The Best Man and The Wedding Planner

“They didn’t even mention it. Too focused on when I’d leave it all behind and fall in line with my family obligations.” He tapped a few keys and her seating arrangement popped up on the screen. “Feels kind of hollow now.”

“I’m sorry.”

He didn’t look up. “It doesn’t matter.”

“You mean it didn’t matter to them.”

He gave a negligent shrug. “I’m a big boy. I can handle it.”

“Well, I officially call the parent battle a draw. I know it’s not the same but...congratulations.”

That earned her a half smile and a nod. Then he started to run her through the features of the computer program.

“This is fabulous.” All she had to do was type a name into a seat slot and all the notes associated with that name appeared sorted by category and importance. “You have saved me hours of work.”

His eyes gleamed as he went on to show her a few additional options. “And if you do this—” he punched a couple of keys “—it will auto-fill based on a selected category.” He clicked social standing and then pressed Enter. Names popped into assigned seats.

She blinked. “Wow. What do the colors mean?” Many of the names were in red and blue.

“Blue means there’s a conflict with someone else at the table. Red means there are two or more conflicts.”

While he showed her how to access the conflicts, she impulsively pressed the button to call the attendant. The blonde appeared with impressive speed, her smile dimming slightly when she saw Lindsay seated with Zach.

“How can I help you?”

“We’d like two glasses of champagne, please. And some strawberries if you have them.”

“I think I can find some. Be right back.”

“Champagne?” He cocked his head. “You turned it down earlier.”

“That was before. Now we have things to celebrate. I have this to help me finish my seating plan and you met a career-long goal.”

The attendant arrived with a tray, setting it down between them. “Buon appetito! Ms. Reeves, would you like us to do your turndown service now?”

“Sure.” Maybe the champagne would help her sleep. The woman turned away and Lindsay lifted a flute of bubbling gold wine. “To you. Congratulations and thank you.”

* * *

Zach lifted his flute and tapped it against Lindsay’s. “To you.” A crystal chime rang out as pretty as the sound of her laughter. Her simple gesture almost undid the butcher job his parent’s self-absorption had done to his pride. He didn’t get them, probably never would. They couldn’t spare the smallest show of affection. But this prickly little pixie put her animosity aside to toast his success.

She didn’t know him except as a helpful jerk and a few dry facts on paper. Heck, she hugged the window in an attempt to maintain her distance yet she still celebrated his accomplishment.

It almost made him feel bad about sabotaging the wedding.

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_8b1b3278-bd35-5efe-a5a2-ee99df4220d5)

IT WAS A drastic plan. One Zach took no pleasure in. But he’d do whatever necessary to ensure his friend didn’t suffer the frigid existence his parents called marriage. Antonio was already sacrificing his life for his country; selling off his business interests in America to Zach. He shouldn’t have to give up all chance of happiness, too.

Zach reluctantly agreed to be best man. He didn’t believe in big, lavish weddings. And he didn’t approve of Tony’s insane sacrifice. So why would he agree? Because Tony was the closest thing he had to a brother. Of course, he had to support him.

And of course he felt compelled to talk him out of throwing his future away.

Zach knew the circumstances of Antonio’s marriage and it made him sick to think of his honorable, big-hearted friend locked into a miserable existence like his parents had shared.

He wasn’t thinking of doing anything overt. Certainly nothing that would embarrass the royal family, especially his best friend. But he could cause a few delays. And earn enough time to talk his friend out of making the biggest mistake of his life.

Tony had a lot on his plate taking on the leadership of his country. Halencia had reached a state of crisis. Antonio’s parents were gregarious, bigger-than-life characters madly in love with each other one moment and viciously in hate the next. There’d been public affairs and passionate reconciliations.

The country languished under their inattention. The king and queen lived big and spent big, costing the country much-needed funds.

The citizens of Halencia loved the drama, hated the politics. Demands for a change had started years ago but had become more persistent in the past five years. Until a year ago when the king was threatened with a paternity suit. It turned out Antonio wasn’t getting a new sibling. It was just a scare tactic gone wrong.

But it was the last straw for the citizens of Halencia.

The chancellor of the high counsel had gone to Antonio and demanded action be taken.

Antonio had flown home to advise his father the time had come. The king must abdicate and let Antonio rule or risk the monarchy being overthrown completely.

The citizens of Halencia cheered in the streets. Antonio was well loved in his home country. He lived and worked in California, but he took his duty as prince seriously. He returned home two or three times a year, maintaining a residence in Halencia and supporting many businesses and charities.

Everyone was happy. Except Tony, who had to leave everything he’d worked to achieve and go home to marry a woman he barely knew.

Zach knew the truth behind Tony’s impromptu engagement four years ago. He was one of a handful of people who did. And though it was motivated by love, it wasn’t for the woman he’d planned to marry.

Tony was a smart man. Zach just needed a little time to convince him that marriage was drastic and unnecessary.

Lindsay seemed like a nice person. She’d understand when this all played out. Surely she wouldn’t want to bring together two people who were not meant to be a couple. Plus, she’d get paid either way. And have a nice trip to Italy for her troubles.

Once he was in Halencia and had access to Tony and Christina, he’d subtly hound them until one or the other caved to the pressure. And maybe cause a snag or two along the way so the whole thing just seemed like a bad idea.

Of course he’d have to distract the pretty wedding planner with a faux flirtation to keep her from noticing his shenanigans. No hardship there. He was attracted enough to the feisty pixie to make it fun, but she was way too picket-fence for him so there was no danger of taking it too far.

He saw it as win, win, win. Especially for those not stuck in a loveless marriage.

She lifted her glass again. “And thanks again for this program.”

“I hope you like puzzles, because there’s still a lot of work there.”

“Not near what there was.” She picked up a strawberry, dipped it in her flute and sank dainty white teeth into the fruit. The ripe juice stained her lips red and he had the keenest urge to taste the sweetness left behind. “In fact, I may actually watch the movie.”

“Excellent.” He all but had her eating out of his hand with that act of kindness. And he’d needed something after stumbling onto the plane half blind with a migraine and sitting on the blasted dress. He’d popped some over-the-counter meds just before boarding. Thank the flight gods the headache had finally eased off.

He needed to stick close to her if this sabotage was going to work. He’d do his best to protect her as he went forward, but if it came down to a choice between her job and the happiness of the man who meant more to him than family, he’d choose Tony every time. No matter how pretty the wedding planner.

He’d revealed more about himself than he meant to, than he ever did really. But her attitude toward parental problems appealed to him: do what you can and move on. How refreshing to find someone who understood and accepted that not all parents were perfect. Many people didn’t get along with their parents but most loved and respected them.

He tolerated his parents, but he wasn’t willing to make a total break, which probably meant he harvested hope for a better relationship at some point. He couldn’t imagine what might bring it about so he pretty much ignored them except when he was on the east coast or at a family function requiring his presence.