“You’ll have to change your dungeon into a kid friendly playroom instead of an adults-only one,” Jessica teased.
Aggie chuckled, her laugh deep and throaty. “That’s the main reason I’m in no hurry. I’m rather fond of that dungeon just the way it is. And Jace likes it even more than I do.”
“Are all the corsets you make white?” Beth interrupted. From the expectant expression on her face, she’d been looking for an opening.
“Most are black.” Aggie cupped the back of Jessica’s head. “Feather looks gorgeous in white though.”
Jessica flushed and then burst out laughing. “I’m never going to live that stripper name down, am I?”
“Not with me, kitten.” Aggie winked at her and then turned to her cousin. Seeing them side by side, Jessica realized they looked a bit alike. Beth was far more understated than Aggie, so it was easy to overlook her beauty. Beth’s hair was brown instead of black and she was tanned from the Southern Californian sun, but the cousins had the same bright blue eyes. Same thick lashes, lush lips, and knockout smile. Yet Aggie was vibrant, and Beth seemed ready to crawl into bed to take a nap. The poor dear needed to study less, Jessica decided. Maybe she could find some spare time to help her out. They’d always studied together when they were roommates. Plus she hadn’t seen near enough of Beth since moving in with Sed.
“Let’s measure you for your corset, Beth,” Aggie said. “I think you’ll look great in black. What kind of design do you want embroidered?”
While Aggie and Beth discussed corsets, Jessica excused herself to go check on the rest of her bridal party. She found Elise and Kylie on the deck at the back of the house, watching the waves. The sky looked blacker than ever, but so far it hadn’t started raining. Jessica just wanted it to hold off until she was married to Sed and then it could rain as much as it wanted. Reagan and Rebekah were talking music in the second bedroom—a conversation Jessica couldn’t hope to participate in. She found Myrna in the living room with Malcolm in her arms. She was feeding him. Jessica practically melted as she leaned over the back of the sofa to watch him suckle. He had one hand splayed over his mother’s breast. His dark brown eyes were fixated on her face as he sucked. Jessica couldn’t wait to hold Sed’s child to her breast and have him look up at her with his father’s eyes. She could already picture it.
“He’s so beautiful, Myrna,” Jessica said.
“I can’t argue,” she said with a chuckle and rubbed the baby’s cheek with one knuckle. “I happen to agree.”
Malcolm paused and smiled up at Jessica around his mother’s nipple. Jessica cooed at him, completely in love with the little guy.
“I think he has a crush on you,” Myrna said. “He’s going to be heartbroken when you marry his rival in an hour.”
An hour? Jessica glanced at the clock over the television in the corner. It was a few minutes until ten. She would be married in just over an hour. Feeling suddenly light-headed, she moved around the sofa to flop down on the cushions.
“I should probably go check to make sure everything is ready,” she said.
“Trust the people you put in charge,” Myrna said. “Everything will go exactly as planned and if it doesn’t…” She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter as long as you end up married to the man you love, right?”
Jessica wasn’t so sure, but she nodded at Myrna’s words of wisdom. “Right.”
When Malcolm finished feeding, Myrna settled him over her shoulder and patted his back. He let out a mighty belch.
Jessica giggled. “Well, there’s something he got from his father.”
“No, I do believe he inherited that from me.” Myrna laughed as she patted her son’s back.
“Can I hold him?” Jessica asked. Nothing would calm her nerves more than cuddling with her favorite future guitarist for a few moments.
Myrna handed Malcolm to her and rose to her feet. “I’m going to go find my shoes,” she said, adjusting the bodice of her elegant red gown. “I’ll be right back.”
“No rush,” Jessica assured her.
Malcolm immediately reached for Jessica’s veil, but she moved him out of reach just in time, holding him at arms’ length.
“Are you being naughty?” she asked in a high-pitched voice and made a face at him.
He giggled and blew a raspberry at her.
“Did you learn something new?” She blew a raspberry back at him.
He blew another raspberry, which was more an exercise in creating as much drool as possible and spraying it in all directions. They continued their giggling raspberry war until Malcolm’s brown eyes widened unexpectedly and he spat milk. Jessica hadn’t been fast enough, and the warm liquid landed on her dress between her boobs and slid down her front to pool on her lap.
“Shit,” she said, leaping to her feet, still holding Malcolm at arm’s length as she glanced down at the damage. “A little help here!” she called. “Malcolm just puked all over my dress.”
Malcolm’s lips twisted together, his little chin quivered, and his eyes filled with tears. His wails of apology tugged hard on Jessica’s heartstrings.
“Shh, it’s okay,” she crooned and bounced him slightly. She couldn’t very well cuddle him against her and spread the muck from her dress to his adorable miniature tuxedo.
Her entire bridal party rushed to her aid. Myrna took her son and tried to calm him down. Beth wiped. Elise blotted. Aggie ran to the kitchen to wet a towel.