“There you are!” Jenna said loudly, pretending at exasperation. She went to her fiancé and planted a kiss on him that earned a few very Southern whoops and hollers. Then the smiling couple turned to face everyone.
“We want to thank you all for coming to this wedding extravaganza,” Tom said in his smooth and carrying voice. “And to this introductory dinner. I know it’s cheesy, but we’re gonna go around the room and make sure we all know each other. It’s a long week ahead, and we gotta get real comfortable.”
That earned him a few good-natured chuckles.
One by one, they went around, and Jenna or Tom made sure to give full introductions for their respective families or friends. Aunt Cady and Uncle Drake got their sugarcoated introduction and praise, complete with applause and whistles from all. Tom’s parents, who looked like stiff portraits on oil canvas, got a similarly warm introduction and said some very nice things, though they had no hint of North Carolina accents. Thomas Jr. and Corinne Yardley apparently had more money than some governments, and they looked like it. Aunt Cady and Uncle Drake at least looked like they were from the South. The Yardleys might have been Russians—very nice Russians, but still.
The bridesmaids came next, all of them looking plastic except for Caroline, whose pale peach forties-style dress made her look like a natural starlet off the screen. She got a very sweet introduction and blew a kiss to her twin. The rest of the introductions followed without too much extra fluff. Alexis and Grace were friends of Jenna’s from high school, Brittany and Bethany she met in college, and Sophie she met during a music video shoot for Kenny Chesney that Jenna starred in. Mal was confused by that, as Sophie looked like any proximity to pickup trucks and cowboy boots would give her hives, but she went with it. No doubt she’d learn more about the girls, as she would be forced to be cooped up with them the entire week.
Lucas took the trouble to introduce himself, with much flair, which made her roll her eyes, and then it was time for the groomsmen.
She’d been snapping candid shots, with Taryn on second camera, when she saw the guy from this morning. Her throat shuddered under his potent gaze as his eyes were suddenly on her. The man was a magnet for sensation and appeal, and it was the most natural thing in the world to stare at him and lose breath control. Yet he was so unaffected by everyone and everything. He was achingly gorgeous in crisp, black trousers and a silvery gray button-up, which was open at the collar, exposing a tanned and muscular throat.
Who knew throats could be muscular?
She was faintly relieved that his shirt wasn’t that tacky, shiny, metallic sort of gray. He was attractive enough to pull off a garbage bag and make people want him, but good taste was a huge advantage, and this was no high school prom or late nineties dating show.
Taryn made a throaty humming sound from beside her, and Mal glanced over to find her looking at him as well. “He looks like Fifty Shades of Yes Please,” Taryn murmured.
Mal snorted in surprise and covered her mouth, but she could not say she entirely disagreed.
“You are a vulgar chick, you know that?” Dan muttered with a look of disgust. “This isn’t a meat market.”
“Speak for yourself,” Taryn shot back, lifting her camera once more.
Mal went back to introductions, knowing she’d have to remember names and faces for later. Tom’s brother she’d seen earlier was Dave, and a second, nearly identical brother, Trent, now joined him. One friend from this morning, Paul, was from Tom’s college frat, which explained a lot. Paul had decided, most unfortunately, to wear a pale pink polo shirt to the event.
Taryn grunted beside Mal, shaking her head. “What, is he golfing after this?”
This time, Dan did not disagree. “Nope, definitely not golfing. He’s wearing loafers. Ponce.”
Mal bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud. The next friend was…
“O… M… G…” Taryn breathed with a hiccup, suddenly twirling a chocolate and maroon strand of hair around her finger.
“What?” Mal asked out of the side of her mouth, still looking at the friend with the dark hair and shockingly blue eyes.
“That’s… That’s Reed Summerfield.”
Dan choked on something, and Mal was confused. “Summerfield? As in…”
“As in the Hollywood Summerfields!” Taryn squeaked, biting her bright red lips.
“You sure?” Dan asked, leaning closer.
Taryn sighed breathily. “Positive. Hollywood’s Heartthrob is here. With me. Someone gimme a fan.”
Dan snorted. “How about a bucket instead?”
“Whatever. I need something.”
Mal gave up trying to make sense of her assistants and frowned, wondering how Tom and his business world clashed with a silver-spoon, Hollywood-dynasty producer.
Apparently, it was a humanitarian trip in college, which seemed out of character for him. Reed seemed way too much like a playboy for that.
If she was any judge.
He was… really pretty.