Bed of Roses Page 0,61

a choice in either hand.

"Where are you going?"

"Art opening. Local artist, modern."

"The wrap's more arty, and aren't you clever?"

"Am I?"

"Most people will be in black, so that red dress is going to pop. You could give lessons."

"If you're going to dress up, might as well get noticed, right? How about the shoes?"

Parker considered the peep-toe spikes with their sexy ankle straps. "Killers. Nobody with a Y

chromosome is going to look at the paintings."

"I've only got one Y chromosome in mind."

"You look happy, Emma."

"It's hard not to, because I am. I'm involved with an interesting man who makes me laugh and makes me tingle, one who actually listens to what I have to say, and who knows me well enough I can be myself without any of the filters. And the same goes for him. I know he's fun, funny, smart, not afraid to work, values his friends, is obsessed with sports. And . . . well, all the things you just know when you've been around someone for a dozen years the way we have."

She led the way to her work area. "Some people might think that takes the discovery or the excitement out of things, but it doesn't. There's always something new, and there's the stability of real understanding. I can be comfortable and excited around him at the same time.

"I went with the pink tulips and the mini iris. It's cheerful, female, springy."

"Yes, it's perfect." Parker waited while Emma took them out of the vase, adjusted the sheer white ribbon.

"I could add some lisianthus if you want it fuller."

"No, it's great. Just right. Emma," Parker began as her friend coned the arrangement in clear, glossy paper, "do either of you know you're in love with him?"

"What? No. I never said . . . Of course, I love Jack. We all love Jack."

"We all didn't put on a red dress and sexy shoes to spend the evening with him."

"Oh, well that's just . . . I'm going out."

"It's not just that. Em, you're going out with Jack. You're sleeping with Jack. Which is what I figured was what, more or less. But I listened to you just now, I watched your face just now. And, honey, I know you. You're in love."

"Why do you have to say that?" Distress covered Emma's face. "It's just the sort of thing that's going to mess with my head, and make everything all sticky and awkward."

Brow lifted, Parker angled her head. "Since when have you thought of being in love as sticky and awkward?"

"Since Jack. I'm okay with the way things are now. I'm better than okay. I'm in an exciting relationship with an exciting man and I don't . . . I don't expect it to be anything else. Because that's not Jack. He isn't the kind who thinks about what we'll be doing five years from now. Or five weeks from now. It's . .. just now."

"You know, it's odd that you and Del, who are closer to him than anyone, both have such little confidence in him."

"It's not that. It's just that in this particular area, Jack's not looking for . . . permanent."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to enjoy the moment." She said it with a decisive nod. "I'm not going to be in love with him, because we both know what'll happen if I am. I'll start romanticizing it, and him, and us, and wishing he'd . . ."

She trailed off, pressed a hand to her belly. "Parker, I know what it's like to have someone feel that way about me, when I don't feel that way. It's just as awful for the one who's not in love as it is for the one who is."

She shook her head. "No, I'm not going there. We've only been seeing each other like this for a little while. I'm not going there."

"All right." To soothe, Parker stroked a hand over Emma's shoulder. "If you're happy, I'm happy."

"I am."

"I'd better run. Thanks for putting these together."

"Never a problem."

"I'll see you tomorrow. Follow-up consult on the Seaman wedding."

"I've got it in my book. I know they want to walk around the gardens, see them now to project what they'll want in those areas next April. I'm going to dress a couple of the urns with Nikko blue hydrangeas I've been coaxing along in the greenhouse. They're lush, and should give a good show. I've got a couple other tricks up my sleeve, too," she added as she walked to the door with Parker.

"You