They helped her into her wedding dress, smoothing and fluffing the tissue organza overlay, hooking the flirty back with its ruffle train. Parker watched Mac transform as she stood in front of the cheval glass.
“I’m a bride,” she murmured, eyes dazed with wonder. “And I’m beautiful.”
“Here you are.” Mrs. Grady stepped up to hand Mac the diamond earrings Carter had given her. “Little Mackensie—skinny-assed redhead—as beautiful a bride as ever stood in this room.”
“Mrs. G.” Mac lowered her brow to Mrs. Grady’s. “Would you help me with the headband?”
It was a mother’s pleasure, Parker thought, to crown the bride. And touching to watch as Mrs. Grady slipped the glittering band into Mac’s bright hair.
“It suits you. You were right, Emma, it suits her.” Stepping back, Mrs. Grady dabbed at her eyes. “You’ll do.”
“Not quite yet.” Parker opened a drawer in the little bureau, took out a box. “I know you had something else in mind for something borrowed, but I’d like it if you’d wear this.”
Opening the box, she took out a delicate diamond necklace, three thin, sparkling strands.
“Parker.” Mac barely breathed the word. “It’s your mother’s.”
“My father gave it to her for their anniversary. I know they’d like it if you wore it today, and for me, it’s like having them here. A part of them here.They loved you.”
“Oh God.”
“No crying,” Parker ordered.
“Well, you make it damn near impossible not to. I’d love to wear it. I’d love—” Her voice simply broke as she shook her head. “I can’t say anything else or I won’t make it.”
“Here.” Parker slipped the strands on, fastened them.“It’s perfect.”
Lifting her hand, Mac touched the necklace. “I like having them with me today, with all of us.”
Monica stepped in. “Oh, Mac, you’re just stunning. Carter’s going to need oxygen when he sees you.You might need some yourself. He looks incredibly handsome. I wanted to let you know, Karen, you should start the formals. Is there anything I can do for any of you?”
“Is my mother here?” Mac asked her.
“Not yet.”
“Probably just as well. Okay, Karen, I’m all yours.”
“I want some in here, then out on the terrace, then some with the bouquet before we add your attendants.”
“The flowers will be here when you’re ready,” Emma told her.
“I’m going to check on the guys,” Parker told Laurel. “And don’t start on me.”
“I’m amazed you’ve held out this long. Go for it.”
She slipped out, picked up her skirts, and made a dash to the Groom’s Suite. After a quick knock she eased open the door.“Female alert.”
“You’re cleared,” Del called out.
She stepped in. “Monica was right. Carter, you are incredibly handsome.” And adorable when the tips of his ears blushed. “All of you look wonderful. I just wanted—”
As Jack moved over to adjust his tie in the mirror, she saw Malcolm, in jeans and a sweatshirt, sipping a beer. “I didn’t know you were here. Hanging out with the boys?”
“What? Oh ... ah. Right.”
He looked a little glassy-eyed, she thought, and she started to suggest he go easy on the beer when he set it down.
“Karen’s starting on the formals on our side, so she should be ready to start yours in about fifteen minutes. Carter, you’re going to want your father. I’ll send your mother over when it’s time. Oh, and—”
“Out.” Del steered her toward the door. “You’re MOH not wedding planner today.”
“I keep hearing that.Then I guess I’ll see you when the clock strikes. Malcolm, I hope you’ve got a suit with you.”
“What am I, an idiot? I’ve got plenty of time.”
“We’ll kick him out,” Jack told her. “Looking good, Parker. Damn good.”
She laughed, did a red-carpet turn. “Yes, I am.”
“And don’t worry.” Bob, Carter’s best man and colleague, held up a notebook computer. “I’ve got it handled on this end. And I memorized the vows just in case he needs me to throw him a line.”
“You’re a treasure, Bob.”
She waited until she was out of earshot to laugh.
“Just in time,” Emma said.
“That wasn’t long enough for—”
“For the bouquet. I wanted all of us here. Mac.” Emma lifted it from its box. “The final touch.”
