Always the Designer, Never the Bride

by Sandra D. Bricker

  "Sure there is," Audrey replied, sinking into the chair beside him. "Angelina could ask me to design a wedding gown, and then make the covers of every magazine in the known world wearing it."

  J. R. caressed the side of her face with his thumb, tenderly holding her chin in the palm of his hand. As Audrey looked up into his light eyes, a surge of electricity shot through her.

  What was it about this one guy that just melted her down into a walking cylinder of warm liquid mush? Audrey had never been the type to kiss someone she barely knew. But one touch of his hand to her face, one crooked smile, and she had fallen to pieces! No man had ever had this kind of effect on her before, and it had a strange impact. She felt part powerless and part empowered.

  Get ahold of yourself, Audrey. He's just a boy.

  "There's no gray area for you, is there?"

  "I'm sorry. What?"

  "There's black, and there's white. No in-betweens."

  She shrugged slightly, trying to smile, but it didn't seem to reach the surface.

  "I suppose you're right," she replied, leaning forward with her chin in her hands, elbows propped on the edge of the table. "I'm sure there are lots of other opportunities out there for a designer trying to make her mark. But none of them came across my path. Kim Renfroe walked right up to my door and knocked. It was like some sort of . . . miracle."

  J. R. pressed his hand on her shoulder, then he took hold of it and guided her to her feet. As she stood there facing him, hoping with all her strength that he might kiss her again—but knowing she shouldn't let him—Audrey swooned slightly. She tilted toward him, completely against her conscious will, and his arms engulfed her as she did.

  They fit together so perfectly, and she nuzzled her face into the curve of his neck where it fell as naturally as one glove resting in the palm of another. He stroked her hair and leaned his head down toward her, his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered her name.

  Even as she moaned softly, Audrey thought, This is very bad. What am I doing?

  And yet she raised her face toward him just the same. Closing her eyes, she allowed J. R. to kiss her. Before she knew it, her thoughts had descended into completely unfamiliar places; and if he'd have asked her, she would have gone anywhere with him. Absolutely anywhere, doing absolutely anything.

  "Audrey," he repeated. "I have to go."

  A diamond-tipped needle screeched across the record of the night, and Audrey looked up at him.

  Go? You have to GO?

  "This is a very dangerous attraction we've got going here," he told her. "Despite my basest instincts, I'm a smart enough guy to know that there's a fork in the road right now. And I'm going to choose the high one."

  Yes. Take the high road, Audrey thought. Thank you. Good boy.

  I hate the high road.

  "And you need to get some sleep before Kim arrives in the morning."

  "Yes." It was all she could muster.

  "Tomorrow is going to be a very big day for you, angel."

  She nodded. "Yes."

  "I'm betting on you."

  Audrey managed to push a smile up to her tingling lips.

  J. R. grabbed his jacket from the arm of one of the chairs in the sitting room and headed straight for the door. When he opened it and turned back toward her, Audrey imagined herself flying across the room and leaping into his arms. Instead, however, she remained firmly planted.

  "See you tomorrow?"

  She nodded. Again.

  Just hang on. He's almost gone. Don't do anything stupid. Just stay strong and don't make a fool of yourself. He's—

  When J. R. smiled and extended his arms toward her, Audrey instantly stalked across the room and fell into them. She slipped her arms around his neck and pressed his head toward hers until their lips met. When they parted, she felt breathless and faint, and she almost heard the audible click! as their eyes locked together.

  "Well, isn't this a fine how-do-you-do?"

  They both reeled toward the corridor where Russell and Kat stood there staring at them.

  "Audrey, I was worried sick!" Kat exclaimed. "You just disappeared without a word."

  "I-I'm sorry. J. R. took me for a ride on his motorcycle, and we kind of . . . lost track."

  "Well, thank goodness you're all right. Why didn't you answer your phone? I didn't know what to think."

  "But now we do," Russell cracked, shooting J. R. a boys' club kind of grin.

  "No, you don't," J. R. snapped. "Let's go. These ladies need to get some sleep."

