The Wedding Setup Read online

  The Wedding Setup

  Synopsis

  Ryann is thrilled when her friend Stuart asks her to help him plan his last-minute wedding. He moved across the country over a year ago, and she misses him like crazy. As an executive with event planning experience, Ryann’s the best person to help him fulfill his wildest wedding dreams.

  However, things in Colorado are not what she expects, especially Maddie, the maid of honor for the other groom. Maddie is attractive, and while she’s certainly Ryann’s type, she has some different ideas about the wedding. Also, flirting with her is incredibly distracting, especially when Ryann just wants to keep things professional. With just two weeks to the big event on Valentine’s Day, can Ryann help Stuart to wedded bliss, and avoid his well-intentioned attempts to set her up with Maddie?

  Praise for Charlotte Greene

  From the Woods

  “[N]onstop action and vivid depictions of the wilderness keeps the pages turning…[A] satisfying diversion.”—Publishers Weekly

  “I enjoyed this one very much. I thought the cast of characters were really interesting. Anything queer, supernatural, and survival horror is going to catch my attention 100%. This kept it throughout…Action packed. Queer. Survivalist horror. It hit a lot of my marks.”—Raychel Bennet, Librarian (Bullitt County Public Library)

  “Greene is an accomplished writer and she’s able to ratchet up the suspense extremely well—whether it’s a slow mounting sense of danger as the heroines find more and more things ‘off’ or the race through the forest with god knows who or what chasing them down. This is a book that will grab you and drag you along. It was hard to put it down (at 1am) but I didn’t want to continue reading when I was tired and miss stuff.”—To Be Read Reviews

  Legacy

  “Greene does a good job of building suspense as the story unfolds. Strange things happen one by one in increasingly spooky fashion. Background information is revealed a little bit at a time and makes you want to try and solve the mystery…I recommend this to those who like to read about hauntings, nature, history, DIY home maintenance, violent husbands, scary things in the woods, and water.”—Bookvark

  “The characters are well developed, and Greene hit just the right amount of tension between them…I rarely like every character in a book, but I loved the whole group. The creepiness never let up, the tension built steadily, and…things escalated rapidly. The ending was very satisfying! Horror is definitely Greene’s forte.”—Bookish Sort

  “This is a wonderfully scary paranormal novel. The setting is perfect and well described. The characters are well-drawn and likable. The romance between Jo and Andy is especially charming and fits perfectly into the tale. This is just a wonderful story, and I’m so glad I read it, even in the middle of the night. If you love a good scary story, I believe you will love it too.”—Rainbow Reflections

  “Greene likes to take her time to work up the suspense, starting with smaller and seemingly inconsequential things that build up a suitably creepy atmosphere. Placing the characters in an isolated setting ratchets things up. This isn’t a gore-fest nor is it relying on jump-scares to set the atmosphere—instead it’s a well paced ghost story with strongly developed characters.”—C-Spot Reviews

  “Greene does a great job of establishing a creepy atmosphere by setting a rather slow (but not overly so) pace, taking the necessary time to describe the woods, the uncared-for cabin, the ominous well from the cover, the sounds, the smells, the weather and temperatures.”—Jude in the Stars

  “Very fun horror story that just touches on the creep factor without going full blown scary. There’s a lot of really good elements to the book, from the menacing spook, to the mystery, and even the relationship…Great work!”—Colleen Corgel, Librarian, Queens Public Library

  Gnarled Hollow

  “Greene has done an outstanding job of weaving in all sorts of layers; mysterious patterns in the gardens, missing rooms, odd disappearances, blandly boring journals, unknown artwork, and each mystery is eventually revealed as part of the horrific whole. Combined with intensely emotional descriptions of the fear the characters experience as they are targeted by the tortured spirit and this book is genuinely a page turner…not only could I not sleep after reading it, I didn’t want to put it down.”—Lesbian Reading Room

  “Gnarled Hollow by Charlotte Greene is an awesome supernatural thriller that will terrify and entertain you for hours on end.”—The Lesbian Review

  “Gnarled Hollow is a creepy mystery story that had me gripped from the start. There was layer upon layer of mystery and plenty that I didn’t see coming at all.”—Kitty Kat’s Book Review Blog

  “Scared myself to death, but hauntingly beautiful! Had my heart beating at rapid speeds and my mind working overtime with this thought-provoking story. Piecing together the mystery of Gnarled Hollow was both fascinating and scary as hell. It takes talent to put that much suspense and thrill into words that build the picture so vividly, painting descriptions that you can imagine perfectly and see as you read.”—LESBIreviewed

  “I really enjoyed this. This is the fifth book I have read by Greene and by far my favorite. It had some good twists and kept me in suspense until the end. In fact, I was a little sad when it ended. This would be a perfect book to read around Halloween time…I would absolutely recommend this to paranormal-crime/mystery fans. I really hope Greene takes the opportunity to write more books in similar genres. I would love to read them if she does. 5 stars.”—Lez Review Books

