by SJ McCoy
“Just one more, Sweetie. You can do it.” Holly patted her hand. “I promise I won't make you do any more today, but this place may be the one. I have a hunch.”
“Okay then,” Emma nodded obediently.
“You're so laid back about it, Em. I think I'd be driving you all nuts dragging you into store after store if we were shopping for my dress,” said Laura.
“Yes, but that's because you have dress sense and know what you want,” said Emma. “I, on the other hand, am clueless, but very fortunate to have Holly. She is a fashion guru. She knows what works on me better than I do and can make it all happen. I just do as I'm told.”
Holly laughed. “I think I got the easy job. She is quite docile when it comes to clothes. It may be harder for you two with the cake, since she knows what she's doing there and is used to being in charge in the kitchen. Beware, the Bridezilla may strike yet!”
“Why do you think we're keeping it top secret and under wraps?” laughed Missy.
Emma frowned. “Yeah, I'm still not so convinced that's a good idea...”
“Em, Honey, it's decided. You get to make your top layer, but the rest is one thing too many for you to deal with, so let me and Laura handle it. Better still, forget about it – do us all a favor!”
“Okay, okay!”
Holly's hunch proved right. She let Missy and Laura pick out a bunch of dresses with Emma and go to try them. She went to talk to the in-store designer, who she had met at several fashion shows in LA. She was a tall willowy girl in her mid-twenties who seemed to design for figures like Emma's; shorter in stature with fuller curves. Holly described what she had in mind.
Tara smiled, transforming her angular features. “Hang on, I may have something.” She disappeared into the back and returned in just a few minutes with two gowns. She held up the first one, it was silk with an embroidered bodice and full skirt. If Em were to go for a traditional style, this would be the one. Holly believed she would want something a little different though.
When Tara held up the second one Holly grinned. “Jackpot!”
It was satin, a simple Greek style, which would drape wonderfully. It had Emma's name written all over it, it would accentuate her curves beautifully.
“This is perfect! What sizes do you have it in? I'd like her to try it.”
“There's only this one, but I'm guessing it will fit her. She's my ideal model.”
“I know. That's why I thought we'd find 'the one' here. I'll go see and let you know how we get on.”
The dress fit Emma perfectly. They filled the dressing room with squeals of delight.
“Em, you look gorgeous. I think I might cry!” Missy eyes were indeed shining with tears.
“It's like it was designed just for you,” said Laura. She turned to Holly, “Was it? Did you have this all set up?”
Holly laughed, she was thrilled. “No, but I told you I had a hunch. I know how Tara designs and thought something of hers might work for Em.”
“And I told you Holly is a genius.” Emma smiled. “I knew she'd find me my dream dress, but this is so much more. Whenever I dream of my wedding day I keep changing the dress in the picture. I couldn't even imagine the right dress, and Holly found me the perfect one in reality.” She twirled in front of the mirror. “See, it even feels like me!”
Holly grinned, hearing that confirmed it all. “Sweetie, if you can feel that comfortable while looking that sensational, then my work here is done. I am happy.” Even as she grinned, she wished she was as happy as she sounded. She wondered if she would ever shop for her own wedding dress. Pete was the first guy she had cared about in a long, long time and it was a road to nowhere. She already knew it would take her an even longer time to get over this…this…whatever it was they were doing.
“Finding something that will suit all three of us might be quite a challenge you know.”
They'd taken care of Emma's dress and were beginning the quest for bridesmaids dresses. Holly looked at Laura, she was tall and tan with long black silky hair and pale blue eyes. Missy was much smaller, about the same height as Emma. She, too, had dark hair, not as long as Laura's, but her complexion was much fairer with steel gray eyes and porcelain skin. Holly, herself, brought chocolate brown hair to the equation, amber eyes and, at five seven, fit right between the others height-wise.
She looked at Emma. “Sweetie, have you decided what color scheme you want?”
Emma grinned, she was still too excited about her own dress. “Not really. I like pink, but I'm open to opinions?”
Laura shuddered. “I don't do well in pink, but I'm not going to kick up a fuss if that's what you want.”
Missy pulled a face but said nothing.
“Like I said,” smiled Emma. “I really am open to opinions.” She looked at Holly, “What do you suggest, oh great fashion Goddess?”
“Well, as far as color goes, we've got to consider the setting and our own coloring. Then for style, we've got three different shapes to work with. So, let's get to it.”
She worked her way around the rails, pointing out a selection of styles and colors to the lady that was helping them. “Can we get these in each size to start with? We'll set up in the dressing room and take it from there.”
Two hours later, Holly stood between Laura and Missy for Emma's inspection. “And the verdict is?” she asked.
“Absolutely gorgeous!” cried Emma. “If I didn't love my own dress so much, I'd want one of those too!”
After trying on so many different dresses, only to find each time that the style or color worked beautifully for two of them, but not for the third, Holly had started to think they may have to take a different approach. She'd wandered back out through the store and found it; a rich purple colored satin number, body hugging with asymmetrical pleats, gathering it all to one side at the waist. It was a little sexier than your typical bridesmaids dress, but it worked well on every one of them.
