Charlie Brown. She’s feisty and never apologizes. It was perfect for her.”
Avery grinned. “Yeah, I guess it is. She’s a little bit mean, though.”
“Not if she finds you worthy.”
Lucy took that exact moment to gaze across the table at her, curl her lips back, and show her teeth in warning. When Carter looked back down at her, she nosed his hand with sweetness and affection.
A combination of respect and irritation mingled at the dog’s obvious dislike for her. It seemed she was quite possessive of her man.
What a bitch.
He took a bite of his crab cake. “Well, now that we booked the reception venue, you can relax. I can handle the rest with Ally if you just want to give us your preferred contacts.”
“What do you mean I ‘can relax’? There’s still a long list of things to accomplish in a short amount of time.”
“I’m sure, but as you stated before, the rest are minor details. We can do the flowers, cake, rehearsal dinner, and favors on our own. That will open up more time for you to devote to your other brides.”
The patronizing, smug smile was back, and her heart sank. He had no respect for her job or what was involved. Probably thought she was a glorified secretary, running around to confirm a bride’s choices.
She dabbed her mouth with her napkin and tried for patience. “I know it may seem you have the bulk behind you, but there are millions of details that crop up that I handle.”
“Like what?”
She steeled her shoulders. “Like coordinating over a dozen vendors’ schedules so everything arrives the way we ordered and on time. Like being the main contact in case anything upsets your sister or she has any questions, rather than floundering about and trying to figure out who to call. It’s not just choosing cake and flowers, Carter. It’s photos, videos, ceremony, transportation, rehearsal dinner, makeup, hair, musicians, caterer, and hotels for the family to stay at. This isn’t about visiting a few vendors.”
“Understood. If your assistant can give me a list, I’ll handle it. I’ll be finished with my project this week, and I can devote the rest of the summer to dealing with these details. Honestly, it’s not a problem.”
Slowly, the horror of his true intention unfolded. Her fork dropped and clattered to her plate. Lucy jumped and peered over the edge of her carrier to see what was going on. “You don’t want me to plan Ally’s wedding,” she said, the shock still barreling through her. “You still don’t think I can handle it.”
The coldness was back. Like a turtle crawling back into his shell, he surrounded himself with an icy distance and disapproval. “I’m only trying to take care of my sister.”
“So am I. As her damn wedding planner. You may think you know everything, but you have no idea what’s involved with a wedding. Do twenty-four hours in my shoes and you’d be in full retreat, crying like a little baby.”
His gaze narrowed. “I doubt it.”
“I don’t. Just because you got lucky with a dress and one lousy suggestion for the rehearsal dinner doesn’t mean diddly-squat.”
“Diddly-squat, huh? You’re quite the linguist.”
Her voice shook. “You’re quite the control freak.”
His jaw locked. “Once again, your penchant for drama is not a good look. If you’re losing it now, how will you deal with the multiple crises you keep telling me happen at a wedding?”
She tried desperately to remind herself he was a client—the ManOH—and she couldn’t lose her temper for Ally’s sake. She dropped her voice to a harsh whisper. “I’m giving you a free pass today for your sister’s sake, but be warned, robot man. You want a war? You’re on the wrong battlefield, because I have the home advantage. And I’ve never lost a skirmish.”
He sat back, staring at her with renewed interest. “Robot man, huh?” he finally said. “Interesting. Threats using war metaphors aren’t very original, though, but I appreciate the visual effect. I’m more of a bottom-line person, so I’ll get to the point. You’re not getting rid of me, Avery. I’m going to be in this every step of the way until my sister walks down the aisle. You can either accept it gracefully or keep having these little tantrums, which is only wasting a good amount of energy you can put into planning the perfect wedding. I’d advise the former.”
She shook with the effort of not launching across the table and throttling him. He was unlike any ManOH she’d ever dealt with—worse