“A natural talent?”
“The right motivation,” Kyle said, holding up a finger. “That’s the secret to everything. Evidently, Reyna was so impressed by his moves on the first day of school, defending his Bento box, that they’re eating lunch together. I’ll get to meet her next time I visit.”
“Wow.” Lauren was surprised by the change, but there was no mistaking Kyle’s satisfaction. “You made a difference there,” she said, thinking of the change in him, not in Jason.
“No.” Kyle shook his head and fired a very blue glance in her direction. “You made the difference. You made me reconsider what was important and what I was doing about it. Thanks.”
Lauren had a lump in her throat. “You’re welcome. I knew you’d be good at it.”
“Well, I didn’t, but you know, it’s kind of fun.” He smiled at her. “It’s making me reconsider everything.” There was a gleam in his eyes with the power to make Lauren’s heart jump. She felt a little flustered.
Kyle didn’t mean anything by it. It was just a casual comment.
Wasn’t it?
He leaned forward and kissed her cheek when she didn’t say anything. “I’m glad you like the roses. As soon as I saw them, I thought of you. See you at the wedding.”
He strode away then, pausing to glance back from the corner and wave, and Lauren wondered if she’d been crazy to let him walk away.
She hadn’t thought he would, actually. She’d certainly not expected this apology. It was sweet and the flowers were lovely, and she liked the idea that he’d been thinking of her.
And she’d see him again soon. The wedding was only nine days away.
* * *
Lauren arrived early at Amy and Ty’s house on Saturday morning.
All she could think about was seeing Kyle again.
She did Amy’s hair and shared in the excitement at the house as the women primped. It was a good thing that the renovations were pretty much done: the house had two big bathrooms, both with large counters, and a smaller half-bath. The women used every inch of space.
Except for the place on the master bathroom counter where Amy’s huge cat sat and supervised, his tail swishing. Anything placed near him was swatted to the floor with disdain. Lauren was glad the first casualty, a bottle of foundation, had been both sealed and in a plastic container. After that, they all took warning.
Amy’s auburn hair was long and wavy. Lauren had trimmed the ends a bit on their test day, and they’d chosen a little gold tiara for her headpiece. Amy put in her new contacts, then blinked like mad. Lauren coiled Amy’s hair up the back, baring her neck, then pulled out a few tendrils of hair and curled them to rest against Amy’s throat. The tiara nestled into the hair perfectly and Lauren used extra pins to secure it. She used a huge quantity of hair spray, knowing that brides needed extra endurance. “You’ll want to wash it out later, but this way, it’ll be perfect in every single picture,” she said and Amy nodded.
The bride’s hands were shaking, so Lauren took the eyeliner out of her hands. “Nervous?” she asked, hoping that Amy didn’t have any doubts.
“Not about marrying Ty. I’m just not used to being the center of attention.”
“You will be today.”
“I know.” Amy took a deep breath. “I hope I don’t trip or something.”
“I’m going to guess that Ty would catch you.”
Amy laughed, her delight so clear that Lauren smiled. “He will. I know it, too.” She clutched her hands together in her lap and spoke with determination. “All I have to do is make it down the aisle alone, then everything will be fine.”
Lauren liked that Amy had held firm about not having a male relative escort her down the aisle. She had insisted to Colleen that no one was giving her away, that she was choosing to marry Tyler on her own. Lauren had caught a glimpse of Amy’s resolve in that discussion, and it only made her like Tyler’s bride-to-be more than she had before.
“You’ll be fine,” Lauren said soothingly, then applied Amy’s lipstick. “Blot,” she ordered, then did it again.
“I’ll catch you if you trip,” Jade said, nudging for space at the mirror. Amy’s friend and maid of honor worked in a bookstore and was all bubbling enthusiasm. It was like Amy had a personal cheerleader.
