Kaello had taken Keira into the back, and Sylvia could hear the older woman’s voice while she waded through the thousands of dresses she kept there.
Fifteen minutes later, after the girls were plied with food and drink, Keira stepped out.
It was a lovely ivory dress with a mermaid fit. There were pearls at the bodice and some that raced down her back to sweep the floor.
“No.” Jill shook her head. “It’s too much like Morticia Addams.”
Sylvia almost choked on her diet soda. Well. Apparently blatant honesty wouldn’t be a problem with this group.
The next dress, a lovely taffeta in pale white that had an empire waist.
Jill shook her head again. “This isn’t the eighteen hundreds, sweetheart. Keep looking.”
One of the other girls shook her head and covered her mouth to keep from laughing aloud.
Keira arched an eyebrow. “I am the one picking the bridesmaids’ outfits. You might keep that in mind.” She stuck her tongue out and swept out of the room.
All the girls collapsed in laughter.
Sylvia chuckled. “Good going,” she commented. “Though you could probably be a little more gentle with the comments.”
Jill grinned. “Nah. Then she’d know I held back. I’ve known Keira for years. And besides, she can get me back when she helps me with my wedding.”
“Fair enough.” Sylvia snickered and thanked God for the millionth time that she would never, ever have to go through any of this crap herself.
The next dress was a bit better, but none of the girls liked it. The sleeves were too puffy, and the train too long.
Then came the dress that fit so tight that underwear could be nothing but a dream.
Jill cocked her head to the side. “Well. Jon would like it. And you could start the honeymoon in the limo on the way to the airport without too much fuss.”
Keira blushed and grinned. “Ah, the honeymoon.” She smoothed the tight fabric down her lithe body. “I’m counting the days.” She paused. “Okay. The hours.”
Sylvia took a sip of her drink and didn’t join in the ribald comments. The truth was that she didn’t have any experience with men or honeymoons. They were both outside the realm of her life.
Keira turned to her. “What do you think, Sylvia?”
The dress was stunning. But Sylvia could see exactly what Jill meant. “It’s gorgeous. But I think you should save that one for the reception.”
Keira studied herself in the three mirrors. “You’re right.” She glanced back. “So. Sylvia. What are your thoughts on the honeymoon?”
“What?” Sylvia set her drink down and looked at all the girls’ faces looking at her. She fought the blush. “My thoughts on what, exactly?”
“You know.” Keira wriggled her eyebrows. “Have you ever married?”
Sylvia shook her head vehemently. “No. Never.”
Keira frowned and then nodded her head. “Okay. Then tell us what the honeymoon is like for your clients. Is it everything that they say it is?”
“They?” Sylvia repeated stupidly. How in the hell could she have trapped herself in a room with a hormonal bride and equally hormonal bridesmaids? For the love of God. Weddings made women absolutely crazy. And these young women seemed to have succumbed to the same insanity.
“Honeymoons are nice,” Sylvia said lamely and took a sip of her drink.
Keira blew out a breath. “I’m nervous as hell.”
Jill stood up and patted her hand. “It’s good that you waited, Keira. Think of all the fun you’ll have.” She grinned wickedly. “And I want details when you come back.”
“You waited?” Sylvia set her drink down. In all the weddings she planned, all of the brides had sampled the groom before the wedding. The fact Keira waited touched her heart.
“Well, sure.” Keira brushed her hair back. “We agreed that our wedding night would be the first time we’d be together.” She blushed. “And that’s why I’m counting the hours.”
All her friends laughed.
Kaello came out then and motioned to the dress. “What do you think?”
“Reception dress.” Keira smoothed the material down. “It’s absolutely beautiful.”
“But not the wedding?”
“No.” Keira shook her head. “Sorry.”
“Do not apologize, child.” Kaello smiled. “I have a design I’m working on right now. And I have a feeling it would suit you.” She turned to Sylvia. “It will be ready in one week. Will you return?”
“Keira will be here,” Sylvia vowed. “Please put her name on this dress. We’ll do alterations about a month before the nuptials.”
