Savour the Moment: Now the Big Day Has Finally Arrived, It's Time To... Read Online Free PDF Page A

yourself, captured in a photograph by Mac. And celebrated with a cake I’ll create just for you. A lavish one. Guaranteed.”
    “Aww.” Emma’s dark eyes filled. “As much as I love Jack—and boy, do I ever—I couldn’t be as happy as I am now without all of you.”
    Mac handed Emma a tissue. “I’m still first. I want a cake that’s just for me,” she said to Laurel. “If she gets one, so do I.”
    “I can put little cameras and tripods around the tiers.”
    “And little stacks of books for Carter?” Mac laughed. “Silly, but apt.”
    “It follows the theme of your engagement shots.” Emma dried her eyes. “I love the way you set those up, with you and Carter on the couch, your legs all tangled together, him with a book on his lap, you looking like you’ve just lowered your camera after taking his picture. Both of you just grinning at each other. Which leads me to ask you about our engagement portrait. When, where, how?”
    “Easy. You and Jack in bed, naked.”
    Emma shot out a foot to give Mac a light kick. “Stop.”
    “Also apt,” was Laurel’s opinion.
    “We do more than have sex!”
    “You certainly do. You think about having sex.” Parker opened one eye.
    “We have a very layered relationship,” Emma insisted. “Which includes lots of sex. But seriously—”
    “I’ve got a few things in mind. We should look at our schedules and set something up.”
    “Now?”
    “Sure. Parks must have both our schedules on her CrackBerry.” Mac reached toward it.
    Parker opened both eyes, aimed a smoldering warning stare. “Touch it and die.”
    “Jesus. Let’s go check my book at the studio. We should probably round up the guys anyway—and we’d have to have Jack clear the time.”
    “Excellent.”
    “Where are the guys?” Laurel wondered.
    “Down with Mrs. G,” Emma told her. “Eating pizza and playing poker—or that was the plan.”
    “Nobody asked us for pizza and poker.” Laurel managed a horizontal shrug as eyes turned to her. “Okay, no, I don’t want pizza and poker because I like it right here. But still.”
    “Anyway.” Mac pushed to her feet. “Rounding up under the circumstances might take some time. Let’s just plant the seed, then go figure the schedule.”
    “That’s a plan. Good job, girls,” Emma said as she stood.
    As they left, Laurel stretched. “I need a massage. We should have an in-house masseur named Sven. Or Raoul.”
    “I’ll put that on the list. Meanwhile, you could call Serenity and book one.”
    “But if we had Sven—I think Sven is better than Raoul—I could have one right now, then I’d slide bonelessly into bed and sleep. How many days until vacation?”
    “Too many.”
    “You say that now, but once we’re free and get to the Hamptons, you’ll still have that BlackBerry attached to your hand.”
    “I can give it up anytime I want.”
    Laurel answered Parker’s smile. “You’ll buy a waterproof bag for it, so you can swim with it.”
    “They should make them waterproof. We must have the technology.”
    “Well, I’m going to leave you and your one true love alone, go soak in a hot tub, and dream of Sven.” Laurel rolled off the couch. “It’s good seeing Emma and Mac so happy, isn’t it?”
    “Yeah.”
    “See you in the morning.”

    T he HOT BATH WORKED WONDERS, BUT LEFT HER WIDE AWAKE instead of relaxed and sleepy. Rather than spending an hour trying to will herself to sleep, Laurel turned on the TV in her sitting room for company, then sat down at her computer to check her week’s schedule. She browsed recipes—as much an addiction for her as the BlackBerry was to Parker—and found a couple worth book-marking to tweak and personalize later.
    Still restless, she settled down in her favorite chair with her sketch pad. The chair had been Parker’s mother’s, and always made Laurel feel cozy and safe. She sat cross-legged on the deep cushion, the pad across her lap, and thought of Mac. Of Mac and Carter. Of Mac in the