“Christ, I’m going to need a drink.” He pulled her through the patio doors.
Tammy pinched her lips together to keep from smiling again.
***
The guests started to arrive shortly over the next hour and Tammy said greetings to those she knew and introduced Lance accordingly. Her parents’ place was decked out to extreme extravagance. There was a large tent in the back of the house to manage what looked like close to four hundred guests. Peach and white seemed to be the color choices for the wedding and Tammy somehow knew that Anne didn’t have a choice in that. There were hanging LED lights from the ceiling of the tent; tens of thousands of them. The tables were covered in white cloth trimmed with lace. On top were center pieces of peach and white roses accented with white baby’s breath. The chair covers were also white with large peach sashes fashioned into bows at the back that had the ties touch the floor. Flowers were everywhere, mostly peach and white, but the head table had stunning white orchids. There was crystal glassware and gold trimmed porcelain plates on the tables. When evening fell this place was going to look magical. Then she saw peacocks wandering in around the area and smiled. Really? Peacocks? Apparently she wasn’t the only one that thought it odd.
“Peacocks. Now that’s Interesting.”
She looked up at Lance and he shifted his eyes to her with clear amusement and smiled. She covered her mouth with her hand to stifle a laugh.
“A little excessive.”
“Yes. Typical for mother though. She was probably told from one of the many wedding planners she hired, that this is the latest trend at weddings. They are really pretty though.”
“Until a guest with too much sauce on board tries to pluck one.” One of his brows lifted.
She laughed with images floating through her head at that thought. Their feathers were very beautiful and she could see it happening. “With my luck, it’ll be me.”
He chuckled and put his arm around her shoulders and spoke in her ear. “That’s why I’m here. I’ll protect you,” he reassured.
There seemed so much more to that statement. It was probably wishful thinking on her part. Still, she felt a thrill go through her but did her best not to let it show. She was still so unsure of his affections.
The catering staff all wore the same uniforms as the rest of the hired staff, but had black aprons wrapped around their wastes. There was a large open bar next to the band that was in the process of setting up, and the dance floor looked like it had just been finished freshly waxed. It was enormous. On the other side of the dance floor were long buffet tables filled with a spread of snacks and other hors d’ouevres including a champagne fountain. There was a lot of detail that went into designing the look of that presentation alone. Multilevel platters held a multitude of different cakes, truffles, tarts and other snackable deserts. Another held various types of fruit, then onto the expensive caviar, shrimp, bacon wrapped scallops,
“Oh dear. This is really beautiful.” Peach was never her favorite color, but she had to admit, her mother did an outstanding job. More than likely she hired more than one wedding planner, but still, the final decision would have been hers. Her mother did have a talent in creating the most extravagant parties. She’d have to give her that. She knew this would be memorable for Anne and Royce and that’s what counted.
“It is.”
“I don’t want all of this for my wedding Lance, just our close friends.” She found it in her to tease him.
“Your wish is my command darling.” He took her hand and led her toward the bar. “First, I think you need a cocktail and I know I do if I have to deal with another lecherous admirer of yours.”
It was her turn to raise a brow. “Lecherous.” She smiled.
“It was a kind choice of words. You don’t want to know what I really want to say.”
No she didn’t. For some reason she knew he wasn’t used to using a filter but was doing so out of respect for her. He could tell by the muscle bulging in his jaw that he was clenching his jaw. Wow. She was certain she’d never seen him that annoyed. So she decided not to push it. It took a lot for Lance to show his moods. “You are such a gentleman.” She was trying to lighten the mood. It worked, he managed to respond with humor.
“No. I’m a lawyer.”
She laughed.
By the time her brother and his new wife said their nuptials, she’d had several. She still wept during the ceremony. Royce was completely in love with his bride and she was really happy for him. Melanie was one of Anne’s bridesmaids. No doubt due to the suggestion of her mother, but she was okay with that. She looked beautiful too. She was also relieved that she was able to relax a bit and enjoy this event, and herself. Most of it was due to Lance’s company. People that would normally try and bully or manipulate her seemed to know that he was a presence to be reckoned with. It wasn’t just her mother and Richard. There were a lot of people there that were craving gossip about her, but didn’t come directly to her to ask. Instead, they would do what they always did, make stuff up. Maybe a few years ago she would have cared about what people thought, but not now. She loved her home and what she did and couldn’t wait to go back. In Sulphur Springs, if people had something to say, they would say it. There wasn’t much of a caste difference there. She loved the people of her town.Her town.That sounded more wonderful than she thought.
For Royce and Anne though, her upbringing kicked in and she played the perfect socialite and mingled with the crowd introducing Lance to the wedding guests that she recognized. Some of them he already knew. She shouldn’t be surprised. She was discovering more and more about him every day, and none of it was a deterrent. He was everything she thought he was. That did not help her infatuation at all. Even now while he was conversing with one of the guests, she knew she was staring at him with love in her eyes. Quickly she averted her gaze and pretended to be interested in something the other person was saying. She really needed to guard herself better. While she was enjoying these few days alone with him, it would end eventually and she would be shattered.
Thankfully the announcement of the bride and groom’s first dance took her attention, and she wept again watching them. They genuinely looked deeply in love with one another. “I’m so happy for them,” she said to no one in particular.
“She’s really lovely,” Lance said genuinely.
“It means a lot to me that you like my brother and his new bride.”
He met her eyes. “What’s not to like? He’s a lot like you. Really down to earth. He’d fit right in with our family.”
Thatwas a wonderful compliment. She couldn’t think of anything better he could say to her at that moment. She looked up at him. “Thanks for being here with me.”
“What are friends for?”
