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was rushed.
    “So that was interesting,” Colin commented as we exited the planner’s office.
    “We need help if we’re going to get this done. He comes highly recommended,” Dallas retorted, peeved that she was the only one who’d taken the guy seriously.
    “We’re not really getting an ice sculpture of a movie scene, are we?” Colin kidded her.
    “You could get one depicting a sheep herding competition,” Ainsley suggested.
    Colin snorted then tried to pull it back by responding, “Precious.”
    Now I snorted and Dallas glared at all of us. “You are not helping,” she said to both Ainsley and me. “We have to get cracking on this planning and Gaylord—”
    I gave a bark of laughter and received another glare. “Oh, come on. I will bet you my annual salary that is not his given name.”
    “Anyway,” she dragged out. “Gaylord is going to be a big help, but he can’t do everything for us.”
    “The timing doesn’t help,” Ainsley said then stepped back and look apologetic. “I didn’t mean…it’s just that three weeks isn’t much time.”
    Dallas let that hang in the air. It was a technique she used in interviews that made her subjects feel the tension. It didn’t work on Ainsley. She stayed silent and unapologetic. Dallas slid a glance my way, showing how impressed she was. This would be all the motivation she’d need to continue hounding me about exactly how well I knew Ainsley. “It isn’t, but we’re all highly intelligent so we can do this. Right?”
    “Right,” I agreed because arguing with Dallas right now could become hazardous to my health.
    “What’s next?” Colin recognized her mood.
    “We’re going to a different tux shop because you embarrassed us at the last one and we’re picking a tux.”
    “I still haven’t decided on the tux or kilt, honey.”
    “Tux,” Dallas practically growled. “These pictures will be in magazines.”
    “There’s nothing wrong with a kilt.”
    “Why not both?” I offered, but it was swallowed up by yet another of their bickering sessions.
    Ainsley’s eyes sought mine before returning to watch the volley of comments between the happy couple. For a second it looked like she disapproved.
    “Both,” I said again, firmer this time and at a volume they couldn’t ignore. “You’re wearing two dresses. Let Colin wear a tux and a kilt.”
    “But there will be pictures,” she protested.
    “I’m sure you find Colin’s legs sexy.” The thought made me shudder.
    “Hairy, hairy legs,” Ainsley teased her cousin.
    I bit off a laugh at her tease. “Why not let everyone else see his sexy legs and be jealous?”
    “Super sexy,” Colin said to diffuse the situation.
    “Fine!” Dallas agreed and stomped off toward his car.
    “I guess we’re going to a tux shop,” Ainsley said.
    “We better catch up or she’ll go on her own,” I muttered.
     

Five
    Van knocked on my office door moments after I’d arrived for the day. His weathered face showed excitement. I hadn’t even taken a seat yet, and I was still feeling the effect of the endless tux fitting session last night. Only the first step in the planning, I wasn’t sure I’d make it three weeks. And I knew damn sure I couldn’t take whatever Van was going to say first thing in the morning.
    “They confirmed the source.”
    My rump hit the seat hard. I thought I knew what he was talking about, but it was too early to use my brain. “They’ve got the general?” I asked of the story they’d pitched yesterday.
    “More than that. I’ll leave it to Colin and Dallas to share.” He stepped back and waved to someone down the hall. I wasn’t sure what was happening because there was no way Colin and Dallas were here this early. I was usually the only here this early.
    “Can you believe it?” Dallas swept through my doorway with Colin at her heels.
    I looked for the hologram machine because they couldn’t possibly be here in the flesh. “What are you guys doing