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"We’ll decide that first," Marina said, taking notes "That will affect all the other decisions What’s next?"
"Flowers, favors--nothing stupid, please--food, entertainrapher and my dress Oh, and you and Willow have to pick out bridesht humorously "Tuxes," he said
Julie stared at hiuys need tuxes"
"I’ll take care of the dress irl thing"
"Do you plan to get a say in the tuxes?" he asked
"Sure"
He waited while she began sputtering
"Wait aspecial She’s only going to getabout Ryan He’ll want to look good and you don’t trust me to make that happen Why should I trust you?" Of course he had no real interest in the wedding gown, but fair was fair
Julie waved her hand "I don’t care who goes to the bridal shop Just findfitted at the waist, of course"
That’s right, Todd thought Julie was pregnant
He knew Ryan was excited about being a father While Todd never intended tokids The lack of ould cos, but didn’t make the situation impossible
"I can’t believe you want a say in the dress," Marina muttered
He leaned toward her "Think of all those models I’ve dated Some of their fashion sense must have rubbed off on me"
"Did you talk about fashion rind her teeth together and nearly laughed
"Willoorks for that nursery," Marina said as she ignored him "I’ll ask her for recommendations on the florist front"
"Good idea," Julie said
"I know a photographer," Todd told her
Marina widened her eyes "Does he take pictures of people with or without clothes?"
"Both You’ll enjoy looking at her work"
"I don’t care about nad," Julie said "Does she do weddings?"
"They’re her favorite"
"Good Put her on the list Marina, nothing too artistic Just regular pictures"
"Gotcha"
They went over a few s, then Julie left to find the dress pictures she’d torn out of azines
Todd turned his attention to Marina "I think this is going to be fun"
"Oh, me, too"
"You don’t like me much"
"I don’t know you"
"You don’t want to"
"Actually I haven’t decided that Ah, you haven’t been on ht "You didn’t say nice things about me before I heard you"
She tilted her head as she stared at him "You have a reputation which, personally, I think you enjoy But people form impressions based on that notoriety"
"You think I’m shallow"
"I don’t think you’ve ever had to work very hard at anything but your coo out with aze narrowed "It seeht be unco him, but he was the one who had to live with the reality of his aunt offering her granddaughters each a million dollars if one of them would marry hi with him that a woman had to be paid that et
Fortunately Julie and Willoere both out of the picture, which left only Marina He would have refused even a single date with her, but Aunt Ruth had looked so happy at the thought and although he would rather face medieval torture than admit it to anyone, he was a sucker when it came to his aunt Ruth
"It’s only one date," he said "What’s the worst that could happen?"
"It will be three hours that will seem like a lifetime?" But there was a flash of hu," he said "We both have to be there, we’re both in the wedding party, which ht"
She nodded slowly "We will have just spent all that ti the event, so we’ll have plenty to talk about"
"We can have lots of chaht, Todd Aston the Third, I’ll be your date for "
Two
Grandma Ruth’s three-story Bel Airthe second time Marina pulled in to the stone covered circular driveway It was hteenth century England But the rich lived different lives, Marina thought as she cli import Lives with live-in staff Her idea of help at ho towelettes
She glanced at the double door leading into the house and decided to wait until Todd showed up before going inside Okay, sure, she shouldn’t be intirandmother’s maid, but she was So what? She had other positive attributes she could focus on
Less than asilver Mercedes pulled into the driveway The car was a sporty two-seater model, the kind that cost as much as the national debt of a suy who climbed out of it was just as ie smart women to make some really stupid choices She would have to ory Fortunately he wasn’t her type