Always the Designer, Never the Bride (25 page)

"Just thank her for us. Pearl too. The meal was first-rate. If you'll bring us the check—"

"Pearl said your meal is gratis," the girl explained. "But I'll give Sherilyn your message."

Audrey and J. R. exchanged surprised smiles. "Are you sure?" Audrey asked her.

"Quite sure. Have a lovely evening."

"Please at least take this for your trouble," J. R. said, offering her a folded bill. "The service was even better than the meal."

"Thank you so much."

When she'd gone, Audrey shook her head. "This place has been so good to me. I kind of never want to leave."

"I know the feeling."

After a moment, Audrey clasped her hands behind her head and stretched. "Mac and cheese. Comfort food. I actually feel like I could sleep."

J. R. smiled at her, and the twinkling lights glimmered in his eyes, melting them down to a deep steel blue. "Walk you home?" he asked, and he stood up and offered her his hand.

"Please," she said, accepting it.

They took their time strolling to the elevator, and they chatted about the night sky as they peered through the glass and ascended above the courtyard. When they reached the second floor, Audrey yawned as the doors opened. It occurred to her that she hadn't felt so relaxed in a very long time. When she turned around to share the thought with J. R., he stood close behind her.

She looked up into his eyes for a long, warm moment.

"Good night," she finally whispered, and she resisted a swoon as he smoothed her hair away from her face. She hesitated, looking down, and then back into his eyes. "I had a really nice time."

"Me too."

Those blue-gray eyes of his had her transfixed. She knew she should look away, but she just couldn't manage it.

Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me.

"Sleep well, Audrey."

"Okay. You too."

Traditional Macaroni and Cheese
Comfort Food from Morelli's Restaurant

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

3 cups elbow macaroni, cooked and drained

3 Tablespoons cornstarch

1½ teaspoons salt

¾ teaspoon dry mustard

½ teaspoon black pepper

12-ounce can evaporated milk

1½ cups water

3 Tablespoons butter

3½ cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

¼ cup crumbled bleu cheese

½ cup softened cream cheese

Mix evaporated milk, water, and butter in medium saucepan.

Add cornstarch, salt, mustard, and pepper.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until

mixture boils.

Allow ingredients to boil for approximately one minute, and

remove from heat.

Stir in 2 cups of the Cheddar cheese and all of the other

cheeses until melted.

Add macaroni and mix well.

Pour mixture into greased two-quart casserole dish.

Top with remaining Cheddar cheese and grated Parmesan.

Bake for 25 minutes until cheese is melted and top is a light

golden brown.

11

A
n early knock at her hotel room door drew Audrey away from the window where she'd been standing for who knew how long, sifting over that moment when she'd said goodnight to J. R. She couldn't remember ever wanting a kiss so much, and even now—in the light of a new day—a cooler head had not prevailed. Her thoughts wrapped around that wish so hard that she found it a little hard to breathe.

Kat must have her hands full,
she thought as she headed for the door.

But when she opened it, Sherilyn stood on the other side instead of Kat.

"Good morning!"

"Sherilyn. Hi. How are you?"

She shrugged and crinkled up her nose slightly as she admitted, "Sick as an expectant mother."

"Oh. Sorry. Would you like to come in?"

"I come bearing latte," she announced, handing Audrey one of the three paper cups in her hands. "I hope you like vanilla?"

"I do. Thank you so much."

"Listen, I know you're busy, and I won't stay long. I just wanted to talk to you about Carly and Devon."

"Oh?"

Audrey sat down on the corner of the unmade bed, and Sherilyn folded into the chair nestled in the corner of the room near the window.

"Their party is tonight, and I guess Devon ships out in another week or so?"

"Yes. On the tenth."

"That is so rough. I'm happy to hear you'll be around for a while longer to help her with the transition. I guess she's taking it kind of hard." Audrey wondered how Sherilyn knew that. Before she could ask, Sherilyn answered. "I had breakfast with J. R."

Audrey nodded and took a sip from the warm cup. "Mmm. Very good."

"Listen, some of us get together once a month for a sort of Girls' Night. I have it at my house, and we get in our jams, do facials and manicures sometimes, watch movies, or eat junk food. It's like a slumber party for grown-ups."

"Sounds fun."

"Well, we're having one on Wednesday night," she explained. "I invited Carly to join us, but she wants to spend every spare moment with Devon while she has him home."

"Understandable."

"But I was thinking you might like to come."

Audrey tilted her head slightly. "Really?"

"Yeah, you and Kat both."

"Well . . ."

"Look, I know you're busy with the new project and all . . ."

J. R. has been very chatty!

". . . but we always have such a good time. It's a great way for us to blow off steam and get some time together. Will you think about it?"

"I will."