  A Palette for Love

  “The relationship really works between the main characters, and the sex is steamy but not over the top.”—Amanda’s Reviews

  Pride and Porters

  “Have you ever wondered how Pride and Prejudice would work if it were two women falling in love with a brewery as a backdrop? Well, wonder no more!…All in all, I would say this is up near the top on my list of favorite Pride and Prejudice adaptations.”—Amanda Brill, Librarian, Rowan Public Library (North Carolina)

  “Greene’s charming retelling of Pride and Prejudice transplants the Bennets into the world of Colorado craft beer…The story beats are comfortingly familiar, with the unusual backdrop of brewing and beer competitions, modern setting, and twists on the characters providing enough divergence to keep the reader engaged…Feminism, lesbianism, and class are all touched on in this refreshing update on a classic. (Starred review)”—Publishers Weekly

  “Pride and Porters by Charlotte Greene is a contemporary take on the classic romance novel Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen. Greene works within the framework of Austen’s novel and owns it with her particular blend of attraction, money, and intrigue as the women journey towards Happily-Ever-After. While the original focused on the struggles of English women to attain financial and social security through marriage, Greene shows women for whom love and partner compatibility aren’t simply happy bonuses. Readers will appreciate the ratcheting drama, character chemistry, and thawing emotions in this modern-day retelling.”—Omnivore Bibliosaur

  Always

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  By the Author

  A Palette for Love

  Love in Disaster

  Canvas for Love

  Pride and Porters

  Gnarled Hollow

  Legacy

  On the Run

  From the Woods

  The
Wedding Setup

  The Wedding Setup

  © 2022 By Charlotte Greene. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-034-3

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: January 2022

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Shelley Thrasher

  Production Design: Stacia Seaman

  Cover Design by Tammy Seidick

  eBook Design by Toni Whitaker

  Acknowledgments

  Because I grew up in Loveland, Colorado, I grew up thinking Valentine’s Day was a much bigger deal than it is in other places. Imagine my surprise and dismay when it occurred to me that the holiday celebrations, at least at the scale I knew, were very localized.

  While the giant wooden hearts are a real deal, and the remailing program is world-famous, and the beautiful sculpture foundries are real, and Loveland has seen a number of Valentine’s Day festivals come and go, much of what you’ll read here is an exaggeration, or, possibly, a fantasy. I think Loveland could be the major Valentine’s Day destination in the U.S. with someone like Maddie to shepherd the city into a unified effort.

  That said, it’s absolutely worthwhile visiting around Valentine’s Day (or any other time of year). If you like beer, Loveland Aleworks has some of the best in the world.

  For my one and only valentine. I love you, honey.

  Chapter One

  Ryann threw the doors to the boardroom open, one of them swinging so hard and wide it slammed into the wall. Normally she’d let one of her assistants open them for her, but she was on such a high after that meeting, she didn’t think of it. And anyway, opening her own doors had a dramatic effect. She couldn’t be sure without turning around, but she thought her board members watched her leave, mouths hanging stupidly open.

  Her assistants were scrambling to catch up, Ted scurrying to her left, clutching her coffee and leather portfolio, Gloria to her right, trying to manage a pile of papers she carried despite their speed.

  The three of them turned from the hall into the bullpen, the large central room with open cubicles most of her employees shared. They almost instantly hushed at the sight of her. Several of them blanched and sat down at their desks, whatever they’d been talking about or doing forgotten. She couldn’t help but smile. Her triumph from the meeting was too perfect, too glorious to dim. She acknowledged a few with a quick tilt of her head, their surprise evident as they stood there gaping.

  “Open,” she told Ted, indicating her office doors with her chin. He ran to get there before her, throwing them wide just in time for her to waltz through. Gloria slammed the door behind the three of them, sending the papers in her hands sailing everywhere. Her face drained of color, but Ryann was too happy to chastise her.

  “Oh my God,” Ted said, positively beaming. “That was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen.”

  “Wasn’t it?”

  He set her coffee and portfolio down on her desk and held out his hands, as if in defeat. “You absolutely killed them.”

  Ryann pretended to polish her fingernails on her blazer, blowing on them before giving him her biggest grin. “I did, didn’t I? I fucking nailed them.”

  They looked at Gloria for confirmation, but she was still collecting the papers she’d dropped, scatterbrained and out of it, as always. Some of her hair had come loose from her bun, and her clothes were wrinkled and sweaty. Ryann frowned slightly, but Ted caught her attention again.

  “You reamed them, Ryann.”

