Cowboy Strong - Carolyn Brown Page 0,23

big wedding. Is your venue large enough to accommodate that many?” Crystal asked.

“We’re using our sale barn, and yes, ma’am, it will hold that many people. The wedding and the reception will both be in the same barn. We’ll make an aisle through the tables,” Alana answered. “I want the reception to be buffet style.”

“Okay.” Crystal wrote as fast as she could. “That’s about fifty tables for ten. What color tablecloths?”

“Yellow,” Alana told her. “With shades of orange in the centerpieces.”

“Well, you certainly know what you want.” Crystal talked to her but smiled at Pax.

If you could see him in his tank top and black cowboy hat like he was wearing last night, you’d be panting by now, Alana thought. Why am I mentally fighting with a woman for eyeballing Pax?

Because you’ve always had a crush on him so admit it, the voice in her head smarted off.

“I’ll have my flower people make up several different centerpieces, then send you pictures so you can have a choice,” Crystal continued. “What do you have in mind for your corsages and boutonnières? I can also have them make some samples of those, too? Also, artificial flowers or real?”

“Real,” Matt answered as he brought in coffee and tea for everyone. “We want real flowers everywhere. On the tables, on the archway where they will get married, and for the corsages and boots—yellow roses. That’s Joy’s favorite, and Alana has always loved them too.”

“My mother passed almost twenty years ago,” Alana explained.

“I’m so sorry. My mother is my best friend,” Crystal said.

“Mine was too, and yes, yellow roses maybe mixed with those pretty peach-colored ones would be nice,” Alana said.

“We should plan on sending out your invitations no later than Tuesday.” Crystal pulled a book of samples from her case and turned it around so that Pax and Alana could thumb through it. “While you’re picking out a design, let’s discuss what you want me to do for you.”

“All of it,” Matt said. “You and I can talk food while they’re deciding on the invitations. We want three meats. Steak is number one. Chicken is next, and smoked ribs for number three. Then all the sides to go with it.”

“Yes, sir.” Crystal kept writing. “When they have decided on a design, I may have enough to get started. After the invitations are sent, I’ll be in touch about the next items on my list. Do you want me to provide the photographer and the band, also? I can work up prices with each of those and without them.”

“Just do it all.” Matt shoved an envelope across the table. “A country band for sure. That’s what we all like. Here’s a check already made out to help you get started. When you get everything together, I’ll give you the rest. I don’t want Alana to worry about anything at all, and she will have everything she wants.”

Guilt lay on Alana’s shoulders like a heavy blanket at the thought of all the money being spent on a fake wedding. What I want is for you to be well and our lives to be back like they used to be. Alana’s hand shook when she turned the next page of the sample invitations.

Pax quickly laced her fingers in his and turned the pages for her. “What do you think of this one?” He pointed to a simple invitation with a long-stemmed yellow rose printed on the side. “That one would tie in well with the yellow roses, but you should make the decision.”

“That’s the one,” she said. “You can use it for the napkins, the thank-you cards, and everything else.”

“Want to change the wording?” Crystal asked.

“No, what’s on there is perfect.” Alana’s voice caught in her throat. Her father was giving her the wedding that most women would die for, and yet when she really got married, she’d probably go to the courthouse in her jeans. “Except you’ll need to change the names to Alana Joy Carey and Paxton Callahan.”

“Middle name for Paxton?” Crystal asked.

“No, ma’am,” he answered as he slid the book back to her. “You can really get those printed, ordered, and sent all by Tuesday?”

“Yes, I can,” Crystal said.

“I told you that she came highly recommended,” Matt said.

Alana stood up and gave her dad a hug. “Thank you for everything, Daddy.”

“I believe that’s all we need for tonight.” Crystal shoved all the paperwork across the table. “Who wants to sign this contract?”

“I will,” Alana said as she put her signature at the bottom of

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