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do a happy dance. Laurel snatched Parker's hand and pulled her up to join them.

"I take it you're interested."

"Can we pack now? Can we? Can we?" Mac demanded.

"Sunscreen, a bikini, and a blender for margaritas. What else do you need?" Laurel swung Parker around. "Vacation!"

"Where?" Emma asked. "What beach?"

"Who cares?" Laurel flopped down on the couch again. "It's the beach. It's a week without fondant or sugar paste. I wipe a tear from my cheek."

"The Hamptons. Del bought a house."

"Del bought a house in the Hamptons?" Mac lifted her fists in the air. "Go, Del."

"Actually, Brown LLC bought it. That's what some of the paperwork he's been bringing over was about. A property came up. It's a good investment. I didn't say anything, in case it fell through. But it's a done deal now. So, we'll all pack ourselves off to the beach for a week the end of August."

"All?" Laurel echoed.

"The four of us, Carter, Del, Jack, of course. It's six bedrooms, eight baths. Plenty of room for everyone."

"Does Jack know?" Emma wondered.

"He knows Del was looking at the property, but not about August. We both felt there wasn't a point in talking about taking the week if we didn't go through with it. Now we have."

"I have to go tell Carter. Yay!" Mac gave Parker a smacking kiss before she rushed out.

"This is so great. I'm going to go put it on my calendar, with lots of little hearts and shiny suns. Moonlight walks on the beach." Emma hugged Parker. "It's nearly as perfect as dancing in a moonlit garden. I'm going to call Jack."

When they were alone, Parker looked at Laurel. "Is anything wrong?"

"What? No. God, what could be wrong. Beach, a week. I think I'm in shock. We need new beach clothes."

"Damn right."

Laurel pushed up. "Let's go shopping."

W HEN INSPIRATION STRUCK, EMMA RAN WITH IT. IT TOOK SOME juggling and a client flexible enough to bump up a consult by an hour, but she managed to clear her Monday afternoon. She planned to surprise Jack with a twist on their usual Monday night date. On the way out she stopped by the main house and tracked down Parker in the office. Parker paced, her headset in place, and rolled her eyes when Emma came in.

"I'm sure Kevin's mother didn't mean to be critical or insulting. You're absolutely right, it is your wedding, your day, your choice. You're entitled to . . . Yes, he is very sweet, Dawn, and extremely well behaved. I know . . . I know."

Parker closed her eyes, mimed strangling herself for Emma's benefit.

"Ah, why don't you let me take care of this for you? It would take the stress off you and Kevin. And sometimes an outside party is better able to explain and . . . I'm sure she doesn't. Yes, of course. I'd be angry, too. But - But . . . Dawn!" Her tone sharpened just a fraction, enough, Emma knew, to shut down whatever rant the bride might be on. "You have to remember, above anything else, any detail, any complication or disagreement, the day and everything about it is for you and Kevin. And you have to remember, I'm here to see that you and Kevin have the day you want."

This time Parker shot her gaze to the ceiling. "Why don't you and Kevin go out and have a nice dinner tonight, just the two of you? I can make a reservation for you wherever . . . I love that restaurant."

Parker scribbled down a name on a pad. "Say seven? I'll take care of that for you right now. And I'll speak to his mother this evening. By tomorrow, everything will be fine. Don't worry about a thing. I'll talk to you soon. Yes, Dawn, that's what I'm here for. Good. Great. Mmm-hmm. Bye."

She held up a finger. "One more minute." Once she'd contacted the bride's choice of restaurant, wrangled a reservation, she pulled off the headset.

Parker took a breath, let out a short but enthusiastic scream, then nodded. "Better. Much better."

"Dawn's having a problem with her soon-to-be mother-in-law?"

"Yes. Oddly, the MOG doesn't understand or approve of the bride's choice of ring bearer."

"It's really not her - "

"Which is Beans, the bride's Boston bull terrier."

"Oh, I'd forgotten about that one." Emma's brow creased. "Wait. Did I know about that one?"

"Probably not, as she only told me a couple of days ago. The MOG thinks it's silly, undignified, and embarrassing. And said so in very clear