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was just the media creating a stir about rumors of the fashion mogul’s love affair. Possibly it was a serious relationship. It wasn’t Natalie’s business; she was just glad the news gave comfort to Tanner.
    Late in the year, when Natalie had had time, she’d completed the wedding dress design for Ella Walker. Sitting at her computer, she took pleasure in looking at the photographs Ella had sent. Based on Natalie’s design details, she’d had the dress made for her to the specifications and tailored to fit.
    Ella was slender though athletically fit; Natalie could tell from the pictures she had sent. Her brown hair hung to her shoulders. She had lovely big brown eyes and lightly bronzed skin. Since she preferred the outdoors and had a love of surfing, any style created for her should be comfortable as well as stunning, allowing for freedom of movement.
    A wedding day was special, and the dress would be remembered forever. So Natalie had agonized over the details, emailing floods of questions to Ella. At last, it all came together. The dress fit Ella’s slender curves, showing off her figure in the best way. It was elegant but understated. No excess ruffles or huge billowy skirts; that would overpower Ella’s unique beauty.
    The white satin strapless dress curved over the bosom, with delicate gems encrusted along the rim. The fabric swept across the body and gathered at the left hip, where more gems adorned the silhouette. The dress skimmed down to the ankle with no excess fabric. It was soft and feminine without being overly frilly.
    Ella said the wedding date had not been set due to other things that had come up. But she looked forward to announcing the date soon. She was thrilled with the dress, thinking it perfect for her personality, and that it showed her figure to best advantage. She hoped to meet Natalie one day if both their busy lives ever allowed for it. With Tanner using Adam’s technologically advanced software and in need of his ongoing programming services, the likelihood of eventually meeting increased. Both women hoped they’d have the chance to get to know each other better.
    Hearing that Tanner and Natalie had dined at Fiore, she asked how they liked it. It pleased her that they’d met Fiorella, her future sister-in-law. And in response to Natalie’s comment that Fiorella was not only an amazing gourmet cook, but one of the nicest, most delightful women she’d ever met, Ella enthusiastically agreed.
    Ella thanked her again. With payment for the design, a copy of her book Dare To Love was included. Knowing she was a romance author, Natalie had inquired about the book; she was thrilled to receive the personally signed copy.
    Ella promised to send photos of the wedding when she had the pleasure of wearing the beautiful custom-made dress. Natalie was relieved that it had turned out so well. It was one thing to design fashions for mass-market sales. It was quite another to sati sfy the personal taste of a woman on one of the most important and memorable days of her life.
    Natalie was still on a high from the interaction with Ella when a text arrived that concerned her. Jazzy had been staying home with Asher, not wanting to leave him with a babysitter at all. Until he was old enough to start school, she planned to be a stay-at-home mother.
    Ellis not only supported her decision, but had been the one to suggest it, though Jazzy had already decided it was the only way. Her adopted son doing so well was due in no small part to the stable home environment. The last thing anyone wanted was for Asher to feel abandoned at a babysitter. For most children, it was a common occurrence, but for him it might create problems.
    Without Jazzy to oversee the staff and greet the customers, Ellis was forced to hire. He had trouble finding anyone who stayed very long. The turnover in the position upset the establishment since there was no one there as a stabilizing influence.
    As chef, Ellis took care of planning meals