Romance: The Wedding Planner & The Endowed Cowboy Husband by Erin Walsh

     Chapter One

    “Is there a specific theme that you want Mr. Washington?” I asked Charles Washington as he walked back and forth in my small office. His wedding was in a month to a woman who offered mail order bride services. The woman is due in a few weeks from Germany just in time for their wedding.
    “Joanna told me that it didn’t matter what type of wedding we have as long as it happens.” Charles said as he finally sat back down in his seat. I can tell that the wedding occupied a lot of his mind and that he wanted everything to be perfect. I reached my hand across the table and placed my hand on top of his. His dark eyes met mine then.
    “Everything will be just fine. Leave it all to me.” It must have been pretty stressful for a man to feel obligated to do things like this. Thankfully Charles had a woman wedding planner.
    “Stephanie, you’re too good to me.” Charles shook his head and smile. “I don’t know what I would do without you.” I blushed at the gentle look he gave me and I withdrew my hand from his. It was hard to be in the same room with that handsome devil of a man. He was well over six feet with an athletic build. His hair was short and wavy and his facial hair was lined up nicely. He wore a leather cowboy hat with a vest to match that left nothing to the imagination because I could see his biceps throbbing against the thin fabric.
    “I am good to you.” I said laughing. “So just know that you’re in good hands.” I was good at my job which I started doing at twenty four years old. I’ve always wanted to be a wedding planner because I wanted to make someone’s wedding sparkle. I’ve been to hundreds of weddings as a kid, which contributed to my love of planning them. Now that I was pushing thirty, I could honestly say that I’m living my dream.
    “I know. Thanks for putting up with me.” Charles smiled again. I stood up from my desk and smoothed down my pale pink suit. I brushed my dark and curly hair from out of my face and I walked around my table. My black orbs focused deeply into Charles eyes then and I extended my hand.
    “You’re not a problem at all.” I said as Charles took my hand in his and I couldn’t help but to think how warm that it was. “We’ve ran out of time today I’m afraid.” I said as I looked at my clock on the wall. It was already 5 o’clock and it was time for me to close up my shop. I had to cancel two of my other appointments today because Charles’ wedding was priority. Not only was he paying me top notch money, but looking at his gorgeous face was a plus as well.
    “Yes, can we meet again on Thursday?” he asked me and I looked at the calendar on my wall. I honestly didn’t have any hour free that day, but I could squeeze him in because after all I was my own boss. When I turned to look at him again I could see his eyes focusing in on my calendar as well.
    “Well I see that you’re pretty booked up.” Charles said and just as I was going to protest he looked at me again. “I feel bad for working you like a mule, how about we discuss my wedding some more during dinner?” I don’t know why but I blushed when he invited me to dinner. I knew it wouldn’t be a date or anything like that, but I knew that it’ll probably feel like one. I mean I wasn’t interested in Charles in a romantic way, but anybody with perfect eyesight could see that he was smoking hot.
    “Sure,” I said once I realized that I was keeping him waiting by not answering him right away. I just felt giddy for some odd reason. I felt butterflies in my stomach and I felt it twisting into knots. Calm down, I told my flustered body. This was not a date it was a business meeting so there was no point in getting anxious about it.
    “Is Thursday at eight good?” he asked. “I can pick you up from your place or you can meet me at the restaurant? It’s your choice.” I thought about that for a moment. It’ll be easier for us to meet at the restaurant because I