The bridesmaids were Lisa, another friend of Amy’s, and Lauren’s sister Paige. Their dresses were strapless and simple, cut of burgundy satin. The style of Amy’s dress was reminiscent of Dior’s New look, with a nipped-in waist and flared skirt. The dress hem was just below the knee. There were two petticoats to make the skirt stand out, each hemmed with lace. The sleeves were fitted and the bodice cut in a deep V that almost bared Amy’s shoulders and gave a teeny glimpse of her cleavage. She had perfect stiletto heels that were dyed to match and wore a double string of pearls that Lauren guessed had been her mom’s too. The veil was short and fell around her shoulders elegantly. Her bouquet was all deep red roses, each as big as Lauren’s fist, and she wore little lace gloves that were the same color as her dress.
“You look wonderful!” Lisa said when Amy was in all her finery.
The others agreed in a chorus. Amy’s eyes were sparkling and she couldn’t hold back her smile. Lauren gave her an impulsive hug and wished her well, then the others did the same.
Then they heard hoofbeats outside.
They raced to the window in unison, leaving the cat to yowl that he’d been forgotten. There was an open carriage outside the door, with four horses pulling it. The coachman and footman were in livery and stood at attention, waiting.
“Just like P&P!” Paige said with excitement, giving Lauren’s arm a squeeze. “It’s too perfect.”
“It’s so Ty,” Lauren agreed. “Did you know?” she asked Amy who shook her head.
“He just said he’d arrange our ride to the church. I thought he’d send a limo.”
The women chattered as they left the house. The cat sat on the stairs and cleaned himself. Lauren was the last one out and she locked the door, knowing that Ty and Amy would be back that night before flying to Italy the next day. She was tempted to fill something with confetti, but having cleaned it out of a rental car once, she decided to be kind.
She passed the horse and carriage with the Buick, parked and ducked into the church ahead of the bridal party. Ty met her at the back of the church, looking uncharacteristically concerned. She smiled and gave him the house keys. “You are so lucky that I still have emotional scars from cleaning up confetti.”
He smiled briefly.
“They’re on their way. And they all love the coach-and-four.” She stretched up and kissed his cheek. “Good luck, Tyler, although I don’t think you need it.”
He kissed her back and gave her hand a squeeze. “You’ll find the one.”
“Today, that doesn’t matter. This is your day. Enjoy it.”
Lauren was assaulted by memories when she entered the church. The only mercy was that it wasn’t the same church. She managed to hold back her tears until she’d been escorted to her seat, then she blinked them quickly away. She was sure no one noticed until she glanced up and her gaze collided with that of Kyle.
He was watching her from the front of the church with a frown of concern.
He also looked sexier than ever in a tux that couldn’t be a rental. Lauren inhaled sharply, well aware that she had his undivided attention, and felt a little flustered. And warm. She looked down at her hands, fighting for composure.
Lauren had known that the partners from F5 would be Ty’s groomsmen—and that Kyle would be his best man—but she hadn’t braced herself for the sight.
She stole another look and only when she gave a minute nod did he turn to the other groomsmen.
“It should be illegal for three men handsome men to wear tuxes and stand together like that,” her cousin Maxine said as she slid into the pew beside Lauren. When Ty joined them, the sight was enough to make every woman in the church swoon. Cassie was the last groomsman and even she could work a morning suit
. Maxine eyed the wedding party with a familiar hunger. “Aren’t all the others single?”
“Ty’s the first of the partners to marry,” Lauren said.
“Any girlfriends?” Aunt Maureen asked, her voice a little too shrill as she took a place beside Maxine.
“I wouldn’t know,” Lauren said.
Aunt Maureen began whispering to Maxine and guessed that her aunt would throw her cousin at the other F5 partners as often as possible in the next twelve hours.
Lauren took a deep breath and tried to shake off her memories. It was Ty’s wedding, not hers. He would be deliriously happy. Amy would be deliriously happy. Neither of them had a single doubt.
And if she’d been marrying someone like her brother, Lauren wouldn’t have had any doubts, either. Her ring finger looked naked, but she wasn’t going to think about broken promises and lost years, much less her wounded heart.