“I'm going to have to call you Team Slinky,” laughed Emma, she was thrilled with the look.
Laura and Missy kept admiring themselves in the mirrors.
Holly laughed. “That's us. Team Slinky it is, girls!”
Missy gave a twirl then put her hands on her hips and wiggled her back side. “I can live up to the name. How about you Laura?'
Laura put on a supermodel pout and walked the length of the dressing room and back with a step that would have graced any catwalk. She came to a halt in front them, one hand on her hip and purred in a sultry voice, “Team Slinky, at your service.” They all fell about laughing.
“Watch out chicas!” laughed Holly, “We've unleashed the models within, God help those poor men. We may need to buy extra fabric and give them drool catchers.”
That brought a fresh wave of laughter.
Emma finally caught her breath. “Okay, since I'm trying to get past all my silly fears, I'm going share one.”
The others sobered up quickly, Holly wondered where her friend was heading with this.
“Don't worry, I'm over it, I think. It's just that seeing Laura slink around like that made me think of all the tall dark sultry beauties that I thought were Jack's type.” She looked at Laura. “That's part of why I freaked out so badly when I first saw you on the beach with him. I had no idea who you were, I just saw another tall, dark, svelte beauty and it hit all my insecurities. He swears that's not his type, but there have certainly been a few of them around.”
Laura smiled at her reassuringly, “I hope you really are over it, Em? They never were his type, you know.”
“Don't worry,” smiled Emma, “You're his cousin, you have to defend him, but it's okay. I am secure in the knowledge that he only has eyes for me these days.”
“About time too!” teased Missy. “You made the poor guy work his ass off to earn your trust. Any other guy would have walked.”
Emma hung her head. “I know, but I couldn't help it.” She brightened up, “But the fact that he did take all my stupid crap and never gave up is a b
ig part of why I now feel so secure and confident.”
“I'm so glad, and so happy for you both,” said Laura. “And you know, Miss, the tall, dark, leggy thing wasn't just Em's imagination. They used to come after him all the time. He never sought them out, but something about him attracted those types in particular. There was one that used to drive me nuts, Mia was her name. She and her partner Jade do a lot of the retail developments for Phoenix so you may meet them at some point.”
Holly caught Laura's eye and tilted her head towards Emma, who was looking a lot less confident and secure than she'd been proclaiming just a moment ago.
Laura got the message. “Yeah, she drove me nuts ‘cause Jack was sooo obviously not interested in her, but she would never give up. Even when Pete and Jade would go out, Mia would try to make it a foursome, but Jack would never go along with it.”
Holly watched her friend closely, she didn't know if she felt worse for Emma or herself. She didn't want to hear about the woman Pete worked with and went out with.
Emma met her eyes. “Yes, but that's the point isn't it? All of that is in the past.” Bless her. Em was trying to reassure her now. “Pete and Jade haven't seen each other in months.”
“Yeah, but only ‘cause they've not had any new retail sites on the go,” Laura continued, “I just hope they don't bring those two up to Summer Lake for Four Mile.”
Holly tensed at that.
Laura looked between Holly and Emma. “Okay, can we change the subject now? Before I put my foot in it any more than I already have?”
“Great idea!” agreed Missy. “And besides, we can't be standing around here talking, Team Slinky needs shoes.”
Chapter Twelve
Pete sat with Jack on the deck of the restaurant. They'd spent the morning with Ben going through the details of the land purchase from Ben's grandfather. It was looking like they'd be able to close on it next week. The three of them had similar ideas for what they wanted to do out at Four Mile. The one aspect where they diverged was on the shopping plaza. Pete smiled as he remembered Holly's visit to his house. He liked her idea and was looking forward to persuading Ben that was the option they should run with.
“What you smirking at, Bro?” Jack was watching him.
He grinned. “How all of this is going. Remember at the beginning of the summer we said it would be one to remember? Who'da thunk it'd pan out like this hey? You're living up here, building me a house so that I can do the same someday. You're getting married! Who would've believed that? And the Four Mile deal is coming together nicely. What's not to smile about?”
Jack grinned. “It is pretty awesome, huh? Four Mile is looking like it's going to be a big deal for us. How would you feel if I were to incorporate a mini HQ into the plans?”
Pete sat back in his chair and folded his arms. “I'm not following you, partner. Mini HQ for what?”
“Phoenix. Like a satellite office. I know we haven't discussed it yet, but I don't think Em wants to move back to LA full time, and I don't want to be a weekly commuting husband. I mean, obviously operations are based in the city, but I was never a full time fixture there until last year. I think I'd like to be based here.”
Pete's brows knit together.
Jack looked defensive now. “I'm not suggesting a major shift of personnel or anything. It could be just me, Nate, Lexi, and a small staff, if you want.”
Pete drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair.
“You don't like it?”
“Shall I tell you what I don't like about it?'
“Go ahead, ‘cause I thought you'd love it.”
Pete struggled to keep a straight face. He loved to wind his partner up and it was easy to do when Jack was as attached to an idea as he obviously was to this one. “I have two problems with it.” Pete could tell by the way Jack ran his hand through his hair that he was getting agitated, steeling himself to counter whatever these objections might be. “Shall I tell you what my first problem is?”
