“I’ll wear it.” She stepped up, kissed him. “Even though I’ll have to suffer through Trina sticking it in my hair.”
“That’s love.”
“Looks like. And so we’re even . . .”
She went to her desk, opened a drawer, took out a small box with the same wrapping and ribbon. “One for you, early.”
The flicker of surprise, the half smile told her she’d caught him off guard. “Really?”
“You’re not the only one who can think about stuff.”
“Apparently not. And it seems Ursa knows how to be discreet. He never mentioned he’d seen you.”
“Maybe you got there first—but in that case, same goes.”
Like Eve, he shook the box, then unwrapped it. He couldn’t begin to guess as buying jewelry of any kind wasn’t on her radar. But inside a small white flower made of mother-of-pearl and platinum nestled.
“You don’t go for the shiny stuff—nothing but a wrist unit for you. But two can play. It’s a lapel thing. A white petunia.”
“Yes, I see. Your wedding flower.”
When he looked up, when those fabulous blue eyes met hers, she saw she’d hit the mark.
“He made it. Mr. Ursa. I can’t take much credit. I just asked him if he could make up this little thing, and he did the rest. Small because you don’t go for the flash, but personal, I figured. And it holds on to the lapel with this little super magnet, so no pins or holes. His idea.”
“You had it made for me?”
“He did the work.”
“It couldn’t mean more to me. The thought, or the symbol. The day you carried these flowers is one of the best days of my life.”
She gave him a smirk. “One of?”
He drew a gray button out of his pocket. “The day I met you, the day this dropped off that hideous suit you wore, is another.”
“Sap.”
“Guilty.”
“Me, too.” She moved in, held him close. “I’m feeling pretty lucky. Even decorators, florists, caterers, and Trinas can’t take that away.” She tipped her head up. “It almost makes me want to have a party.”
Laughing again, he kissed her.
“Aw, look how sweet you look!”
Eve glanced over, watched Mavis Freestone bounce in. She wore red tights with boots of the same color that slicked up toward the crotch a sparkling white top barely managed to cover. Her hair was a tumbling mass of silver-streaked blue.
“It can’t be that late,” Eve said.
“I’m early. Way early. I came with Trina. She wanted plenty of time to set up. Leonardo’s hanging with Bella until later, and he’ll zip uptown after the sitter comes. I figured I could get dressed here, surprise him, because my outfit is fan-mega-tastic. And even if he did design it, he hasn’t seen me in it yet.”
She danced over to them, fairy-like, even on the skinny heels of her boots, wrapped arms around them both. “Merry-squared! I so totally love Christmas and you guys and everybody else.”
“How do you feel about caterers?”
“I’ve got goodwill pumping out of my pores. Extreme.”
“Then come with me.”