Marry Me at Christmas (Fool's Gold #19)(33)

“Like Kristen?” she said before she could stop herself.

Ginger’s green eyes widened. “He told you about her?”

“He, ah, mentioned what happened.”

“Then you can see the problem. First our mom, then Kristen, then my dad. Nearly everyone Jonny’s ever loved has died. He doesn’t want to risk pain again. I can’t blame him, but I’m his sister. He’s stuck with me. So he doesn’t tell me he loves me, he shows me. When I first went to college, he tried to decorate my dorm room. He crammed in so much stuff I couldn’t move. He’s going to try to do the same with the wedding.”

Madeline thought about the giant cake, the extra courses he’d wanted for the dinner and the ice sculptures. “I see what you mean. You want me to keep things in check.”

“If you can. I’m not sure it’s possible.”

“Have you talked to him about this?”

“Dozens of times. He says he gets it, then goes right out and does exactly what he wants. Any help you can give would be really appreciated. Oliver and I want a simple, low-key wedding. I know there are couples who spend years planning the perfect wedding. Oliver and I are more interested in being married than getting married.”

“I understand completely. I’ll talk to your brother. If that doesn’t work, I’ll make sure he doesn’t fly in the Vienna Boys’ Choir.”

Ginger winced. “Please don’t mention them to him. I’m sure he would do exactly that.”

“It would make for a great story.”

Ginger smiled. “We’ll have pictures. That’s enough.”

* * *

Madeline hung up the phone and knew that her until-then perfectly wonderful day had been ruined and she had no one to blame but herself. She’d been stupid. Sure there were other words, but that was the truth of it. Dumb her.

She couldn’t say why she’d done it, either. The second she’d looked at her cell phone and seen the 509 area code, she’d known. But she’d taken the call, anyway.

“I have to stop,” she said aloud as she paced back and forth in her office. “I have to say no. Of course, if I refuse, he wins. If I don’t take the call, he wins. And when we go out to dinner, he wins.”

“Sounds like you’ve got a problem.”

She spun toward the door and saw Jonny standing just inside her office. He was wearing a leather jacket, jeans and boots. He looked good. Manly. Handsome. Sexy. All things that should have taken her mind off her troubles, but Ted was bigger than all of that. Which was pretty much the worst thing yet.

“You have no idea. But I’ll deal. How are things?”

In the world of snappy comebacks and distractions “How are things” wasn’t great, but it was the best she could come up with under pressure.

“Fine,” he said, walking toward her. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Something.”

She faked a smile. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

He stopped in front of her and did nothing. He just stood there, as if he had all the time in the world.

“Seriously, I’m fine.”

One dark eyebrow rose.

She caved like the weak link she was. “It’s Ted. The ex-boyfriend who always comes to town with his beautiful wife.”

“The one you told me about?”

She nodded miserably. “Yes. The one who loves to reenact that scene from Bridget Jones’s Diary.” She lowered her voice and tried for a British accent. “So, Bridge, what’s it like being perpetually single?” She huffed out air. “It’s awful and somehow I agreed to dinner.” She squared her shoulders and faked another smile. “It’s fine. One night, right? I’m sure being with him and Marigold builds character.”

“His wife’s name is Marigold?”

“Uh-huh. She used to be a model.”

“Runway?”

“Catalog, but still. They talk about it and then ask about my ‘retail job.’” She made air quotes. “That’s what they call me working here. My retail job. I’m fine with that. I love what I do and I won’t apologize for it.”

“You shouldn’t. You make brides happy. Ted does weather, so he’s wrong sixty percent of the time. How often are you wrong?”

The question made her smile. “A lot less than sixty percent.”

“So you win.”

If only it were that simple. Despite the dread knotting in her stomach, she didn’t want to be whiny. “That’s how I need to look at it. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He studied her for a second. “I’ll be your date.”

She blinked, sure she’d misunderstood. “Excuse me?”

“For the dinner. I’ll be your date.” One shoulder rose, then fell. “I’m a good date. Not just because you get to bring Jonny Blaze, but because Ted needs to be taken down a peg and I’m the man to do it.”

“I, ah, I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

“Which part of it?”

The part where she got to walk in with a famous movie star as her date? Or watching said date take down Ted? “It’s a little calculated.”

“And his invitation isn’t? Does it occur to you that Ted and Marigold come here for a reason? One of them needs to show you they’re still together and happy. Maybe Ted thinks of you as the one who got away and Marigold wants to be sure you know they’re still blissfully happy. Maybe Ted has a secret thing for you. Maybe they’re just jerks. Regardless, there’s an agenda. If they get to have one, you should, too.”