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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.
ONE NIGHT IN NEW ORLEANS
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 CARSON left 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
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.
Relief relaxed his shoulders. Today’s four-hour flight to New Orleans had been turbulent and hot, hopeless for snagging a few minutes of shut-eye. A cold beer would go down good about now.
He approached the makeshift bar and leaned a hip against the wagon. “Callie LaBeau?”
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, Paulson. 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.
“Colin told me I could find you here.” He scanned the guests milling about. “I assumed you were scoping out a venue for an event. He didn’t mention I was walking into the middle of an actual wedding reception.”
“Colin’s a good friend, and I owe him a lot. But he’s an obsessed gamer,” she responded with a shrug that said it all.
Matt understood. Over the course of the past two years, he’d learned that the geekdom world was built on the backs of those whose lives revolved around the game. Outside social conventions often didn’t compute. His brother’s life currently consisted of work and spending hours immersed in the world of Dungeons of Zhorg, having traded one obsession for another. Matt just hoped Tommy’s current fixation lasted.
Because dungeons and dragons and trolls beat the hell out of crystal meth.
As always, the years-old ache in his chest hurt as he remembered a time when his brother was gaunt, paranoid and delusional. Sick and wasting away right in front of Matt’s eyes.
His stomach roiled, and he pushed the memories aside. “Should we meet up tomorrow or do you have a minute?”
“I’ll be out of town all day on Saturday. How long are you in New Orleans?”
“Until Sunday morning.”
She let out a huff of humor. “Now it is, then.”
Callie reached into the bodice of her gown. The sight of those graceful fingers dipping into her cleavage hiked his brow and tightened his groin. Fortunately, he kept his expression one of amused sarcasm rather than the truth: a sleep-deprived guy who found the sight a total turn-on. A grin curled her mouth as she pulled out a tiny pocket watch.
“I try to keep things as authentic as possible. As the one in charge, that makes things difficult. Working without my tablet has been a real pain.” She glanced at the time and blew an escaped strand of honey-colored hair from her cheek. “My assistant can keep an eye on things for a bit. But you only have twenty minutes until I need to prepare for the cutting of the cake.”
Twenty minutes wasn’t a lot of time to convince someone to do the impossible.
He ordered a beer and Callie requested a club soda. After she spoke with her assistant, who wore a similar gown in red, and looked a lot more harried than the wedding planner herself, they headed to a small bar along the back of the house that wasn’t in use.
“What I wouldn’t give to lean back in that seat right now.” Callie looked longingly at a chair at one of the few empty tables, like a student eyeing an espresso after an all-nighter. “But this dress makes relaxing impossible. And I’m tired of sitting up straight.”
“That getup doesn’t look comfortable, either.”
“The petticoat is stiff and the corset makes breathing impossible.” She leaned against the counter, her brown eyes intrigued. “So tell me about your wedding-day fantasies, Mr. Paulson.”
A bark of shocked laughter shot from his mouth. Hell, before he could think about tying the knot he’d have to be in one place long enough to successfully date someone. And that wouldn’t happen anytime soon. If ever.
How many times had he tried, and miserably failed, to be the long-distance boyfriend? How many times had he tried, and failed, to keep a relationship going? An occasional round of great sex was one thing, but that held a woman for only so long. And there weren’t many willing to play second chair to his responsibilities to Tommy. Eventually, they all left, the resentment toward his priorities too much to overcome.
Matt cleared his throat. “I’m not here to discuss my fantasies.”
Fantasies.
Another stab of awareness hit, stronger than the one before. Damn, why were they even using the word? Currently his fantasies consisted of a brown-eyed beauty wearing an old-fashioned dress with a ridiculous hoop beneath. But the thought of unlacing a corset was surprisingly...hot.
He settled next to her at the counter. “I’m here about my brother’s wedding.”
Was that a hint of interest that flickered through her eyes?
Before he could decide, she glanced down at her drink and took a sip before carefully setting down her glass. “So why isn’t he here?”
“Can’t get the time off work.”
More accurately, with Tommy’s track record, he couldn’t risk losing another job.
“And the bride to be?” she drawled.
A history as bad as the groom’s. Perhaps worse.
“They had prior commitments,” Matt said instead, sending her a smile that didn’t encourage further questioning. “I had a few days off, so I volunteered to come down and get the ball rolling.”
She eyed him steadily. “Dedicated of you.”
Matt’s lips quirked dryly. She had no idea.
“What can I say?” he said with an easy shrug. “I’m a hell of a brother.”
