Mallory

You’ve bought to be kidding. I elevate my slack-jawed gaze from the diagram on the marriage planner’s pill. The one filled with X’s and O’s and arrows like a coach would sketch out on a pregame whiteboard.

“Second?” I ask, dumbfounded, as I shade my eyes from the late-afternoon summer season solar. “I’m in second place?”

“Thrilled, proper?” Her excellent smile confirms she’s oblivious to the bewilderment spinning by way of my thoughts as she factors to the circle with my initials proper after the matron of honor within the lineup.

“However why? I figured I’d be seventh, and I used to be superb with that. Plus, that’s even earlier than her youthful sister.”

I imply, certain, Kelsie, the bride, and I pledged the identical sorority on the identical time and roomed collectively sophomore yr. However since that Might, eight years in the past, after we each graduated? Kelsie’s been busy courting half of Chicago earlier than falling in love and, for the previous eighteen months, planning this occasion of a marriage. And I’ve been getting an MBA and climbing the company ladder.

“Oh,” the planner replies, clicking her tongue. “That’s straightforward. Your peak works effectively with the groomsman within the second place. The 2 of you present that all-important symmetry within the photos.”

I straighten my shoulders, pulling as much as my full 5 foot 9 inches as I tug down the satin of the assigned mint-green gown for this night’s rehearsal. It matches the opposite bridesmaids completely however makes me look as if I grabbed it off the junior’s rack.

“And who’s the second groomsman?” I’ve but to satisfy any of them, apart from Sawyer, the groom’s brother, in fact. Though whereas the bridesmaids grabbed some solar by the pool this morning, we might hear them from a mile away as they returned from their fishing expedition on the lake.

My cell buzzes for the hundredth time immediately as the marriage planner brings up the display and refers back to the diagram once more. I look down on the textual content from work and shoot off a fast reply whereas she factors to the initials within the circle throughout from mine. “That may be Carson Bennett, the groom’s greatest buddy.”

There’s no rug underneath my heels, however all of the sudden, it feels as if one’s been pulled out from beneath my toes.

“Carson Bennett as within the Carson Bennett?”

What was Kelsie considering, and why didn’t she give me a heads up?

“The one and solely.” The planner leans in and lowers her voice as if we’re two girlfriends, sharing a secret over a glass of wine. “Essentially the most eligible bachelor of the yr, in line with Chicago Journal.”

I’m about to level out he most likely earned that title as a result of his household owns that publication and a dozen extra, however earlier than I can, she provides, “I advised you you’d be thrilled, proper?”

I don’t have an opportunity to utter the protest that bubbles up in my throat as a result of she takes off towards the gaggle of groomsmen. The throng, every with cigars in hand, are taking part in what have to be a cutthroat recreation of croquet based mostly on the cheers and challenges that echo throughout the pristine sun-drenched garden. And the money being forked over by a couple of of the fellows.

And with out even attempting, my eyes land on him, the right specimen of a person, who stands a head taller than the half dozen different groomsmen. His designer grey chino shorts match the others however hug an ass and thighs so thick they belong on knowledgeable athlete. Not the thirty-something inheritor to a media conglomerate who’s bent over a mallet that appears like a baby’s toy subsequent to his broad body.

The early summer season solar that warmed my pores and skin in essentially the most nice approach moments in the past all of the sudden appears blistering.

I’ve by no means met Carson Bennett, III, however my position as director of public relations for the biggest nanotechnology agency in Chicago calls for I keep on prime of the who’s who in our metropolis. The general public officers, CEOs, and movers and shakers we’re competing with for expertise. The leaders we might look to for strategic partnerships or for alternatives to assist the neighborhood.

Which is why I do know precisely who Carson Bennett is. And I do know all the things I have to know concerning the man. I’ve seen sufficient interviews to acknowledge the whip-smart grandson who’s subsequent in line to take over the various media firm his grandfather based and nonetheless runs. One which owns the newspaper with the biggest circulation in Chicagoland. A paper that has printed sufficient tales about AV Industries for the phrases to achieve to the moon and again.

Carson is astute, however he’s additionally a laid-back candy talker with a panty-melting smile, glowing, crystal-blue eyes, and a popularity as a girls’ man. Not that I would like to fret about him turning that appeal on me. He’s press with a capital P and I’m PR for one of many largest corporations within the metropolis. And due to this fact off limits.

Our skilled world is small, and prefer it or not, if something had been to occur between us, our reputations could be questioned. In order a lot as I’d prefer to keep away from the person I’m paired with for this marriage ceremony, it is to not be.

I spin again towards the half-dozen different bridesmaids with a sigh. If Carson and I in second place means symmetry for the images, then Kelsie can rely on me. As a lot as I’d have favored to loosen up and let down my guard this weekend, I’m ready to stay skilled. It’s what I do greatest.

Carson

Icough up the Benjamin, pulling a crisp one from my pockets and passing it to Sawyer’s brother, the most effective man, who simply smoked me in a head-to-head spherical of croquet.

“Double or nothing?” he gives, pocketing the hundred-dollar invoice with a broad smile.

I tuck the Montecristo No. 2 between my lips as I slide my pockets again into the pocket of my shorts, then draw a deep breath and blow it out. “I do know when to chop my losses,”

I wouldn’t be on deck to succeed my if the board didn’t consider I might assess the possibilities of any deal within the blink of an eye fixed. And this former frat boy, who most likely minored in garden video games, has an edge I can’t ignore.

He raises his longneck in my path. “Should you change your thoughts, you recognize the place to seek out me.”

“Okay, gents, time for that run by way of we went over,” the leggy, blonde marriage ceremony planner exclaims, clapping her fingers collectively as her heels click on down the flagstone path in our path. “The bridesmaids are certain to one-take this run-through, however I’ve little doubt you all can maintain your personal. Simply keep in mind what we talked about.”

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