One More Kiss (Forsaken Sons Book 1) by Elizabeth Lennox (summer beach reads .txt) 📗

“Not a tuxedo?”

Kinsley shook her head emphatically.  “Nope.  Tuxedos are for evening weddings.  I’m marrying at two o’clock in the afternoon.  A morning suit is more appropriate.”

A dark eyebrow shot up, but he didn’t say anything.

“Also, I want to be married in April.”

Obviously, she’d surprised him again if his comical expression was any indication.  “Not June?”

She finished off the first half of her sandwich and grabbed her soda.  “No.  I don’t like the heat and June is too risky.”  She sighed as she leaned back against the chair.  “So, in order to get married in April, I’ll need Carl to propose in June.”

“Have you chosen the ring?”

She stared at him as if he’d just announced he was flying away.  “Of course!”

“Of course,” he replied with a chuckle.  “What does your ring look like?”

“Emerald cut solitaire.  That’s it, just a simple solitaire diamond.”

“Platinum or gold?”

“Platinum.”

“And the flowers for the wedding?”

She knew that he was teasing her, but Kinsley didn’t care.  She had her wedding all planned out and it was going to be beautiful!  Absolutely, perfectly beautiful!  “Peonies and soft pink roses with evergreen accents.”

“And the bridesmaid dresses?”

“Pink!  Definitely pink.  But my friends can pick out the style of their dress.  And I’ll pay for the dresses,” she added. “I would feel too guilty asking my friends to buy a dress that they’ll wear only once.”

“I thought that bridesmaid dresses were something that could be worn to other events.”

Kinsley laughed, rolling her eyes as she shook her head.  “Oh, that’s what every bride says to appease her guilt and her friends.  Unfortunately, the truth is that bridesmaid dresses are appropriate only for weddings.  It is a rare thing when someone can wear their bridesmaid dress to another party.”

He grunted and crumpled up the wrapper from his sandwich.  “So, what else?”

She shrugged and wrapped up the second half of her sandwich, saving it for dinner.  “I have it all planned out.  I’ve even told Carl how he should propose.”

Lincoln had bent over to pick up the rest of their trash, but froze with those words.  “You…told…your soon-to-be fiancé how to propose to you?” he asked, his words coming out a bit choked.

She shifted in her chair, her chin lifting slightly.  “Yes.  Why?”

There was a long silence as Lincoln stared at her.  “And he agreed?”

“Why wouldn’t he?”

He laughed, shaking his head.  “Because men don’t like to be bossed around?”

She humphed.  “Well, Carl is different,” she said, smiling.  “He’s…nice.”

Lincoln stared silently at her.

“It’s true!” she defended.  “Carl is a very nice man.  He listens to me.  He cares about what I want.”

“Right down to how he proposes, I guess,” he chuckled.  Standing up, he tossed the apple core into the long grass along the edge of his property, giving it to the birds.

“You make that sound like a bad thing,” she countered.

He picked up both chairs with one hand, carrying them back into the building.  “Kinsley, if you want a man who obeys your every command, then more power to you.”

Lincoln heard her make a sound that indicated that she disagreed.  A moment later, she rushed in front of him.  “I get it.  You’re a control freak.  But don’t denigrate other men when they are willing to follow a woman’s guidance.  Especially a man who is in love with a woman.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Kinsley, you aren’t dating a man.  You’re dating a lap dog.”

She gasped.  “You don’t even know him!”

He shrugged and put his hand on the door for a moment before pulling the door open.  “You’re right.  I don’t know him.”

“Exactly!” she replied, feeling vindicated, although she had no idea why.  Lincoln made Carl sound like a wimp.  But Kinsley preferred that kind of a man; someone who was considerate of her feelings and was willing to follow her lead and guidance.

If there was a part of her that wished that Carl would be a bit more assertive in some instances, well, she just considered that aspect of his personality to be part of the tradeoff that she’d have to endure in her life.  Marriage was all about compromise.  And Carl might be less assertive in some areas, but he was very kind and generous in other aspects of their relationship.

“I’ll bring lunch tomorrow,” he called after her as she headed for her office.

She hesitated for a moment and, was that joy on her features?  Lincoln wasn’t sure, but the idea of sharing lunch with her again tomorrow seemed disproportionately…exciting.

“Fine!” She replied, her features transforming into a smile.  And then she was gone.

Chapter 5

“So, do you have the menu picked out?” Lincoln asked the following day as he carried the chairs out to the spot where they’d eaten the day before.  He put the chairs down while she held the bag of food.

“Of course I do!” she laughed.  “I even know where we’re having the wedding.”

She said that as if he was an idiot for asking.  “And does Carl know about this plan?”

She sat down in the chair, handing him back the bag.  He pulled out two wax paper wrapped sandwiches, handing one to her, and a jug of lemonade.

“Well, sure!  Why wouldn’t he know?”

He poured her a glass of the lemonade.  “So, let me get this straight.  You have the wedding all planned, and yet, you won’t allow Carl,” he said the name with distaste, “to propose to you until June.”

“Exactly,” she replied, a cute little frown on her pretty features.  “I want to be married in April,” she explained patiently, unwrapping her sandwich and taking a bite.  He paused while she closed her eyes, savoring the flavors. “Oh my!  This is delicious.  What is it?”

“I made roast beef last night,” he explained, relaxing now that he knew she liked