Page 20 of Wed Like Wildfire


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I make the decision, in this moment, to put an end to the formalities. “Theo. Please, call me Theo.”

Her grin widens. “All right, Theo,” and just as expected, the sound of my name on her lips fucking gets to me. I shift in my seat as she continues.

“So tell me how I managed to get that laughter out of you moments ago? I get a feeling it’s not a commodity around you.”

“Nora has always waited until the last minute when it comes to communication over things that may cause contention. You’ve known her a short time and already know her tells.” I pick up the menu, though I already know what I will order.

“Ah, yes, well, I read people pretty quickly.” She shifts the menu slightly on the table in front of her, not picking it up.

“Yeah? What’s your read on me?” I don’t know why I ask. Glutton for punishment, I guess.

This time she lets out a laugh. “Let’s keep this lunch civil and not go there.”

“Fair, are you not eating?” I point to her unopened menu as I close my own.

“Oh, I am, I just know what I want.” She grins just as our server stops at our table for my drink order. I hurry the lunch along by letting him know what I want to eat. Cassie follows suit. She already has a water and orders a Chicken Pad Thai, no onions, mild heat.

When the server leaves, I don’t waste time finding out the point of this lunch. While I’ve realized in the past five minutes that I don’t dislike her company, I’ve got a full calendar this afternoon.

“All right, our food has been ordered, so let’s get to the point, Ms.…”

She interrupts me, “Cassie, please.”

Nodding, I continue. “Cassie, why are we meeting today?” I slowly unwrap the utensils.

“I want to go over the budget in more detail.” She reaches down into her bag and pulls out a tablet.

“I’ve already made it clear what the budget is,” I reply, annoyed that this is still a thing.

“Correct, but there are a lot of moving parts and Nora seems very confused as to what we can spend on what. I want to clear that all up.”

I make a disgruntled noise in my throat. I should have just had Meredith plan Nora’s wedding. It would have made this a lot easier, not that Meredith has experience planning weddings, but she wouldn’t have bothered me with such obnoxious questions all the time. I could have created an account with all the funds I’ve agreed to pay and let her budget it correctly.

Shit. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?

“It’s only painful because you’re refusing to be accommodating,” Cassie snaps and her annoyance catches me off guard. But she pushes on. “I apologize for being blunt, but you are not an easy man to work with.”

“I’m very busy, Cassie. And this stuff is inconsequential in the grand scheme of my life.”

Her nostrils flare. I was harsh.

“On my budget sheet, you refused to follow the proposed breakdown of funds. You wrote how much money you would pay and that was it.”

“It’s all you should need to do your job,” I say lazily, as if I don’t think her job is difficult. Fuck, it’s got to be the worst job ever. How she loves it so much beats me.

“It was not helpful,” she fires back.

“Are you telling me that you are unable to do your job? Do we need to find a new wedding planner?” I challenge. And damn it, that’s the last thing I want. Why am I being such a jackass?

Leaning back in my chair, I cut to the chase. “Cassie, the point is that I’ve made it clear to both my sister and you that I do not want to be involved in this wedding. Yet you both have made it your mission to waste my time with it.”

She doesn’t flinch at my harsh tone, but she does contemplate her words before she speaks. She takes a visible, calming breath and nods. “Well, I can see why you would find this all frustrating, Theo. But I have to be honest with you. I don’t understand why you are so disinterested in your sister’s wedding.”

“I hate weddings. And as previously mentioned, I’m a busy man.”

“Correct, we are all busy, Theo.”

I raise my brow at that.

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