school. They're my best friends."

  "It's very sweet of you to pay for their wedding menus."

  "I have another surprise up my sleeve, but I'm keeping mum on that."

  "Tell me," she beckoned, but I shook my head. "You're doing this on purpose."

  "Of course I am. Payback for doubting my cooking skills."

  She broke out into a full-on belly laughter that filled the whole kitchen. I couldn't look away from those full lips, those long legs.

  Once the food was cooked, we took everything outside on the deck. It was immense. She was right; the ceremony could easily take place here. I had a rattan couch on one side, and a table for six next to it. We ate at the table.

  "You should go on those cooking competitions. You'd win everything. Did you take cooking classes or something?"

  "All Nana's doing. My grandmother. She's better than any chef."

  "Well, this is amazing. Even better than my sister's recipe, but"—she made a gesture to zip her lips—"I'll be in trouble if she gets wind I said that."

  "Your secret is safe with me. I didn't know Jace had another sister." I was friendly with all the guys on the team, but we kept a professional distance.

  "We're six siblings. Three brothers, three sisters. How about you?"

  "I have two half siblings, but I’m not in contact with them. Though I've known Amber and Matt for so long that I think of them as family."

  I didn’t want to get into more detail. My mother had left when I was two years old, because of my father's cheating. Philandering seemed to run in the blood of Frazier men. My father and grandfather hadn’t had any respect for their wives and families. I’d wanted the opposite. But my divorce proved that marriage wasn’t easy, even when you give it your best shot. I focused the conversation on Lori. "Which one's the sister with the amazing kitchen skills?"

  "That would be Valentina."

  "What does she do for work?"

  "She owns a perfume and cosmetics company."

  "And the others?"

  "Landon recently sold his software company in San Jose and moved here. He's in the process of opening an investment fund. Will is a detective, and Hailey’s a business consultant. She travels a lot, and is in the city mostly on weekends."

  "And by that sad note in your voice, I'm guessing you wish she'd be around more?"

  "Yep." She didn't elaborate, because she focused on her pasta and didn't stop until she'd cleaned her plate. I had a feeling that under Lori's pencil skirts and tucked in blouse was a wild nature waiting to be unleashed. I loved the gusto with which she ate, the passion in her laughter. After our plates were empty, we moved to the rattan couch.

  "And? Is the lady impressed?"

  "Oh, yeah. Top marks, Chef Frazier. If you ever quit the club, you'd make a killing with an Italian restaurant. The club's been in your family for three generations, right?"

  "Yes. My grandfather inherited a fortune and then invested it all in his two great passions: booze and soccer. The booze company went belly up within five years, but the soccer club survived for generations."

  It had always felt like my second home. Lately, it felt like my only home. The arena and the offices were next to each other. As a kid, I'd experienced the fondest memories at the club, be it on the neatly trimmed grass, kicking balls with the greatest soccer names of the day, or on the floor of my grandfather's office, listening to him running the place. Soccer had been about the only thing we bonded over.

  "That's a legacy to be proud of." She checked her phone and sighed. "I should head out soon."

  I disagreed. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had so much fun, and I wasn't ready for our evening to end.

  Chapter Four

  Lori

  "Why don't you call and ask them if they’ll be here on time? No point going out before they arrive," Grah
am suggested.

  "Good thinking."

  I dialed their number, and they informed me they'd arrive in fifteen minutes, so I could enjoy all this a while longer. I had a major crush on his deck. The dark blue pillows on the rattan couch were so comfy I didn't want to leave. The glass panels at the edge of the deck offered a clear view of the ocean.

  "So, how many fires do you predict I'll have to put out on the wedding day?" he asked once I hung up.

  "I'll put out any fires, don't worry. That's why I'm here. You just focus on your best man duties." I sank lower on the couch, breathing in the salty air, enjoying the breeze and the sound of the ocean. Graham was watching me. My entire body clenched—again. My God, was he sexy. Pure male, pure testosterone. Every time he looked at me with those blue eyes, he made me aware of parts of my body I'd forgotten existed... or functioned. I wanted to bring up the speech, but I still hadn't worked on a polite way of explaining to him that bad jokes weren't appropriate. Usually, I wasn't one to mince words, but he was my brother's boss. I couldn't forget that.

  "Say it."

  "What?"

  "You're fidgeting. What is it? If Amber tried to talk budgets with you again—"

  "No, no. It's not that. I was thinking about the best man speech. Have you ever given one before?"

  "No, but I've done plenty of speeches, so I'm sure I'll come up with something good. Some fun stories, some jokes."

  This was my opening. Here went nothing. "About that... not all jokes are good ones. I've been at plenty of weddings where the best man mentioned divorce stats, jokingly adding that he's sure the couple will make it, and so on. It leaves a sour taste."

  "What makes you think I'd do that?"

  "Back at the coffee shop, you seemed like you’re not a big fan of weddings."

  "That obvious?"

  "To me, yes. I'm a wedding planner. I pick up on these things." I also found out from Jace that he’d been divorced for two years, which made me think my gut had been right.