“My pleasure.” The blond Amazon smiled and looked at Sylvia. “My door is always open for you, Ms. Masters. In case you decide you would like to walk down the aisle.”
She returned the store owner’s smile. “Not damn likely,” she muttered.
The girls grabbed their purses and left the shop.
Keira paused and took the list out of her purse. “Dunbar’s is next on the list.”
Sylvia stopped in her tracks and studied the bride-to-be. “You all have a good time. I must go back to my office. Work awaits.”
Keira frowned. “Please, Sylvia? Just one more. We need your eye.”
“You need Jill’s mouth.” Sylvia’s lips twitched. “Remind me to never invite you to speak your mind again.”
The young woman laughed. “I call ’em like I see ’em.”
Keira groaned. “Isn’t that the truth?”
Sylvia checked her watch. They only spent an hour in Kaello’s. She had plenty of time to go with the girls to the next shop. “One more,” she said. “Only one more.”
Keira clapped her hands together. “Thank you!” She ushered her friends into the limo in front of the curb. “Are you coming?”
Sylvia eyed the limo and chuckled. “No, dear. I’ll drive myself, thanks. Meet you there.”
“Okay.” Keira ducked into the limo, and the driver shut the door behind her. He doffed his hat to Sylvia and climbed into the driver’s seat.
Sylvia followed the limo to Dunbar’s and parked quickly before someone took her spot. The street that Dunbar’s sat on an exclusive strip of stores for the rich and famous in the town. Sports cars lined the street while limos came and dropped off customers.
Sylvia climbed out of her car and trailed after the girls. They patted their hair and waited outside the door for Sylvia.
She shook her head and opened the door. “They don’t bite, ladies. You can go inside.”
Keira took a deep breath. “I’ve heard they have marble tiles and fountains made of gold. I’m a bit nervous.”
Sylvia’s blue eyes widened. “You’ve never been here?” Did Tristan keep his sister on a tight leash financially? The family was worth billions. It seemed odd that Keira hadn’t wandered down the exclusive shops at one point in time.
Keira shrugged. “I usually shop at The Gap.”
Jill laughed. “She’s not kidding. That or L.L. Bean.” She rolled her brown eyes. “Good luck getting a wedding dress there.”
Sylvia blinked twice. “Isn’t that something?”
The group walked into the foyer and stopped dead in their tracks. Someone hadn’t been lying. A rich marble flooring wrapped in a serpentine pattern wound around lavish leather furnishings and plush ivory carpet. Two gold fountains sprayed water in each corner. A large mirror lined with diamonds sat across from the waiting area.
A thin brunette looked up from her computer and glanced at the group. “May I help you?”
“Yes.” Sylvia stepped forward and knew exactly which buttons to push. “My name is Sylvia Masters. I’m Keira Calhoun’s wedding planner. We’ve come by to try on wedding gowns.”
The secretary actually leaned forward at the Calhoun name. She hurriedly stood and pressed a button on the phone. “We need an assistant to the main area.” She hung up the phone and smiled. “If you’ll have a seat in our waiting room, an assi
stant will be out shortly. Please help yourself to any and all refreshments.”
The girls sat and giggled at the fawning. “My God, Keira.” Jill snagged a piece of sushi and popped it in her mouth. “Want to adopt me?”
Keira shook her head. “I don’t like this place as much. It’s too snooty.”
“It is.” Sylvia took a stuffed mushroom and studied the young woman. “But they have phenomenal gowns. It wouldn’t do to overlook a possibly unpleasant place in case they have something we want.”
Keira grabbed a small sandwich and took a bite. “Well. The food is delicious.”
Sylvia smiled. “Take a bite of everything. They also have a catering business. These items on the tray could possibly be at your wedding.”
“Hmph.” Keira glanced at her friends. “What do you think?”
“It’s marvelous.” Jill took another appetizer and sank her teeth into it. “By far, the best appetizers I’ve ever had.” She finished that one and grabbed a cracker with a dark green topping. That disappeared, also.