“Oh, Emma, oh wow. I even saw it in progress, but—just wow.”
Mac took the waterfall of roses and lilies, deep colors, bold colors given subtle sparkle with tiny glass beads and pearls. It cascaded from waist to knee.
“It’s just ...” She stared down at it, then up at Emma. “The blue butterfly.There’s a blue butterfly in the bouquet.”
“It’s for luck, and love.”
“You didn’t tell us you were doing that.” Laurel moved closer to look. “Emma, you sentimental slob. It’s absolutely great.”
“Carter has one, too—just a tiny one on his boutonniere.”
“I might as well tell you, I put one on the cake—sort of a Where’s Waldo? deal.”
“Laurel,” Mac said with a watery laugh, “you sentimental slob.”
“With the butterfly Parker had put on Mac’s blue garter, that makes three of us.” Emma reached in to take out the other bouquets.
“Just when I thought today couldn’t get any more fabulous, it—”
Mac broke off as the door all but blew open and her mother made her entrance in murderous, low-cut red. “Well, don’t you all look . . . sweet. Such interesting colors. I left Ari downstairs. I just had to dash up and ...”
The smirk faded as her eyes tracked over, landed on Mac. Parker had the intense pleasure of seeing the stupefied shock land on Linda’s face.
Yeah, that’s right, you selfish, self-serving bitch. She’s spectacular. And nothing you can say or do will spoil one moment of her day.
“Mackensie, you’re lovely.You really are. Oh, my baby’s getting married!” She threw up her hands and hurried across the room to embrace Mac. “I never thought I’d see this day come.”
Over Linda’s head, Mac rolled her eyes and grinned.
No, not a moment spoiled, Parker thought, and grinned back.
MALCOLM PACED OUTSIDE THE BRIDE’S SUITE.
How the hell had this happened? Well, he didn’t know, but it had happened. So ...That was that. Or he’d make sure that was that. If she’d ever come out of that damn room.
If he’d worn a watch, he’d be tapping its face to see if the battery was dead.
What could possibly take so long in there? What exactly went on behind that damn locked door?
Finally, it opened, and women came out, all color and scent and sparkle. He stayed out of the way, ready to pounce the minute he saw Parker.
When he did, she—naturally—had her head together with the woman who was running things today.
“Hey.”
She glanced back, tilting her head in surprise, then took another minute to recheck whatever she’d probably already checked five times with her stand-in, before walking toward him in that filmy, floaty dress the color of candlelight.
“Why aren’t you downstairs? You should be seated. We’re about to—”
“I need to talk to you for a minute. For a couple minutes.”
“Malcolm, wedding. Now. I can’t—Oh God, is there a problem? I knew I should’ve gone down to check on—”
“There’s no problem. Everything’s fine. It looks like the freaking wedding of the century. It can wait. Sure, no problem.”
“Get down there.” She leaned forward, kissed him lightly on the cheek. And turned when Mac stepped out.
“Okay, I’m so ready. Malcolm? Why aren’t you downstairs?”
“I’m going. But let me say wow. A really big wow. Nice job. Carter’s going to swallow his own tongue.”
Her smile shone brighter than her diamonds. “I’m getting married.”
“I got the memo. I’ll see you later, Mrs. Maguire.”
“Mrs. Maguire. Oh boy, hot damn.” In her sparkly-heeled wedding shoes, she did a quick jumping dance. “Let’s go, Parker.”
Parker shot Malcolm one last smile, then led Mac down the hall. “Remember, head up, smile. Take your time, it’s your moment. We’ll go down in alpha order as we decided, after Carter’s niece and nephew.”
“Don’t they look cute?”
“They do. And when the music hits your cue, remember to hold it there, count to five so everybody stands and gets a load of you.Then—”
“Parker, don’t worry. My father’s down at the bottom of the stairs, and he’ll walk me down the aisle.”
Mac’s green eyes were calm now, and dry, but shining with joy.
