Page 39 of Twice as Tempting

“Oh, if I know Irene, she will definitely volunteer, along with a few others. These women are fierce about their baking!”

Kelly laughed again as Mrs. Simmons turned and shuffled toward the door. “Goodbye. Let me know how it goes,” Kelly said.

“Oh, I will,” said Mrs. Simmons.

Kelly spent the rest of the day handling her usual duties and waiting on customers who drifted in and out of the store. They weren’t as busy during the warm-weather months, but fall would be here soon, and business would pick up. Toward the end of her shift, Kelly realized that she hadn’t told Emma about her maid of honor dress, so she picked up the store phone and dialed the bride-to-be.

“Hi, Kell,” Emma answered, sounding out of breath.

“Hey. What’s going on over there? You sound like you just ran a marathon.”

“I feel like I have. For some reason, Ava’s really fussy today, and I’ve been pacing the floors trying to soothe her.”

Not having much experience with such things, Kelly asked, “Is she sick?”

“I don’t think so. She doesn’t have a fever or anything. She just can’t seem to get settled.”

“Sounds like a job for the baby whisperer.”

“Huh?”

Kelly giggled. “I nicknamed Damian the baby whisperer, because it seems like, whenever he’s around Ava, she quiets down.”

As if on cue, Ava whimpered in the background. “He does have a way with kids, but he’s at work, so that’s not going to help me.”

“How about if I stop by and give you a break. Besides, I have something to show you.”

“Sure. I could use the distraction.”

Kelly swung by the apartment after work to collect her dress, and then she rushed off to Emma’s house. She noticed that Damian wasn’t home yet and wondered if he was working late or if he had stopped by the Tap for a beer. They hadn’t discussed when they would see each other again, outside of passing each other by in the parking lot, and Kelly smiled as she envisioned their next encounter. Maybe there would be another goodnight kiss…

When Emma answered the door, she looked fatigued, but the house was quiet.

“Where’s the little troublemaker?” Kelly asked, peering around.

“Shh. I finally got her to sleep in her swing. Let’s go into Zack’s office so we don’t wake her up.” Emma immediately slumped down in Zack’s leather office chair, and Kelly took the seat across from her.

“Ava’s wearing you out, huh?”

“She did today, but some days are smooth as silk. Being a mother is exhausting, but I love it,” Emma said with a smile.

Kelly briefly wondered what she would be like as a mother, but then Emma pointed to the dress bag inquisitively, bringing her back to the present. “Oh, yeah. I wanted to show you my maid of honor dress!”

“You found one?”

“Yep. Last night.” Kelly pulled the dress out of the bag and held it up for Emma to see.

“Wow, Kell. It’s gorgeous.”

“That’s what Damian said too.”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Damian already saw it?”

“Yeah. He was with me when I tried it on. Wait until I tell you what he did.” Kelly proceeded to regale Emma with the story about the mannequin and the persnickety saleswoman.

Emma giggled at Kelly’s dramatization, and then she said, “I love it, Kelly. I’m sure you looked gorgeous in it, just as Damian said. Speaking of Damian, he and Zack need to go for a tuxedo fitting soon. Do you want to come with us when we go? You know, to provide another opinion,” she added.

Kelly smirked at her friend. “I know what you’re up to, Em. You and Zack are trying to push Damian and me together, but you can stop. I think we’re doing just fine all on our own.”

Emma raised her eyebrows. “Does that mean what I think it means? Are you back to being…intimate again?”

“You still can’t say it, can you?”

“Say what?”

“Sex,” Kelly said, giggling. “S…E…X, sex!”

“Did somebody say sex?” Zack had pushed the door open without them hearing, and he poked his head into the room. He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and got a laugh from both of them—the charmer!

Emma grinned at her soon-to-be husband and waved him inside. “Kelly was just talking about Damian,” she said and fanned her face with a magazine from Zack’s desk.

“Ah, I see. My brother the stud.” He looked pointedly at Kelly.

“You know what? I’m outta here! I’m going to go back to my apartment and leave you two lovebirds alone.”

“Say hi to Damian for us,” Zack teased as she turned and fled.