what it would be like to be crazy in love, I never knew."
She dropped down on the bed, grinned up at the ceiling. "Do you feel this way all the time? With Carter?"
Mac flopped down beside her. "I never thought I'd be in love. Not really. I never imagined it the way you always did, or looked for it. In some ways it snuck up on me, and in others it fell on me like a ton of bricks. It's still a shock to the system to realize I have this inside me - not the spinning and singing part, because even inside it would annoy me. But I've got the jumping and dancing going on. And somebody has it inside for me . Talk about shocking."
Emma reached out to take Mac's hand. "I don't know if Jack has it back for me, not the way I do for him. But I know he cares. I know he feels. And I have so much, Mac. I have to believe all this love I have will . . . take root, I guess. I thought I loved him before, but now I think that was a kind of infatuation mixed up inside lust. Because this is different."
"Can you tell him?"
"I would've said no, even a couple of days ago. Don't want to ruin anything, don't want to tip the scales. Actually did say no when Parker and I talked about it. But now I think I can. I think I should. I just have to figure out how and when."
"It scared me, when Carter told me he loved me. Don't be upset if it scares him a little, at least at first."
"I don't think you tell someone you love them because you expect something. I think you tell them because you have something to give."
"You unpack as soon as you get home from a trip. You have a happy nature. And you're wise about love. I'm surprised the three of us haven't ganged up and beaten the hell out of you regularly."
"You can't. You love me."
Mac turned so they faced each other. "We do. I'm pulling for you, Em. We all are."
"Then how can I go wrong?"
T HE KNOCK INTERRUPTED EMMA HALFWAY THROUGH PROCESSING the morning delivery. Grumbling only a little, she left the flowers holding. She winced when she saw Kathryn Seaman and her sister through the glass. Wet and messy weren't ways to impress important clients. Trapped, she fixed an easy smile on her face and opened the door. "Mrs. Seaman, Mrs. Lattimer, how nice to see you."
"I apologize for dropping in on you this way, but Jessica and her girls decided on the bridesmaids'
dresses. I wanted to bring you the swatch of the material."
"That's perfect. Please come in. Can I get you something to drink? Maybe some sun tea? It's a warm day."
"I'd love some," Adele said immediately. "If it's no bother."
"Not at all. Why don't you sit down, be comfortable? I'll just be a minute."
Tea, Emma thought as she hurried into the kitchen. Lemon slices, the good glasses. Crap, crap. A little plate of cookies. Thank God for Laurel's emergency tin. She scrambled everything onto a tray, shoved at her hair.
She pulled her emergency lip gloss out of a kitchen drawer, glided some on, then pinched her cheeks. As that was the best she could manage under the circumstances, she took two deep breaths to make sure she looked un-rushed. She strolled back in to find both women wandering her greeting area.
"Kate told me what a pretty setup you had here. She was right."
"Thank you."
"And your private rooms are upstairs?"
"Yes. It's not only convenient, but very comfortable."
"I noticed your partner - Mackensie - is expanding her studio."
"Yes." Emma poured the tea, then continued to stand as neither woman seemed inclined to sit. "Mac's getting married this December, and they'll need more room in their private space, so they're expanding the studio space as well."
"Isn't that exciting?" Sipping tea, Adele continued to wander, fluffing at flowers, studying photos.
"Planning a wedding for one of your own."
"It really is. We've all been friends since we were children."
"I noticed the photo here. Is that you, and two of your partners?"
"Yes, Laurel and Parker. We loved playing Wedding Day," Emma told her as she smiled at the photo. "I was the bride that day, and Mac, in a glimpse of the future, official photographer. She'll tell you it was that moment - the blue butterfly moment - when she knew she wanted