Page 56 of Bad Boy for Hire

“No, never upstaging.” May stood and hugged her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Lou held on for an extra beat and then whispered, “I’m really happy for you.”

May’s throat thickened as those same heavy emotions welled up again. “Well, I’m ecstatic for you.”

“Good.” Lou gestured with a sweep of her arm. “Because you’re all in the wedding. And, May, I will need to set up a meeting with Jewell. Does she design formalwear?”

“She does, indeed.” Some of the most unique, classy pieces May had seen were from Jewell’s collection.

“I love weddings!” Elli smiled. “If I’d had bridesmaids, I would have asked the three of you. We wanted to keep it simple.”

“Aw, we know that, babe,” Lisa assured her.

Elliott and Brady’s wedding had been a small affair with Gramps officiating and Lila acting as the sole bridesmaid-slash-ring-bearer-slash-flower-dog.

“I enjoyed your simple ceremony,” May praised.

“It was fun and relaxing,” Lisa said.

“Is there a how-he-proposed story?” Elli asked Lou.

“It probably happened during sex,” Lisa joked.

Lou blushed.

“During?” Lisa gasped.

Lou laughed. “Not exactly a story we can share with our kids, huh?”

“Leave out the part about your toes curling. Maybe say you were lying in bed about to fall asleep,” Elli suggested.

Lisa, eyes on her phone once again, said, “Lou, you are going to have to make room on your calendar for a meeting.”

“With who?”

“Gloria Knight.”

“Gloria Knight? As in legendary rock star Asher Knight’s wife, Gloria Knight?”

“As in legendary literary agent, Gloria Knight. She’s open for a sit-down to review your contract. If anyone can negotiate a higher advance and great PR, it’s her.”

Lou wove her fingers together, her diamond ring twinkling in the lamplight. “I can’t believe it! I’m going to be a published author.”

“You’re going to be a published author,” Elli repeated.

“And you’re going to be a coffee shop owner,” Lou said. Then she turned to May. “And you’re going to be a mom.”

The table fell silent as everyone waited on May’s reaction. “I’m going to be a mom.”

There was a brief round of applause before Lisa piped up to ask, “What about me?”

“You,” May responded, happy to shift the attention from herself, “are going to do exactly what we expect you to do.”

“And what’s that?” Lisa inclined her chin.

May shrugged. “Run the world, of course.”

“Or at least Evergreen Cove,” Lou said.