Shayla De La Cruz
Age: 28
Born: Buenos Aires, Argentina
House: Avian- Spheniscine (penguin)
Likes: Organization, having a plan, her bodyguard (a little too much, to be honest), swimming, Leverage, Prada bags that hold everything and look good doing it, body contouring dresses that tastefully showcase her assets, tall Gucci pumps that make her legs go on for days
Dislikes: early mornings, chasing after her assistant’s love life, snakes, disorder (in all forms—feelings, events, rooms), being told she can’t get something done
Life motto: Find a way or make one.
Planning a wedding is like managing a battlefield, only with more flowers. At least, that what I was told when I started in this business. My name is Shayla De La Cruz, and I have not had the best few weeks.
First up, my boss, the renowned fox Evan Antian, event planner to the stars, died in a horrible elevator accident. That should have been a red flag, but honestly, given that red’s one of the signature colors of the King’s wedding to Lady Cora, I kinda overlooked it in favor of getting the job done.
My family always said my devotion to my job would put me in an early grave. I’d really hate to prove them right.
Problem is, I really have things to go if I’m going to make it big as a wedding planner. Yes, the job I was assisting on just fell on my shoulders full force, but I wasn’t raised a quitter. I can do this, I know I can, and once it’s over, I can hang my shingle out anywhere I please and command any price I want. I just have to get there.
And then there was the car bomb.
So, yeah… Evan’s accident? Not quite as accidental as billed, and now I have a friend. Well, friend is a strong word, let’s call him a minder. Xander Colgrove is a Commander with the King’s Guard, and now my personal shadow for the foreseeable future. Which, truly wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t crushing so damn hard on him.
One look at the towering blond Cooper’s hawk in the beautifully tailored dark suit, and whew. Panties? Evaporated. It’s hard on a girl’s concentration.
And then to find out that he’s not only hotter than the sun, he bakes and speaks Spanish? I can hear my abuela in Mar del Plata, “El amor entra or la cocina.” She’s half right: the way to my heart isn’t through my stomach, but homemade cupcakes never hurt anything.
My bodyguard is too distracting, and I have the wedding of the century to pull off without a hitch. Throw in a flighty assistant and her first love, another associated event or six, and a few more disasters of the unnatural variety, and what could possibly go wrong?
You can read all about Shayla's adventures in royal mayhem in the 3rd installment in the Winged Guardians Series: A Sugar Moon.
