Love on Beach Avenue(23)
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“Dog discrimination and profiling. I bet you go the other way when you see a pit bull, too, assuming it’s aggressive and dangerous.”
Her jaw dropped. “I do not! I love dogs—all dogs! I don’t discriminate.”
He peered over his glasses, lips tight with disapproval. “You are making assumptions that as a male, I should have a big, burly type of dog. But I happen to like Yorkshire terriers. They’re refined, highly skilled mouse hunters, and fierce of heart. And Ally bought her the bow, which happens to be pink. Would you like to make fun of me now?”
Her cheeks burned. Damn him. He was always twisting her words! “I’m not making fun of you,” she said stiffly. “I was only making an observation.”
“Do you have a dog?”
“No. But only because I’m too busy with work. I have no time to take care of one. I’m a huge animal lover.” She decided to prove it, reaching over to pet Lucy. “Hey, sweetie, how are you?” she crooned.
Lucy bared her tiny, sharp teeth and growled.
She jerked her hand back.
“Small doesn’t necessarily mean delicate. She’s extremely picky about who she allows to touch her. After she gets to know you, you may offer your hand, palm up, and allow her to learn your scent.”
Irritation flowed through her. He was such a know-it-all. “Hmm, you’re a big dog expert, too? Just like with wedding planning?” she practically sneered.
He cocked his head and studied her. Lucy copied his exact image, so it was like staring in duplicate. “No, it’s quite difficult to be a dog expert.”
She sucked in her breath at the jab, got ready to give him hell, and was interrupted by her best friend.
“My two favorite people in the world!” Ally said, drawing them in for a hug. “And Lucy, of course. How are you, baby?” She reached out and pressed a kiss on the dog’s nose, then scratched under her chin.
Lucy accepted the petting like a queen allowing her subjects to serve her. Seemed like Carter had found a dog with the same condescending personality. God knew he’d never be able to find a woman to put up with his crap. Lucy was the perfect companion.
Avery forced a smile. “We have two wonderful reception venues to see today. Are we ready?”
“Let’s go,” Carter said.
“Um, don’t you need to take your dog home?”
His voice chilled. “Lucy doesn’t like being left alone for too long. I’m going to bring her with.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea to bring her into a restaurant?”
Ally laughed. “She’s well behaved and stays in her carrier with no fuss. I’m sure she won’t bother us.”
Avery flicked her gaze to the man purse and back to the man, who seemed to silently dare her to make another comment about his accessory bag. Lucy tossed her pink-bowed head, gave a snort, and sank down for a nap.
Unbelievable.
Avery spun on her heel. “Fine, let’s go. My car’s over here.”
They got into her white SUV and headed out. “This first venue is the Ocean Club. Their SeaSalt restaurant has amazing cuisine, and I think it gives the flavor of elegance combined with the beach fun you may be looking for. They had a last-minute cancellation, so they’re holding it for us for twenty-four hours.”
“What if they didn’t have a cancellation?” Carter asked from the back seat. “Would Ally have no choices at all?”
Her shoulders stiffened, but she kept her voice light. “No, I have another vendor we’ll see next.”
“And if she doesn’t like that one?”
Her fingers gripped tight around the steering wheel. “I’d get creative. This late in the season I have limited choices, but we got lucky.”
“Huh. Didn’t realize luck was a huge part of the wedding-planning business.”
“Stop busting her chops, Carter,” his sister called out. “You have no idea how much stress we’ve put poor Avery under to plan this in three months. Don’t add to it.”
She smiled at her friend, who tossed her a wink. Carter remained blessedly quiet for the rest of the drive. It was nice to see Ally stand up to her older sibling, and Avery enjoyed every moment of the king’s temporary knockdown.
When they arrived at the Ocean Club, she introduced them to Peter, who took them through the space with his usual enthusiasm and charm. She’d built a long-term relationship with multiple vendors in Cape May and loved when one of her favorites was able to work with her. Whenever they had a cancellation, they immediately called Avery because she always had a bride ready to jump on the spot. Personally, this was the reception site she believed would fit her friend’s vision best.
The massive open room where the reception would be held boasted a gorgeous bar; huge windows open to views of the beach; and gleaming, warm, polished wood floors. Her heels tapped as she began to paint a picture of the space to fit Ally and Jason’s needs. “You can definitely go with a smaller space with your number of guests, but this allows endless possibilities for decor and setup without feeling dwarfed. The dance floor could go here, or over there,” she pointed out. “We’d put the tables scattered by those windows so the guests have plenty of breathing room while they watch the sunset over the beach. I’d suggest doing silver tablecloths with black-raspberry accents.”