Ryder
Bradley is working his way through college as a DJ, who does all
manner of events, including wedding receptions. He's not expecting to
meet the woman of his dreams at her sister's wedding.
My
confidence at being able to handle the mother faded a little, but I
didn't let it daunt me. I ate a quick meal in the kitchen and headed
out to the stage again, ready to take requests. I found the she-beast
pawing through my CDs.
"Excuse
me, ma'am. What do you think you're you doing?"
She
had the decency to look alarmed that she'd been caught. However, I
noticed she'd used my pen to scratch out my list and write her own. I
sauntered over, keeping my distance, but using my size to intimidate
her. She was short, plump and dressed in an unfortunate shade of
purple that made her look like an eggplant. I hoped her daughter had
done that to her on purpose.
"You're
not playing the choices," she stated. "This other tripe is
unacceptable." She gestured regally at the list. "And while
I have your attention, what was that you played when my daughter came
in?"
"The
theme from 2001," another female voice said behind me.
I
turned around to see the maid of honor. She was a stunning brunette
with a knockout figure and dancing brown eyes that sent a shock right
through me.
"I
thought it was fantastic, Mom. Emmy liked it too. She said it made
her feel like a queen."
Mom
was about to burst a blood vessel. She spluttered and fumed for a few
more minutes, while the maid of honor and I watched. Then, like a
firework whose fuse burns out, she sputtered one last time and
stepped down off the stage with the help of the best man.
The
maid of honor held out her hand to me. "Cerise Lafayette,"
she introduced herself.
I
wanted to laugh, but didn't dare. I could tell that she hated her
name and I wasn't gonna go there for anything. She was gorgeous, with
a curvy figure like her sister's. I'm not a rude man. I wasn't going
to totally alienate a beautiful woman—especially when she backed my
playlist.
"Ryder
Bradley." I kissed her hand. "Excuse me one second." I
went back to the microphone. "I hear some of you folks want to
dance," I said, grinning as I cued up another tune. "This
is a personal favorite of mine, I hope you enjoy it!" I started
Criminals by the Revivalists start playing.
Cerise's
lips twitched, her dark chocolate eyes taking me in. She arched an
appreciative eyebrow. "Is it really a favorite?"
I
turned off the microphone. "Yeah. You like?"
"First
time I've heard it. I approve. I came up here to make some requests.
That's if you have them."
"I
have virtually everything. Rattle 'em off."
She
gave me a long list of tunes, most of which meshed with the bride's
choices, and deviated sharply from their mother's. I wrote them down
on a clean piece of paper, nodding with each addition. I had them,
twenty in all.
"I'll
happily play each of these."
"Thank
you. I happily anticipate each one."
I
kissed her hand once more, hoping it wasn't my imagination that she
let her fingers linger on mine before flashing another stunning smile
at me. She walked down the steps, with me hovering like a helicopter,
to see her safely to the ground. She smiled up at me, letting her
long eyelashes drop slightly before joining the best man in a dance.
©2019
Dellani Okaes
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