‘You’re asking me?’ I said, trying to take this all in. ‘I need to sit down. No. I need a drink.’
‘I’ll get you one. It’s a lot to ask, I know. Which is why, if you do say yes, I’m insisting you’re having the extra weeks free.’
‘And what will you do if I say no?’
He gave me a sheepish grin. ‘I have no idea. But Lucy thinks you’ll enjoy it. Is she wrong?’
He poured me a glass of wine from a bottle on the table nearby, as I glared at Lucy across the room, and she too, gave me a sheepish smile.
I let out a long sigh, took the large glass he handed me, and gulped down several mouthfuls.
‘Wow! This is fabulous wine.’ Lucy had told me Marcus was a wine buff and had an excellent wine collection but I had no idea wine could taste this good. ‘Okay. The extra weeks free – and a bottle of whatever this wine is – and you’ve got a deal. But remember. I’m a police officer, not a wedding planner, and I must caution you that you’re doing this at your own risk. Are we clear on that?’
‘Crystal, detective. And let’s make it the free weeks, as agreed, and a case of this wine.’
I laughed at that. ‘Erm. I think you’re as good at bartering as I’ll be as a wedding planner. You’re supposed to offer less, not more.’
‘Not if you want people to do their best. So it’s a deal?’
‘What does Adele think about this? Have you asked her?’
He glanced over to where Adele was deep in conversation with Noelle, and the love shone out from his smile.
‘Yes. And she said she needs all the help she can get. I’ve booked a night away at a Spa. We’re leaving early tomorrow but we’ll be back the following evening. I want Adele to have some pampering and a few hours away from here. Perhaps you, Lucy and Noelle could get together to run through things and plan a schedule, or a check list, or whatever. And then you can go through it with Adele when she’s back. I’ll arrange for you to have a credit card so you’ll have access to funds when you need them without having to contact me.’
‘Thanks,’ I said. He was so much better at this stuff than I was ever going to be. ‘I’ll make that a priority. But, you hardly know me, Marcus. Are you sure you trust me with all this?’
He looked me in the eye. ‘Yes. And besides, I know where to find you, and I know your best friend.’
‘Okay. That was actually a bit creepy.’ I laughed.
‘It was, wasn’t it. I’m harmless, I promise. So is that a yes?’
‘Yes. You’ve got yourself a wedding planner. Erm. Any chance I could get a bottle of the wine, in advance?’
Marcus roared with laughter.
I don’t know why though. I was deadly serious.