  Russell leaned down and pecked Kat's lips. "Had a real bonzer bash getting to know you, Kit-Kat," he told her. "See you tomorrow?"

  "Absolutely."

  Russell looked at Audrey and winked. "Glad you're safe. Relatively."

  Before she could answer, J. R. snagged Russell's arm and dragged him down the hall.

  The door had barely latched before Kat moved in on Audrey. "Spill!"

  "You first," she said as she returned to the table and began pulling the sketches together into a neat pile. "You and Russell Walker. That's an interesting and unexpected pairing."

  She melted down into a string of giggles. "Isn't it?"

  "So tell me what happened. You two looked like dates at the senior prom."

  "It felt a little like that," she said, crawling into one of the dining chairs and tucking her feet under her. "We couldn't stop talking, Audrey. After we left you at the bowling alley, we went for a walk, and he told me all about Australia and losing his family."

  "He lost his family?"

  "His parents and two brothers," she said, wide-eyed. "In a car crash."

  Audrey sat down in the adjacent chair, reaching over and touching Kat's knee. "That's awful!"

  "I know. He was only sixteen. That's when he came to America. Some photographer discovered him, and he did some modeling. But he lived in a one-bedroom apartment in New York City for two years with five roommates, and then he was homeless for almost a year."

  "Homeless?"

  "I know, but after that is when he got his first movie role and his career took off." Kat sighed and looked at the sketches in front of Audrey.

  "Speaking of careers taking off, do you want to see what I have ready for Kim?"

  "No."

  Audrey blinked at her. "No?"

  "No. Not until you tell me what led up to that lip-lock we walked up on."

  "Oh. That."

  "Yes, that. Audrey, for as long as I've known you, I've never seen that side of you."

  "Well, I hope you got a good look," she said. "It was a momentary lapse of focus. It won't happen again."

  I hope. That boy just . . . brings out . . . something . . . HEAT.

  "That's a shame," Kat remarked.

  "I don't know what came over me tonight. Maybe it's just the pressure that's been building. Maybe I just needed to let off a little steam."

  "Or create some."

  Audrey dropped her head into both hands. The groan that rose in her throat turned into a sort of growl, and she peered at Kat through her fingers. "It was kinda steamy," she admitted. "He is so hot, Kat."

  "He really is."

  "Oh, and he's got this unbelievable tattoo."

  "Tattoo!"

  "Yeah, it's all down his right arm."

  "No. I mean . . . You like tattoos, Audrey?"

  She hesitated. "I do on that arm."

  The two of them snapped with laughter, then Kat's face turned instantly serious and she gasped. "I wonder if Russell has any tattoos. I'll bet I could Google him and find out."

  "Or you could just wait and find out for yourself."

  Kat chuckled. "It's not like I'll probably ever see him after we go back to New York though, is it?"

  "You never know, Kit-Kat."

  The way Kat grinned, Audrey almost expected her to meow. Instead, her assistant just quietly purred.

  Carly's Marble Engagement Cake

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  3 cups all-purpose flourr />
  1 Tablespoon baking powder

  ¾ teaspoon salt

  1 cup whole milk (not too cold)

  2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  1 ½ sticks softened, unsalted butter

  2 cups granulated sugar

  4 large eggs

  4 ounces bittersweet chocolate

  Mix flour, baking powder, and salt.

  In a separate bowl, mix milk and vanilla.

  Beat softened butter until creamy.

  Add sugar and beat until fluffy.

  Fold in eggs and continue to beat.

  Add dry ingredients slowly, alternating with the milk mixture.

  Transfer 2 cups of the batter to a small bowl and set aside.

  Scrape the remaining batter into prepared cake pans.

  Stir melted chocolate into the batter that was set aside.

  Drop the chocolate batter over the plain batter in dollops and

  swirl with a butter knife.

  Bake in the lower part of the oven for 40 minutes.

  Let cakes cool in their pans for 15-20 minutes.

  Remove from pans and transfer to cooling rack

  for at least an hour.

