Bed of Roses Page 0,16

sign in his head.

"I had some of my aunt Terry's olive bread," she told him. "It's great. I went with cold caffeine."

"That does the job. Thanks."

"No problem. And it's nice to have company on a break." She sat again. "What are you working on?"

"I'm juggling a few things." He bit into the bread. "You're right. It's great."

"Aunt Terry's secret recipe. You said you had a job near here?"

"A couple. The one I'm heading to's a never-ending. The client started out two years ago wanting a kitchen remodel, which moved into a complete reno of the master bath, which now includes a Japanese soaking tub, a sunken whirlpool, and a steam shower big enough for six friends."

She wiggled her brows over those gorgeous eyes, then took a bite of pasta. "Fancy."

"I kept waiting for her to ask if we could extend the addition a little more for the lap pool. But she turned her focus outside. She decided she wants a summer kitchen by the pool. She saw one in a magazine. She can't live without it."

"How does anyone?"

He smiled and ate. "She's twenty-six. Her husband's fifty-eight, rolling in it and happy to indulge her every whim. She has a lot of whim."

"I'm sure he loves her, and if he can afford it, why not make her happy?"

Jack merely shrugged. "Fine by me. It keeps me in beer and nachos."

"You're cynical." She pointed at him with her fork before she stabbed more pasta. "You see her as the bimbo trophy wife and him as the middle-aged dumbass."

"I bet his first wife does, but I see them as clients."

"I don't think age should factor into love or marriage. It's about the two people in it, and how they feel about each other. Maybe she makes him feel young and vital, and opened something new inside him. If it was just sex, why marry her?"

"I'll just say a woman who looks like she does has great powers of persuasion."

"That may be, but we've done a lot of weddings here where there's been a significant age difference."

He wagged his fork, then stabbed more pasta in a mirror of her move. "A wedding isn't a marriage."

She sat back, drummed her fingers. "Okay, you're right. But a wedding's a prelude, it's the symbolic and ritualistic beginning of the marriage, so - "

"They got married in Vegas."

He continued to eat, face bland as he watched her try not to laugh.

"Many people get married in Vegas. That doesn't mean they won't have many happy and fulfilling years together."

"By a transvestite Elvis impersonator."

"Okay, now you're making things up. But even if you're not, that kind of . . . choice shows a sense of humor and fun, which, I happen to believe, are important elements for a successful marriage."

"Good save. Great pasta." He glanced over to where Parker sat with potential clients on the main terrace. "Business seems to be clicking along."

"Five events this week on-site, and a bridal shower we coordinated off-site."

"Yeah, I'll be here for the one Saturday evening."

"Friend of Bride or Groom?"

"Groom. The bride's a monster."

"God, she really is." Emma leaned back and laughed. "She brought me a picture of her best friend's bouquet. Not because she wanted me to duplicate it, which she certainly did not. Hers is a completely different style, but she'd counted the roses, and told me she wanted at least one more in hers - and warned me she'd be counting them."

"She will, too. And I can pretty much guarantee no matter how good a job you do, she'll find fault."

"Yeah, we've figured that out. It's part of the job around here. You get monsters and angels and everything in between. But I don't have to think about her today. Today's a happy day."

He knew she meant it. She looked relaxed, and had a glow about her. Then again, she usually did.

"Because you have fifty bouquets to make?"

"That, and knowing the bride of fifty years is going to love them. Fifty years. Can you imagine?"

"I can't imagine fifty years of anything."

"That's not true. You must imagine what you build lasting fifty years. Hopefully much longer."

"Point," he agreed. "But that's building."

"So's marriage. It's building lives. It takes work, care, maintenance. And our anniversary couple proves it can be done. And now I have to get back to them. Break's over for me."

"Me, too. I'll get this for you." He loaded up the tray, lifted it as they rose. "You're working alone today? Where are your elves?"

"They'll be here tomorrow. And there will