“For fuck's sake, yes! Quit stalling and spell it out, Bro, ‘cause I'm not backing down on this one so we need to get into it.”
Pete shrugged. “Okay, so my first problem is... That I didn't think of it!”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Asshole! You had me going there.”
Pete laughed. “Sorry, you're just too easy to wind up these days. Must be wedding stress.”
Jack ran his hand through his hair again and smiled. “Maybe. I want it to be perfect for her, give her the big day she used to dream of.” His face clouded over.
“What?”
“It's just any time I think of the jerk she used to be married to, I see red. She never got to have the wedding that she wanted.” His face brightened again as he smiled. “But then I suppose I should be grateful, it's only because he was such an asshole that I get to be the one in her dream wedding.”
“I would never have believed that you would turn out to be such a big old pussy cat,” laughed Pete.
Jack grinned. “It's being around that little Mouse that does it, and if I'm perfectly honest…”
“Which you tend to be.”
“I want to get married as soon as we can set it up.”
Pete raised an eyebrow. That was not what he'd been hoping to hear.
“Call me a coward,” said Jack, “But part of me is worried that she'll find something to get freak out over and get scared again. I know it's inevitable at some point. She's not going to overcome her past all at once, just because I proposed. But I want us to be married by the time it happens. She won't run out on me if I'm already her husband, but I'm not convinced she wouldn't back out if something freaks her before we tie the knot. You know what she's like.”
Pete nodded, he knew Emma all too well. He was the one who had nicknamed her Mouse when they were kids. He knew she was head over heels in love with Jack, but he also knew how easily she spooked and ran in order to avoid getting hurt.
“So, when are you thinking?” he asked, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
“I don't know yet, but soon. I wanted to see how long she needed to sort out dresses and all that stuff. Thanks for sending them off in Papa Charlie today, that probably shaved a few weeks off.”
Pete nodded. He could have kicked himself. He wanted to contribute to the wedding, but for the sake of a few more weeks with Holly he would have happily let the ladies take their time in getting together to shop.
“Anyway, what was the second problem?”
“Huh?” he had no idea what Jack was talking about.
“You said you had two problems with my idea of having an office here.”
Pete grinned. “Yeah, that. The second problem was that you didn't mention me. I'm going to have a house up here, why don't I get to work here, too?”
“I didn't mention it because I never even considered that it would be possible to drag you out of the city.”
“Well start considering it,” laughed Pete. “I'm not ready to shift up here completely yet, but having an office here will at least begin the transition.”
“Excellent! This is the beginning of a whole new era, Bro!” Jack held his fist out and Pete bumped his own against it.
“It's looking that way.”
Jack started doodling on a napkin and Pete knew he was already laying out office space. “When you draw it up, make sure my office is bigger than yours.” He grinned.
Jack laughed. “Sure thing, I'll even make space for a bed in yours, which I won't need. I'll be able to go home to my lovely wife every night while you stay faithful to Phoenix.”
Pete nodded, that was the plan.
Ben came out to join them. “You two want to stick around for some lunch? All the checkouts are taken care of. Now it's the calm before the afternoon storm of new check ins.”
“Sounds great,” said Jack. “Let me call Dan and see if he wants to bring Scot over.” He walked away to call his brother who was spending another weekend working with Missy's son on whatever computer magic they were
up to. Pete was pleased the two of them had hit it off so well.
“So what's your big idea for the shopping plaza?” asked Ben as he took a seat. “I don't see how we can have independents in all the spaces and still have overall control of it.”
“That's ‘cause it's a new and different way of doing things,” said Pete. He explained Holly's idea of engaging boutique style retailers to rent space in the plaza. They would each supply their own merchandise, but all the staff would be employed by Four Mile itself.
Ben mulled it over as he sipped his lemonade. “So, we get to keep control of staffing without any of the stocking issues, and the independents get to supply the merchandise and personality for each store without the same time or financial commitments, is that what you're saying?”
“Pretty much,” said Pete. “What do you think?”
“It's definitely different. I can see some details that would have to be nailed in the contracts but,” he smiled, “in principle I think it's genius.”
Pete grinned. He'd have to tell Holly that. She needed to know it wasn't just flattery on his part. She really had come up with a brilliant idea.
Ben was still talking, Pete dragged his attention back to his old friend.
“I can't believe this is the brainchild of those consultants you work with. They must have really got their act together. Sorry, Bud, but you know I was less than impressed with what they'd done for you in Florida,” he gave Pete a lecherous grin, “but I can see why you keep them around.”
Pete shook his head. “Nah, I finally got Jade off my back. And after you gave me your assessment of the Miami project, I realized they're really not that good.”
“Who's not that good?” Jack returned to the table.
“Mia and Jade, we were talking about the plaza.”
Jack's face drained of color. “Oh, God, no!”
“What, what's wrong?” Ben looked alarmed, but Pete started to laugh.
Jack looked at him with huge eyes. “No! It's not funny man! That Mia can NOT come up here. Promise me Pete! Emma would freak!”
Pete kept on laughing at Jack's panic.