  4

  Oh good, you're up! Sit down, bro. Tell me about you and Audrey."

  J. R. stood in the doorway to the kitchen in T-shirt and boxers, squinting his sleepy eyes as he scratched his head. He'd known that, one way or another, he would regret issuing the invitation for Russell to stay the night at Devon's; but seeing the two of them sitting at the kitchen table, a glass coffee pot and a couple of mugs between them, brought the regret floating to the surface sooner than expected.

  "Are you impaired, you idiot?" he asked, smacking Russell's shoulder. "I asked you not to make a big deal out of it."

  Russell could hardly respond through the laughter. "I didn't. I just casually mentioned how Kat and I happened upon you and Audrey . . . while you were . . . you know . . . sucking her face off."

  Devon burst into cackling laughter, bumping fists with Russell as J. R. turned away and ignored them both, pulling a cup down from the cabinet.

  "Did you leave me any coffee, at least?"

  Russell picked up the near-empty carafe and waved it at him. "Sorry, mate."

  J. R. snatched it from his hand and set about making a fresh pot.

  "So seriously," Devon said, and J. R. groaned. "What is going on with you two? Anything?" When he didn't answer, his brother popped up from his chair and stood next to him at the counter. "I think you two are a pretty good match, bro. You think it might go anywhere?"

  "What? I dunno."

  "I mean, don't tell Carly I said so, but she's hot, man. You could do a lot worse."

  "Yeah."

  "And has!" Russell chimed in.

  J. R. turned around and faced Russell seriously. "That's enough outta you."

  "C'mon, mate. It's just us fellas. Take a load off and fill us in."

  "Fill you in on what? Like I can even talk to you two about anything."

  "Hey," Devon objected. "You didn't just say that, bro."

  "You want me to repeat it?"

  "J. R."

  "You're all . . ." He scrunched up his face and imitated Devon. " '. . . c'mon, tell me all about it 'cause she's hot.' " Flipping the button on the coffee maker, he turned back toward Russell. "And you! You're the worse of both of you."

  "Me?"

  "Yeah, you. You couldn't even wait until I hauled my butt out of bed and opened my eyes before you gave my little brother all the sordid details?"

  Devon and Russell exchanged glances before Devon asked, "Was it sordid, bro?"

  J. R. slid his empty cup along the counter as he left.

  "Hey, come on!" Devon called after him. "Hey! It's my wedding day."

  "You're an infant."

  "Your room is way better than mine."

  Audrey took a deep breath. "Well, it's actually not my room. It's Carly's."

  "It's still better than mine."

  Kim dropped her bag and jacket on the table on her way to the large window. She stood before it, raking coral acrylic fingernails through her long black hair.

  "It's the bridal suite," Audrey told the back of her head. "I think it's better than every room. I mean, I think it's supposed to be."

  Kim turned around and narrowed her cat eyes. "I don't understand. Why are you in the bridal suite?"

  "Carly invited me to stay with her until the wedding."

  "Oh, that's right. You're the maid of honor, aren't you?"

  Audrey nodded. "Why don't you come on over to the table and have a seat. Can I get you some coffee or—"

  "Nothing. I'm on a cleanse."

  "Oh. Okay. Well, let me show you what I've worked up for you."

  "Let's see the dress first."

  "Oh. Well, I—"

  "Better yet, why don't I try it on," she said, heading straight for the bedroom. "Is it in here?"

  "Uh, Kim, no. I don't really think Carly wants anyone else trying on her dress."

  Kim propped a hand on her hip. "Well, I'll give it right back," she said, indignant. "It's not like I won't let her use it after."

  Audrey sighed. Her mind raced with a few dozen objections, none of which were likely to deter Kim from getting what she wanted. But there was no way she was going to let her step into Carly's wedding dress without—

  At just that moment, the hotel room door swung open, and Carly breezed in, followed by Kat.

  "You really should have come. Anton Morelli's restaurant lays out a real spread for breakfast. I had the most . . . Oh! I'm sorry. I didn't know you had arrived," she told Kim. "I'm Carly."

