by VA Dold
Jack, the owner and one of the shifters who lived in town, met them on the other side. “Hi, Seth. I didn’t know you were home.”
“Hey, Jack. I just got back. This time for good. Jack, this is Sara Adams. My fiancée.”
Jack chuckled. “Yes, I know. I saw the whole thing.” He smiled and extended his hand. “Congratulations Sara.”
She shook it. “Thank you.”
“Now, Miss Adams, what style do you prefer? A classic solitaire? A band with filigree? Or perhaps a channel set band?”
“I… don’t know.”
Seth nodded. He noticed she didn’t wear jewelry often or at all. That’s why he brought her in to pick one instead of surprising her. “Pick out a few and try them on.”
She chewed the tip of her finger then pointed to the smallest diamond in the case.
“Sara,” he growled. “You’re not going to wear a diamond that requires a magnifying glass to see it.” He pointed to one in the next tray. Try that one.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. That’s huge.”
“And still not big enough. I’m trying to compromise.”
She scowled at him but relented. “Fine.”
Jack pulled the tray and placed it on the top of the display case.
Sara studied them and after a few minutes pointed out three.
Seth pinched the bridge of his nose to stave off a headache he knew was coming. Sara was determined to buy an embarrassingly tiny diamond. “Is it that you don’t like solitaires? We can look at the channel set rings if you prefer.”
“No. I like them.”
“Then why are you choosing such microscopic diamonds? Please, help me understand what’s going on.”
Sara glanced at Jack. “Could you excuse us for a minute?”
“Sure.” He pointed to the other side of the store. “I’ll be right over there.”
As soon as Jack was out of earshot, she hissed. “I don’t need you to spend a lot of money.”
“Why?”
“Because.”
“Because, why?”
Sara sighed. “I’m not used to people buying me such expensive things.”
“Then you better get used to it, starting with a ring. I plan to spoil you rotten.”
Her lips pinched together, but she went back to studying the rings.
Seth leaned in and whispered in a teasing voice, “You better pick one or I’ll buy that.” He pointed to a gaudy monstrosity she would die before wearing.
Sara laughed which was what he’d been going for. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Ten minutes later, three rings of acceptable size sat in a velvet tray between Sara and Jack.
She looked up, chewing on her fingertip. “Which one do you like?”
Except for the diamond size, the rings all looked alike to him. “Try them on. I want to see them on your finger.”
“Okay.”
He watched her as each was slipped on. The third and largest ring made her heart beat faster and eyes shine. He kept his expression neutral. “What do you think? Which one should we get?”
“They’re all pretty.” But her eyes strayed to the third one.
“Hello. Guy over here. You’re going to have to be more specific.”
The light went out of her eyes as she touched the smallest of the three. “This one.”
“Excellent.” He shook his head ever so slightly at Jack.
His perceptive friend inched a finger toward the largest one.
Seth gave him a tiny nod. “I’ll put that into a box for you and meet you at the register.” Jack picked up the tray holding all three rings and headed to the back of the store.
A few minutes later, Seth slipped the velvet box in his pocket and steered Sara toward Jackson Square. “Let’s take a little walk.”
“Alright.”
He led her into the park. “Let’s find a bench.” The moment she sat down he dug the little velvet box out of his pocket. “Would you like me to get down on one knee again?”
She shook her head and blushed. “No. That isn’t necessary.”
He popped the box open and palmed the ring before she could see it. Then he held out his hand. “Your ring finger please.”
Laughing she splayed her fingers.
Sara sucked in a breath when she saw the ring. “This isn’t the one I pointed out.”
He slipped the box back in his pocket. “No. It’s the one you liked the best. And the one I wanted you to have.”
“You’re really something. You know that? I can tell I’m going to have to keep an eye on you from now on.”
He smiled. “You can try.”
Seth played tourist with Sara for a few hours and then pointed them toward the car. They had lunch with his parents today and had just enough time to get home without being late. Or at least he’d been invited to lunch. Sara was a surprise.
