Marry Me at Christmas

“Your office?”

Isabel glanced between them. “You two obviously know what you’re doing. I’ll head back to my side of the store.”

She gave Madeline a look that clearly stated they would be talking later.

The promised ten minutes later, Madeline joined him. “How can I help you?” she asked as she settled behind her desk.

“You didn’t tell her.”

“What?”

“Your business partner. You didn’t say you were working with me.”

She shifted in her seat, then waved a hand. “I didn’t know if I should, so I erred on the side of discretion. This is your private business. I don’t talk about my brides with anyone. Not in any detail. I might ask for opinions on a dress or get suggestions, but what happens here is personal. Planning a wedding falls under the same category.”

He could appreciate someone who respected privacy. “You can tell your business partner and anyone you’d like that you’re helping me.”

“Good, because I’ll have to say something what with you showing up here and all.”

“Should I have worn a disguise?”

“Maybe a fedora.”

He chuckled. “Not sure I own one of those.”

Madeline was dressed in her usual black, with her hair pulled back. She had on red lipstick. It was kind of sexy and, when combined with the prim cut of her blouse, gave her that naughty librarian look. He’d always been a sucker for librarians.

“You wanted to talk about the wedding?” she asked.

“Ice sculptures.”

“Excuse me?”

“I was thinking ice sculptures to line the main driveway to the house and the walkway to the barn. Flowers in vases, maybe a few snowflakes for the holiday season. Just to make it more festive.”

Madeline considered his words. “I never would have thought of them, but sure. I can run the idea past Ginger. They’d add a nice touch. Also give some visual interest when people looked outside. Would you light them?”

“Of course.”

“That could be really pretty.” She pulled out a folder and made some notes. “I’m putting together information to email her tonight. I’ll include this. And while I have you here, if you have the time, I have a couple of things I’d like you to look at.”

“Sure thing.”

It was nearly noon. He thought about asking if she wanted to have lunch with him. Because he enjoyed Madeline’s company. Plus, the whole red-lip, buttoned-collar thing was working for him.

But then what? Getting involved with him was a nightmare. Someone always leaked the information to a tabloid and then it went to hell. In a town like Fool’s Gold, there weren’t going to be any secrets. Someone was bound to know someone who knew a guy who made his living taking pictures.

Jonny had been down that road before and it never ended well. He knew he was lucky. He made a lot of money at a job he really liked. It had allowed him to take care of his sister. But there was a price for fame, and sometimes it was one he didn’t want to have to pay.

She handed over several sheets of paper. “Catering ideas. I’ve been talking to Ana Raquel and I’ve marked her suggestions for what is the most popular. One of the challenges is the time of year—we can’t always get all the seasonal options.”

“We can fly in any fresh produce.”

Madeline’s blue eyes danced with amusement. “I’m sure we can,” she said gently. “Ana Raquel is more concerned about not having a holiday-based meal. People will have been eating turkey and prime rib already. It’s all heavy food. Her idea was to go for something lighter. Maybe even tropical. In contrast with the weather. Grilled fish and lots of finger foods.”

Something he’d never considered. He knew that Oliver’s family did a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Eve and then had prime rib on Christmas Day. Exactly what the chef had said.

“They both like Mexican food,” he said slowly as he scanned the suggestions. “What about combining that with tropical?” He pointed to the Coconut Popcorn Shrimp with Mango Lime Salsa. “Like this. They’d enjoy that a lot. Ginger wants casual and easy. Food like that would mean giving her what she’s looking for.”

“You’re a good brother,” Madeline said unexpectedly.

“I want Ginger to be happy.”

“But you know stuff about her. That’s nice. I have an older brother. While I adore him and I know he’d be here in a heartbeat if I needed him, he has no idea if I like Mexican food or not.”