  "The bride," Kim noted with a wide smile. "Congratulations."

  "Thanks."

  "Hi, Kim," Kat greeted her. "How was your trip?"

  "Oh, it was fine. But my room isn't as nice as this one."

  Kat chuckled. "Well, this is the bridal suite."

  "So I've been told."

  "Carly, we were just talking about your dress," Audrey interrupted. "I thought you could slip into it and model for Kim so she can get a close look at it." Turning to Kim, she added, "There's nothing like seeing it on a bride, from all angles, to get a clear three-dimensional picture of a gown."

  Kim thought it over, and Audrey breathed a sigh of relief when she nodded. "That seems logical. Yes. Let's do that."

  "Oh, I'd love to!" Carly sang. "Just give me five minutes. Kat, do you want to help me?"

  Carly grabbed Kat's hand before she had the chance to reply, then bounded into the bedroom and closed the door behind them.

  "She's cute," Kim said, and Audrey thought it sounded like something a person would say when they saw a kitten but weren't really much of a cat person.

  "While she's getting into it, why don't you come over and have a look at these other designs," Audrey suggested, spreading them out across the table. "I've taken everything you said to me, and later to Kat, and I've incorporated them into a few different customized alternatives that I think you're really going to like."

  Kim waltzed over toward the table and grazed each sketch with half-mast attention. "Mm-hm," she muttered over the second one, a satin pleated drop-waist with pick-up skirt.

  "With that one, I can do a twenty-foot train for the ceremony that can be removed for the reception for dancing."

  "I do want to be free to dance," Kim said without looking up from the next gown. "But I might want to have a separate party dress that I can change into."

  Audrey had suggested that very idea to Kim at their first consultation, and she'd immediately shot it down.

  Kat opened the bedroom door and stepped out with a huge grin on her face. When Carly followed, Audrey's hand instinctively lifted to her heart, and she sighed. No matter how many entrances she made, Carly always took her breath away. That was definitely her dress!

  "Oh, it's stunning," Kim said with a sigh.

  "Isn't it?" Kat added. "Carly, you look exquisite."

  Immediately, Kim tu
rned to Audrey and said, "That's the dress."

  "I'm sorry, what?"

  "I don't want any of these others. I want that one."

  "Not exactly this one, right?" Carly clarified. "I mean, this is my dress. One-of-a-kind. Audrey designed it just for me."

  "Well, you can make another one, can't you? The same dress, maybe with a little more cleavage?"

  Audrey's heart began to race, and the damp, wide-eyed expression on Carly wasn't helping it to slow down.

  "Kim, I thought you wanted that same thing—to have a dress that is uniquely yours. A dress that no one else has ever worn before."

  And Audrey heard the words before they ever left Kim's mouth. Kim turned to Carly, and declared, "I'll buy you another dress. I want that one."

  Audrey cringed and covered her face with both hands.

  "No!" Carly exclaimed. "I'm getting married in seven hours. And I'm wearing this dress."

  "Audrey?"

  She tilted her head and looked at Kim. Was she for real? "I'm sorry, but no. I think Kat was very clear about you coming here and seeing Carly's dress. It was just so you could see my design in person. This dress is not an option for you. I have five alternatives for you right here . . ."

  "Listen," Kim interrupted as she moved toward Carly. "I'll give you twice what you paid for this dress, and I'll pay for another one to replace it. You think about it."

  As she headed for the door, Audrey followed. "I have an appointment with Weston LaMont at his showroom out in Buckhead," she announced. "I'm going to see what he has in mind for me."

  "You're seeing another designer while you're here?"

  "If your friend will give up her dress, I'll go with you. If not, well, then I need to keep looking."

  And with that, Kim left the hotel room and headed down the hall.

  Audrey just stood there, her mouth as wide open as the door, her heart pounding. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a funny little grunt. Looking to Kat, she produced the same sound again.

  "I know," Kat said, shaking her head.

  "Well, she's horrible," Carly cried out. "Just . . . just . . . horrible!"