Emma met them at the door before he could knock. “Seth! And you must be his lovely mate.”
Seth scowled. “Hello, Mother. You’re correct. How you know I have a mate is another question.” He waved the situation away. “Regardless, I would like to introduce you to Sara Adams. Though odds are you knew her name as well, and this is just a formality. Sara, this is my mother, Emma.”
Sara glanced from Seth to his mother her brows so high they almost hit her hairline. Then she offered Emma her hand. “Mrs. Le Beau, it’s an honor to meet you.”
“Oh, posh. Call me Emma or better yet, Mom.” Emma ignored the proffered hand and pulled Sara into a rib-cracking hug.
“Mom, you’re suffocating my mate.”
Emma immediately released Sara, her face aflame with embarrassment. “Sorry. I tend to hug too tightly. I’ve been working on that, but apparently, I’m failing.” She waved them toward the door. “Come in. Come in. Your father is in his study.”
Emma hustled them to the study and announced gleefully, “Seth is here, and he brought his mate, Sara with him. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Isaac winked at his mother as he got to his feet and came around the desk. “Yes, it is. Welcome to the family, Sara. Congratulations to the both of you.”
Seth narrowed his eyes on his parents. They were up to something. Or had already been. Either way, he was going to figure out what it was. “Thank you.” He pulled Sara to his side. “Mon amour, this is my father, Isaac.”
Sara offered her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Le Beau.”
Isaac clasped it between both of his. “The pleasure is all mine.” Then he glanced at Emma. “Is lunch ready, my love?”
“Yes. Let’s eat. Sara can tell us about herself. And you, Seth, can tell us all about what you plan to do now that your home for good.”
Emma served them a sumptuous lunch of Gumbo and crusty bread. With the meal eaten they relaxed with tall glasses of sweet tea.
Sara had never talked so much in her life. Emma had a way of pulling every tiny detail out of a person. The C.I.A. should hire her for interrogation.
Suddenly, Emma clasped her chest. “Oh, my stars! Is that an engagement ring on your finger?”
“Um.” Sara glanced at Seth, and he nodded. “Yes?”
“This is perfect timing! There’s an annual shifter gathering here in three days. Everyone will be here. We can have the wedding then.”
Sara swallowed. Hard. “Three days? I couldn’t possibly plan a wedding in such a short amount of time.”
Emma waved her comment away. “Of course you can, with our help. It’ll be a breeze.”
Seth frowned. “Mother, if Sara says she isn’t ready then she isn’t ready.”
Sara turned to him and placed a hand on his arm. “I didn’t say I wasn’t ready. I said three days wasn’t enough time.”
Emma gave Seth a smug look. “See, she wants to do it. I already have food, decorations, a bar, and a band. All we need to do is make the announcement, get a dress, and order a cake, and flowers. Oh, and yo
u’ll need wedding bands if you don’t already have them.”
Sara scrunched up her chin and tipped her head back and forth. Could they do it all in three days? She shook her head. No, she didn’t think so. “I don’t see how we can pull it off. Any dress I buy will probably need alterations. And a cake needs to be ordered well in advance. Same with flowers.”
Emma laughed. “Sugar, you don’t know the people I know.” She wiggled her fingers in the air. “Magical people.”
Sara looked at Seth. “What do you think?”
“If my mother says she can do it. It’s as good as done. But this is your wedding and your decision.”
“It’s your wedding, too.”
“Yes, but I’m the groom. All I have to do is show up.”
Sara gave him a look and then brought the tip of her finger to her mouth and nibbled. After a long stretch of silence, she gave Emma a hard look. “If you’re sure you can get all that done in time and my family is able to make it, I’m game.”
Emma let out a whoop. “Sara, why don’t you give your parents a call and let them know we’re sending the jet. Isaac, arrange for the jet to collect Sara’s family tomorrow.” Then She grabbed her telephone and started making her own calls.
