“I guess that was kind of naïve.”
“But flattering.”
Cheryl delivered their fish, and a sommelier brought and poured the wine. When they’d left, Jimothy held out his wineglass. “To your sister’s wedding.”
Rick picked up his glass, but there was a crease between his eyes. He clinked glasses with Jimothy, sipped, and looked up. “Man, that’s good.”
“I thought you might like it.”
Rick caught his lip between his teeth, like he was thinking hard. “I’ve got a proposition for you.”
Jimothy started to make a joke, but no, Rick was serious.
Rick took a big mouthful of the very good wine and swallowed. You’re nuts. Totally nuts. But how else could he get the job done?
Jimothy was gazing at him with a tiny upturn to his lips. Cool guy like that probably thought Rick was a Neanderthal. Although, these days, they were saying Neanderthals were pretty cultured, so something worse. Jimothy might be right about Rick, but the fact was, Alice wanted her brother to come to the wedding and be someone she could be proud of. Someone who wouldn’t embarrass her in front of her friends and new in-laws. They couldn’t rely on their father for that. Hell, she couldn’t rely on Dad to show up at all. Rick was her only hope. And Jimothy might be Rick’s only hope.
Rick took a big breath and let the words pour out. “I need to get ready for this wedding, and I only have a little over a week.”
Jimothy shrugged. “A haircut and beard trim will only take a couple hours at the most.” He cocked a half smile. “Of course, that’s without panic attacks.”
Rick snorted. “It’s more than the hair. I need help on clothes and other stuff, like what to give as a present.” He glanced up at Jimothy, then stared into his glass. “I’d even like to know what kind of wine this is, so I could order it or take a bottle as a gift.”
Jimothy blinked. “You want me to help with all that?”
“I’d pay you for your time. Anything you ask. Alice is out of school, and once her wedding’s over, I’ll barely have anything to spend money on. So, whatever you want to charge is good.”
His eyes were huge. “You’d want me to do that?”
Well shit, I insulted him. “Not if you don’t want to. I mean, you’re so good at everything and—”
Jimothy pressed a graceful hand to his chest, and his blue eyes were shiny. “You’d trust me to make those kinds of decisions for you? Really?”
“Well—sure.” Doesn’t he realize how great he is at stuff?
“O-okay.”
“Wait. You’ll do it?”
Jimothy nodded and grinned. “I’d be honored.”
Rick took a deep breath. This is a good thing—right? He extended his wineglass. “Cheers!”
Jimothy clinked his glass. He sipped and then made a face. “There’s something you should know though.”
Uh-oh. “What?”
“I can be really bossy. You know, like when I’m in charge. Tell me to get over myself if I start ordering you around.”
Rick stared at that too-pretty face and swallowed so hard it hurt. Oh, Jimothy, do not tell me that. He showed some teeth. “I doubt you’ll be too much for me.”
Jimothy laughed. “Promise me anyway, okay?”
“I promise.” Rick shifted in his suddenly too-tight jeans.
They ate fish in silence for a few seconds as Jimothy stared into space.
Rick managed to realize what he was eating. “This is delicious.”
“Yes, that’s why i love the Flying Fish. The food’s exceptional quality.”
“Maybe I could bring Alice and her fiancé here for like a pre-wedding dinner.”
“My guess is, if you only have a week and a bit, she’s probably got her hands full with last-minute fittings and there’s the rehearsal and the groom’s dinner. Or are they having a breakfast?”
“I’m not sure.”
Jimothy’s eyes widened. “You’re not? Haven’t you received invitations to all those events?”
“I-I’m not sure.”
“Oh dear.” Jimothy chewed his knuckle, then pointed at Rick’s pocket. “Have you looked at your emails?”
“I get kind of caught up in work, and I don’t pay much attention to anything else.”
“Check them now.”
Rick pulled his phone from his pocket and started scrolling through his personal account. Shit, he clearly hadn’t checked it in weeks. A few days back, there was an email from some name he didn’t recognize reminding him to RSVP for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding breakfast. Rick gave Jimothy a sheepish glance. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t get these events on my calendar.”
“May I see?”
Glancing to be sure nothing incriminating showed on the email string, he handed it over.
Jimothy looked at the phone and chewed his lip. “Okay, we’ve got a few days until the big events. “And don’t forget the bachelor party.”
“Bachelor party?” His voice actually squeaked.
“Yes. It looks like the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner are next Thursday, a week from today. Friday are the bachelor and bachelorette parties. Interesting. Couples often have them together these days, but they seem to be holding with the old traditions. Then the wedding’s Saturday, and the wedding breakfast is Sunday. Apparently, the bride and groom will attend and leave for their honeymoon from there.” He handed the phone back. “Do you have clothes for all the events?”
“I had to have a tux fitting for the wedding.”
“Yes, but that’s for Saturday. You’ll need something nice for the rehearsal dinner. That might be a suit or something more casual. We’ll have to ask.”
“We will?”
“Um-hm.” Jimothy glanced at his watch. “Let’s pay the check and go to your place.”
“What?” Another squeak.
Jimothy never even blinked. “I need to check your wardrobe for color and style. Plus, I’d like to see all the printed invitations, so we get the details right. Come on.” He was sliding toward the edge of the booth.
“Holy crap.” Rick grabbed for his credit card.
Jimothy grinned at him. “Told ya.”
It took another ten minutes to pay, tip, and get out of the Flying Fish, but, though obviously not fast enough for Jimothy, they were finally headed to the parking lot. Rick’s brain swirled. How did I leave the apartment this morning? No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t conjure the level of mess. I should tell him no. I should postpone until tomorrow.
But the whirlwind called Jimothy was powering down the sidewalk with his cute ass twitching. He looked back at Rick. “I’m in the silver Lexus. I’ll follow you.”
“The, uh, white truck.” Jimothy kept walking, and Rick couldn’t catch his breath. He stood there staring. Then he blinked. Holy shit, Ronconi, move your ass.
He ran to the truck and had it waiting by the exit of the parking lot when the sleek silver car pulled up behind him. Carefully, he exited onto the busy Pacific Coast Highway and headed north toward Costa Mesa—trying to think as little as possible. Hell, he’d asked Jimothy to help him and now he had to live with the consequences of that insanity. The fact was, he couldn’t bear to disappoint Alice, and Jimothy sure looked like his only hope. Maybe Jimothy could get him through the week without convincing Alice’s in-laws that she’d been raised by wolves. If he had to suffer some embarrassment to achieve that, so be it.