Who's Taming Who? Read online

  After the rehearsal the whole group went to a local restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. The evening was wonderful with a special dinner of prime rib and cheesecake for dessert. There was lots of racy teasing, raucous laughter, ribald toasts, and loving friends and family.

  The next morning brought the delivery of mass quantities of food. The wedding cake was also delivered, but the icing was smeared so the cake decorator quickly got busy in the kitchen making a few quick repairs. A band was set up next to the gazebo. Around noon, guests and gifts began to arrive. Soon, it was time for the wedding.

  The wedding day had dawned bright and clear, a slight breeze cooling the autumn heat. Ignoring old customs and superstitions, Frank picked Lanie up at her old house and drove her to their new one. She would get dressed for the ceremony in the newly furnished master bedroom surrounded by giggling and weeping women, while he planned to dress in the room that would soon be Cassie’s bedroom.

  As a wedding gift Frank bought Lanie a new car, a red four-door with a CD player and all the latest bell and whistles. Lanie bought him a fancy laptop computer that would download into their home PC. Cassie had a gift for her new father too. She bought him a coffee cup saying, “World’s greatest DAD.” Nothing he’s ever received touched Frank more. Cassie bought Lanie a matching cup. Buddy was still a surprise.

  The only other surprise gift was a real shock.

  Kate brought Oreo to them with a big silver ribbon tied in a bow around her neck and her American Kennel Club papers in a fancy envelope. Kate explained that since the girl who had planned to take Oreo had changed her mind, Oreo needed a new home. So Kate decided that what Lanie and Frank really needed to make their lives together complete was a halfway housebroken Boston Terrier puppy. She handed the little dog to Cassie and kissed the puppy’s head.

  “You’d better take care of her, Cassie, your mom’s awfully busy today. I get the pick of her first litter if you breed her.” She told Lanie in an aside, “And Charger and Teddy will be only too happy to give me another little girl.”

  “Wow!” Lanie teased Frank, “Our family’s growing already. Somehow I thought it would take at least nine months.”

  “So did I,” Frank replied, watching Cassie kiss and cuddle the puppy. “But look at Cassie with Oreo. Could anything be more precious?”

  “Only the look in your eyes as you look at the two of them.” Lanie kissed him gently. “I have to go get dressed.”

  Lanie went in and dressed. Her attendants were dressed in soft rose colored dresses with capped sleeves, V-necks, and flowing skirts. The bouquets were all shades of rose from the palest pink to the deepest red.

  Both Lanie’s mother and Frank’s were dressed in a deeper shade of rose, although the dresses they had selected were very different. Jean was in a rose lace dress with a high-collared neck and long sleeves that looked old fashioned and romantic. Frank’s mother was in a dress that looked like the finest linen with a swirling skirt and a rounded neckline. Both women looked stunning, very proud, and of course, excited.

  The guests were finally seated and waiting for the wedding to begin. The groom’s mother and father were seated, followed by the bride’s mother. The groomsmen lined up near the gazebo. It was finally time.

  Kate’s daughters acted as flower girls; they were more experienced now after being the flower girls at Kate’s wedding, but they still pelted the guests with the flower petals. Kate’s son acted as the ring bearer. The Bridesmaids and Maid of Honor walked slowly down the aisle, meeting up with the Groomsmen in front of the gazebo. The wiggling puppy in Cassie’s arms, along with a bouquet, only added a touch of whimsy to the picture. The guests shifted restlessly and waited for the bride to appear. Lanie paused at the end of the aisle as the band started playing the wedding march and Frank’s jaw dropped in amazement.

  Lanie had indeed saved the copy of her white linen dress for another time. She was wearing it as a wedding dress. She had taken the dress to a seamstress and had filmy lace spotted with tiny fresh water pearls added over the deep v-neck. A beaded choker collar had also been added to the dress, along with a bolero cut jacket. All of the newly added parts of the dress were covered with beads and seed pearls. It was stunning.

  The wedding went off without a hitch. It was a beautiful and touching ceremony. Both the bride and groom seemed eager and confident as they stated their vows.

