He skimmed the details, taking in the fact that it was formicro-budget weddings--where he’d started out--and that the wedding had to bewithin the next six weeks.
The eligibility requirements said that family and friends ofmagazine staff or the sponsors were forbidden from entering, but they didn’tsayanythingabout wedding planners.
Connor could almost feel the cogs turning in his head. This was anational magazine, read by millions of people across the country. Even justhaving his name mentioned in it would…
Well, it’d be astart. He could work with a start. He’dblown one opportunity, so he’d learned his lesson about grabbing hold of themwith both hands.
Except for the part where he really didn’t have anyone he couldask to marry him.
A low whistle made him look up to see Max bringing his coffeeover. He smiled automatically, happy to see him again.
Max was cute. From the tips of his bright blue hair to his sweetlittle button nose--not to mention broad shoulders and a neat, definedwaist--Connor wouldn’t have objected atallto getting to know him alittle better.
“A hundred thousand dollars, huh? I could use that right aboutnow.”
The lightbulb behind Max’s head made the edges of his hair lightup as though his whole head was glowing.
It wasn’t a stretch to think of him as an angel, especially notwhen he was providing coffee.
Connor realized after a moment that Max had said something, andthen a moment later realizedwhathe’d said.
“Oh, umm… yeah, who couldn’t, right?” Connor said.
Max chuckled. “How do I win?”
“Uh.” Connor blinked up at him still distracted by how pretty hewas. Max had been so kind to him yesterday, and Connor had always thought hewas vaguely attractive, but now that there’d been flirting…
It was hard not to notice that he wasreallyhot. And thathe smelled of cinnamon and cloves, which was a little mature for his age, but itworked all the same.
“You have a really nice wedding?” Connor responded after anothermoment. “Sorry, I’m not… entirely here today.”
Max smiled kindly at him, brushing his hands on his apron. “You’rea wedding planner, huh? I thought maybe you were a fashion blogger orsomething, ‘cause you’re so well-dressed and you’re always working on yourlaptop, but it’s alwaysweddingmagazines.”
Connor blinked up at him, surprised that Max had been paying thatmuch attention. In Chicago, he’d been accustomed to blending in.
Out here, he apparently stuck out a little.
Or Max liked him, which was his preferred explanation.
“You got me,” Connor said, grinning.
“I bet your wedding’s gonna be beautiful,” Max said. “You couldtotally win that.”
“Oh, I’m not getting married,” Connor said. “Not anytime soon,anyway. I’m single.Verysingle,” he emphasized.
Max seemed like a nice guy, he probably wouldn’t have made a moveon a man he thought was in a relationship. It seemed best to make it very clearthat there was absolutely no reason for him not to, for example, ask Connorout.
Connor wouldneverhave done that to someone who was atwork, because he knew what customer service was like, so he was stuck waitingfor Max to make a move.
“Oh.” Mac licked his lips. “Right, I just… assumed, because youwere reading about the competition.”
“That’s… kind of a fantasy. I screwed up a really importantwedding six months ago, like I kinda told you yesterday. This seems like thekind of thing that could get my career back on track, but… I really don’t haveanyone to marry. Which is a pity, because I totally could’ve won.”
“That sucks,” Max said, just as another customer came in. Connorgot the feeling he’d had more to say, but the interruption probably meant thatwhatever it was would be lost forever.
That was a shame. After only two conversations, Connor was reallystarting to like talking to Max.
He half-watched Max work, serving the woman who’d come in with abroad smile and greeting her like an old friend. He seemed to know everyone here.
