“It’s mutilation.”
Chelsea closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Do we have to do this now?” She turne
d and looked at her sister. “Today?”
“No.” Bo shook her head. “I’m sorry. You can have Saturday.”
“No. Jules has a big family. You take Saturday.”
Autumn felt a great stabbing pain in the center of her forehead. She was almost afraid to ask. “How involved wil the grooms be in the planning process?”
“Mark, not at al . Except for the two weeks he’s taking off for my surgery, he’s on the road with the Chinooks until spring.” Chelsea raised a hand and waved it around. “And he’s not real y a planner anyway.”
“Jules wil help. Although…” Bo conceded, “his love of pastels might be a problem.”
Chelsea smiled at her sister. “Jules has great taste. You should let him work with the planner instead of you.”
Once the twins got past the idea of a dual ceremony and stopped arguing about who had the worse taste, the meeting calmed. Autumn quickly discovered that both women were very organized and knew what they wanted. They knew how much they wanted to spend and how much each wanted to be involved in the actual nuts and bolts of planning. They were very much alike in that regard, and the three of them went over the contracts quickly and thoroughly.
Both women were marrying high-profile men. Especial y Chelsea. Mark Bressler was a hockey legend in Seattle, and she wondered if the two would mind if she submitted their photos to trade magazines. Once she became a little more familiar with the two, she’d broach the subject. Bo pul ed out her ponytail holder, then gathered her hair at the back of her head once more. “I think we’re about done here, and I need to get some work done.” Her brows lowered as she looked over Autumn’s right shoulder. “That boy looks familiar.”
Autumn glanced behind her at the many photos of Conner on the shelves behind her.
“He looks like the kid whose been in the players’ lounge the last few games. He comes with one of Sam’s tal , dark-haired, big-lipped women.”
Chelsea folded her arms beneath her breasts. “Your basic nightmare.”
“That’s my son, Conner.” She looked from one twin’s face to the other, then added, “LeClaire.”
Light dawned in Bo’s blue eyes. “Ah.”
“I didn’t know Sam had a son. How old is he?”
“Five,” Autumn answered. “Sam and I weren’t married for very long.” Which was an understatement. “Being married to a hockey player just wasn’t for me.” From the beginning, she and Sam had agreed for Conner’s sake to keep the particulars of their marriage short and sweet. It was about the only thing they’d ever real y agreed on. There were only three other people who knew the whole truth. Vince and Sam’s two buddies. And as far as she knew, the buddies hadn’t spil ed the truth.
“That kind of life is hard on a family,” Bo agreed. “It takes a lot of commitment and a strong woman. Hockey players are great, but some can be real dogs.”
Chelsea gasped. “Bo!”
“Oh, I don’t mean Mark.”
Chelsea cut her eyes toward Autumn. “Watch what you say.”
“It’s okay.” Autumn laughed. “Sam is a huge dog.”
Chelsea smiled. “But he’s a charming dog.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out with you. I’ve always liked Sam. He used to come over to Mark’s and pick him up when he couldn’t drive. He’s been a real y good friend to Mark.”
“Yes.” Autumn didn’t know how good a friend Sam could be, but she did know that he could be a charming dog. He’d certainly charmed her six years ago. Charmed her right out of her bikini bottoms.
Bo stood and reached for her little black backpack. “Jules and I usual y sit in the owner’s box for most home games. If you ever want to come and bring Conner, let me know.”
“Won’t Faith mind?”
“She’s been hanging out in the lounge, and the box is usual y empty unless Jules and I sit up there.”
Autumn stood also.
“I’l ask Faith first, of course, but I real y don’t think she’l mind. In fact she’l probably be happy it’s getting used.”