Alarm shot through her. What has she just done? Sara glanced at Seth then Isaac. They were both laughing and shaking their heads. Maybe Emma could pull this off. Shaking her head, she dug her phone from her purse and called her parents.
“Rose? It’s Mom. Can you send out a mass email to all the pack members for me?”
“Are you talking about the gathering? I already did that.”
“No, a wedding announcement. Seth is getting married! I want you to send a second email. Do you have a pen and paper?”
“Yes, right here. Seth is getting married? Oh, my goodness! That’s great news. To who?”
“Her name is Sara Adams. And they will be married at the gathering to simplify things.”
Sara snorted. It didn’t sound simple to her.
Emma gave her an odd look but didn’t comment.
“Okay, so I need to write up the wedding announcement of Seth Le Beau, a member of the royal family, and Sara Adams. What about gifts? Should I make them optional?”
“Yes, that would be best.”
“You do realize, more people will come now because of the wedding. Can we handle the crowd?”
“Absolutely, I ordered a ton of food and liquor for the gathering so we can cover any additional responses.”
“Okay then. Consider it done. I can’t wait to tell Simon.”
“Thank you, cher. I knew I could count on you.”
Emma ended the first call and went right into the next. Finally, she checked the time and dropped the phone into her pocket. “Come on, Sara. We have to hurry. We only have an hour to get to Sophia’s. She owns the best bridal boutique in New Orleans.”
Sara sent Seth a panicked look over her shoulder as she was dragged from the house.
As Emma drove, Sara ticked off all the things she would need in a ridiculously short amount of time. “Shoes! Emma, I’ll need shoes to go with the dress. Do we have time to stop and buy a pair?”
Emma checked her watch. “I think we can swing that. There’s a shop two doors down from Sophia’s. What style are you thinking of wearing?”
“Either flats or pumps. The kind that has about an inch heel, not those ridiculous four-inch torture devices some women wear. If I wore something like that all I’d get are blisters, pinched toes, and a sprained ankle.”
Emma giggled. “I’m with you girl. I don’t wear them either. Sophia keeps a small line of shoes in the store, and I know she has what you’re looking for. We can get a pair while we’re there.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Oh, my stars! It’s perfect.” Emma clapped excitedly then slapped her hands over her heart, with tears shining in her eyes, just like she had for every other dress Sara had tried on. Only this time she added, “That’s definitely the dress.”
Sara would have rolled her eyes if not for the respect owed her future mother-in-law. Who was she to begrudge the woman’s excitement over her son’s impending nuptials? Besides, truth be told, she would have been excited too, if she wasn’t exhausted from trying on umpteen dresses. Who knew a wedding gown weighed so much?
Sara squared her shoulders and turned to stare at her reflection in the three-way mirror. She sucked in a breath. The dress was…spectacular. She wasn’t the type of woman to wear a strapless gown. She ran a finger along the sweetheart neckline. The sparkling silver lace that covered the bodice and illusion shoulder straps was a perfect touch. The same beautiful lace flowed in artistically placed drips down the dress. The light-as-air A-line tulle skirt fell to the floor in a twinkle of metallic lace. Not too much embellishment to make it gaudy. Just enough to make the dress sparkle each time she moved and added a hint of glamour. She turned left and right. With each tiny movement, the skirt swished and flowed like water around her legs. Sara felt like a fairytale princess in the gown.
“A little overwhelmed by how perfect that dress is? I know I am.”
Emma’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “I love it. It’s just…”
She shook her head and glanced away. Unable to look Seth’s mother in the eye. Unlike the Le Beaus, Sara didn’t have a ton of money in the bank. “Emma, I can’t afford this.”
Emma clucked her tongue. “Did you really think I brought you here without the intention of paying for the gown?”
“Yes…I mean no. I don’t know.”
Emma giggled, “I know just what you’re feeling right now. I was a bride once myself you know.”
Sara glanced up and gave Emma a sheepish grin.
