“I try to avoid doing this sort of thing in public. People could get hurt.”

“Start off slow, then kick it up every couple minutes.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“I’ve missed this place.” In solidarity, Jack took the machine on the other side of Del. “Having the home gym right there’s convenient, but you miss the group buzz. Plus the many athletic females in skimpy outfits. I’m engaged, but still breathing,” he said at Del’s look.

“I don’t understand walking on an electric belt when there are sidewalks right outside.” Gripping the bar with one hand—just in case—Carter gestured vaguely. “And they don’t move under your feet.”

“Kick it up, Carter. Snails are passing you. How’s my Macadamia?”

“She’s good.” Brow furrowed, Carter increased the speed slightly. “Staff meeting this morning, and a studio shoot. It’s probably good I’m out of the way for a couple hours.”

“You’ll have your professor room before long,” Jack told him. “Then we’ll move on to Emma’s new space, and Laurel’s.”

“Speaking of Laurel, we’re dating.” He heard the oof from the left and glanced over. “You okay, Carter?”

“Just missed my footing. Um, by dating, you mean each other?”

“That would be my definition.”

“This would be my cue to jump down your throat and demand to know what you mean by taking advantage of one of my girls?”

Del shifted his gaze toward Jack as he punched up his speed. “Unlike you, I’m not sneaking around and hiding it.”

“I wasn’t sneaking and hiding, I just hadn’t figured out how to explain about Emma, for a short period of time. And since I’m marrying into the Quartet, I have certain privileges and duties. If you’re sleeping with Laurel—”

“I’m not sleeping with Laurel. We’re dating.”

“Right, and the two of you are just going to hold hands, admire the moon, and sing camp songs.”

“For a while. Minus the singing. No comments from you?” he asked Carter.

“I’m kind of busy trying to stay on my feet.”To ensure he did, Carter gripped the bar one-handed again. “I guess, off the top of my head, I’d say this is a quick situational change.”

“I thought so at first, now I’m not so sure. It feels like it’s been brewing awhile.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Jack said, punching up his speed to match Del’s pace. “How did this brewing situational change happen?”

“We had a fight, culminating in her telling me, and demonstrating that, I wasn’t her brother. Which I’m not. So we’re dating, and I’m just letting you know”

“Okay. Three miles?”

“You’re on. Kick it up, Carter,” Del told him.

Carter said, “Oh God.”

SUNDAY MORNING LAUREL LEFT HER KITCHEN WORK TO DASH upstairs for the pre-event briefing. When she found her three partners already in place, she held up a hand. “I’m not late.”And since she’d already had two cups of coffee that morning, grabbed a bottle of water. “Just FYI, it’s raining.”

“The forecast calls for it to stop midmorning,” Parker stated. “But we’re prepared to move everything inside if it doesn’t.”

“The arrangements are pretty simple,” Emma put in. “If it clears by noon, we can have everything dressed outside by one. Otherwise, we can shift it all to the Great Hall, do a big fireplace arrangement pretty quickly, add candles. We’re set either way. We’ll have both suites finished by ten.”

“The grooms are due to arrive at eleven.”

“I’ll shift back and forth for formals.” Mac nodded at Parker. “Both grooms have sisters standing up for them, which makes it nice. I can get some good shots with that dynamic. Doing guys means less hair and makeup time, and each has just the one attendant, so I should be done with the formals by twelve, twelve fifteen.”

“Guests arriving twelve thirty, short cocktail mixer.” Parker read off her schedule. “For the outside ceremony, we line up at one, attendants will walk down the aisle together, then grooms will approach from either side. Ceremony time, twenty minutes. Mac takes post-pictures, caterers pass finger food.”

“Again, it’ll be pretty quick. Fifteen minutes should do it.”

“Figure one forty-five for the grooms to be announced, buffet brunch, toasts. DJ announces first dance at two thirty. Cake cutting three thirty.”

“All the pastries are done for the dessert table. I’ll finish the cake by ten, and we’ll move it into the Ballroom. We’re providing the knife and server. The happy couple has requested the top layer be removed and boxed for them to take home.”

“Okay. Dancing continues at three forty until four fifteen. We’ll transfer the gifts, announce the last dance.We’re clear at four thirty. Any concerns? Potential disasters?”

“Not on my end. They’re both really cute and should photograph well.”

“They went with big, happy geranium boutonnieres to match the cake,” Emma added. “Pretty adorable.”

“They wrote the script for the ceremony themselves.” Parker tapped her file. “It’s incredibly sweet. We’re going to have a lot of crying. Laurel, anything on your end?”

“I just need the cake topper from Emma, and I’m good.”

“It’s done, and in the cooler. I’ll get it to you.”

“Then, we’re all good.”

“Not so fast.” Mac shot out a finger as Laurel started to rise. “Business completed, now let’s get personal.What’s the latest with Del?”

“There is no latest. I just saw you eight hours ago.”

“He didn’t call?” Emma wondered. “Leave you a message or anything?”

“He sent an e-mail with a list of potential movies for tonight.”

“Oh.” Emma struggled not to look deflated. “That’s considerate.”

“It’s practical,” Laurel corrected. “And it’s Del. It’s me. I’m not looking for charming little notes and sexy little messages.”

“They’re fun though,” Emma murmured. “Jack and I sent each other lots of sexy little e-mails. We still do.”