My Big Fat Alien Wedding: Stargazer Alien Reality Show Brides #2 Read online

  The men smiled and nodded at them as they passed.

  Parker could actually hear the women’s sighs of wanting as they walked on.

  The men’s bodies had been designed specifically to incite desire in human females. But it was one thing to know that, and another to experience the fascinating effects in real life.

  Parker wondered if Ruby felt that way too, but was sophisticated enough to hide her reaction. He hoped so.

  Focus on Kent, he chided himself.

  “Are you sure about having us here?” Parker asked. His brother was kind. He might be keeping them here because he knew Parker’s feelings for Ruby.

  “This world is still strange to me,” Kent said softly. “It is better to face it with you here. Between us, we can make sense of it more easily.”

  Kent was right. Quite often it did take all three of them working together to master a human concept.

  “And even if that were not the case,” Kent went on, “having you here makes me happy. I want you to be involved in the most important day of my life as a human.”

  Human.

  It was true. When Kent had clicked with Margot, the culmination of their mate bond had cemented him permanently into his human form. Parker and Wayne would not know that joy unless they each clicked with their own mates.

  Wayne clapped Kent on the back so hard he almost sent him stumbling.

  “We are glad to be here for you, brother,” Wayne said in a strained voice that made it sound as if he were holding back tears.

  “Besides, I need your help with something,” Kent said.

  “What can we do?” Parker asked.

  “Olivia has asked about wedding traditions on Aerie,” Kent said. “I need you to help me with that.”

  “That is exceedingly easy,” Parker laughed. “We don’t have any.”

  “I tried to tell her that,” Kent said seriously. “But she couldn’t believe it. It seems that wedding traditions are very important to the people of Earth. Maybe so important that if we don’t have any, they will see us as uncivilized.”

  “This is not good,” Wayne said. “The whole point of this endeavor is to endear us to the humans.”

  “So, what do we do?” Parker asked.

  “Olivia suggested that we might take traditional aspects of our culture and adjust them for Earth,” Kent said.

  “So we should… make them up?” Parker asked.

  “That isn’t what she said she wanted,” Kent admitted. “But I don’t see what else we can do.”

  Suddenly the thunder of Wayne’s rare laughter rippled out, causing some of the passersby on the busy street to turn to them in surprise.

  Kent smiled at Parker in wonder.

  “Oh, brother,” Wayne gasped, regaining control of himself. “We would be happy to invent wedding traditions for you. Right, Parker?”

  “Absolutely,” Parker said with a grin.

  Planning the wedding meant working with Ruby.

  Maybe he wasn’t so useless after all.

  4

  Ruby

  Ruby strode carefully down the uneven flagstone path, willing herself not to trip over her own feet.

  She couldn’t believe she was really there with Tag Tuckerton.

  He wore a pair of artfully ripped jeans that probably cost more than Ruby’s whole wardrobe, along with a silk t-shirt and a little gray beret perched on his slicked back, coppery hair.

  “This is lovely,” Tag said, placing his hand lightly against the small of her back.

  Ruby waited for the shiver of awareness she’d felt every time he accidentally touched her back in high school. He’d had those classic, TV star good looks long before he’d ever stepped in front of a camera. And Ruby had been far from immune to his charms.

  But oddly, there was nothing today.

  It’s probably because I’m trying so hard not to fall down.

  At last they stepped through a vine-draped arch and into the rose garden.

  The path widened, forming a large circle around an open pavilion, ensconced in vines. Enormous rose bushes surrounded the circle, their lacy leaves rustling in the fragrant breeze.

  Every bush and vine was freckled with buds that were pink-tipped and ready to burst.

  In a week, this garden would be blushing with blossoms- just right for a wedding.

  “Beautiful,” Tag murmured.

  “Yes, I think it will be just right,” Ruby said. “Based on what Margot wanted - an outdoor wedding in a pretty setting.”