  The reception was wonderful. Only a short but loud discussion between Kate and Laura broke into the day. They were both claiming credit for a successful match. The discussion ended when Frank gave both of them credit and reminded Kate that he’d won the bet. Frank and Lanie were going on a four-day honeymoon, then coming back to collect Cassie for a week in San Diego, visiting the San Diego Zoo, Sea World and the Wild Animal Park. While they were in San Diego, the yard would be fenced for Oreo, and a small shed and corral would be built for Buddy. Although it nearly killed both Frank and Lanie to keep the secret, Cassie didn’t know about him yet. He was to be delivered the day they returned from San Diego.

  “Do you realize something?” Lanie teased her new husband during the reception.

  “What?” Frank asked, knowing by the twinkle in her eyes that he was walking into a trap.

  “You haven’t spilled anything on me, gotten me all muddy, or been locked with me in a musty, dusty basement since the first time we slept together. I’m glad it turned out that you were only, um, horny and that you’re not really a total klutz, but I’d love you anyway.” She kissed him.

  “It’s hard to be well coordinated when love knocks you off your feet. Lanie love, you really threw me for a loop.” Frank looked around the room and asked, “How long before we can leave this party and be alone?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.” She grinned, grabbing his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

  They tried, but the photographer caught them and insisted on taking the traditional shots. Lanie threw her bouquet, Frank threw the garter. They danced with every member of the family, cut the cake, and disappointed everyone by not smearing it all over each other’s faces.

  “Now can we escape?” Lanie asked plaintively.

  “Yes,” Frank said assertively, “I dare anyone to try and stop us now.”

  They slipped out of the reception as though they were involved in a dangerous prison escape, trying to appear casual as they strolled towards Frank’s rented limo. Their sneaking around was much to the amusement of all the guests who were watching them, without seeming to. Frank and Lanie didn’t realize at first that everyone was watching them so closely. They recognized it when all the guests surrounded the limo and pelted the couple with wild birdseed as they got into the limo.

  “Why birdseed?” Frank whispered.

  “Because, according to my mom, it’s better than rice. You don’t have to sweep it up, and even the birds get a treat in honor of your wedding.”

  “Works for me.” Frank pushed the button to slide up the privacy glass and pulled her into his arms. “I want everyone to be as happy as we are right now, even the birds and bees.”

  “Speaking of the birds and bees--” Lanie reached out and pulled down his zipper.

  Epilogue

  Did they live happily ever after? Not in quite the way lovers do in fairytales, but they had an active home life full of fun, family and fights. Frank never spilled anything on Lanie again. Well, except for a couple of notable occasions:

  It happened every time Lanie told him she was pregnant, and every time she went into labor. With three sons and two daughters, plus two false labors, it only added up to an even dozen ruined outfits. Lanie didn’t mind the mess at all.

  Lanie and Frank always stood together, either toe to toe when they argued, face to face when they made up, or side by side when they faced off against the rest of the world. They never backed down or left each other’s side.

  Neither did Cassie, her brothers and sisters, the three dogs, two cats, or the gentle old horse and his two young spirited stable mates. They
fought each other and then stood together against all outsiders because that’s what families are for.

  Isn’t it?

  Other books by Susan Kohler

  The Paddle Club

  Hot Crossed Buns

  Another Batch of Warm Buns

  The Heart of The Beast

  Working Romance

  Coming soon...

  Waiting for Tomorrow

  Lanie’s a happy woman. She’s successful in her business, she has a daughter, and she just bought a house. The last thing she needs is a man. Especially an infuriating man.

  Frank is a happy bachelor until his best friend, Kate, makes a bet with him: He can’t make Lanie fall in love and marry him within a year. He’s not even sure he likes Lanie, but now he’s trying to win the bet.

  Does he even want to win?

  Frank is clumsy and accident prone around Lanie, and she’s touchy and argumentative around him. She tells him not to call, write or email her ever, and soon she’s getting notes and gifts from a secret admirer. Not all of the notes are from Frank. He’s getting help from a whole team of matchmakers. Which is a good thing because with Lanie he needs all the help he can get.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Susan Kohler lives in Southern California with Oreo, her Boston Terrier. She works for a major amusement park and writes in her spare time. This is her sixth published book, and her third romance novel. The first. The Heart of The Beast, is a historical romance, while Working Romance and Who’s Taming Who? are both set in modern times. She is currently working on her next book, another full length romance novel entitled Waiting for Tomorrow.

  $7.95 U.S.

  CCB Publishing

  www.ccbpublishing.com