Bed of Roses Page 0,41

bit of the wild in him."

"I'll assume he's built up his business through his skill with engines and not through his skill with customer relations."

"Put your back up," Emma commented.

"I'll get over it, as long as he does the job well." Parker glanced over as Laurel came in. "Cutting it close."

"Coffee and cookies are set up. Some of us don't have time to sit around eating and gossiping before a consult." Laurel frowned as she combed her fingers through her hair. "Plus you're having wine."

"Parker was in a mood because - "

"I heard all about that already." Laurel poured herself a scant half glass. "I want new juice. What's the current situation with Jack?"

"I think we're having virtual sex. We're still in the early stages of foreplay, so I'm not sure where it's going."

"I've never had cyber sex. I've never liked anyone enough to have cyber sex." Laurel cocked her head as she considered. "And that sounds odd. I like a guy well enough to have actual sex, but not virtual?"

"Because it's a game." Emma got up to give Laurel the remaining half of her salad. "You might like a man enough to go to bed with him, but you might not want to play with him."

"That makes weird sense." With a nod, Laurel stabbed at the salad. "You always make weird sense when it comes to men."

"And obviously she likes Jack enough to play with him," Parker added.

"Jack's got a sense of fun, which is one of the things I've always liked about him. And found attractive."

Emma's lips curved in a slow, easy smile. "We'll see how much we like playing games."

IN THE PARLOR, OVER COFFEE AND LAUREL'S MACAROONS, PARKER led the consult with the engaged couple and their mothers. "As I explained to Mandy and Seth, Vows will tailor our services to suit your needs. As much or as little as you want. Our goal, together and individually, is to give you the perfect wedding. Your perfect wedding. Now, when we spoke last, you hadn't chosen a date, but had decided you wanted evening and outdoors."

Emma listened with half an ear as dates were discussed.

She wondered if Jack had gotten her e-mail yet.

The bride wanted romance. Didn't they all? Emma thought, but perked up when she said she'd be wearing her grandmother's wedding gown.

"I have a photo," Mandy announced, "but Seth isn't allowed to see. So . . ."

"Seth, would you like a beer?"

He looked over at Laurel, grinned. "I would."

"Why don't you come with me? I'll set you up. When you've finished the beer we should be ready for you again."

"Thanks." Mandy reached into a large folder when Laurel led Seth out. "I know it's probably silly - "

"Not at all." Parker held out a hand for the photo, and her polite expression turned radiant. "Oh. Oh, it's gorgeous. It's just stunning. Late thirties, early forties?"

"You're good," the mother of the bride said. "My parents were married in 1941. She was just eighteen."

"Ever since I was a little girl I've talked about wearing Nana's wedding gown when I got married. It needs to be fitted, and a little repair, but Nana's taken good care of it."

"Do you have a seamstress in mind?"

"We've spoken to Esther Brightman."

As she studied the photo, Parker nodded approval. "She's a genius, and exactly who I'd recommend for this. Mandy, you're going to look absolutely amazing. And we could, if you want, build the entire wedding around this dress. Vintage glamour with class, romance with style. Tails rather than the more expected tux for the groom and groomsmen."

"Oh, wow. Wow. Would he go for that?" she asked her future mother-in-law.

"He'll go for anything you want, honey. Personally, I love the idea. We'd want to find vintage dresses, or the vintage style for the bridal party."

Emma studied the photo when it came to her. Fluid, she thought, Deco-inspired lines, with a sheen that said silk. She lifted her gaze to study Mandy, and decided the new bride would wear the gown as beautifully as her grandmother had. "I can replicate the bouquet," she said half to herself.

"What?" Mandy cut herself off in midsentence and swung her attention to Emma.

"The bouquet - if you wanted - I can replicate it. Look how clever she was, how smart to offset the long, fluid lines of the gown with the oversized crescent of calla lilies. Do you have the veil and headpiece?"

"Yes."

"From what I can see, she had it trimmed with lily-of-the-valley. I can do that, if