Jeanie London - No Groom Like Him

Lily’s sister-in-law had worked for Max since an internship at Vassar College. Max had actually been the one to send Riley on assignment to cover the concert where she’d met Mike. Riley still worked for Max, only as a managing editor now, which had more predictable hours for a widow with twins.

A widow who would soon be a bride again.

“I’m sure Madeleine is a total doll,” Lily said. “Not like Camille and Jake. Twins can be a handful on a good day.”

“As you would know firsthand.”

“True, true.” Only she and Mike would never get into trouble together again. “But I don’t remember Mike giving Mom a hard time about going to school the way Jake gave Riley. Of course, I was an angel.”

Max snorted.

“Seriously, it must be a boy thing. You have nothing to worry about.”

Max sliced his gaze her way, clearly gauging whether or not she was teasing him.

Lily kept a straight face, determined to keep things light. For a long few moments, they sat in silence as Max drove toward the Valley. There were houses where forested hills had been. There had been road expansions. There was even a strip plaza filled with businesses around the corner from her old elementary school. “I can’t believe how much this place has grown since I’ve been home. It hasn’t been all that long.”

“Four years.”

“I’ve been a topic at the dinner table.” Not a question.

Max nodded, clearly knowing better than to offer more information.

“All right, be like that. Let me ask you, though—who called me the prodigal?”

“I did.” She got the sense he was picking his way through a mine field. “Seemed to fit.”

“How’s that?”

He raised his hands against the steering wheel, as much of a conciliatory gesture as he could make while still driving. “Not looking to weigh in with an opinion. It just seemed to work because you’ve been away awhile.”

Lily might accept that at face value, but the deeper implications bothered her.

Was PMS or exhaustion making her touchy today? Or was it anxiety about returning home for the first time since Mike? Or was Max unsettling her because he’d blindsided her at the press conference and brought up that stupidity with the blog? Or worse still, was she annoyed with herself because she couldn’t forget her crush on him?

Lily didn’t know. She hadn’t intended to rise to the bait, either, but…the years had only defined Max’s chiseled cheekbones. And his haunted eyes had an appeal all their own. “Okay, Max. I’m sensing something here. Are you annoyed I didn’t agree to contract your brother-in-law’s wedding when you put me on the spot? And while we’re at it let me ask if there was any point to bringing up that ridiculous blog.”

He had the audacity to look surprised. “I thought the point of a press conference was to give the media something to write about. Raymond’s campaign and that controversial blog will give you tons of mileage. I thought I was doing you a favor.”

“I’d prefer not to give the blogger any attention.”

“A platform for someone with an ax to grind?”

“Possibly. But if that’s the case, I can’t imagine whom.”

“Emmelina seems pretty upset.”

“Emmelina would love someone to blame. She trashed her career for a man who cheated on his wife and left her at the altar. But she hasn’t mentioned me because she knows better. Mara’amu wasn’t responsible. Had the winds been up, I would have moved the ceremony indoors.”

“What happened then?”

“Ugh. A tabloid reporter trying to beat out the competition. He evaded security, tripped over his own video equipment and crashed into one of the dancers. Of course, only the resort security cameras had caught that on film and they wouldn’t release the footage.”

“You could have given a statement.”

“I will not dignify this stupidity with a defense.”

Max didn’t look convinced, which annoyed Lily more.

“Also for the record, the point of not releasing my travel information was so the press didn’t have anything to write about. I would have thought that much should be obvious to you, as you’re privy to intimate details about my personal life.”

Too many, it would seem.

He lingered at a traffic light after the signal turned green as he frowned at her. “Are you saying you didn’t call that press conference?”

Now it was Lily’s turn to frown. “Are you telling me you didn’t leak my travel plans?”

“Of course not. Riley made it a point of telling me that you were keeping your arrival on the Q.T. And your mom. And dad. And my mother. Hmm…let me think. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t mention it. That’s why I was so surprised when my assistant told me she got a notice with your arrival details.”

Lily stared at the road ahead. “Well, that’s interesting. I wonder who leaked the information. That was quite a crowd. By any chance do you still have the notice?”

“I’ll ask my assistant. It was an email, I believe.”

No surprises there. Wasn’t as easy to cause trouble using fax and a landline. Or snail mail, either. But emails could be bounced all over the globe via satellite to effectively mask the sender. As she’d learned while trying to discover the identity of the culprit behind the All About Angel blog and got quoted privacy laws for the effort.

Now someone close enough to know her travel plans thought it was okay to leak to the press. Lovely. And she’d thought her plate was already full.

“Why would you think I’d reveal your plans?” Max asked.

“You were capitalizing on the moment, if memory serves.”

He slowed to navigate a sharp turn. “Back to the point of a press conference. Assuming you’d arranged it—which I did—I thought you’d appreciate the connection between you and the exclusive about Raymond’s campaign. I seized an opportunity. For both of us.”

“I haven’t contracted the wedding. We haven’t even spoken about it.”

“I didn’t want to waste any time.”

“You seem to have bypassed the part about choice, Max. Don’t I get one?”

“In case you haven’t noticed, I made it a point not to go through my mother.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t want you to feel pressured. I thought Raymond’s wedding would be right up your alley. And the timing couldn’t be more perfect since you’ll already be in town.”

“I’m here to whip up a family wedding.”

“I know. But I need you to whip up one for me, too. I realize the time frame is somewhat of a challenge, but you’re the Wedding Angel.” He flashed that dashing grin, dimples and all, but Lily couldn’t seem to move past a few tiny words.

Somewhat of a challenge?

She was somewhat speechless. It took her a moment and a few deep breaths, but she did manage to squeeze out a question purely for clarification purposes. “I thought you said Raymond and Jamilyn had leave around the holidays.”

“I did.”

“Christmas is barely twelve weeks away.”

He shook his head. “Thanksgiving. They’ll be on duty before Christmas.”

Lily could only stare. Did the man think she snapped her fingers and—poof—a media-worthy fantasy magically appeared out of thin air? Was it possible he didn’t realize there was actual work involved? Including seventeen thousand decisions about the venue, catering, costuming, licensing, guests… Hadn’t he walked down the aisle once himself?

“Max, seriously. Have you lost your mind? Thanksgiving is eight weeks away.”

“How hard can it be? You’ll be planning Riley’s wedding. Can’t you do one more of whatever you do for her? You know, order two cakes instead of one. That sort of thing.”

Condescension? Did he think she was exaggerating?