Mr. Big Love (Mr. Big 2)

“You’re really into this, aren’t you?”

“Oh, yeah,” she said and rubbed her hands together. “I’ll never have a wedding like yours will be, so I’ll enjoy every minute of it, if you’ll let me.”

I smiled. “I don’t suppose you’re attracted to John by any chance?”

She shook her head. “He’s cute and all, but he’s not my type. He’s a little too dorky.”

“He’s too dorky for you, the Queen of Dorks?”

She laughed at that, her head thrown back.

“I don’t know if we should even bother to have a formal wedding,” I said with a sigh. “Considering Mrs. Marshall just disinherited him, I guess she won’t be in attendance.”

“What?” Candace said, her jaw dropping open. “You didn’t tell me that! Spill, sister.”

I told her all about Mrs. Marshall sending papers to Luke’s attorney.

“Can you believe her nerve?” Candace asked, shaking her head.

I shrugged. “She had plans for Luke that involved merging two fortunes.”

“He had other plans,” she replied.

“It sucks to be less than second best,” I said.

“Stop that,” Candace said firmly. “Any mother who truly loved her son would be happy with you as a daughter-in-law, kiddo.”

I smiled at her. She was such a good friend.

“What would I do without you?” I said and leaned over and gave her a hug.

“You’d be single and still living with me, wearing sweats and puppy slippers, that’s what. It was me who talked you into going to Cipriani’s that night.”

“It was you,” I said and smiled. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome,” she replied with a grin. “Now, appoint me your wedding planner and let me live vicariously through you and Luke, okay?”

I laughed and nodded. “The job’s yours.”

“Good,” she said and opened a browser on her laptop. “Let’s get started.”

I smiled and shook my head, not really sure what I was getting myself into, but I knew it would be fun if Candace was in charge.

Chapter Twenty

Luke

Our life was pretty routine for the next two weeks and I think we were both settling back into life in Manhattan after our months at sea traveling around the world.

Alexa attended class and taught, and I spent my time with John. From her recliner, Candace plotted our wedding. My mother fumed and probably sent me hate signals across the ether, but at least she was now out of my hair.

My father was still on my side, and I was happy to get a message from him while I was on my way home from the office one Thursday afternoon.

FATHER: Your mother will come around as soon as she sees your first-born child. I guarantee you she will.

LUKE: You think so? I suspect she’s too stubborn, even when we have our first child.

FATHER: When is the wedding, by the way? You going to hold it at the beach house? It’s a great location.