Bed of Roses Page 0,101

wrong to have all this" - she pressed a hand to her heart - "and not tell him."

"Love is brave," Lucia reminded her. "I know when he says your name, he looks happy. I'm glad you told me. Now I can think good thoughts for you, for both of you, tonight."

"I'll take them. Oh, and you have a book for Parker. I told her I'd pick it up for her."

"I'll get it for you." Lucia wrapped an arm around Emma's waist as she walked her out of the storeroom.

"You'll call me tomorrow? I want to know how your dinner went."

"I'll call you, first thing."

"Emma?"

Emma looked over, smiled at the pretty brunette she desperately tried to place. "Hi."

"It is you! Oh, hi, Emma!"

Emma found herself gripped in an enthusiastic hug and rocked side to side. Baffled, she gave the girl a friendly squeeze in return as she shot questioning looks at her mother.

"Rachel, you're home from college." Lucia beamed as she gave her daughter hints. "It seems like last week Emma was heading out to babysit for you."

"I know. I can hardly - "

"Rachel? Rachel Monning?" Emma pulled her back, stared into bright blue eyes. "Oh my God. Look at you. I didn't recognize you. You're grown-up and gorgeous. When did you stop being twelve?"

"A while ago. It's just been so long, between this and that and college. Oh, Emma, you look awesome. You always did. I can't believe I ran into you this way. I was actually going to call you."

"You're in college now? Home for the summer?"

"Yes. One more year. I'm working at Estervil, in public relations. It's my day off and I stopped in because I needed a book. A wedding planning book. I'm engaged!"

She held out her hand to show off the sparkle of her diamond.

"Engaged?" Emma pushed through the moment of speechless shock. "But you were playing with your Barbies ten minutes ago."

"I think it's closer to ten years." Rachel's face lit up with her laugh. "You have to meet Drew. He's amazing. Of course you'll meet him. We're going to get married next summer, after I graduate, and I really want to have you do the flowers, and, well, everything. My mother says Vows is the place. Can you believe it? I'm getting married, and you'll make my bouquet. You used to make those Kleenex bouquets for me, and now, it'll be real."

She felt the jab straight in the belly, hated herself for it, but felt it. "I'm so happy for you. When did this happen?"

"Two weeks, three days and . . ." Rachel checked her watch. "Sixteen hours ago. Oh, I wish I had more time, but I have to get the book and run or I'll be late." She hugged Emma again. "I'll call and we'll talk flowers and cakes and, oh God, everything. Bye! Bye, Mrs. Grant. I'll see you soon."

"Rachel Monning's getting married."

"Yes." Lucia patted Emma's shoulder. "She is."

"I used to babysit for her. I used to French braid her hair and let her stay up past her bedtime. Now I'm going to do her wedding flowers. Good God, Mama."

"There there," Lucia said and didn't bother to mask a chuckle. "Aren't you about to spend the evening with a wonderful man?"

"Yes. Right. I get it. Everyone takes different directions. But . . . Good God."

She managed to put babysitting and weddings aside to finish her shopping. She'd barely stepped out of the market before being hailed again.

"Buenos tardes, bonita!"

"Rico." Instead of a hug she had both cheeks affectionately kissed. "How are you?"

"Better for seeing you."

"Why aren't you flying somewhere fabulous?"

"Just back from a run to Italy. The owner took his family to Tuscany for a little R and R."

"Ah, the hard life of the private pilot. And how's Brenna?"

"We broke up a couple of months ago."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I hadn't heard."

"The way it goes." He shrugged. "Let me carry those for you." He took her grocery bags, peeked in as he walked her to her car. "Looks like good eating, and a lot better than the Hungry Man dinner I have on tap."

"Oh, poor thing." She laughed at him then unlocked the passenger side door. "Just in here. I'm already pretty loaded in the back."

"So I see," he said as he glanced at the plants and bags in the backseat. "It looks like you've got a busy evening planned, but if you want to change your mind, I'll take you to dinner." He trailed a flirtatious finger down her arm. "Or