Rose seemed determined to ignore his less than thrilled tone. Or maybe she just hoped that if she pressed on, everything would be fine. “Why don’t you sign off on the menu, then, Mr. Kyle, and we’ll—”
“I’m sorry, I can’t do that,” Andrew said, shaking his head.
“But you just said—”
“The food is well prepared,” he said, “but, unfortunately, it’s too bland.”
Bland.
It was the same word he’d used about her restaurant.
Julie’s hands closed on the tablecloth. “Bland?” she repeated.
Andrew nodded. “As I said, it’s fine, it’s just…frankly, it’s wedding food.”
“That’s what this food is for,” Julie had to point out. “A
wedding.
”
“Yes, but it’s for my brother’s wedding, and I’m sorry, this menu won’t work. It’s been done. There’s nothing exciting here. There’s no twist on any of the classic dishes, and there isn’t anything innovative, either. This is my wedding gift to my brother and his fiancée. It needs to be special. But nothing about this menu makes it clear that their wedding is a really special occasion.”
Julie thought the part where there would be a bride and groom saying “I do” in front of a few hundred people might be a clue as to the specialness of the occasion, but, of course, she wasn’t going to say that. Besides, just then, she was too busy remembering the first time Andrew Kyle had made these comments about her food. Remembering how much it had hurt.
About as much as it hurt right now, come to think of it.
“So what is it you want?” Julie asked. She very carefully
kept her voice level. Completely devoid of emotion.
Even so, Rose shot her a look before taking over the negotiations. “Yes, perhaps if you describe exactly what it is you do want, we will be better able to provide it.”
Andrew smiled at them, actually had the nerve to pull those gorgeous lips of his up at the corners as if nothing was wrong. “Something special. Something different. Something with a bit of imagination to it.”
He focused his gaze on Julie and she refused to let her heart go pitter-patter, darn it.
“Something you couldn’t cook in your sleep, Julie.” Another smile. “This wedding is a big deal for our family and I
know
you can come up with something better than what you’ve served me today.”
Thank God at least one of them knew it, Julie thought as Rose dove in to try to salvage the situation.
“Are you sure we can’t—”
Andrew raised a hand to cut her off. “I’m sorry, but I’ll need to see a completely revised menu before I can agree to sign off on anything.”
“I see,” Rose said. She didn’t sound happy about it.
Julie didn’t blame her, especially since right then she was undecided between slipping out the back door and making for the border, or sticking pins in a doll with Andrew Kyle’s “perfect” features—maybe adding a few new dimples while she was at it.
“Look,” Andrew said, “I’d like to come back so that we can throw a few ideas around. Between Julie and myself, I suspect we can come up with something that’s perfect for the wedding.”
He’d just demolished her cooking for the second time in a few short months, and he thinks she would want him around?
“What a wonderful idea,” Rose said before Julie could flat-out refuse to ever see Andrew Kyle again. “Our aim at the Rose Chalet is to make sure the day goes exactly the way the happy couple wants it. Julie would be happy to brainstorm menus with you, wouldn’t you, Julie?”
Since the question was obviously rhetorical, Julie mumbled something that could be taken as a yes.
Rose stood. “Andrew, if you have a few more minutes, I’d like to take you for a walk around the Chalet to get a feel for the place. My full staff isn’t here at the moment, but we can start to discuss a few options.”
Julie had never been so grateful for anything as when Andrew agreed. Ordinarily, with a guy like him, she would have watched him go just because she couldn’t
not
stare. Today, however, it was simply to make sure he was well and truly gone before she let out a sigh and slumped down in her seat.
What had she gotten herself into?
...Excerpt from THE WEDDING GIFT by Lucy Kevin ©2012.
* * *
THE WEDDING DANCE
Book #2 in the Four Weddings and a Fiasco Series
© 2012 Lucy Kevin
Phoebe, the Rose Chalet’s florist, knows nothing is permanent—not the floral arrangements she creates, not the weddings she helps produce, and certainly not her parents’ marriage which ended in a bitter divorce. Certain that all relationships come with strings attached, she has always worked to live for the moment and not to have any ties…ever.
Risking big is how Patrick left the family landscaping business, was the first Knight to graduate from college, and became an in demand architect. In California for a short while to work on a new home, from the very first moment he holds Phoebe in his arms, he knows he’s found his perfect match in the adventurous, alluring and intelligent florist.
But will Phoebe dare let herself risk her heart on the most fragile and precious bloom of all? Especially when one dance with Patrick Knight is all it takes for her to start rethinking everything she’s ever believed to be true about love…
* * *
SPARKS FLY
© 2011 Lucy Kevin
Angelina Morgan is a beautiful consultant who practices an ancient art form called Feng Shui. Will Scott is an all-business CEO who doesn’t believe anything he can’t see and touch. With the help of a meddling ex-wife, a well-meaning best friend, and a matchmaking mother, Angelina and Will are about to find out what happens when opposites attract...and sparks fly.
Buy
SPARKS FLY
* * *
FALLING FAST
© 2011 Lucy Kevin
When Alexa is sent by a magazine to be an undercover contestant on the reality TV series "Falling For Mr. Right" she assumes the worst part of the assignment will be having to act like a brainless bimbo to win the affection of an arrogant guy out looking for his 15 minutes of fame. Color her shocked when it turns out not only are several of her fellow contestants intelligent, funny women...but Brandon – aka Mr. Right - isn’t at all the kind of guy she thought he’d be.
What’s Alexa supposed to do when instead of digging up dirt for her cover story, she finds herself falling way too fast for the guy she’s supposed to tear apart in her first big feature story?
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FALLING FAST
BOOKLIST
Four Weddings and a Fiasco Series
The Wedding Song
The Wedding Dress (coming Fall 2012)
Stand-alone Books
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When Lucy Kevin released her first chick lit novel – SEATTLE GIRL – in 2011, it became an instant digital bestseller. Her next two fun contemporary romance releases – SPARKS FLY and FALLING FAST – have also appeared on many Top 50 bestseller lists, climbing as high as #4 on the Top 100. Her books have been read by half a million people on their e‑readers and the Washington Post has called her “One of the top digital writers in America.” THE WEDDING GIFT, the first book in her “Four Weddings and a Fiasco” series, debuted at #4 on Barnes and Noble’s Top 100 bestseller list.
When she’s not behind her computer, you can find her reading her favorite authors, hiking, or laughing with her husband and two children. For a complete listing of books, as well as excerpts, contests, and to connect with Lucy: