Shannon Hollis - Sex & Sensibility (Harlequin Blaze, 203)

T HE NEXT TIME I say Im getting married, just shoot me, all right? Linn Nichols gave Tessa and Griffin a hug and sank onto the couch that Tessa was already plotting to have replaced. Linn looked around. Hey, nice place. I see youre going to keep my sister in a style to which shell become accustomed.

Nice to see you, too. Griffin started a pot of coffee, placing the new carafe on the burner with what Tessa considered unnecessary care. They treating you well at CLEU?

Linn nodded. The job is fine. Arresting importers is keeping me sane. Want to know whats happened now? She glanced at Tessa in appeal.

The store cant order our dresses.

No.

Kellans mom cant do the flowers.

No, shes fine. You should see their house. It looks like a florist convention.

What, then?

Linn paused for dramatic effect, then announced, The parish hall where wed booked the reception burned to the ground last night, and took part of the church with it.

My God. Griffin sat on the edge of his recliner. Was anyone hurt?

No, but they think it was arson. The sheriffs office is on it.

Gosh. Maybe it was one of Kellans ex-girlfriends, out for some revenge. Linn glared at her, and Tessa regretted the quip. This was not funny.

Do you have any idea how long it took me to find that location? It never occurred to me to have my team do periodic surveillance on it on the off chance there would be arsonists.

With two weeks to go, youre going to have to elope, Tessa said firmly. I hear its all the rage now.

Linn sighed. I cant elope. Ive already sent two hundred and fifty invitations. If you guys ever decide to get married, take your own advice and call me when its over.

Tessa looked up to meet Griffins warm gaze, and the corners of his eyes crinkled. They hadnt talked about anything as serious as marriage, much less eloping, but deep in her heart was the knowledge that Griffin was in this for the long term. And so was she.

The furniture, however, was not. Tessa gave the couch the evil eye. Just wait. Your turn is coming.

So what we need to do is find you another place to have your wedding, Griffin said, turning his mind to his favorite leisure activityproblem solving.

Ive called everyone in three counties and unless I want to do it in the municipal park after the one oclock Little League game, Im out of luck.

An idea struck Tessa and she tingled, like the triangle does in an orchestra when its tapped by a musician. Are you opposed to doing it outside?

All the nice gardens are booked. Thats why we went to Plan B, renting the parish hall.

Tessa stood up and went to find her purse. I have an idea.

An idea? What do you know about weddings? Tessa?

She found her purse under Griffins big bed, where shed dropped it after being ambushed this afternoon and threatened with handcuffs until she agreed to make love for a solid hour. Still smiling at the memory, she retrieved her cell phone and punched in a number as she walked back into the living room.

Jay Singleton picked up his private line on the second ring.

Tessa! Good to hear from you.

And you. Say, is it true what I read in the paper? That Trey Ludovic is marrying that romance novelist whos worth a couple of million?

Jay laughed. Its true. Shes ten years older than he is and about ten times smarter. The guy didnt have a chance. I dont have to tell you that Mandy introduced them at the Masters tournament at Pebble Beach.

Mandy is the master.

It took about a week, but Christina managed to get over it. Shes starting at UC Santa Rita soon, so she has a lot to keep her mind occupied.

Im glad.

So, what can I do for you? Is that Mustang of yours broken down on the highway? Need a lift?

No, we have a more serious breakdown. Swiftly, she told him about Linn, glancing at her sister as she did so. So how would you feel about hosting the wedding of the century on your beach, with a reception on the lawn afterward? I know its a lot to ask, but you wouldnt have to do a thing. The flowers and food are taken care of, and the band are all friends of ours, so theyre portable. All we need is the real estate.

Done, said Jay simply. A week next Saturday, you said?

Yes.

No problem. Ill tell Mandy right away. Let your sister know Id be happy to have her and her wedding party as my guests the night before, too. God knows this house is big enough for an army.

My gosh, Jay, thats awfully generous of

Hey, he reminded her, Ive done this four times. I know how it is. Mandy will be delighted. Itll give her an excuse to zoom up to Neiman Marcus and buy a new dress.

Jay, I take back all the bad things I ever said about you.

Yeah, yeah, you and the Wall Street Journal . See you in two weeks.

Take care of yourself.

And you.

Tessa snapped her cell phone shut and beamed at Linn, who was looking as though a flash bomb had gone off in her face. All set. A wedding on the beach, just like I always wanted. When you send the revised invitations, tell the two hundred and fifty people to wear comfortable shoes. Or maybe even none at all.

She crossed the room and parked herself on Griffins good knee. He wrapped his arms around her while Linn struggled to speak.

That was Jay Singleton, she said at last, as if corralling all the facts and pinning them down would help her take it in. Im going to have my wedding at his estate.

Yup.

Jeez, Tessa, what do you do for an encore? Linn stared at her, her eyes lit with the dawning realization. To-do lists were probably dancing like sugarplums in her head.

Griffin squeezed Tessa around the waist. I dont know, he said in a tone laden with mock warning, but the next time she plans a wedding, there had better not be two hundred and fifty people. Think about the security Im going to have to come up with.

She looked deep into his eyes. What next time? Is there something youre not telling me?

He smiled at her. Youre the sensitive. You figure it out.

She closed her eyes in mock solemnity and cupped his face as though it were a crystal ball. Hmm. I see sunlight in your future. I see a backyard with a banana tree that has miraculously come back to life. I see six or seven people and the mysterious absence of a ring bearer.

Is that all you see? Griffin asked softly.

She opened her eyes and gazed into the craggy, worn face she loved. I threw the cards this morning, for real, she said.

And what were they?

The King of Swords and the Queen of Wands. I think the universe wants me to know that the waiting is over.

I could have told you that, he said, and pulled her closer for a kiss.

W ITH A CRACK LIKE A GUNSHOT , the coffeepot broke and showered hot coffee all over his hand, the counter, and his pants. Griffin Knox wasnt the kind of guy to believe in signs and omens, but holding the black plastic handle in midair over his still-empty mug, he hoped this wasnt an indication of how the day was going to go.

In a moment he found out.

The cell phone he wore exclusively for communication between himself and his employer went fleedeep at five past nine. Fleedeep meant the summons was in walkie-talkie mode, which meant Jay Singleton couldnt wait the thirty seconds it would take to press seven digits and let it ring.

Singleton used walkie-talkie mode a lot.

Wiping the coffee from his hand and his jeans with a paper towel, Griffin grabbed the unit from the counter before it got drowned and pressed the respond button. Knox.