It wasn’t just the getting married that looked good on him, Del mused. It was the whole life with Emma, the foundation he could so easily see—now—Jack building on. Home and family, dinner together at the end of a long day. They’d need more room eventually in the pretty little guest house. Knowing Jack, he’d come up with something.

The estate was turning into a kind of commune. When he considered it, Del decided it was something that would have pleased and amused his parents.

“Your table’s ready, Mr. Brown.” The maitre d’ stepped up to the bar. “Would you like to be seated, or would you prefer to wait for your party here at the bar?”

He glanced at his watch. Laurel was running late—or Mac who was dropping her off on the way to a shoot was running late.

“She should be here any minute. I’ll take the table.”

He decided to go ahead and order a bottle of wine, and had barely made his selection when he heard his name.

“Hello, stranger!”

“Deborah.” He rose to greet her, and exchanged a light, friendly kiss with the woman he’d known for years. “You look great. How are you?”

“Fabulous.” She tossed back her lush mane of red hair. “Just back from two months in Spain—with the last two weeks in Barcelona.”

“Business or pleasure?”

“Both, a lot of both. I’m meeting my mother and sister for a little catch-up girl time. I’m early, as usual; they’re late, as usual.”

“Sit down, wait with me.”

“I’d love to, Delaney.” She gave him a sparkling smile as he pulled out a chair. “I haven’t seen you since ... when? I think it’s since the Spring Ball. What have you been up to?”

“Nothing as interesting as Barcelona.” As the wine steward offered the bottle for approval, Del glanced at the label, nodded.

“Well, catch me up. Who’s doing what, and who are they doing it with? What’s the latest hot gossip?”

Del smiled as he sampled the taste the steward poured in his glass. “I think you’ll need your mother and sister for that. It’s perfect,” he told the steward, and gestured toward the glass in front of Deborah.

“You’re too discreet. Always were.” She sipped the wine. “And you still have excellent taste in wines. Come on, spill something. I heard a rumor that Jack Cooke’s engaged. Confirm or deny.”

“That I can confirm. He and Emmaline Grant set the date for next spring.”

“Emma? Really? Well, here’s to them.” She lifted her glass.

“Though scores of single females may mourn. Obviously I’ve been out of the loop. I didn’t even know they were an item.”

“I guess it moved pretty quickly once it started.”