Prescription For Love (The Kingsley Series) (6 page)

"I like that; it makes it easier to choose. I don't have to worry that I picked forks that don't match the napkins or something," Cameron laughed.

Looking through the book, she couldn't help being somewhat intimidated though. There were place settings with flowers as part of the picture; did that mean she had to choose those flowers? There were settings that had one little aspect or another that she didn't like. Could she edit these settings to fit her style, or omit things that she didn’t like?

Better to just stick with the pictures and try to find one she liked as it was, she thought, turning to the beginning of the book. It took a long time, but finally Cass turned a page and saw a table setting that made her gasp.

The tables were draped with a heavy and elegant fabric, thick and sturdy, in a rich, deep cobalt blue. Linen napkins were layered folded together in a fan shape that showed off the layers beautifully in peacock shades of cobalt, emerald and violet. The stemware and china were simple and classic, all a pale clear glass with the slightest hint of amethyst, gleaming on the blue drapery of the table.

In this photo, it was the cutlery that was truly luxurious. It looked heavy, each piece strong and sturdy and elegant, the tips curved precisely, carved with the image of a peacock feather and enhanced with rhinestones set in the eye of the carving.

The center of the table in the photo was stunning, emerald green ivy and ferns spilling out of an oversized bowl, interspersed with deep purple roses and the rich velvet blue of the barlow columbine.

"What about this?" Cass breathed, turning the book to show Cameron what she'd found. "Do you think Drew would go for this?"

"I think that's a good choice. The flowers are beautiful, colorful. They fit your personality well," Cameron smiled.

"But Drew?"

"I think, in this, you should get to choose what you like. But if it's important to you, yes, I think Drew would like this. The colors are playful and fun, instead of being stiff or formal. He'd like that very much."

"What's next, then?" Cass asked, leaving the book open on the desk in front of Cameron.

"What's next is that you get out of here, and go use this," Cameron smiled, sliding an envelope across the desk to her. "It's a gift receipt for a massage at a parlor I know of, and they really do up the whole spa experience there. Sort of a 'welcome to the family' gift from me."

Cass looked up nervously, meeting Cameron's gaze. "Are you sure?" She asked, relaxing when Cameron nodded

"Well, thank you then. For everything," Cass murmured. "Your friendship means a lot to me."

Several minutes later, she was finally on her way, leaving Cameron confused and alone at her desk.

"Something is wrong with me," she muttered. "Planning weddings all my life and I never had an ounce of romantic envy. Until now."

***

"So how's the planning coming?" Eva asked, leaning forward. She turned another page in her magazine, waiting for her daughter to answer.

"It's good, mom, really good," Cameron grinned, her brown eyes rising to meet the green of her mother. "Cass is really excited, and I can't help being excited with her. Planning a family wedding is different somehow, you know?"

"I can see how that would be," Eva laughed. Closing the magazine on the kitchen bar, she settled more comfortably on her barstool perch. "Any spoilers you're willing to share with your dear old mom?"

"You know I won't," Cameron laughed. "But Cass will be here in a second, so you can feel free to ask her." She turned her head, digging her hands back into the lump of bread dough she'd been kneading.

Right on cue, there was the sound of the front door slamming, and Cass's voice rang out from the hallway. "What smells so good?" She breezed through the door to the kitchen, dropping her purse on the counter next to Eva with a thud.

"I'm making rolls for tonight's dinner," Cameron laughed, peeling the paper from the end of a stick of butter and using it to grease a baking sheet.

"That's awesome, and they smell so good! I wish I didn't have yoga tonight," Cass laughed. "I can't believe the way you cook. And seriously, no training?"

"Nope, no training," Cameron answered. She waved a flour-crusted hand in Eva's direction. "Ask my mom."

At Cass's questioning look, Eva shook her head. "She learned on her own," Eva said, smiling over at her daughter. "When she was little, she would just mix stuff together, and we'd all have to line up and try it. Eventually, she got a feel for what was good and what was awful. And now? Well, you've tasted."

"Well, I'm no Iron Chef or anything," Cameron said, blushing modestly as she ripped the fragrant dough and formed it into little balls, lining them neatly along the buttered baking sheet.

"Alright, enough about food, tell me about the wedding, girls," Eva laughed.

"There isn't a ton to tell you yet," Cass answered, opening the oven door and stepping aside for Cameron to slide the rolls in. "I've chosen some colors and some little things, but we're far from finished, right Cameron?"

"Oh there's still plenty to do, but you've done most of your part already," Cameron said, opening a bottle of wine and pouring the dark liquid into three rounded goblets. "You still need to choose a gown and things like that, but the rest of the planning is really on me. That's what you've hired me for, remember?"

"I'd actually really love if you two would come with me when I go to try on dresses," Cass murmured shyly, her dark eyes lowered, watching as the fingers of her right hand twirled the engagement ring on her left.

Eva gasped, a smile widening her mouth, slightly deepening the fine lines that creased her skin. "Really?" she asked. "I'd hoped you would ask! Drew doesn't talk much about the wedding plans, and I'd so love to be more involved."

"Well, Janet's going to come. And the twins will be coming, of course," Cass answered.

"That will be wonderful," Eva laughed. "I've wanted to meet Janet for quite a while now! A foster mother, you said she was?"

