Page 27 of Among the Stars
“I see. Buffet then?”
“Yes,” Ash and Jesse said together.
Silence reigned as Cam made a note on his own sheet of paper. With one final flair of his pen, he looked up. “Which option on the menu appeals to you?” He passed his own copy to Veronica. “Here’s what we’re looking at.”
On the bottom he’d written: This man never deserved you.
She laughed and immediately covered her mouth. Two sets of eyes stared in confusion. “Just a hiccup. Sorry.”
“Anything look good?” Cam asked, diverting the attention.
“I think simple is best,” Ash said to Jesse. “What do you like?”
Her dark ponytail swung as she met her fiancé’s eyes. “I guess I was imagining something more basic than these options.”
The choices were a bit highbrow. Steak. Lobster. Miso-glazed cod with Asian pesto. Veronica couldn’t decide if Cam had overshot out of habit, or had set out to make this wedding ridiculously expensive.
“We can simplify,” he said, leaning back in his chair and tapping the pen to his oh-so-perfect lips. “What about a taco and burrito bar?”
The couple visibly relaxed. “That sounds perfect,” Jesse said.
“Excellent.” Cam leaned forward again and reached for another set of papers. Handing them to the couple, he said, “Now to the drinks. We can do open bar the entire time, a limited open bar that would switch over to cash at a time of your choosing, or a strictly cash bar for the entire event.” Pointing to the sheets in their hands, he added, “These are your options in each tier: the high spirits with the basics, premium bar with more specific brand names, and of course, the top shelf, which speaks for itself.”
“I don’t want anyone to have to pay,” Jesse said.
“It is New Year’s Eve,” Cam reminded her. “I suggest taking that into consideration.”
The couple looked a little green so Veronica said, “At least the fireworks will be free.”
Nashville set off an impressive display at midnight every New Year’s Eve, and if her calculations were correct, they should be visible from the windows of the tavern. If observers leaned the right way.
“We’ll take the premium level and open bar the full event,” Ash said.
“I don’t—” Jesse muttered, but he cut off her protest with a kiss.
“We’re going to do this right. No shortcuts.” He returned the menus to Cam’s desk. “Do you mind if we bring in a band?”
Cam shook his head. “Not at all. The room is yours for the night.”
“Great.” Ash beamed at his bride. “That’s one thing out of the way. Seven hundred and ninety-two to go.” They laughed together, then leaned close and went full-on in their public display of affection.
Veronica rolled her eyes, and Cam cleared his throat to break things up. “Feel free to start setting up any time after nine that morning. I’ll make sure there’s plenty of staff on hand to help with whatever you need. What time should we start expecting guests?”
“We’d like to start the ceremony at seven,” Ash said, “so I’d say six thirty.” The pair rose, and Ash held his petite fiancée tight against his side. Her head barely reached his shoulder. “Do you have a room that Jesse can use to get ready?”
“We don’t have any dressing rooms.” Cam rose, and Veronica followed suit. He immediately took her hand. “She’s welcome to use my office. We can find a mirror somewhere, and there’s a restroom down the hall.” To Jesse, he said, “Will this do?”
The tiny redhead nodded. “This would be perfect. Thank you so much, Mr. Rhodes. And thank you, Ronnie. I can’t tell you how much your help means to us.”
“Cam’s the real hero,” Veronica pointed out. “It’s his bar, after all.”
“You’re both heroes. If you two weren’t dating,” Jesse added, “I don’t know what we would have done.”
“Yeah,” she said, trying to sound convincing, “good thing we’re dating.”
“She’s only with me for my bar,” Cam said as he kissed the back of Veronica’s hand. The gleam in his eye said he was finding this quite entertaining.
Playing tit for tat, she replied, “Of course, I am.”