"Good. Wednesday night. Everyone usually starts arriving around 7:30, but if you want to come later, that's fine too."

"Should I bring anything?"

"Just you and your favorite pajamas."

"Okay!"

"I hope you can make it," Sherilyn told her, and she stood up and headed for the door. "We all just love you and Kat, and it would be fun to have the chance to get to know you better while you're here."

"It's been a very long time since I've been invited to a slumber party," she admitted with a grin. "I'm actually a little intrigued."

Just as Sherilyn reached it, the door burst open and Kat stepped in.

"Oh, hey!"

"Hi, Kat. I brought you a latte," and she pointed at the desk. "And you and Audrey are invited to a slumber party after the pep rally. I'm sure she'll tell you all about it."

Kat chuckled. "O-kay."

"Awesome bracelet," she added, and she skimmed the large stretch cuff of various hues of pastel pearls that Kat wore. "Did you make that too?"

Kat nodded and held it up. "It's one of my favorites."

"Well, I'd buy it in a heartbeat," Sherilyn told her. "You really should think about doing this professionally, Kat."

"I have a profession," she replied on a giggle.

"Yes, she does," Audrey teased. "And I can't function without her!"

"Well, I'm going to go and enjoy my one caffeine product for the day before Tanglewood life takes over. Have a good one!"

"See you later," Audrey said. "And Sherilyn, thank you so much for the invitation."

"Sure. I hope you'll come."

Kat closed the door behind her. "She's so pretty, isn't she?"

"That red hair and those big turquoise eyes." Audrey shook her head. "But still, she makes it impossible to hate her for it."

"Russell says she's lost a bunch of weight too."

"That should make it easier. But—" Audrey tilted her head and stared at the ceiling for a moment. "Nope. Still can't hate her."

Kat laughed. "So I spoke to Lisette. She'll be here at noon for measuring. She also told me she has swatches of the original fabric she chose for her gown. I asked her to bring them so that you and I can hit the fabric stores this afternoon."

"Good!"

"And she has photos of the bridesmaids in their dresses so we can see them. They've all been fitted and are ready to go, but the flower girl's dress is too big. I said we could do a fitting and alter it. She'll have her cousin bring the little girl over at one o'clock."

"Excellent. Do we have any word on an alternate work space, in case I don't hear back from LaMont?"

"I haven't been able to find a thing. I'll keep trying, but let's hope—"

Right on cue, Audrey's cell phone jingled, and she snatched it up from the nightstand. "Yes, let's hope!" she said before pressing the green button. "Audrey Regan."

"Audrey Regan, this is Wes LaMont."

"Good morning."

"Speaking of morning, what are your plans?"

"Right now? I'm preparing for a fitting with my bride at noon."

"That gives you some time then. I thought I could show you the work space I have available."

"And how many millions will it cost me, Wes?"

"Don't insult me. It's a loaner. And in return, you will forgive me for the Kim Renfroe debacle."

"That seems equitable."

"She went with someone else, by the way."

"You're joking."

"I don't joke. Want to come out to Buckhead and have a look at your work space?"

Audrey opened her eyes wide and grinned at Kat as she replied, "Absolutely. What's the address?"

"This is what it looks like in my dreams," Audrey whispered to Kat as they headed up the marble staircase, caressing the clear acrylic floating banister as she went. "But I didn't think it really existed."

Kat stifled a giggle as they approached the crescent-shaped reception desk.

"Audrey Regan to see Weston LaMont."

"Yes, Ms. Regan, he's expecting you. Follow me, please?"

She resisted the urge to reach out and hold Kat's hand as their heels click-click-clicked their way down the long corridor. Enormous photographs of famous-faced models on red carpets and flower-bordered wedding aisles lined both sides of the deep burgundy walls leading to gargantuan double glass doors etched with LaMont's logo.

Beyond the doors sat a world Audrey had only imagined, never experienced: a line of glass-enclosed offices to the left and a row of small design rooms to the right. At the end of the corridor beyond the administrative offices, another set of large doors beckoned, carved mahogany doors bearing the LaMont logo engraved in brass.

"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore," Kat whispered, and Audrey shushed her with caution.

"Through those doors and to your right," the waif-like receptionist directed them.

Audrey groaned as she pushed open the heavy door. Yet another wonderland existed beyond it, and she and Kat made a right as directed. An Angelina Jolie clone with a large bluetooth angled over her ear sat before a paper-thin computer screen behind a large two-level desk. She looked up and smiled as they approached.

"Audrey Regan?" she asked.

"Yes."

She pushed a button on the telephone. "Audrey Regan is here." A millisecond later, she waved them through. "Go right in."

Audrey swallowed around the lump in her throat and drew in a sharp breath before sliding open the oak-framed glass pocket door.