“Excuse me? I’m looking for Avery.”
She jerked around. Golden-brown eyes stared back at him with a tinge of angst, as if she wasn’t thrilled at being interrupted. “She’s on an appointment. Not sure when she’ll return. Can I take a message?”
“Maybe you can help me.”
He tried not to grin at her annoyed exhaled breath, which was followed up by a huge fake smile. “Sure. What can I do for you?”
“I’m Carter Ross. Ally’s brother.”
Recognition lit up, and the stressed lines of her face smoothed out. “Oh, thank goodness! I cannot deal with one more grouchy client today. I’m Taylor, Avery’s sister. It’s nice to meet you. We all adore Ally and are so happy for her.”
“Thanks, me, too. Um, I’m having some issues with Avery getting back in touch with me. She doesn’t return my messages, and I’m supposed to be accompanying her on several appointments.”
Taylor frowned. “That’s weird and not like Avery at all. She’s so damn organized, she color-codes her pens. Let me bring up her calendar.” She punched a few keys and stared at the screen. “She should be back within the hour. Are you going with her to the bakery at three?”
He snapped his fingers. “Yes, I am. Could you do me a favor? Does she have any other appointments set up for my sister? I’d love a printout so I don’t miss anything.”
“Of course. I’ll whip this out. Looks like you’ll be in back-to-back appointments all next week, but then things will calm down a bit. I’m glad you got the SeaSalt for the reception. Pulling off a wedding in under three months is a challenge.”
“I’m beginning to see that.”
Taylor handed him the list. “Do you mind waiting here for her unaccompanied? I have to go meet a client.”
He opened his mouth to agree, but was interrupted by a woman rushing in with a child snugly nestled in her arms. Though her hair was long and golden blonde, and her eyes a bright blue, he spotted the similarities in their faces immediately. Definitely the last sister of the crew. Her daughter looked like a tiny miniature, dressed in a Cinderella dress, plastic blue heels, and a tiara perched on her head. He pegged her as about five years old.
“T, you have to watch Zoe for me. I got an SOS from Samantha, who’s having a panic attack at her bridal fitting. The MOG mentioned she’d gained some weight, and Samantha’s hysterical.”
“You let her do the fitting with the MOG?” Taylor asked, shaking her head. “Dude, bad decision.”
The blonde glared. “Yeah, I know. Here, take her.” She shoved the little girl into her sister’s arms. Zoe tilted her rosy face up, her lips smeared with something that resembled pink frosting. “Hi, Aunt TT! Mama said a bad word.”
“Hi, munchkin. Let’s wash Mama’s mouth out with soap later.” This caused an array of giggles to erupt. “Bella, I can’t watch her! I’m already running late for an appointment, and Avery isn’t here yet.”
“Oh my God, this is so bad.” Bella leaned over and began to drag in deep breaths. “You think I can take her with me?”
“Into a meltdown with a hysterical bride and clueless MOG?”
“I’ll bring her Kindle! Maybe promise her one of those gourmet lollipops if she’s good! I have to get there ASAP, or the whole appointment will blow up and—”
“I can watch her.”
All three females jerked around to stare at Carter.
He regarded the little girl with a smile and hunkered down so he didn’t look so intimidating. “Are you Cinderella, or do you dress like that all the time for school?” he asked.
Another giggle. “It’s summer! There’s no school in summer. And I’m not really Cinderella since she’s a pretend character, but I like to look pretty. Are you getting married?”
“No, my sister is. I’m waiting for your aunt Avery. Do you think you’d be okay to hang with me for a bit until she gets here?”
“Wait—who are you?” Bella demanded, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“Carter Ross. I’m Ally’s brother, the man of honor.”
Bella’s face cleared. “Oh yes, Avery told us all about Ally’s wedding. I’m sorry we haven’t met before now. I’m Bella.”
“Nice to meet you. Listen, I know you don’t know me, but I don’t mind watching her until Avery arrives. Here’s my ID.” He slid out his driver’s license and handed his phone over. “You can put my number in your contacts. Does she have her Kindle with her?”
Bella bit her lip. “Yes. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“I wouldn’t offer if I did. I promise to keep her right here and not move.”
Taylor cocked her head and regarded him with respect. “That’s really cool. I think it’d be okay. Bella?”
“Sweetheart, this is Carter. Do you want to stay with him for a little while? You can’t leave the office, but you can read or play your games.”
Zoe nodded. “Will Carter read Fancy Nancy with me?”
“I love Fancy Nancy,” he said solemnly.
Bella looked back and forth between them, then made her decision. “I owe you big-time,” she said, hurriedly grabbing his phone and exchanging numbers. He noticed she studied his ID carefully, then took a picture of it with her phone. Good. He was glad she was being thorough. She gave Zoe a hug and kiss goodbye, warning her to behave, and then disappeared in a frenzy with Taylor at her side.
The door banged shut behind them.
Carter stared down at his new charge. Her bright-blue eyes studied him with the open curiosity of the very young. “Do you really like Fancy Nancy?” she finally asked suspiciously.
He smothered a laugh. Damn, she was adorable. “I really do. Why don’t you open it up and I’ll read. Want to sit on the couch?”
“Sure.” She scrambled up, fishing her pink Kindle out of her PAW Patrol backpack. He stretched out his legs, crossed his ankles, and hit the button to put the cover in full size.
“I like her outfit, but yours is nicer,” he said, tapping the screen.
“Thanks! Pink is my favorite color, even though I’m mostly wearing blue today.”
“I can tell because you had pink cupcakes today with sprinkles, right?”
Her eyes widened. Her soft voice came out in a hush. “How did you know that?”
His lips twitched. “I have some magic powers, but I don’t like to use them often.”
“Do you have a wand?”
“Nope, I just use my mind. Should we read?”
“Oh yes.” She crossed her legs, rearranged her dress, and leaned her head close to see the pictures. The scent of strawberry shampoo made him smile.
Carter read the book, using his funny voices like he used to do when Ally was little, and got lost in the moment. Kids were good for that. And dogs. It was too bad he wasn’t keen on having a child alone—after raising Ally with no support, he knew how difficult being a single parent was. That’s why he believed in a two-parent household if at all possible. He had no desire to get married, though, or engage in a serious, committed relationship. Therefore, kids weren’t in the picture for him.