Sweetest Mistake (Nolan Brothers #2) (29 page)

“Wonderful.” Isobel heaved her armload onto the front counter. “The bridal boutique is next door.”

Emily remained planted to her spot. “I don’t w-want to shop over there, if that’s all right? It’s going to be a small ceremony and I’d like to w-wear something… simple.”

“Oh, okay.” Isobel frowned. “Our stock is a little low right now. Do you have a color in mind?”

Emily bit down hard on her lip and shook her head. “No. Whatever you have.”

Isobel blinked at her. “You’re not like our other brides.”

Emily didn’t doubt that for a second. Her wedding, hastily thrown together in a couple of weeks, probably wasn’t like most of their other brides’ weddings either.

At least Luke had stopped avoiding her. She’d asked him once more to talk to her about what had happened. In answer, he’d taken her to bed, and she went because the vulnerability swirling behind his eyes wouldn’t let her refuse him.

“Our dresses are back here.” Isobel showed her to a small corner at the back of the store with several racks of dresses. “Would you like help?”

“I think I’ll just look around a little first.”

Isobel eased away. “I’ll just be up front if you need anything.”

Emily browsed the racks for a few minutes, but quickly grew discouraged. Exactly two dresses belonged on the white-to-ivory spectrum. She tried them both on, but the first dress wouldn’t fit over her hips and her smaller breasts couldn’t support the strapless style of the second one.

She dug up a dark blue dress she thought might complement her coloring, but again, the fabric pulled tight across her hips and abdomen. Though her belly hadn’t begun to round, she’d swear her hips had widened. That or she’d simply gained weight, which she could probably attribute to Luke’s genius for pasta dishes and sweet treats.

Back at the racks, discouragement turned to frustration.

A sharp longing wrenched her heart. She wanted her mom.

Audrey had a knack for finding styles that complemented Emily’s unique assets and bright hair. More than that, Audrey had a way of melting Emily’s doubts and insecurities. They laughed and talked about interesting things and there just wasn’t time to focus on her shortcomings.

The same as when she was with Luke.

As she gazed into the mirror at the too-tight dress that made her skin appear sallow, her vision blurred. She was fat, and pregnant, and so damned lonely she’d agreed to marry a man who quite possible only wanted to marry her because she was pregnant.

He shared his bed with her, but not his heart.

Isobel peeked around the corner “How’s it going?” She took one look at Emily’s face and abandoned her armful of clothing. “Oh, sweetie, what’s wrong?”

Words piled in Emily’s throat.

Isobel dug in her pocket. “Best thing about having two little kids—I come prepared.” She handed Emily a rumpled tissue. “It’s clean, I promise.”

Emily took the tissue and wiped her nose.

“Wedding dress shopping is emotional.” Isobel motioned her to a plush bench in the fitting room. “Is there anyone you can bring along to help you?”

Emily didn’t wish to put Mina out with everything going on. Her tears pushed to the surface. “M-my m-mom is gone.”

Isobel dug out another Kleenex and plopped onto the bench next to Emily. “This isn’t right. We can’t both cry.”

A watery laugh escaped Emily. “I’m sorry.”

Isobel waved off her apology. “I lost my mom when I was sixteen. Which is probably why I jumped into marriage.”

“With Shea?”

A hard swallow worked Isobel’s throat and she nodded. “We got married the day I turned eighteen.”

Emily thought back to her eighteen-year-old self, before college and her mom’s illness. “So young.”

“Way too young. And naïve.” Isobel dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “It didn’t help I was pregnant. Nothing like an unplanned pregnancy to put a strain on a new relationship.”

The blood left Emily’s head.

Isobel twisted on the bench. “I have a dress I want you to look at. It’s a wedding dress, but it’s ivory, not white, and it’s in stock. I think it would fit you nicely. Want to try it?”

Peering at Isobel’s pretty, hope-filled face, Emily didn’t have the heart to tell her no. She shrugged. “Sure.”

Isobel returned with an armful of deep ivory lace and tulle. She hung the dress on a hook in Emily’s dressing room and shuffled her through the door.

“It comes in two pieces.” She removed the gown from the hanger, but the tulle stayed behind. “You can wear the dress alone or with the tulle overlay. Want to start with the dress and see what you think?”

In the dressing room, Emily shucked the ugly blue dress and stepped into the lace-embroidered, long-sleeved jacket dress, which fit her hips and ended mid-thigh. The dark ivory color turned her skin bronze and picked out the gold in her hair. Her dark eyes shimmered.

For just a moment, she almost looked like a woman a man like Luke might marry.

She opened the dressing room door.

Isobel’s face lit up and she rushed forward. “I can take a couple of tucks here at your waist.” She pinned a spot at Emily’s lower back. “Do you want to try the tulle skirt?”

Speechless, Emily nodded.

Inch by inch, Isobel moved around her, hooking the tulle onto hidden hook-and-eye closures around the waist of the dress. The gossamer layers floated about Emily, dropping well below her knees.

Isobel stepped away. “What do you think?”

Emily touched the lace bodice, interwoven with gold thread and adorned with tiny crystals that caught the light. “I think it’s the most b-beautiful dress I’ve ever seen.”

Radiant joy swept across Isobel’s face. “If you want it, I can cut you a deal.”