Matt glanced down at the woman who stood a good six inches shorter than him. A height which was just high enough for a great view down the front of that ridiculous outfit that displayed her breasts as though they were a commodity. Perhaps during the time period of the dress, they had been.
Man. He rubbed his eyes. The fatigue was clearly getting to him. He’d worked four twelve-hour shifts in a row, the E.R. packed with patients every night—just how he liked it. The last night he’d encountered a trauma case that left him flying high on adrenaline, unable to sleep. He loved the challenge, and he was damned good at emergency medicine, too. He’d finished up a satisfying two weeks of work in one of the busiest E.R.s in Los Angeles and had been set to climb on a flight back to Michigan to check on Tommy. Until his brother had called and shared his and Penny’s plans for the wedding. So, instead, Matt had headed to LAX and climbed onto a plane bound for New Orleans.
“Don’t be too impressed, Mr. Paulson.”
Matt blinked, forcing himself back to the present and the lovely set of boobs. “Come again?”
“The corset pushes everything up. They’re not as big as the dress makes them look.”
He quirked an eyebrow, amused by her admission. “Who said I was looking?”
Even the laugh that escaped held a hint of the South. “No one had to say anything, Mr. Paulson. I can see your eyes with my own.”
Matt scrubbed a hand down his face. “Sorry. I haven’t had much sleep in the past thirty-six hours and I got a little distracted. And I think you should call me Matt.” A hint of a grin finally crept up his face. “I’m guessing the formalities aren’t necessary once you get caught leering down a woman’s dress. How much time do I have left?”
Her lips quirked as she reached in to her bodice “It’s now seven forty-five. You have ten minutes left.” She tipped her head curiously. “Don’t you wear a watch?”
“I do,” he said. “I just enjoy the sight of you pulling that watch out of your dress.”
Her warm laugh encouraged him to settle more comfortably against the counter.
“So tell me about your brother’s wedding fantasy,” she said.
She turned and leaned her elbows back on the counter, and he wondered if she knew the position put her on even better display. From the focused look on her face, he’d say no. The woman had slipped fully into themed-wedding-planner mode. He forced his eyes away from the expanse of skin of her bared shoulders and the line between the curve of her breasts.
“Simple,” Matt said. “His fantasy involves a video game.”
Callie groaned. “That’s why Colin sent you to me.”
“Tommy and Penny want their wedding to be a Dungeons of Zhorg weekend set here in New Orleans,” he said. “And since I volunteered to come and hire someone to organize the wedding, I wanted to check and make sure there wouldn’t be any legal problems with the plan. So I hunted Colin down to clear up any copyright hassles.”
“Which would only be a problem if you were selling tickets to the public. I assume this is a private party.”
“More or less.”
Her eyebrows drifted higher. “So which is it, more or less?”
Here was where things were about to get tricky.
Matt shifted on his feet, trying to get comfortable against the counter. “They want to combine their wedding with a LARP event for their fellow gaming friends. You know, a live-action—”
“Live-action role-playing. Yes, I know. I dated Colin long enough to be well versed in geek speak.”
Matt felt his brow crinkle in surprise.
So Colin was her ex. When Matt had searched the creator of Dungeons of Zhorg out at Rainstorm Games and found him in his office late on a Friday afternoon, Matt’s opinion of the geeked-out gamer had been complete. Fortunately, the man had no problem with Tommy and Penny’s plans. In fact, Colin thought a newspaper article about the event would be good publicity for his game. Matt had told him he’d check with Tommy before agreeing, but figured his brother and the equally geeked-out fiancée would be thrilled. Matt could just see the headline now.
Ex-Drug Addicts Saved by Finding True Love Through the Dungeons of Zhorg.
Everyone would love the story. Hell, Matt loved the story.
He just wished he could believe the current state of affairs would last.
The familiar surge of unease filled his stomach like a concrete truck unloading its contents. Damn. If he’d learned anything over the years of Tommy’s addiction, it was that taking care of today was the best Matt could do. Sometime it was more than Matt could do.
And often, his best just hadn’t been good enough.
Matt pushed the thought aside and returned to the more interesting topic of Callie. “You and your ex must have remained pretty good friends if he’s sending you my business.”
Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “You’d have to pry the game controller from his cold, dead fingers before the man would admit the truth, but he owes me. I helped him track Jamie down after they first met. Now they’re married.” Callie let out a chuckle. “That and he wants to ensure the wedding gets done right. You know, with the proper attention to Zhorg detail.” He heard, rather than saw, the roll of her eyes in her tone. “But a ceremony shouldn’t be too hard to pull off.”
