TWO

 

Jay visibly paled. "She's coming here? She wants to have her wedding here?"

Not the reaction Xan had expected. This was the first time she'd seen Jay scared of anyone or anything. "So she says. I said I'd have to talk to you first. I'll ring her back and say we're booked out for the next decade, if you like."

Jay grasped Xan's arm. "NO! Don't do that! Give her...give her whatever she wants. Did she say when?"

Xan shook him off. "I told her she'd have to wait until the dry season. May or June."

Jay relaxed a little. "That gives me six months."

"Six months? It's only September." Xan frowned. "Who on earth is Doctor Alana Miller? I've never heard of her."

Jay smiled wanly. "You might know her as Angel Black. The lead guitarist and songwriter of Chaya, my band. Or she was, before she up and quit and forced me into retirement."

This was news to Xan. "So you know her pretty well, I take it?"

"Sure."

"Why didn't she ask for you, then?" Xan pressed.

Jay swallowed. "Oh, I haven't talked to her in a while." The decking beneath his feet suddenly seemed mesmerising. At least, it was to Jay.

"What did you do?"

"I...it doesn't matter, okay?" When Jay raised his head, his eyes looked haunted. "Let's just say the last time I spoke to her, she told me to leave the country or she'd cut bits off me without any anaesthetic. Bits I'm attached to."

"Some doctor," Xan remarked. "Are you sure she's not a serial killer instead? Maybe a reincarnation of Jack the Ripper, out to kill blokes who sleep around instead of hookers?"

Jay's lips smiled, but his eyes didn't. "She is a doctor. But she might be a killer, too, so don't do anything to get on her bad side, Xan. Don't even touch her. If you don't believe me, ask Jo. She'll tell you the same. Fuck, she's probably her maid of honour. Even if I said no, Jo would insist on having the wedding here. Take the booking and do what she says."

Xan pressed her lips together. "Even if she wants to turn the lagoon pink to match her bridesmaids?"

Jay laughed. A little hysterically, but it was definitely laughter. "Angel Black won't want pink. If she even wears white, I'll be surprised." He sobered. "Cost it up and give her a quote. Whatever she asks."

"And double the price so she decides it's not worth it?"

Jay shook his head. "Fuck, no. It's not that she can't afford whatever she wants. It's...if she wanted to, she could buy both Jo and I out and own this resort without having to borrow a cent. I spent money on a lot of rock star shit over the years, but she invested every dollar and...she has money from her family, too, I think. Some sort of inheritance. Just...get used to the idea of hosting a rock star's wedding. Because you will be."

Xan raised her eyebrows. "Two of them. Yours first, remember?"

"Yeah." Jay's eyes returned to the deck. "Yeah, mine first." He didn't sound particularly eager about it.

Perhaps Penelope was turning into a regular bridezilla, Xan thought. She chose not to push the issue.

"Right. Two rock star weddings next May. Good thing I have nine months to prepare!" she said, heading back to her office.

Just nine months. She'd need it. One televised celebrity wedding would be trouble enough, but two? Shit, having twins would be easier.