She was going to join the celebration and have fun. She’d think about the future and new possibilities. She sat straighter, standing with everyone else as the Wedding March began. The groomsmen turned as one to look toward the doors and the bride. Ty stepped into the aisle and smiled a welcome for Amy. Lauren’s chest tightened and she clasped her hands tightly together.
She could feel someone watching her and glanced over her shoulder, not really surprised that it was Kyle. He winked and gave her a subtle thumbs-up first.
Why had she ever imagined that being friends without benefits was a good idea?
* * *
Lauren took Kyle’s breath away.
She was wearing a teal dress that did fabulous things for her eyes and made no secret of her great figure. She’d let her hair grow a bit longer than when she’d first cut it short, and now it looked wavy and loose. He wanted to run his fingers through it, kiss that neck, snatch her up and seduce her thoroughly.
Christmas. How the hell was he going to survive until then, until she opened season on dating again? Now that he’d realized he loved her, Kyle didn’t want to wait one moment longer than necessary.
But he had to give her time to heal.
And to count on him as a friend as well as a lover.
Even if it killed him.
He did his part as best man, even his thoughts were filled with Lauren.
He produced the rings on time and signed the register as a witness.
He escorted Jade from the church after the service, smiling at her exuberance.
He shook hands and kissed cheeks in the receiving line, introducing each guest to Jade, who was after him, as they moved down the line.
He toasted the bride and groom at the dinner, and was the first to clink his glass for them to kiss.
He watched, then applauded when Ty and Amy had their first dance, and took Jade to the floor when the wedding party was supposed to join in. He danced with Ty’s mom, Ty’s three other sisters, the other bridesmaids and Grandma Trixie. Kyle had met her at the rehearsal party, along with her date, and could understand why she and Lauren were close. Grandma Trixie was blunt and lively and impossible to dislike.
She invited him to dance the Macarena and they tore up the floor together.
The music changed to a waltz and he thought the older woman would want to take a break. Her cheeks were flushed, though her eyes were sparkling. Kyle spun her, then started to lead her back to her seat.
“Dumping me after just one dance?” she challenged lightly, looking like she was holding back a giggle.
“Alfred is giving me the eye,” Kyle replied in a similar tone. “I think he has a plan.”
Trixie laughed. “And his plan will improve if he has more time to think about it,” she said. “Afraid I’ll tire you out?”
Kyle smiled, seeing where Lauren got the ability to surprise him. “Of course not! I just don’t want to intimidate everyone.” He dropped his voice to a whisper. “We’re so hot.”
Grandma Trixie grinned. She licked her fingertip, touched it to his chest and made a hissing sound, like a hot brand colliding with water. “We’re amazing,” she agreed. “Come on, let’s show them how it’s done. If they can’t take it, they can sit this one out.”
Kyle laughed and spun her back onto the floor. She was an excellent dancer, very light on her feet, and seemed to anticipate his turns perfectly.
“You’re a good dancer,” she said.
“So are you.” He shook his head and nodded toward the older man who watched them. “I’ve got to tell you that Alfred’s worried.”
She laughed, then sobered, her gaze fixed upon him. “What about Lauren?”
“Lauren?” Kyle pretended he didn’t understand the reference, but he knew Grandma Trixie wasn’t fooled.
“I knew someone had reminded her what it was like to be alive. I didn’t know it was you until you stood up at the front of the church.”
“Why?”
She smiled. “I know my granddaughter.” She studied him. “You’ve made Lauren happy again. I think she makes you happy, too, or you wouldn’t be watching her as much as she’s watching you.”
Kyle felt the back of his neck heat. “I’m not...”
“Of course, you are.” Trixie interrupted him firmly. “Life is full of opportunities that disappear if we don’t take them. Don’t let this one slip away.”
Kyle felt a familiar attack of honesty. “I won’t. I love Lauren,” he admitted and it was a relief to say it out loud. “I’m hoping I can convince her to love me in return.”
Trixie smiled. “So, you’re dancing with me?”