  “No, no,” Tag said with a polished smile. “No, no, no, no, no-no-no. I was referring to you, Ruby. You’re positively stunning.”

  “Oh,” Ruby said, flabbergasted.

  “I remember you as such an awkward young girl,” he went on. “But you’ve blossomed into such a lovely young woman.”

  “Uh, thanks,” Ruby said, feeling her face turn red.

  “I suppose you must be a bit overwhelmed,” Tag said, his hazel eyes twinkling knowingly. “It’s not every day that a man like Tag Tuckerton gives you a compliment. But I mean it, and I’ve been in the business quite a while. You, my dear, are a solid nine - which would be like a Hollywood seven - but you could certainly hold your own anywhere.”

  Ruby blinked at him, unable to think of a single response.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass you with more flattery, for now,” he teased. “Come on, let’s look at this little garden of yours.”

  Ruby watched him form a box with his hands around his eyes and pan over the gardens. After a moment, Tag dropped his hands and nodded to himself in a pleased way.

  “Yes, this will do nicely, if the weather cooperates,” he said. “And even if it doesn’t, never fear, Tag Tuckerton is here.”

  “That’s a good point, what would we do if it rains?” Ruby asked.

  “Oh, Ruby,” Tag said. “You have no idea. I can bring in tents, fans, lights, whatever we need to give the impression of good weather.”

  That didn’t sound like a romantic wedding, but Ruby didn’t want to argue with the expert. Ruby had only ever worked on real-life weddings, nothing like this.

  “What if the flowers don’t bloom in time?” she asked.

  “I’ll have flowers flown in and we’ll put them on the bushes,” Tag said with a smile.

  “Put them on?” Ruby echoed.

  “Sure, and if they bloom and we don’t love the color we can airbrush them. Just think of us as nature’s make-up artists, my dear,” Tag said. “Not that you would know anything about that. With your flawless skin and doe eyes, I can see why you’re never bothered with make-up.”

  Ruby wasn’t sure whether to be complimented or offended that he hadn’t noticed what she had thought was a very nice job with her lipstick and eyeliner that morning.

  She didn’t have time to decide.

  “Oh, who’s this?” Tag exclaimed.

  Ruby turned to see Parker duck slightly as he made his way through the arch and into the garden.

  “Hi, Parker,” she said, her heart a little lighter at the sight of him.

  “Hello, Ruby,” he said, a gentle smile on his face.

  In the morning sunlight he looked almost angelic, blue eyes twinkling, golden curls seeming to emit light of their own.

  “Hello there,” Tag said. “I’d introduce myself, but I think you know who I am.”

  Parker blinked at him.

  “Parker, this is Tag Tuckerton,” Ruby said quickly. “He’s a famous wedding planner. He’s had several televisions shows about his work.”

  “Oh,” Parker said. “Nice to meet you. I’m Parker.”

  “Parker is one of our guests from Aerie,” Ruby said.

  “Oh,” Tag said, realizing. “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh. Now I understand. Ha! That’s priceless. I can’t wait to tell my agent. The only one who didn’t recognize me is literally not from this planet. Fantastic.”

  “Tag is here to help me plan the wedding,” Ruby explained to Parker.

  “So am I,”
Parker told her.

  “Really?” Ruby asked, a note of excitement creeping into her voice.

  “Yes,” he said solemnly. “I’ll be helping with the Aerie culture part.”

  “Oh,” Ruby said. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

  “No reason you should have, my dear,” Tag said. “Correct me if I’m wrong, my boy, but there are no weddings on Aerie.”

  Ruby looked to Parker.

  “Aerie has a formal culture, which is expressed rightfully in ceremonies of every kind,” Parker said stiffly. “It is important to Kent that we bring our own ways to this most important of Earth traditions.”

  “Quite right,” Tag said, looking a little chastened. “Well, I’m off to unpack. I just wanted a quick look at the venue, and at my lovely assistant.”

  Assistant?

