Read Online One-Off by Lynn Galli - Free Book Online Page A

server huffed back to the kitchen for the next course. That just made us laugh more.
    Something red in the shape of a small disc came out between the appetizer and next course. It could have been from the beet family without tasting anything like a beet. The next course was more fish. How did I know other than the smell? The entire fish was sitting on the plate, eyes and all.
    “Goodness,” Ainsley said when the plate was unceremoniously plopped in front of her.
    “Not to your liking?” the woman almost taunted. “How long have you two been together?”
    Heat swarmed my face and my heart started beating faster. “We aren’t,” I clarified and hoped to get what would surely anger Ainsley off the table quickly.
    The woman just stared at us. “We don’t appreciate couples wasting our time. If Gaylord hadn’t called in a favor, you wouldn’t have gotten an appointment until next month.”
    Ainsley straightened in her chair. “We aren’t wasting your time. You’re wasting ours. Based on the exorbitant pricing you’ve shown us, this food is not worth even half that. The planner was doing you a favor.”
    This was the Ainsley I’d come up against many, many times. Daunting in every way and the snobbish woman didn’t stand a chance.
    “Well, I’ve never—”
    “I’m sure you haven’t,” I cut her off. “Let’s not waste any more time. You’re obviously not the caterer for us.”
    “You’re not even getting married. Of course we’re not.”
    Ainsley looked like she was going to shoot something back at her, but I grabbed her arm and twisted her toward the door. It was the first time I could consciously remember touching her when she wasn’t sick. I didn’t like that her bare arm felt cool and firm in my warmer grip. I released her as soon as we reached the door.
    “We appreciate your time,” I fibbed to be polite and pushed us out the door.
    “Obnoxious American.” Ainsley glared back through the glass.
    “Don’t lump her in with all of us. She was just plain obnoxious.”
    “Fine,” she reluctantly agreed. “But that was the worst of the appointments so far. Are we sure Gary is the right planner?”
    “He does have connections. Like the woman said, most of these caterers are booked solid for the next three months.”
    “If Mum were here, she’d insist on being the chef after that dud.”
    I turned to face her and smiled. “If I didn’t think it would tax her too much, I’d take her up on the offer. The food would certainly be better.”
    Ainsley’s smile flashed bright. Then she remembered that she resented how much her mother liked me. It was her own damn fault. If she’d had fewer classes when her mum came to visit, she could have been done with her exams on Wednesday like I’d been. Instead she needed to study, so Elspeth and I visited the touristy spots together for the rest of the week and had a grand time. “I’ll let her know you said so.”
    “What did she say when you told her I was the MOH?”
    “MOH?”
    “Apparently that’s what you call the maid of honor.”
    “Americans.”
    “Enough,” I grumbled.
    She smiled after landing another jab but said sincerely, “She’s looking forward to seeing you again.”
    “So am I. When does she arrive?”
    “She was coming the day before the wedding, but she’s decided to come in a few days earlier.”
    “Oh?” I wondered what made her change her mind. Probably the shrieking her daughter was doing about having to deal with me on the planning part.
    “She wants to lend her hand where she can.”
    “It’ll be much appreciated, but hopefully the bride and groom will be back by then. We can turn it over to them.”
    “Colin made it sound like they’re in this story for a while.”
    “If all goes according to plan, they’ll be back with three days to spare.”
    “And if it doesn’t?”
    “Worst case scenario: they get kidnapped.” Even as I said it, I mentally flinched and chastised myself for joking to deflect my