Love on Beach Avenue(14)
“Thanks. Mom loved poetry. She always said she was a terrible poet, but I loved the stuff she wrote. It made her happy.”
Avery gave her an encouraging nod. “She’ll be part of your day because it’s filled with love. Whenever I see a couple exchange vows, it’s like the air vibrates with the people in their life, all gathering around to bless them. Your mom and dad will see it all. I just know it.”
Carter jerked slightly at the emotional words that should have sounded cheesy and fake. It was probably a canned response she used on all her clients who’d lost their parents. But why did it feel like she was sharing a piece of herself, as if her heart meant every sentiment she uttered? Either she was wicked good at her job or the woman had drunk the Kool-Aid on this lovefest thing.
Sure, he was happy his sister had met the man she wanted to build a life with, but he simply didn’t believe in all the hearts-and-flowers junk that came with the decision to marry. The more someone allowed pumped-up sentiments like poetry and fiction and pretty trappings to affect their relationship, the more danger threatened.
God knew he’d seen it firsthand.
He vowed to protect his sister, so keeping this entire process logical and real was his priority. He wouldn’t allow Avery to fill his sister’s head with unreal expectations, either of her wedding day or her actual married life.
He watched Avery finish typing, take a sip of water, and flip some pages in her big book. “Now, how about the wedding party? Have you picked them yet?”
“Yes, Jason will have his brother as his best man and three friends as groomsmen.” Ally rattled off the names. “Since you’re my wedding planner, I didn’t get to ask you to be in my bridal party.”
“Oh, you’re so sweet,” Avery said. Her face flickered with emotion. “That means a lot to me, but this is even better. I can be involved in everything.”
“True. I’ll be having two friends from Texas as my bridesmaids, Judith and Noelle, and Jason’s sister, Maddie. And of course, Carter will be my man of honor.”
Avery blinked. Slowly, her gaze fastened on him, and a sudden connection seared between them, fiery hot and full of dislike, animosity, and something else—something he refused to delve into or try to name. “Man of honor?” she questioned.
“Yes, that’s okay, right? I read that Ryan Seacrest was the man of honor at his sister’s wedding, and Carter is my only family.”
Avery ripped her gaze away. “No problem,” she said crisply. “I’ll collect everyone’s emails so we can keep the whole wedding party informed of decisions that affect them, and of course, you can FaceTime your brother anytime you’d like his opinion.”
His sister laughed. “Are you kidding? He has video phobia. Thank goodness I convinced him to stay with me the whole summer and help with everything.” Her phone rang and she glanced down. “I’m sorry, do you mind if I step out for a bit? It’s Jason.”
Avery nodded, and Ally walked out, shutting the door behind her.
Thick silence settled over the room. Curiously, Carter watched Avery’s face. She’d managed to school it into a calm expression, pretending the announcement didn’t affect her, but he knew better.
She was pissed.
Those eyes couldn’t lie no matter how hard she tried. Sparks of temper flew at him like jagged pieces of glass, looking to wound. Her features were tight, and her shoulders squared as if ready for battle.
Carter held back a grin. It was kind of fun torturing her a bit. As the bride’s most important person, he was suddenly the one she had to please, which was completely different from their relationship back in DC. No, back then she had loved making fun of him, dragging his sister into dangerous situations in the name of adventure, and encouraging Ally to live big and rebel against her big brother’s strict and unfair rules.
She cleared her throat, but he didn’t speak, knowing quiet was a more powerful weapon than speech. Finally, she forced out words. “It’s nice of you to be here for your sister this summer to support her. The good news is you won’t have much to do. I’ll have guided appointments set up, and I know already what Ally’s taste is, so you can just enjoy a beach vacation and leave all this boring wedding planning to us.” Her smile was bright and completely fake.
He cocked his head. “Is that so?”
“Of course. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop, but I want to assure you, I have everything covered.”
He straightened the knot on his tie. Shot his cuffs. Adjusted his glasses. Then peered over the lenses to address her. “I’m sure you think you do. But after that debacle I saw on the street, I beg to differ. My sister’s wedding means everything to her, and I intend to see she gets what she wants. I’m not here for a beach vacation. I’m here to be involved in every single step of planning this wedding. I’ll be going to every appointment, every tasting, and every fitting. I’ll help with the parties, the favors, the flowers, and everything in between. Do we understand each other?”
He pushed back from the table, crossed one ankle over his knee, and waited for her response.
Damn, he was enjoying this.
Maybe this summer would be more interesting than he’d thought.
Avery refused to flinch. Refused to back off from his mocking blue-gray eyes or his smug grin. Oh, he was a bigger ass than she’d remembered—a complete control freak who’d try to muck up her processes and drive her insane just for the fun of it. No way was he about to intimidate her. She was an expert in taming fierce mama bears, overprotective fathers, and zealous bridesmaids. Handling one older brother should be a cakewalk.