“You’re probably never going to tell me what you had to do to get him here, and that’s fine. He’s here, and it matters to me more than I knew—or would admit. But just like you said yesterday, more important than anything, Carter’s down there. My knees are wobbly, but it’s not nerves. It’s excitement—it’s, gosh, it’s frigging bliss. I won’t miss my cue.”
At the top of the staircase, she and Emma and Laurel adjusted the train, gave Mac the bouquet, and stood for a moment as they had as children, smiling down at a blue butterfly.
“MOG being escorted,” Parker murmured.
“Have you got an earbud in there?” Laurel demanded.
“No. I just know. Carter and Bob are in front of the fireplace, and the MOG, FOG are taking their seats. Linda’s being escorted. I know you’re good, Mac, but do a little yoga breathing now. MOB escorted,” she said of Mrs. Grady, and Mac squeezed her hand.
“And music change. RB, then FG, both looking adorable.” She peered around to watch them start down the steps at Monica’s signal. “Seriously adorable.”
“Karen’s getting the shots, right?”
“Shh.You stop that. Okay. Emma.”
“Here we go.”
“Five, four, three, two. And Laurel.”
“Rolling.”
Parker gave Mac’s hand a final squeeze.“It’s your wedding day,” she said, and started down the stairs.
She stopped worrying when she saw the room full of guests, of flowers, of candle- and firelight. When she saw Carter looking like the happiest man ever born. She glanced at Malcolm, puzzled for a moment at the intense look in his eye, then took her place by her friends.
Music change, she thought, and everyone got to their feet.
There was Mac, radiant, on her father’s arm, all but floating as she came forward. And Parker’s mother’s diamonds caught the light and flashed.
Mac kissed her father’s cheek. Carter already held out both hands for her. She stepped up, took them. “Hi, cutie.” She pulled him in, kissed him lavishly.
“I couldn’t wait,” she said, loud enough for everyone to hear.
And they got married in the echo of laughter.
HE COULDN’T GET HER ALONE, AT LEAST NOT ALONE ENOUGH. There were pictures, and dinner, and crowds of people. Everybody wanted to talk to everybody.
“What’s wrong with you?” His mother kicked him under the table. “You’re fidgety.”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just want to get out of this stupid suit.”
“Eat your dinner,” she ordered, then turned to talk to Emma’s father—thank God—and got off his back.
He tried to get to her when the meal was over, but the entire wedding party was herded in one direction, and the guests went in another.
In the Ballroom, Mac and Carter took the floor for their first dance.Watching them, he realized his timing was off.Way off.This day was about them, the rest could wait.
He got himself a beer, told himself to relax.
“Hell of a party, huh?” Jack dropped down beside him.
“They do it right, and apparently they do it righter than right when it’s one of their own.” He tapped his glass to Jack’s. “You’re next, partner.”
“Can’t wait.”
Malcolm angled his head, studied Jack’s face.“You mean that.”
“More every day.Who knew? The big party? That’ll be a kick, but it’s the rest, the rest of my life I’m waiting for. Emma’s... She’s Emma. That’s all she needs to be. Now I’m going to go find her and dance.You ought to grab Parker.”
“Yeah, I ought to.”
He sat another moment, then rose to start to wind his way through the tables and people. Music pumped out hot, drawing a crowd onto the dance floor.
He paused to watch a moment, and Del stopped on his way by. “Getting some champagne for my future bride. Did you catch Bob out there? He’s a wild man on the dance floor.”
“You can’t miss him.”
“It’s a damn good day.” He laid a hand on Mal’s shoulder as they both grinned at Bob. “I know they’ve already started a life together—Mac and Carter—but this changes it.”
“Changes it?”
“It makes it more solid, more real, more important. I’ve been to countless weddings, but I don’t think I really got that until Laurel, until I wanted to make it more solid and real and important. Anyway, if you’re looking for Parker, she’s that way.”
“Thanks.”
Screw timing, he decided, and went on the hunt for her.
