“Type of wedding?” Summer asked, lips pursed. “Does that matter?”
“Yes. If you’re having a pirate wedding, I shouldn’t design you a Little Bo Peep dress.”
“Oh. I guess a normal wedding.”
Rosalind stared at his sister. Then she shook her head. “Okay, let’s try this. What sort of fashion do you like? Do you have favorite articles of clothing? Do you want to be understated or like a princess?”
His sister looked overwhelmed. He shouldn’t have enjoyed it as much as he did but he couldn’t help himself. He crossed his legs and sat back to enjoy.
Summer sputtered for a moment before she said, “I imagined a white dress.”
“That’s a good start.” Rosalind nodded. “At least we’ve ruled out ivory or red.”
He laughed at the sarcasm in her tone.
They both looked at him. Grinning, he said, “We also ruled out black, which is a relief.”
“Why?” Summer asked.
“Because you look awful in black.”
His sister frowned. “All my work clothes are black.”
“Exactly.”
Rosalind shook her head at him before returning to the task at hand. “How big of a wedding do you plan on having, Sara?”
“I’ve never thought about it much.” Summer played with the diamond stud earrings Tabitha had given her. “I guess I’d like just family and very close friends. Something traditional, with lots of flowers and soft music. And those perfect little macarons in pink and green.”
Rosalind perked up. “I love macarons. They’re an underrated sweet, plus they have a tidy esthetic that I can’t help admiring.”
“I know.” Summer leaned forward. “Nick mocks me for this, but I arrange all my toiletries, so they look like they could be at a makeup counter.”
“I do, too.” Rosalind grinned. “In school, it used to drive my best friend mad. Bijou was never very tidy. She still isn’t, although she treats her clothing with respect. Mostly.”
“You sound very close to Bijou,” Summer said, wistful. “I didn’t have many friends in school. You’re fortunate you had your sisters, too.”
“You’d think differently if you actually had sisters,” Rosalind said lightly. “So back to your dress. You’re thinking traditional?”
Summer shrugged. “I suppose. Unless you think I’m not suited to it.”
“You’re lovely, Sara.” Rosalind smiled, one that radiated credibility, as she closed her notebook and stood. “You’d be suited to whatever your heart desired.”
Summer nodded, looking overwhelmed as she took Rosalind’s hand. “Thank you.”
“I’ll pull together some ideas, and we’ll go from there.” Rosalind gave her a kiss on each cheek. “I’ll make you a dress you’ll adore. I promise.”
It was the first time he’d ever seen his stepsister speechless. She just nodded.
Rosalind turned to him. “Walk me out?”
He was in trouble—he heard it in the tone of her voice.
“Go, Nick,” Summer said, pulling him to stand. “We can have lunch another time.”
He was going to strangle her. He looked at Rosalind and tried to come up with another excuse to stay away from her.
But the uncertain, hurt look in her eyes twisted his heart. And who was he kidding? He’d give anything for five minutes alone with her. Nick held his arm out, motioning Rosalind in front of him. “Let’s go.”
“I’m going to the underground.” She tied the belt on her coat and whipped her scarf around her neck.
“Okay.”
She looked at him as they started down the sidewalk. “Maybe I misconstrued the other afternoon.”
He knew what he should have said, but he couldn’t lie to her. He shook his head at the irony there. “Rosalind, I’d like nothing better than to get to know you better, but we both know it’s impossible.”
“Then how about just sex?”
He caught himself before stumbling on the pavement. “Sex?” he repeated, his voice strangled.
“Where we rub up against each other in some state of partial or complete undress until we lose our minds.” She frowned at him. “Do I have to draw a diagram?”
“No, although I wouldn’t mind if you wanted to.” He shook his head—what was he saying? “We can’t, Rosalind.”
“Are you seeing someone else?”
“No.”
“Are you gay?”
“No.”
“Don’t you find me attractive?”
She looked at him with her guileless angel eyes, and he was powerless to say anything but the absolute truth. “You’re the most beautiful, fascinating woman I’ve met, and all I’ve thought about since the other day is stripping you bare and kissing every inch of you.”