Bed of Roses (Bride Quartet #2)(94)

"You can't. You love me."

Mac turned so they faced each other. "We do. I'm pulling for you, Em. We all are."

"Then how can I go wrong?"





THE KNOCK INTERRUPTED EMMA HALFWAY THROUGH PROCESSING the morning delivery. Grumbling only a little, she left the flowers holding. She winced when she saw Kathryn Seaman and her sister through the glass. Wet and messy weren't ways to impress important clients.

Trapped, she fixed an easy smile on her face and opened the door. "Mrs. Seaman, Mrs. Lattimer, how nice to see you."

"I apologize for dropping in on you this way, but Jessica and her girls decided on the bridesmaids' dresses. I wanted to bring you the swatch of the material."

"That's perfect. Please come in. Can I get you something to drink? Maybe some sun tea? It's a warm day."

"I'd love some," Adele said immediately. "If it's no bother."

"Not at all. Why don't you sit down, be comfortable? I'll just be a minute."

Tea, Emma thought as she hurried into the kitchen. Lemon slices, the good glasses. Crap, crap. A little plate of cookies. Thank God for Laurel's emergency tin. She scrambled everything onto a tray, shoved at her hair. 

She pulled her emergency lip gloss out of a kitchen drawer, glided some on, then pinched her cheeks.

As that was the best she could manage under the circumstances, she took two deep breaths to make sure she looked un-rushed. She strolled back in to find both women wandering her greeting area.

"Kate told me what a pretty setup you had here. She was right."

"Thank you."

"And your private rooms are upstairs?"

"Yes. It's not only convenient, but very comfortable."

"I noticed your partner-Mackensie-is expanding her studio."

"Yes." Emma poured the tea, then continued to stand as neither woman seemed inclined to sit. "Mac's getting married this December, and they'll need more room in their private space, so they're expanding the studio space as well."

"Isn't that exciting?" Sipping tea, Adele continued to wander, fluffing at flowers, studying photos. "Planning a wedding for one of your own."

"It really is. We've all been friends since we were children."

"I noticed the photo here. Is that you, and two of your partners?"

"Yes, Laurel and Parker. We loved playing Wedding Day," Emma told her as she smiled at the photo. "I was the bride that day, and Mac, in a glimpse of the future, official photographer. She'll tell you it was that moment-the blue butterfly moment-when she knew she wanted to be a photographer."

"It's charming." Kathryn turned to Emma. "We've interrupted your work, and are taking up entirely too much of your time."

"It's always lovely to have an unexpected break."

"I hope you mean that," Adele put in, "because I'm dying to see where you work. Are you arranging today? Making bouquets?"

"Ah . . . actually I'm processing a morning delivery, which is why I'm a little messy."

"I'm shameless, and I'm going to ask if I can see where you work."

"Oh. Of course." She shot a look at Kathryn. "Don't panic."

"I've seen where you work."

"Yes, but not while I was working," Emma pointed out as she led the way. "Processing is . . . Well, as you can see." She gestured to her work counter.

"Just look at the flowers!" Flushed with excitement, Adele moved forward. "Oh, and smell the peonies."

"The bride's favorite," Emma told her. "We'll be using this wonderful rich red for her bouquet, contrasted with the bold pinks down to the palest blush. It'll be hand-tied with wine-colored ribbon and candy pink studs. The attendants will carry smaller versions, in the pinks."

"And you keep them in these buckets?"

"In a solution that hydrates and feeds. It's an important step to keep them fresh, and to help them last after the event. I'll keep them in the cooler until we're ready to start designing."

"How do you-"

"Adele." Kathryn clucked her tongue. "You're interrogating again."

"All right, all right. I'm full of questions, I know. But I'm very serious about launching a wedding planning company in Jamaica." Nodding, Adele scanned the area again. "It seems you have a perfect arrangement here, so there's little hope in luring you away."

"But I'm happy to answer questions. Still, for an overview of a business model, Parker's your girl."



       
         
       
        

"We're going to get out of your way." Kathryn reached in her bag. "The swatch."