Recipe For Seduction (A Madewood Brothers Novel) (Entangled Brazen) by Gina Gordon Page B

into a downward spiral.
    “Not at all,” Sterling said. “We just arrived ourselves.” She slouched out of her red jacket and sat in the seat farthest from Veronica. Her dark jeans fit tight to her body. She wore a black V-neck T-shirt, and her hair was pulled back into a ponytail. She was as plain as a mouse, but still exuded an elegance that kept her out of the frumpy category.
    “I just had to drop Cal off with Finn. He started his first day of work, and I— What?”
    Had the two women just exchanged a knowing grin? Shit. The news of their intimate embrace was going to spread like wildfire.
    “Oh, nothing,” Penn assured her.
    Veronica cleared her throat and sat at the head of the table. “Anyway. I looked into everything we discussed in our last meeting. Frankly, I wasn’t sure if we could pull it off but I’ve called in a few favors and I think we can secure everything you’ve asked for.”
    “In less than a month?” Penn asked, astonished.
    “In less than a month.”
    Penn sifted through the photos Veronica had laid on the table. Penn’s dark hair was parted to the right and swept up to one side, a blinged-out barrette placed at her temple. Her black pencil skirt and matching jacket were the perfect accompaniments to the red bustier fitted to her curvy body. If they’d been standing up, she would have towered over both Sterling and Veronica, because of her four-inch black stilettos.
    Veronica looked down at her frumpy pantsuit and sensible flats, and frowned. Next to Penn, she looked like an old lady. An old lady with no experience. Veronica envied the sexy siren, not only because of her obvious beauty, but you could just tell she knew how to have a good time.
    But Veronica wouldn’t be without experience for very long. Thanks to Finn.
    “Oh, I love this.” Penn pulled out one of the examples of a barn she had found online and held it out for Sterling. It was Veronica’s favorite, too. Twinkle lights made everything so pretty.
    “Oh, yes. Can we do up the barn to look like this?” Sterling asked.
    “Even if I have to put up every strand myself, you’ll get your twinkle lights.”
    “Now that’s service,” Penn said, her head bobbing in agreement.
    “I would never put you out like that.” Sterling frowned. “It’s just a venue. It’s not the most important part of the day.”
    “Excuse me?” Penn stalked to the other side of the table and bent over Sterling, grabbing both her biceps. “How dare you disrespect Veronica’s job like this?”
    Sterling smiled and cleared her throat as if knowing Penn was nowhere near done with her.
    “You, my bestest friend in the world, have the rare opportunity to live the full fantasy. To have the wedding every little girl has ever dreamed of. Tell her, Veronica.” Penn snapped her head around.
    “Yes, we can definitely pull together your dream wedding in the given time frame.”
    Penn shook her head. “I mean, tell her what Jack told you about the money.”
    “Oh…” His answer to Veronica’s most important yet routine query about the wedding budget had been shocking, in that she’d never actually heard it before. Except in the movies. “He said ‘Money is no object. Give Sterling whatever she wants.’”
    Penn glanced back at Sterling and shook her body. “ Anything you want .”
    Sterling cocked her head to the side. “That’s a little different than forcing Veronica to do manual labor.”
    “Oh, right.” Penn straightened and slid her fingers along the smooth tablecloth. “I get it now.”
    A deep voice sounded over her shoulder. “Nice to know you’re willing to spend my brother’s money so freely.”
    Cole stood in the entryway. His chef jacket hung open and a white T-shirt hugged his chest. His arm rested above his head as he leaned against the doorjamb.
    When Veronica turned her focus back to the two women, Penn’s mouth hung open. For a moment she appeared utterly speechless, which wasn’t a trait Veronica thought would