He spotted her—and Laurel—dancing together. When the music changed, they walked toward him, arm-in-arm.
“How come women can dance together, but when guys do it they look stupid?”
“You don’t. You just think you do,” Laurel told him. “Seen Del?”
“He’s getting your—” He mimed drinking.
“I’ll go find him, cut down on the wait.You want?” she asked Parker.
“I do, thanks.”
When he had her alone, in a manner of speaking, he took her arm. “Listen, can we go out for a minute? I want—”
“Parker.” Linda, a flute in her hand, glided up. “You put on a lovely event.You must have worked day and night for weeks to pull this off. It’s no wonder you look tired.”
“Do I?” Parker said, icily sweet.“It must be the lighting in here. I was just thinking how that shade of red, in this light, makes you look shallow. I mean sallow. Malcolm, you’ve met Mac’s mother, haven’t you?”
“Yeah. How’s it going?”
Linda tossed her luxurious mane of blond hair, aimed her hot baby blues at him.“It’s going very well, thanks.We’ve met? I can’t believe that, as I never forget a gorgeous man.” She gave him her hand, angled her body in. “When did we meet?”
“When you offered me a blow job.”
Beside him, Parker made a choking sound. Linda reared back, shot Parker a vicious look. “You should take more care in who you invite into your home.”
“I’ve already done that.This is your one free pass. Enjoy it. Let’s dance, Malcolm. I really want to dance with you at my friend’s wedding.”
She drew him onto the floor, then just dropped her head on his shoulder, shaking with laughter. “Oh. Oh.You are going to be rewarded so very well at the first opportunity. That was—” She lifted her head, put her hands on the sides of his face and kissed him until his head swam.
“Come on.” He dragged her away from the music.
“But I want to—”
“Five minutes, damn it.”
People were every-fucking-where, he realized. He pulled her out of the Ballroom, down the stairs, ignoring her objections. He evaluated, then headed for her wing until he jerked her into the gym.
Nobody was going to come in there during a wedding reception.
“What in the world is this about?”
“Listen.You just listen to me.”
“I am listening to you.”
He took a breath. “Yeah, you listen to me, and that’s why I end up telling you things I’ve never told anybody, never intended to tell anybody.You get inside, that’s what you do, get inside and see what’s in there, and it’s okay with you.”
“Why wouldn’t it be? Malcolm, how much have you had to drink?”
“Probably not enough for this. I was never going here, not with anyone. It just didn’t seem like I’d be any good at it—and, well, damn it, it’s important for me to be good at what I do.”
He turned away from her and walked away, looking for his breath and his balance.“I spent the first decade of my life moving around, and that was okay, it’s the way it was. I spent most of the second mad at the fucking world and raising hell.Then I tried to do better, in my own way.”
He dragged a hand through his hair. “I did better, then I got my ass kicked. Fate, bad luck, whatever. I took the second chance, and made some changes.Through all of that, there was one person who stuck with me.”
“Your mother is an amazing woman.”
“Damn right. I’ve got a good business. I know how to run it, how to build it. I like what I do. No, I love what I do.”
“That’s why you’re good at it. I wish you’d tell me what’s wrong.”
“I didn’t say anything was wrong. I’m just ...” He stood for a moment, just staring at her. “It was never supposed to be you, that’s for damn sure.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You said you loved me.”
“So, you did hear me.” She turned away now, walked over to open the minifridge for water.
“Of course I heard you. There’s nothing wrong with my hearing.”
“You just chose to ignore me.”
“I didn’t. You blindsided me, Parker. You knocked me flat. I never figured you’d feel about me the way I feel about you.”
She lowered the water, and her gaze came back slowly to his. “How do you feel about me?”
“Like ... How the hell did Carter put it? He’s got the words.”
“I don’t want Carter’s words. I’m not in love with Carter.”
“I feel like you must be the reason I got through all the moving around, the raising hell.The reason I didn’t die.The reason I’m here. I feel—”
He broke off, cursed under his breath as she simply stood there, beautiful, perfect, glowing.