Aimee Carson - Don't Tell the Wedding Planner

The woman turned and Matt was hit with a vision of hair the color of dark honey, wide brown eyes, and a slim but clearly female body filling out the bust of her gown. Appreciation thrummed through his veins, but he ignored the distracting sensation.

‘Matt Paulson.’ He stuck out his hand.

‘Colin called and said he was sending you my way.’

A palm briefly pressed against his. The soft skin and the drawl, as honey soaked as her hair, brought to mind hot Southern nights filled with heated skin and sweat-soaked sheets.

Stick to the plan. Get in, take care of the problem, and get out.

She released his hand and her lips quirked. ‘Though Colin didn’t mention he was sending you now.’

There was no irritation in her voice, only the calm tone of one who dealt with life’s surprises and upsets with grace and dignity. He liked her already.

She’d need that skill set for what he had in mind.

Check out the first book in this duet:

NO TIME LIKE MARDI GRAS

by Kimberly Lang

(February 2013)

which is also set in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA!

Don’t Tell the

Wedding Planner

Aimee Carson

www.millsandboon.co.uk

The summer she turned eleven AIMEE CARSONleft the children’s section of the library and entered an aisle full of Mills & Boon ®novels. She promptly pulled out a book, sat on the floor, and read the entire story. It has been a love affair that has lasted for over thirty years.

Despite a fantastic job working part-time as a physician in the Alaskan Bush (think Northern Exposure and ER , minus the beautiful mountains and George Clooney), she also enjoys being at home in the gorgeous Black Hills of South Dakota, riding her dirt bike with her three wonderful kids and beyond patient husband. But, whether she’s at home or at work, every morning is spent creating the stories she loves so much. Her motto? Life is too short to do anything less than what you absolutely love. She counts herself lucky to have two jobs she adores, and incredibly blessed to be a part of Harlequin Mills & Boon ®’s family of talented authors.

Other Modern Tempted™ titles by Aimee Carson:

THE UNEXPECTED WEDDING GUEST

This and other titles by Aimee Carson are available in eBook format from www.millsandboon.co.uk

To the man who made all this possible.

Thanks, honey. I love you.

Contents

Prologue PROLOGUE Dear Ex Factor, I’m in desperate need of help. My best friend is marrying my former boyfriend and now she’s asked me to be her maid of honor. My ex and I dated for over three years and everyone thought we’d eventually marry. The breakup was messy, but when he started dating my BF we all managed to reach an understanding. I’m really happy for my girlfriend and I want to be there for her on her big day, but I dread all the comments from friends and family. What should I do? Callie: First off, congratulations to all three of you for working through your differences so that everyone remains friends. Secondly, I’ve been in your shoes, having recently arranged the Ex-Man’s wedding—my ex-boyfriend—which he ruined with a zombie invasion. : ) If you are happy for the bride and groom then most of the guests will see this. Unfortunately, there will be those with thoughtless comments and questions. I found it best to be prepared. So formulate a few vague, generic responses beforehand so you won’t get caught unprepared. Ex-Man: I think you only need one response: “I’m mainly here for the free food and beer.” And if you’re planning a zombie invasion to liven up the reception, don’t tell the wedding planner.

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Extract

PROLOGUE

Dear Ex Factor,

I’m in desperate need of help. My best friend is marrying my former boyfriend and now she’s asked me to be her maid of honor. My ex and I dated for over three years and everyone thought we’d eventually marry. The breakup was messy, but when he started dating my BF we all managed to reach an understanding. I’m really happy for my girlfriend and I want to be there for her on her big day, but I dread all the comments from friends and family. What should I do?

Callie: First off, congratulations to all three of you for working through your differences so that everyone remains friends. Secondly, I’ve been in your shoes, having recently arranged the Ex-Man’s wedding—my ex-boyfriend—which he ruined with a zombie invasion. : ) If you are happy for the bride and groom then most of the guests will see this. Unfortunately, there will be those with thoughtless comments and questions. I found it best to be prepared. So formulate a few vague, generic responses beforehand so you won’t get caught unprepared.

Ex-Man: I think you only need one response: “I’m mainly here for the free food and beer.” And if you’re planning a zombie invasion to liven up the reception, don’t tell the wedding planner.

ONE

Man, what a lot of work just to get hitched.

Matt weaved his way through the sightseers enjoying the ballroom of the historic Riverway mansion, a plantation that had once taken part in producing 75 percent of the world’s cotton, but was now reduced to group tours and a venue for weekend events. He knew he was headed for the outdoor, private wedding reception when he spotted two Southern belles in authentic dress.

Choosing a Civil War theme to celebrate a marriage seemed wrong. But who knows, maybe the couple enjoyed the irony? Regardless, given the authentic mansion worthy of Scarlett O’Hara and the costumes of the guests, the wedding planner was either a genius...or insane. Matt was pulling for the latter, because he absolutely needed Callie LaBeau to be insane. If she were a reasonable, rational individual, she’d refuse Matt’s request. Which meant his plans to fly in, fix his problem and fly back home would be over. And he’d be screwed.

Catching up with the two ladies in 1800s dresses, petticoats rustling beneath, wasn’t hard. Their hoopskirts caught as they tried to open one of the French doors leading to the backyard, and their attempt to cross the threshold side by side didn’t work out so well.

Matt bit back the grin and the fatigue of thirty-six hours on two hours of sleep, pulling open the other door.

The one in an ugly yellow-colored dress tossed him an inviting smile. “Thanks.”

“Bathroom breaks must be a real bitch,” Matt said.

The lady in lavender laughed. “You have no idea.”

“Do either of you know where I can find Callie LaBeau?” he asked.

Lavender lady jerked her thumb toward one end of the outdoor reception. “Last time I saw her, she was over by the bar.”

Matt took that as good news. Alcohol would definitely be a requirement in a crazy setting such as this, hopefully softening the wedding planner toward Matt’s cause.

“I think she’s the only one in royal-blue.” Yellow dress sounded a little jealous.

Matt took the exit leading out to the twenty-acre grounds that smelled of freshly cut grass and held the crowd of wedding guests in Civil War costumes. Kerosene lamps sat on tables covered in white and dangled alongside Spanish moss in the giant oaks. The trees provided a canopy for the reception, the soft lamps casting a glow against the twilight sky.

He hoped the lamps were fake or the theme would soon be overrun by the yellow of firemen suits.

Fortunately, the lighting was low enough that Matt’s dark pants and white, button-down shirt blended with the attire of the staff posing as servants. As for the male guests, half wore blue Union uniforms while the others sported gray Confederate uniforms—given the choice of a Southern theme, most likely the bride’s side of the family. Matt scanned the brightly colored Southern belle dresses dotting the scene and spied one of royal-blue in front of an old-fashioned buggy being used as a bar.