  His eyes roved all over Ruby before meeting hers.

  “It was an absolute pleasure, my dear,” he told her, one eyebrow arched. “I’ll see you later today.”

  Before Ruby knew what to do, he had her hand in his and was pressing it to his lips.

  “Au revoir,” he whispered.

  He spun on his heel and disappeared through the arch.

  “I thought you were planning the wedding,” Parker said.

  Ruby turned back to him, not missing the indignant note in his voice. At least someone seemed to be on her side.

  “I am,” she said. “But Olivia thought I could use a helping hand, and Tag has a lot of experience doing wedding shows.”

  “I see,” Parker said. But he did not look pleased.

  “Let’s look around,” Ruby suggested. “All the greenery you see here should be flowering by the time of the wedding.”

  “I see the baby flowers,” Parker said.

  “Buds,” Ruby said.

  “Yes, buds,” Parker said with a smile. “The flowers are the plants’ sexual organs - their presence is a fitting symbolism for a joining ceremony.”

  “Wow,” Ruby said.

  “Is this not correct?” Parker asked, sounding worried.

  “No, it is very correct,” Ruby said. “It’s just… I guess I never thought about it like that.”

  “The space is a circle,” Parker pointed out. “I thought weddings were done like a play on a stage.”

  “I was thinking that Margot and Kent can be in the pavilion,” Ruby said, walking over to it. “That way they can be seen by everyone, even though the space is circular.”

  “This is a very Aerie concept, the circle,” Parker said. “Without beginning or end. Kent will like it.”

  He stepped into the shade of the pavilion beside her.

  Suddenly her heart was pounding and her senses were amped up. She was all too aware of the nearness of his big body, the clean masculine scent of him, the sound of the breeze in the leaves around them.

  “Ruby,” he said.

  She looked up to meet his gaze.

  His jaw was tense, those beautiful eyes flashing with hunger.

  Not for the first time, Ruby was painfully aware of the small camera crew that followed them everywhere.

  “What do you think?” she asked softly, desperately trying to keep it professional and not make a fool of herself.

  “I think you’re amazing,” he said.

  “Sage helped me find this place,” Ruby said. “I knew Margot wanted an outdoor wedding, and I’ve always loved flower gardens, so it made sense to try and find one.”

  She was rambling and she knew it.

  Stop it, Ruby.

  She closed her mouth and turned to go back into the clearing.

  But her heel caught between two of the stones.

  In the split second during which she realized what had happened, but before she could try to correct for it, a pair of big arms wrapped around her from behind.

  “Parker,” she murmured, wondering how he could have known she was about to fall.

  “I’ve got you,” he replied.

  She freed her heel, but he didn’t let her go.

  She turned back to him and for an instant their faces were mere inches apart.

  His arms tightened around her and the air between them seemed to hum.

  Out of the corner of her eye she spotted a cameraman sprinting around the side of the pavilion for a better shot.

  “I’m fine,” she said quickly, turning away from Parker.

  He released her and she marched back into the sunlight.

  “I think I’ll go tell Margot that we’re happy with the space,” she said as brightly as she could, trying to cover her still pounding heart.

  “That sounds good,” Parker said. “What else can I do for you?”

  Kiss me, kiss me, kiss me...

  “Oh, um, I guess we’ll need to choose the menu,” Ruby said.

  He strode up to her and she managed to keep it together.

  “We don’t really eat on Aerie,” he told her as they walked back toward the arch. “We are nourished by the starlight we spend our days seeking and absorbing. But since we arrived, I have enjoyed partaking in many of Earth’s foods. I know that they have different flavors and textures. Perhaps we can find some that have the character of starlight.”

  “Wow,” Ruby said. “That sounds amazing.”

  “I would like to accompany you to a restaurant that serves all of Earth’s variety,” he told her. “Then we can choose together.”

  “Are you asking me to go to dinner with you?” she asked him.

