said with delight.
“Yes, I knew it from the moment he crashed her table back in Frisco,” Bobbi said. “I instantly liked the man.”
“Now I’m the one blushing,” Carl said with a laugh.
“Ha. You are anything but humble, darling,” Avery told him. He shrugged. He knew she was correct on that.
“Mom, we’re going to be busy for the next month. If we have to plan it, nothing will be fancy at all. Do you think you and Sherman can take care of things and surprise us?” Avery asked, trying to look as apologetic as she could. If her mother figured out she was matchmaking, the game would be up and she’d instantly lose.
“You don’t want to plan your own wedding?” Bobbi asked, looking horrified.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but Carl’s swamped at work, and I just got this new case I want to put a lot of my time into. It’s a mother who’s being harassed, and the father has a lot of money and is trying to take her daughter away from her. I won’t sleep if I don’t do everything I can to ensure she’s okay.”
It wasn’t that Avery was exactly lying to her mother. She really did have a case on her desk, but it was a slam-dunk. There was no way that man was taking anything away from his ex-wife. She was completely in the right on this one.
“Well, of course, work is very important,” Bobbi said. “But Sherman doesn’t have to give up his time. I can do all of the planning.” She didn’t meet Sherman’s eyes as she said that.
“Uncle Sherman loves planning a good wedding,” a man said as he moved up to the group, and threw his arm around Sherman. “And he truly loves to meddle, but since this wedding is already on you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Everyone, this is my nephew Maverick who finds himself amusing,” Sherman said with a chuckle. “In reality he’s a heathen who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” The words were spoken, but the love and admiration in Sherman’s eyes countered the words he spoke.
“Ah, I know I’m your favorite, Uncle,” Maverick said. “I’m just running in and out real quick. I’m taking Lindsey for a flight tonight – hopefully a mile in the sky,” he added with a wink.
“See? My point proven,” Sherman said with a roll of his eyes. “Of course, Lindsey is his wife, or possibly his ex-wife after she hears about how this heathen has been talking.”
“No way. She thinks I’m brilliant,” Maverick said. “It was great to meet you all. Sorry I have to run.” And just as quickly as he’d rushed in, he was gone again.
“Your nephews are all so fun,” Bobbi said with a laugh. “But back to the wedding, you truly don’t need to put all of this time into it.”
“I’m a retired man, and there’s nothing I love more than a good wedding, like my ornery nephew said. I’d be honored to help you make a perfect one for these two kids,” Sherman said, beaming at Bobbi as if he’d just won the lottery.
“If you really don’t mind, I wouldn’t say no to a little help,” Bobbi said.
Carl winked at Avery when Sherman and Bobbi looked at each other. They stepped away as the two of them began discussing wedding ideas.
“You’re quite the little matchmaker, aren’t you?” Carl asked.
“They’re absolutely perfect for each other,” Avery said. “But my mom is scared. They just need a bit of a push. And even though I love you to the moon and back, I don’t need a big wedding to prove that, so I don’t mind my mother planning it all. She loves to do things like that, and I honestly don’t care how I marry you, I just care that I do.”
“I can’t believe I nearly lost you. That would’ve been the biggest mistake of my life,” Carl said, pulling her farther away from the people in the hangar, and taking her into his arms.
“I agree,” she said. He kissed her again, this time like he meant it. By the time he released her, they were both panting.
“Okay you two, you’re making all of these young men in here all sweaty,” Sherman said with a laugh as he interrupted them. Sometimes Avery forgot they were in public when she was in Carl’s arms. It was her time to blush as she turned and looked out at the hangar where several young men instantly looked at the