“Sophia, would you join us for a minute? Sara has chosen a gown, and the hem needs to be adjusted.” Emma waved at the owner of the shop, an attractive older woman. On the way to the boutique, Emma had informed her that Sophia was one of the town’s more powerful witches.
Sophia joined them, smiling broadly at Sara. “Oh, my. That Stella York creation is a show-stopper on you!”
“Thank you.”
Emma touched Sophia’s hand. “We’re going to take it.” She wiggled her fingers like she had at lunch. “Can you do your thing? With the flats she chose it’s a little too long.”
Sophia circled Sara, testing the fit here and there. She spanned Sara’s waist with her hands front and back making approving sounds. Finally, she stepped away and tipped her head. “This rarely happens. Except for the hemline, the fit is perfect.”
Emma erupted with a tiny squeal. “I know, right. I’d swear Sara was the model for this design.”
She glanced at Emma and shook her head. “This is almost too easy.” Sophia stretched out her hands and waved a pattern through the air. Her movements, graceful and beautiful to watch.
The dress rustled, and the extra skirt length evaporated until the fabric was a mere breath from touching the floor. Sara gasped. “Holy cats!”
Sophia gave her a wink. “Just a little minor magic.” She smiled warmly. “I’m so glad you’re taking Seth off the market. He needed a mate more than most. Someone to heal him and make him whole again, you know?”
Emma’s brows pinched and sadness darkened her eyes. “He stayed in the Elite Hunters too long.” Then she gathered herself and smiled. “But he has you now, and everything is right again.”
She clapped her hands together and grabbed her purse. “We need to hurry. There is still so much to do.” Emma shooed Sara into the dressing room to change into her street clothes while she paid for their purchases.
The instant she stepped from the dressing room Emma linked their arms together. “Come on new daughter. We have a cake and flowers to order.”
Sara read the bakery’s name aloud, “Tracy’s Tasty Treats.” She hoped the cake lived up to the name.
Emma brushed her fingers in the air, shooing her from the car. They met on t
he sidewalk, and she leaned in to whisper, “A vampire owns this.”
Sara’s brows rose. “Vampires are real?”
Her eyes glittered with pleasure. “Of course. And this vampire owes me a favor. You’ll meet many of the locals at the wedding. Faeries too.”
Sara stared at Emma for a second as her mind tried to wrap around that tidbit of information.
“C’mon, pokey. We don’t have time to stand around daydreaming.”
Emma took her arm and hustled her to the counter. “Hello, Tracy. How are you today?”
A willowy woman with flame red hair and a smattering of freckles, who looked more like Pippi Longstockings than a vampire, grinned at them. “Hey, Miss Emma. What brings you into my little bakery?”
“Seth is getting married to this lovely young lady. Tracy, this is my soon to be daughter-in-law Sara.”
Tracy offered her hand, and Sara shook it. “Hi, Sara. Congratulations.”
“Hello, and thank you.” She expected Tracy to feel cold or clammy. She was wrong. Tracy’s hand was soft and warm to the touch.
Emma glanced around the shop and pointed to a classic three-tiered wedding cake displayed. “We would love to have you bake the wedding cake.”
Tracy grabbed her order form and a pen. “How many people are you expecting?”
“Three hundred.”
Sara stiffened. Three hundred people? Strangers? That was terrifying.
“I can swing that. Are you looking for something classic or artistic? As long as I have enough time, I can create anything you can dream up.”
Emma bit her lip. “We need this cake by Saturday.”
Tracy’s head jerked up. She leaned forward and narrowed her eyes. “It sounded like you said Saturday.”
Emma crossed her arms. “That’s because I did.”
Tracy’s face screwed up like she’d sucked on a lemon. “Crud. I was really looking forward to creating a masterpiece. A classic tiered cake with sheet cakes to cover the number of servings required will have to do. What about cake flavor and icing colors?”
Emma glanced at Sara for input.