Keira snickered. “We’ll have to let out your bridesmaids’ dresses if you keep that up.”
“Oh, bite me.” Jill took a sip of water sitting beside her. “Better me than you. Because if you gain a pound, that formfitting piece of fabric you just had on will make you look like a sausage.” She took another bite and grinned around it.
All the women in the circle laughed, and Sylvia joined in. What must it be like to have that sort of friendship? To be able to say whatever I mean and not worry about being slapped down? To be able to share such a monumental event and know that everyone only worried about my happiness?
A striking redhead stepped out of the door nearest them and immediately had everyone’s attention.
She wore a red ensemble that included a tight ruby skirt and a vest with lacings that enhanced her assets. Wave after wave of red hair fell across her shoulders. She wore a pair of red boots that hugged her shapely legs and gave at least three inches to her already impressive height. Emerald green eyes studied the group.
“Wow,” Jill muttered. “I want to be you when I grow up.”
The redhead laughed aloud and grinned down at the group. “A lovely compliment, to be sure.” She extended her hand to Sylvia. “I am Wilda. And you are Sylvia Masters?”
“Yes.” Sylvia stood and shook her hand. She brought Keira forward. “And this is Keira Calhoun. The lovely bride-to-be.”
Wilda studied the young woman and then her friends. “What an enchanting group of young women.” She turned around. “Follow me, please.”
The women walked single file behind the assistant. They passed through two more doors before they found the room where Keira would try on dresses. Each of the women sat down and waited expectantly for the show.
Wilda motioned to Sylvia. “I’ll need your help, Ms. Masters.”
“My help?” Sylvia repeated. “Why?”
“I understand that Ms. Calhoun has lost her parents. She needs a woman who will act instead of her mother to help with this.”
“I really don’t think so.” Sylvia physically took a step backwards.
Wilda smiled. “I want to help Miss Calhoun in every way possible, Ms. Masters. I need to know what she really wants. Not just what she’ll accept.” Her green eyes were impossibly bright. “Sometimes we have to push beyond our comfort zone to actually find that which is made for us.”
“I’m just the wedding planner.”
“You are much more than that, Ms. Masters.” Wilda pulled open a curtain and motioned Keira forward. “You are a beautiful woman, Ms. Calhoun. Let’s see if we can make your fiancé’s tongue drop from his mouth, shall we?”
Keira grinned at Sylvia. “Oh, I like her.”
The first dress was an eggshell color with a halter neckline and full skirt. Keira stood up on the pedestal and swung this way and that. “What do you think?”
“Not so much.” Sylvia stepped forward and touched the halter. “You have beautiful shoulders, but this draws them in too much. It doesn’t accent them. It hides them.”
Keira nodded and swung around. “Next.”
They waded through a dozen more gowns before Jill spoke up. “Wait!”
Keira turned around. “What, hon?”
“That’s our bridesmaid’s dress.”
Keira studied the dress in the mirror. It was an off-the-shoulder ivory silk with a fitted waist and a smooth flow to the skirt. It was shot through with gold thread and felt absolutely wonderful.
“You like this one?”
“Are you kidding me?” Jill stood up and walked over. She traced the gold thread and smiled. “It’s perfect.”
“Well. I’m glad one of us is getting the dress she wants.” Keira stuck out her tongue.
Sylvia chuckled. “We’ll find yours, Keira.”
“But in the meantime,” Jill reached up and stroked the smooth fabric, “I’ll be styling in this little baby.”
* * * *
They looked at over a dozen dresses more, but none seemed to be what Keira wanted.
Sylvia held up her hands a little before four o’clock. “I have to go, ladies. I’ll wait for a phone call from Kaello about her design. In the meantime, you need to be thinking about caterers, videographers, and cakes.”
“Oh, my,” Keira murmured and smiled. She grinned down at Sylvia from the pedestal. “Thanks for all your help, Sylvia.” Her golden eyes shimmered a bit. “I really can’t thank you enough.”
Sylvia’s heart melted at the sincere words, and she smiled. “My pleasure.” She motioned to the other ladies in the room. “Though I’m sure they’re more than capable of standing in and letting you know what works and what doesn’t.”