“Actually, the entire weekend needs to be planned.”
“Wait,” she said, straightening up from the counter to face him. “I thought you just needed me for the wedding part. You want me to be in charge of the entire LARPing event?”
After several years of experience as the locums doctor in various E.R.s located in big cities across the country, Matt had learned how to handle addicts flying higher than a kite, as dangerous as a violent criminal.
Much like a cornered wild animal, the key was to never let ’em see you flinch.
He maintained her gaze and adopted his best soothing tone. “Yes. But the weekend doesn’t need to be that elaborate. Throw up a few tents, offer a little food, and the guests bring their own costumes. And we can call it a day.”
He knew he’d totally downplayed Tommy and Penny’s vision for the weekend, but Matt thought they were dreaming too big anyway. He’d told them both pulling off exactly what they wanted would be impossible, short of crawling into the video game itself.
Her brow scrunched and several seconds ticked by.
“How much time do I have?” she asked.
“Two months.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I’m completely serious.”
“Impossible. Sorry, Mr. Paulson, you’ll have to find someone else.” She reached out and took his wrist, pushing up his sleeve to peek at his watch. And then gave him a pretty smile. “Time’s up.”
Momentarily stunned, he watched her head toward the cake table.
Until he remembered his goal, and took off, following her through the crowd. “I love what you did with The Wizard of Oz wedding,” he said, keeping stride with Callie. “And having the Mad Hatter as the wedding officiant in the Alice in Wonderland theme was inspired.”
Did he sound as stupid as he felt?
“How did you learn about that?” she asked.
“Colin gave me one of your brochures. He said you’re the best in the business.”
Callie cast him an amused glance but kept on walking. “Are you trying to use flattery to change my mind?”
“You bet,” he said. “Is it working?”
“Not yet, but feel free to keep trying.”
“The Elizabethan venue was spectacular—” he dodged two Southern belle dresses and a Confederate soldier “—and The Three Musketeers theme was cool, as well.”
She shot him a wry look. “Pirates,” she said. “It was a pirates theme.”
“Whatever,” he said. “Who else is better qualified for a Dungeons of Zhorg themed wedding?”
Callie stared out across the crowd of guests milling about as they enjoyed appetizers. A furrow of concentration between her brows, she appeared to be running through the idea in her head. She chewed on her cheek before swiping her lower lip with her tongue. The sight of the now damp, full mouth was putting a whammy on his libido.
Huh, if he was this easily distracted, it was well past time he sought out some female companionship. To take the edge off, so to speak. Or maybe he simply needed sleep.
“Okay. It might be doable. Crazy, mind you. But doable,” she drawled, and then looked around the current scene. “After all, crazy is my specialty.”
Matt smiled his first real smile since Tommy had shared his engagement news and Matt couldn’t decide if the marriage would make conditions better...or worse.
The potential for an epic screwup was great.
Callie sent him a wide smile back. The gesture wasn’t sexual, but the genuine nature lit her eyes in a way that left them sparkling, sending another bolt of heat and awareness up his spine.
Too bad his flight out was Sunday. And there was no way he could delay the trip. He’d already gone two weeks without flying back home, to the childhood house Matt had moved back into, sharing the residence with Tommy since the very first round of rehab had failed, all those years ago.
He cleared his throat. “Fantastic,” he said.
Mission accomplished. Problem addressed, solution found and past time to move on. Or, as the motto went in the E.R., treat ’em and street ’em. Everything was turning out better than he’d planned. He’d even get a full night’s sleep tonight.
“Let me know how much to put down as a deposit. I’ll get you my email so you can send me the invoices as we go.” He slipped his wallet from his pocket and pulled out his card, filling in the contacts. “And here are Tommy and my cell phone numbers too, just in case you have any questions—”
“Wait.” Her brown eyes grew even wider as she took his card. “You’re not leaving, are you?”
Concern edged up his back, making his shoulders feel stiff. “I have a hot date with the king-size bed in my hotel room—a rendezvous I’m really looking forward to. And Sunday I have to head back home.”
Callie leaned closer, bringing that lovely view in a more direct line of vision. “Listen, Mr. Paulson.”
How was he supposed to listen, much less concentrate, with a view like that? And clearly the stress of the upcoming event had knocked them back to a last-name basis instead of first.
“You’re lucky I have a light enough schedule and an assistant to help me,” Callie said. “But I can’t do this alone. There are too many decisions that need to be made, and made quickly, too. I won’t take responsibility for making the wrong ones. Someone needs to be around to help.”