“That isn’t necessary.” Emily pulled her gaze away from her own reflection. “Well, I guess I should ask how much it is before I say that.”

Husky laughter trickled out of Isobel. “We’ll find a price you can live with.”

Emily opened her mouth to explain she wasn’t worried about the price when Isobel continued.

“You’ll be doing me a favor.”

“How so?”

“Free advertising.” A blush stained Isobel’s cheeks. “I’m thinking about opening my own store, with my own designs. This is my first dress.”

“You made this? Oh, Isobel, it’s amazing.” Emily ran her hands over the bodice. “I insist on paying for it.”

Isobel tilted her head to one side, studying Emily. “It’s so perfect on you.”

The dress was perfect, and her marriage to Luke would be perfect, too. She might not take his breath away, or mend his wounded heart, but she could give him comfort.

A new start.

A family.

Her heart, even if he didn’t ask for it.

Isobel crept forward. “Those are happy tears, right?”

“Right,” Emily whispered.

She returned home feeling battered and bruised. In the foyer, the sound of voices drifted down the hall and Emily shuffled toward them. She poked her head around the library doorframe to peek inside the room.

Honey stood with her back to the door. “I’m here to see Alistair Thane. Are you him?”

Will glanced up from the chair behind the desk. “Who’s asking?”

“I am. He’s purchased something valuable and I’m here to deliver.”

Will’s head bent over the paperwork on the desk. “What are you delivering?”

Honey unzipped her hoodie and let it drop to the floor. She stood before Will in a thin tank top. “Me.”

“Cut!” Max shot from the shadows. “Honey, lose the bra.”

A warning alarm screeched inside Emily’s head.

“I knew it!” The plush rug swallowed the sound when Honey stomped her sneaker-clad foot. “I’m the bimbo that gets killed after an obligatory tit shot, aren’t I? Dammit, Max, I told you I wanted to do some actual acting in this movie. I’m trying to go legit here, but so far, all my character has done is make stupid decisions, including her choice of teeny-tiny T-shirts.”

Max held up a hand. “Forget the zombie-slasher thing. We’re going in a different direction.”

A collective groan went around the room.

Honey folded her arms over her stomach. “And what direction would that be?”

“The chemistry between you two is ridiculous,” Max said. “Besides, I’ve been thinking we need to take advantage of current trends.”

“Current trends, huh?” Honey’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Which trends?”

“S-s-superheroes?” With her outburst, five pairs of eyes swung toward Emily. “S-superheroes are popular.”

Honey turned to Max, her head tilted to one side. “Are there gonna be any superheroes in this movie, Max?”

The desk chair creaked when Will rocked back. “That’d be sick.”

Max shifted his dark gaze from Honey to Emily. “Not that trend. Look, one of the biggest movies in years was an erotic novel adaptation. There’s a large, hungry market for adult romantic dramas.”

Bile rose in Emily’s throat.

Ian’s head stuck out from behind the camera. “Max, man, it’s a little late to start back at the beginning.”

“I can use a lot of the footage we’ve already filmed.”

A skeptical arch lifted Ian’s brow. “You can use cuts from a zombie flick in your, what is it, erotic romantic drama?”

Max’s dark eyes glinted. “The magic of editing.”

Honey was shaking her head. “I didn’t sign up for this.”

“You’re too talented to kill off.” Max’s tone held a hint of impatience. “Not to mention, you’re a million times more believable as a desperate virgin co-ed than an idiot murder victim.”

Honey’s eyes grew huge. “That’s so sweet.”

His upper lip curled. “That’s incredibly sad you think so. It’s also the truth. I may not like you, but I’m not going to lie to you.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Honey muttered.

Max’s well-formed features hardened. “This is business, and we’re all here to make money. Anything else is a waste of time.”

Honey sniffed. “If we’re going to do this, I want a raise.”

Emily crept forward. “If we’re going to do wh-what?”

“Ten percent,” Max said.

“Twenty-five,” Honey countered.

“Done.”

A flash of surprise swept over Honey’s face. “And I want a makeup artist.”

“No.” Max retreated to his chair in the corner.

“If you want me naked, I get a makeup artist. It’s not negotiable.”

“N-Naked?”

“I just gave you a twenty-five percent raise,” Max bellowed. “Hire your own damn makeup artist.”

Instinct screamed at Emily to take cover.

“Think of it as an investment.” An impudent smile curved Honey’s wide mouth. “A few hours of makeup will add value to the final product. You’ll make back ten times what it cost, trust me on this.”

Max’s jaw clenched. “Fine.” He headed for his corner. “Lose the bra.”

Pain stabbed Emily’s temples. “Uh, M-Max? Aren’t you supposed to be done filming next week?”

His brows pulled together. “We’re gonna need a little more time.”

“How m-m-much time?”

“Can you give me two weeks?”

She fixed Max with an even stare. “I need p-payment upfront.”

“No problem.” He started to turn.

“And o-o-one more thing.”

She caught the flicker of unease in his dark brown eyes before it was gone. “What’s that?”

“Promise me you’re not violating any laws.” She rushed forward with the words piling in her throat. “O-or ordinances. Or p-permits.”

“Easy.” His quick smile made him appear surprisingly boyish. “I promise I’m not violating any laws.”