“Okay.” Parker smiled easily while Laurel ran the cutter around the base of the cake to cut away the excess fondant. “He’ll be here in a minute. I’ll come back with strawberries.”

“Different sizes, different shades,” Laurel called out.

“Got it.” She strolled back to the front of the house, pleased to know she’d done just what she’d set out to do. Laurel would work the rest of the day with Del and the shoes on her mind.

She stepped outside, slipped on her sunglasses, and walked down the path just as Del pulled up.

“Right on time,” he said.

“You, too.”

“We’re Browns. We’re obsessed with punctuality.”

“I consider it a virtue, and a skill. Thanks for doing this, Del.”

“Easy enough. I’m going to swing by and meet with a client, then hook up with Jack for lunch. Worked out.”

“Multitasking. The key to all. New shoes?” she asked.

“No.” He glanced over at her as he made the turn out of the drive. “Why?”

“Oh, I heard you recently acquired some fabulous new shoes.”

“Right.” The corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. “They’re not the right size. Plus walking around in heels makes my toes cramp.”

She poked him in the arm with her finger. “Taking Laurel’s shoes. When are you going to stop being twelve?”

“Never.” He laid a hand over his heart as if to swear it. “Is she pissed or amused?”

“Both, and neither. I’d say she’s confused.”

“Then mission accomplished.”

“That’s so typical. Why do you want to confuse her?”

“She started it.”

She tipped down her sunglasses to peer at him over the tops. “I think you just regressed to the age of eight. Started what?”

He shot her another look. “I may be eight, but I know you and your pack. You know what she started, and now you’re trying to wheedle out my side of it.”

“I don’t have to wheedle, and you don’t have to tell me. Sorry,” she added when her phone rang. “Shawna, hi! I just left Laurel in the kitchen where she was finishing your cake. It’s going to be gorgeous. All right. Uh-huh. No, no, don’t worry. I’ll call my travel agent and ... That was resourceful. Do you have his new flight number? Yes.”

As she spoke she took out a pad and pen, and repeated the information as she noted it down. “I’ll check shortly, just to make sure it’s on schedule, and I’ll arrange for a car to pick him up and bring him to rehearsal. No, it won’t be a problem. You just leave it to me, and we’ll see you tonight. Relax, everything’s under control. Go, get your nails done and don’t worry about a thing.Yes, me, too. Bye.