  He was the only employee allowed to call her by her first name. They were relatively friendly, or at least he was—she didn’t like talking about herself at work or with colleagues, but she liked hearing about his life, which was far more colorful than her own. She opened her arms, surprising him, and after hesitating, he launched himself into the hug. They jumped up and down a few times, giggling and clutching each other before she remembered where and who she was and stopped.

  Gloria had finally finished gathering what she’d dropped and deposited the messy, uneven pile on Ryann’s desk. Her annoyance at the unseemly sight must have shown, as Gloria paled again.

  “You can leave now,” Ryann said, only just managing not to snap at her. “Please check with the girl in reception…” She didn’t remember her name. “Anyway, see if she has any messages for me.”

  “Jessica,” Ted offered.

  “Yes. Check with Jessica.”

  Gloria dropped briefly into what seemed remarkably like a curtsey, before leaving them alone, closing the door much too loudly in her wake.

  Ryann rolled her eyes. “I don’t know about her, Ted. She’s really not fitting in here.”

  “Who, Gloria? She’s great! And I don’t just say that because I hired her. She’s efficient, a hard worker, and smart. You just don’t see her at her best.”

  “Hmm.” Ryann walked over to her coffee and took a careful sip. “And why is that?”

  Ted laughed. “You scare her.”

  Ryann laughed. “I scare her? So I should want to keep her on?”

  Ted shrugged. “Everyone here is scared of you, Ryann, even me, sometimes. Don’t pretend you don’t love it.”

  Ryann lifted a shoulder, turning back to her desk. Behind it, the city shone in the morning light, surprisingly bright despite the thick cloud cover. She’d chosen this office suite entirely because of the view from this room. Ten years ago, she’d used her start-up money to rent this office and part of what was now the bullpen. As her business grew, it had taken up first this entire floor, then the next, then most of the next three floors. Over the years, various business partners and her board had suggested that she move her office to a bigger, more impressive room upstairs. She’d declined, happy to see this sight out her floor-to-ceiling windows for the rest of her career, however much she’d outgrown this space.

  She walked closer to the windows, staring down the many stories to the busy road below, following the line of cars and cabs to a slivered glimpse of Central Park to her right. It had snowed last night, leaving a long expanse of white and frost-crusted trees dappled with early morning light. She imagined she could smell the candied nuts from a stand there at that corner, the owner probably just setting up for the day. She pictured herself there, buying a sleeve of honeyed pecans and a cup of bad coffee and then walking until she was either too cold or too tired to keep going. She hadn’t been to the park in weeks, maybe even months. It was her favorite place in the entire world, yet she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been, despite how close it was to work and her apartment. Assembling today’s proposal had eaten her whole life.

  When she turned around, Ted was biting his lip. She had to fight to remember what they’d been talking about.

  “You think I love having people scared of me?” she asked him.

  He laughed, clearly relieved. “Of course you do.”

  Actually, she didn’t care one way or another. She didn’t try to intimidate people, and she certainly wasn’t as cruel as some of the other CEOs she knew. Still, it never hurt to have a distinct line between herself and her employees, and she didn’t allow familiarities from anyone on her staff except Ted. Even he didn’t cross that line too far, always waiting for her lead. He also didn’t ask personal questions, despite the leeway she gave him.

  “Let’s talk about the timeline on the proposal again.” She gestured at a chair behind him.

  He sat, pulling out his t
ablet and flipping open the cover. She leaned back onto the front of her desk, half sitting, tapping her teeth with a polished nail.

  “Okay, so Hong Kong and Tokyo are ready right now, Dubai will be available at the end of February, and San Francisco, Sydney, and LA should be set by then, too. What about London?”

  Ted scrolled a little. “Not until the middle of March.”

  Ryann cursed. “Unacceptable. We need them to move that up. See if we can get them to agree to February—even late that month would be better than March. Tell them everyone else is ready or has agreed to February. That might put some fire under their ass.”

  Ted made a note and nodded.

  “Do we have any other outliers?” she asked.

  He scrolled and then shook his head. “No. It’s only London. Everyone else is on board for now or some time in February.”

  The slightest delay for some of these companies could make the whole deal collapse. When she’d sprung this massive partnership agreement on her board today, she realized if she couldn’t pull the whole thing together quickly, they would force her to back out or let one of the bigger companies take over. She’d surprised and totally flummoxed them with the amount of money their company stood to make. The returns would be astronomical for everyone involved, but especially for a relatively smaller firm like theirs—ten to twenty times their usual profit on a marketing deal. Still, what she’d proposed would tie up most of the assets of her company to pull off. But it was worth the risk.

  She could probably lose almost any other city, but London was too important to cut out. She had to have them on board and soon.

  “Okay. That’s your job. I want pressure on London nonstop. Get as many people as you can on this. Get LA involved if you have to. I want London falling over themselves to make this work for us. Do whatever you can to get them to agree to February.”