Keira twirled in the mirror. “I’m getting married.” She smiled. “Isn’t that something?”
“The best of somethings,” Sylvia promised. A thought occurred to her. “Can you give me Maude’s number? I need to check with her about a few things.”
“Sure.” Keira recited it while Sylvia jotted it down.
Wilda came back and studied the dress with a frown. “This isn’t it, is it?”
“No.” Sylvia shook her head. “But we’ve enjoyed the afternoon and finished another chore on the lengthy list. Bridesmaids’ dresses.”
Wilda clucked her tongue. “I’m extremely disappointed we couldn’t find the wedding dress you need.” She pulled her titian hair back and then let it swing forward again. Her emerald eyes latched on Sylvia. “But, then again, perhaps there would be another wedding we could help you with.”
A small fluttering in her chest had Sylvia pressing her hand to her heart. It was the oddest sensation. Almost a deja vu of sorts. “I don’t think so,” she breathlessly replied.
Wilda nodded slowly. “Just remember that we are always here, Sylvia. You know where to find us.” She inclined her head and walked away from the women and into the back.
“If I looked like her,” Keira grinned, “I could wear a potato sack and still make a fashion statement.”
Sylvia’s lips twitched. “If you looked like her, I’d die instantly of jealousy.”
All the women in the room laughed and nodded.
“Let’s give it another week.” Sylvia patted Keira’s hand. “Then you can drop by Kaello’s and try on her latest design.”
The color rose high in Keira’s cheeks, and she smiled. “Jon won’t know what hit him.”
Chapter 6
Sylvia had forgotten all about Gina, but apparently the girl had not forgotten about her. She found the young woman in her waiting room early the next day. The young woman wore a long khaki skirt and buttery yellow button-up shirt. Her shoes were smart and sensible. Not a trace of the young woman in the blue negligee remained. Even Gina’s hair had been pulled back in a professional knot. The only nerves Sylvia could see were in the light blue eyes that studied her.
Gina stood and extended her hand. “Hello, Ms. Masters. I’ve come to show you my portfolio.” She bit her li
p. “You do remember me, don’t you?”
“Certainly.” Sylvia shook her hand and motioned inside her office. “Have a seat, Gina.” She shut the door and walked to her desk. “You brought your work?”
“Yes.” Nervous fingers clutched and released the lovely leather case.
“I’ll probably need to see it.”
“Oh. Of course!” Gina fumbled with the clasp and almost dropped it. She took a deep breath and lifted her head to look at Sylvia. “I’m sorry.”
Sylvia held up her hand and shook her head. “Think nothing of it,” she said.
“No.” Gina lifted her chin. “I’m sorry you had to see me in my underwear in what was clearly a major lack of judgment and sense.” She paused. “I need to explain that I’m usually extremely levelheaded and steady.”
Sylvia sat in her chair and pushed her hair behind her hair. “What happened?”
“The magic and mystery of Tristan Calhoun.” Gina sighed. “I should have known better. He was simply being nice. I see that now. But at the time,” she lifted her shoulders, “I thought he was interested in me.” Her blue eyes flashed. “Stupid, I know.”
“Not a bit.” Sylvia took the portfolio and set it on her desk. “He has a way about him that makes you think you’re special. Probably something he learned at business school.”
Gina laughed. “Glad to see you’re not immune.”
“I wish.” Sylvia frowned and then could have bitten her own tongue.
She hurriedly opened the portfolio and was pleasantly surprised. The young woman in front of her had potential. A lot of it.
Designers were both born and made. Some people had an innate sense of style. They honed it and became incredibly successful. And then there were those who had the extreme will to succeed because it was what they loved. Gina had aptitude and talent. It showed in every design.
Sylvia took her time looking through the portfolio. She asked Liz to bring them both coffee at one point in time. When she finally looked up, Gina’s nerves showed in more than her eyes.
Her hands were clutched around the coffee mug, and her eyes were glued to Sylvia’s face for clues.
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