Cass nodded, looking to Cameron, who placed an encouraging hand on her shoulder. "My family sort of all died when I was young, and I was raised in the foster system. Janet and her husband were the last to take me in. Jim is gone now, but I still see Janet often, and her daughters are just a bit older than I am. They're all the family I ever had."

"Well, aren't you a fortunate young woman," Eva murmured, sipping from her wine glass. "Adopted into two families then, and you shall be well-loved here. Thank you for inviting me to come along for the dresses."

"Of course," Cass said. She turned to Cameron, a glimmer in her eyes. "Speaking of inviting people to go places, I did think of someone new to invite to the wedding, but since the invitations have been sent out, how do we handle that?"

"Well, I can call the person, or set up a simple invitation and pop it in the mail. Who did you want to add?" Cameron asked.

"The therapist I was seeing before. Remember, because I met Drew there?" Cass was digging through her purse as she spoke, and finally turned back to Cameron with a small white card in her hand. "He stays busy though, so you might have an easier time just dropping by his office. I think you could catch him between appointments."

There was an unusual lilt to her voice as she spoke, the hidden hint of a laugh raising Cameron's eyebrow. She exchanged a look with her mother, turning to Cass and taking the card to examine.

"Mackenzie Caswell," she read. "So you're saying I should go to his office? Wouldn't it be easier on him if I just send something along? Maybe I can rustle up an extra invite from your stationery order."

"Oh you know," Cass said, brushing off the idea with a wave. "Mail, it can be so unpredictable. No, really, you should make a stop over there and just give him a little talking-to. The, er, personal touch, you know." Unable to keep the grin from her lips, she turned her back and made a show of pouring more wine into her glass. Eva caught her gaze though, curiosity shimmering in the clear of her green eyes. Cass gave her a wink, and Eva covered her quick grin with a cough.

"I think it's a lovely idea, dear," she said, sliding her wine glass over to Cass to be refilled. Grinning over their conspiracy, she waited until Cass slid the glass back to her, and lifting it, she gave the rich liquid a swirl.

Cameron shot her mother a look over the bowl she'd been working in, dicing butter and mixing it with herbs and spices that filled the kitchen with fragrance. Popping the bowl into the microwave and setting the time, she turned back to the other women, passing her gaze between her mother and her soon-to-be sister-in-law.

"What exactly do you two think you're pulling?" she demanded, fighting a grin as she settled her hands around her hips. Raising an eyebrow, she took in the too-innocent faces on the other side of the bar. "The personal touch? For goodness' sake."

"Well, I did always prefer the, ahem, the personal touch, myself," Eva chuckled into her wine.

"How many glasses of that have you had?!" Cameron exclaimed, making a show of lifting the wine bottle. She winked one deep brown eye, bringing the other close to the mouth of the bottle and peering inside. Satisfied that the bottle wasn't empty, she thumped it back onto the bar and whirled on Cass.

A grin twitched at her lips, ruining her stern tone as she asked, "Cassaundra Keaton, what have you done to my mother?"

"Well, Cameron," Eva said dryly, her eyes still twinkling. "You can't hide from men forever." She turned her gaze to Cass. "I think we're caught, dear. So now that we're out in the open, tell me about this man."

"Well, he's emotionally available to begin with," Cass said, shooting a quick wink toward Cameron, who rolled her eyes with a groan.

"Good grief. They all are, when they want under your skirt," Cameron grumbled, turning away to hide the grin she couldn't hold back. Blowing out an exasperated breath, she muttered, "Emotionally available. My ass."

"Ohh, does he like ass?" Eva asked, teasing. "Or is he a leg man?"

"You know," Cass laughed, gesturing toward Cameron with her wine. "Maybe Cam can ask when she goes to see him. You know, since I've hired her to make my day perfect and all, and I do so want Mac to be there. I think that's part of the whole wedding planner package, right Eva?"

Cameron spun on her heels, her eyes flaring, her cheeks flaming. "You two are shameless. Like I'm some dandy princess being sold off in an arranged marriage."

"Oh darling, you know we don't do arranged marriage," Eva laughed. "But do remember to wash that bit of flour off your cheek before you go and meet this man, please. And put some lipstick on, Cameron, make your mother proud."

Fighting back the urge to laugh, Cameron heaved an exasperated sigh. "I hope the rolls burn while I'm gone," she grumbled, lifting her jacket from the counter and stalking out of the kitchen, the slam of the front door drowned out by the laughter in the kitchen.

***

"I can't believe I'm seriously doing this," Cameron grumbled to herself. "I am going to kill those two for this. And what the heck am I supposed to do if he asks me out or something?" She checked the address on the card she'd gotten from Cass, part of her hoping that she'd somehow gotten it wrong.

No such luck, the numbers on the card matched the numbers on the building. Cameron sighed; she'd been neatly trapped into what would most likely end up feeling like an awkward blind date.

"Well aren't you just full of yourself, then," she continued grumbling, flipping down the visor to check herself in the mirror. She ran her fingers quickly through the spill of dark curls that refused to be controlled, smeared some lipstick over her mouth and checked the eyeliner she never left the house without.

"Not like anything will happen anyway. I'm gorgeous, it's plain to see. So why aren't men falling all over me like everyone always says they should be? Then again, it's all for the best anyway. Men suck." She left her jacket in a bundle on the seat, pocketed her keys, and left the car.