  “Would you like to go to dinner with me?” he asked, his eyes dancing.

  “I would,” Ruby admitted.

  “Then I will make the arrangements,” he told her. “And I will pick you up this evening.”

  “Parker,” Olivia called from another part of the garden. “Can I talk to you a moment?”

  “Of course,” he said without looking. His gazed remained firmly on Ruby.

  “I’ll see you later,” Ruby said, heading for the arch and hoping she didn’t catch another heel while he was watching.

  5

  Parker

  Parker was nearly trembling with joy as he watched Ruby continue through the arch and out of sight.

  Her hair bounced on her shoulders and there was a slight spring in her step that he hoped was because they were going to have dinner together.

  He turned and headed back to where Olivia huddled up with one of the cameramen.

  “I was really happy to finally see some chemistry,” Olivia was saying quietly. “Viewers love a romantic sub-plot. Tell Tag to come see me in my trailer so we can really get this thing going.”

  “Ruby’s a lucky girl,” the cameraman whispered back.

  “Tell me about it,” Olivia laughed.

  Tag.

  Parker’s good mood sank like a thrusterless ship caught in a gravity well.

  He thought back to the moment he had arrived in the garden, how Tag Tuckerton had been looking at Ruby, and the things he had said.

  An unfamiliar feeling sent fingers of discomfort through his belly and ice water into his chest.

  Jealousy.

  Parker had heard much about this emotion. The great William Shakespeare had written a play about it. And the film Fatal Attraction had been part of the Earth culture he and his brothers had absorbed in preparation for their journey. While Parker still could not imagine committing violence against his beloved or her pets, he found it wasn’t terribly difficult to picture punching Tag right in the nose.

  “O beware, my lord, of jealousy,” he murmured to himself.

  He had no right to punch anyone in the nose, least of all for being attracted to Ruby, who was the most beautiful woman in the universe. How could anyone help but fall under her spell?

  And certainly not when it was the wish of Olivia, who was working with Sage to cement positive relations between Aerie and Earth.

  What were his petty desires compared to the good of interplanetary peace?

  “Parker,” Olivia called to him again. “Come on over.”


  She was no longer whispering with the cameraman. They had begun filming again, even though Ruby and Tag where nowhere in sight.

  He jogged over, afraid she would ask him to help her set up Tag with Ruby while the camera was running. He did not want to be any more jealous than he already was. Especially if there were going to be a video record of it.

  “Hey, thanks for helping out with the venue, Parker,” Olivia said. “I’d really like you to be onboard assisting Ruby for the whole wedding. She can use the help including Aerie symbolism and culture.”

  “It would be my pleasure,” Parker replied.

  He felt happy and sad at the same time. He wanted to be near Ruby at every moment, yet couldn’t bear the idea of watching her fall in love with someone else.

  “You don’t mind spending all that time hanging out with Ruby?” Olivia asked.

  “Of course not,” Parker said, surprised she would ask.

  He had never declared his feelings for Ruby, but surely his admiration for her was apparent.

  Olivia continued to eye him, a question in her expression.

  “I enjoy spending time with Ruby,” Parker added.

  “Good, good,” Olivia said with a big smile. “That’s great. Did I hear that you’re going to have dinner with her?”

  “Oh yes,” Parker said.

  He felt bad immediately. Olivia was trying to set Ruby up with Tag, and now Parker was taking her out to dinner.

  “It’s only as research for the wedding,” he added. “We’re trying to find food that would work as a tribute to Aerie.”

  “Okay, I see,” Olivia said with a frown. “Well, I hope you find what you’re looking for.”

  “Thank you,” Parker said, wondering what he had done to displease her.

  “I think that’s it for now,” Olivia said. “We’re going to get some background shots, but you’re free to go, Parker.”

  “Thank you,” he told her.

  He headed toward the vine-laden arch which led out of the garden, feeling much like the first man in one of Earth’s most famous myths - ousted from Eden.

  6