“Officially, we’re friends right now,” he confided. “Lauren has a moratorium on dating until Christmas.”
“And then?”
“I’ll be first in line.”
“Good!” she said with approval. The song ended and he took her elbow, guiding her back to Alfred. That man had gotten two glasses of champagne while they were dancing and offered one to Grandma Trixie. She accepted it and sank into her seat with relief, turning to smile at her date. “I’m just telling Kyle that we have to keep taking chances, otherwise we might as well be dead.”
“My philosophy exactly,” the older man agreed and touched the rim of his glass to hers. “To life!”
To life.
To a future with Lauren.
Christmas had never seemed so far away as it did now.
* * *
Grandma Trixie worked her way through all the partners at F5. She waltzed with Damon, then challenged Theo to a tango. Without missing a beat, he stole a rose from the vase on one table, clenched it in his teeth and swung her onto the dance floor. Grandma Trixie laughed, but then she became serious and concentrated on the dance. They made quite a showing, the pair of them, each stealing the rose from the other at intervals, and the guests gave them a standing ovation when they were done. Theo escorted Trixie back to Alfred, who had a glass of champagne ready for her, and she sat down hard as she laughed with delight.
“Did you see my wedding gift?” Amy asked from beside Kyle and he was startled to find her there. “It’s from Ty. He called it a book box.”
“A book box?”
She nodded, her excitement clear, and offered what looked like a hard-cover book to Kyle. He was a bit mystified. The cover was looked like burgundy leather, though it was actually paper with an image of leather printed on it. The spine was black, again made to look like tooled leather. There were gold letters on the spine: The Honeymoon was the title of the book and, apparently, its authors were Amy and Tyler McKay.
“Go ahead,” Amy urged with obvious excitement. “Open it and see.” She reached and turned it in his hands so that the spine was facing away from him.
Kyle opened the front cover and was startled by the appearance of a bouquet of flowers. They were paper and somehow unfolded from inside the book to create a bouquet that was much larger than the book itself. There were red roses, just like the ones in Amy’s bouquet, with sprays of delicate white flowers in between, like baby’s breath. On closer inspection, these wer
e tiny beads strung on clear filament. They sparkled and swayed a little.
“It’s just like my bouquet,” Amy said with delight. “But it’ll last forever.
The box was lined with a marbled paper that had swirls on navy and gold on it. Kyle had seen paper like that on the endpapers of books. The sides and ends of the box on the outside were made to look like there was a paper book inside, like pages tipped with gold. He realized that when he’d opened the top, a little button had appeared on the edge opposite the spine.
Kyle realized it was a pull-tab. He gently pulled it, revealing a drawer. The bouquet bounced up when the drawer opened, so that confetti dangled beneath it. Again, this was secured to clear filament so it moved but didn’t fall out. Beneath the bouquet appeared pop-up paper silhouettes of familiar landmarks. Kyle recognized them all from his whirlwind tour of Europe during college: the leaning tower of Pisa, the Trevi Fountain in Rome, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Florence with its red dome, and St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
The drawer was lined with a tourist map from the forties, with a big dotted line from with New York to Rome. There was a tiny model airplane secured to the line. The map was actually a flap, which lifted to reveal “Bon Voyage!” on the underside.
“The tickets were there, and the itinerary,” Amy confessed. “We’re going to Italy for three weeks. Tomorrow!”
Kyle had heard about that, but he smiled at Amy’s open pleasure. “I know. You’ll have a great time.” He turned the box in his hands, amazed that anyone could create such a thing.
“Isn’t the book box fabulous?” Amy asked.
“It is,” he agreed. “What a great way to package your wedding gift.”
“I know. I’ll keep it forever. It’s like having this day, all packed up safely in one little package.”
Kyle closed the drawer carefully, then closed the lid of the box, watching how everything nested back in place perfectly. “Someone spent a lot of time making this,” he said in admiration, then turned it over. It was signed on the back in gold ink.
By Lauren.
Kyle looked up to find her on his other side.
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