Page 8 of Marry Me

Megan decided to just jump right in. Something about Allison made her relax and give in to her own curiosity about the unlikely pairing. Allison was quite pretty, but in a girl-next-door sense. Very much against type. This was no sex kitten. “So, I’m going to get a little nosy here, especially since Brent’s an old friend. Where did the two of you meet?”

“Oh, at a retail conference in Orlando. My parents own a health food grab-and-go where they sell a lot of their own products, and I work with them part-time and in the summers when school is out. The Natural Food Retailers Association had a session on getting your product into big-box stores. Brent was on the panel, and I stayed after and talked his ear off, taking notes. He probably thought I was a lunatic.”

“I doubt that,” Megan said and smiled demurely.

“Well, we then ran into each other back home at the opening of that new movie theater near Fair Park, and he asked me out. I guess he likes lunatics, which might be a red flag, but I’ve chosen to ignore it.”

Megan laughed. “I love that story. It sounds like it was meant to be.”

“Yeah.” Allison nodded, a far-off look in her eyes. “We have the ability to talk about anything for hours. Do you believe in fate?”

“I do.” She gestured around her. “I don’t think I could work in the wedding industry if I didn’t. What about you?”

Allison smiled, and not the kind that was for show. When this woman smiled, she meant it. Megan was captivated. “Jury is still out on that one. I have lots of fanciful notions, but I’m not sure if I’ve made up my mind about the hand of fate. It’s kind of nice being kept in suspense.”

Megan had never thought of it that way. “Well, you keep me updated. Shall we talk about your wedding?”

“Oh God, yes. I’m going to need you for this one. I’m afraid I’m wildly unprepared and out of my depth when it comes to big events. Fourth-grade Christmas parties with construction paper garland? I’m your girl. I can arrange kids on a set of risers like nobody else. White tablecloths and place settings? I defer. Please help.”

“Well, we can always talk tablecloth color down the road.” Meganliked this woman even more in person. She was very open and honest and engaging as hell. What you saw was what you got. She glanced behind her. “It’s late in the day, and you’re my last appointment. Some champagne? Wine? To celebrate the occasion.”

“Do you have any white?” Allison asked with a devious grin. “I’m a fruit chaser.”

“You’ve come to the right place.”

Allison laughed, full and melodic. “Happy hour it is.”

Demi brought them two glasses of chardonnay, and they went through a brief question and answer session, so Megan could best gauge some of Allison’s likes and dislikes. What she learned was that Allison wasn’t so sure of her own taste.

“What doyouthink looks best? Lots of flowers or the minimalistic approach?” Allison asked.

“I don’t think it matters what I think,” Megan said gently. “But if you’re asking about a family like the Carmichaels—”

“I am. Bingo. Now you’re talking. That’s exactly what I’m asking.”

“The high society families tend to like to…display a little bit more. That doesn’t mean excessive amounts of floral decor, but they’ll want a good showing of the elegant variety.”

“Expensive flowers for all the world to see. That’s what you’re trying to say in a very polite and professional way.” Allison took a sip of her wine. “You can just say it. They need to show off.”

“Exactly that,” Megan answered with a laugh. The wine had loosened her up, and she found herself really enjoying her afternoon. Not always the case in her line of work. Most of her clients came in with a strong idea of exactly what they wanted and planned on Megan simply going out there and getting it for them. Allison Hale was a breath of fresh air.

“Are you married?” Allison asked. Then she covered her mouth. “That’s a really nosy question. You should shoo me out of this office right now. I’m out of control.” She pointed to her glass in blame.

“I’m not, and I don’t mind you asking.”

“I just wondered what it would be like to plan your wedding when you have so much knowledge at your fingertips.” She gestured to lookbooks spread out around them. “Infinite experience to draw from.”

Megan smiled. “I have ideas of what I would want at my wedding,sure.” She turned the stem of her glass, melting into the daydream. “But I think it would depend on who I was marrying and what they were like. I would want it to suit us, you know? Not just me.”

A long pause. “I really like that answer,” Allison said. “I have a feeling you’d choose a guy with a lot of style.”

“A woman,” Megan corrected as she gathered the books they’d sorted through. She’d already made notes of some of the photos Allison had gravitated to.

“Oh, fantastic.”

“Is it?” Megan asked with a smile.

“I think so. Even better if she’s into the planning. Brent is pretty much agreeable to whatever I decide as long asit’s lit. His exact words.”

---