Perfect.Kelsey squirmed in her seat.
“Sara was my life,” Will continued. “How do I replace all that?”
You don’t.Kelsey knew better than to say that out loud. Neither of them saw marriage in their future, albeit for completely different reasons, but Kelsey felt she owed it to Starr to help her convince him. Or at least not dissuade him. “Try to see it from your mother’s point of view. She’s trying to get all her ducks in a row, so to speak, in case something happens—”
“Nothing is going to happen to her.” The determined set of his chin told Kelsey that wasn’t a possibility, not on Will’s watch. If only life were so simple and predictable.
“She’s tying up loose ends because she feels vulnerable right now.” And Kelsey realized Starr wasn’t the only one feeling that way. Kelsey’s heart went out not only to the mother but to the son, too. “She only wants what’s best for you and your sisters.”
“What’s ‘best’ can’t be defined by our marital status. If you read her letter…”
“What letter?”
A vein in his neck throbbed. “It…It’s not important.”
Kelsey wasn’t sure she believed him, but that wasn’t her concern right now. “Listen, your mother’s simply getting carried away with Faith’s wedding. Once it’s over, she'll forget all about your relationship or lack thereof. I see it happen all the time.”
“I'm not so sure. She seems serious.”
“Time will tell. But right now, I need you to put what’s happening with your mom on the back burner and focus on helping me with Faith’s wedding.”
He cocked a brow. “'You reconsidered my offer?”
Kelsey hesitated. Asking for help wasn’t easy for her to do, but in this case, it was a necessity. “Yes.”
A beat passed, and then he smiled. “Why the change of heart?”
She shrugged. “It’s not really a change, per se, but certain things aren’t as finalized as I’d hoped.”
“My mother said she had everything planned.”
“She did.” Kelsey used her most tactful voice. “She has everything planned conceptually. Making it happen is something entirely different.”
“How much do we need to do?”
Kelsey took a calming breath. “Pretty much everything except the invitations.”
Will combed his hand through his hair.
Man, she loved his hair. Kelsey gritted her teeth. No, she didn’t.
“Where do we start?” he asked.
“I need to see Faith’s dress. Your mother said it’s here.”
“No one can see it. Faith’s orders.”
“Fine.” Kelsey pursed her lips. “But you can be the one to explain to her why her bridal bouquet clashes with her gown.”
“Flowers can’t clash with a gown.”
Men.Kelsey rolled her eyes. Gorgeous or not, he didn’t get it. “Oh, yes, they can.”
“How?”
“Where would you like me to start? How different styles and fabrics used in wedding dresses can be overwhelmed by the flowers or vice versa? Or would you rather hear about the various shapes of bouquets and flowers you can use that can make or break a gown? Teardrop, heart, nosegay. Would you like me to go on?”
The dazed look on his face was priceless. He might have acted comfortably in her overtly feminine office and not have too much of a problem helping with wedding plans, but getting down to the details of gowns and flowers seemed to fluster him.
