Page 89 of A Taste of Whiskey
“Hey, did Ezra change his mind about staying overnight in Colorado Springs?” Bobbie asked. “At least you guys can have that night together.”
“We’re driving together, but I haven’t asked him about staying overnight again. I want to, but with everything that happened with Tina lately, I didn’t want to push it. I’m kind of hoping he’ll bring it up, because having a whole night of freedom would be amazing.”
“You can always get a hotel room for a few hours, have great sex, andpretendyou have all night, even if you don’t stay all night.” Bobbie draped another dress over her arm.
“How is staying at a hotel any different from staying at your cabin together?” Birdie asked. “Nobody knows what you do inside your cabin. I know Doc saw you leaving, but it’s not like he has cameras inside your cabin.”
“I know, but we won’t have to worry about every little thing. We won’t have to hide or sneak back to our own places before morning, and we can have breakfast together in public and walk through town holding hands if we want to. I never realized how much those little things meant, but I really want to do them with him.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Birdie looked at her incredulously. “I bet most of the people who are going to that dinner are going to stay for the weekend, and you guys are giving a talk, which means they’ll all know you and Ezra work together. You know how well connected Dad is. I swear he has eyes and ears everywhere. It’s not like you can be smooching and holding hands without word getting back to him and Mom. I would not risk it if I were you.”
Sasha looked up at the ceiling, her shoulders dropping in disappointment. “That’s it.I’m going to pack up Ezra and Gus and move to Upstate New York. Ezra can join that Dark Knights’ chapter and work at Annie’s Hope, and I’ll find a job working with horses at one of the ranches in the area.”
“And cry yourself to sleep every night because you’ll miss me,” Birdie said as she put another dress in the cart.
“Give it up, Sash. You’d miss the heck out of me, too.” Bobbie flashed a cheesy grin.
“I hate when you guys are right.” She sighed. “Guess I’m stuck secretly having great sex with the man of my dreams forever.”
“At least you’ll look good. Come on. Time for a fashion show.” Birdie grabbed the cart.
Sasha peered into the cart. “How many dresses do you have in there?”
“Enough to find one that the pickiest girl on the planet will like. Don’t worry.” Birdie pushed the cart toward the dressing room. “They’ll all look amazing on you. I have excellent taste.”
“I saw her put that shiny pink dress in there,” Bobbie whispered.
“Great.”Sasha’s sarcasm earned a glare from Birdie, making her and Bobbie laugh.
Birdie had Sasha try on so many shiny, sparkling, and colorful dresses, Sasha was losing hope of finding anything that said professional and sexy without looking like she was trying too hard.
“Try this on.” Bobbie pushed a dress through the dressing room’s curtain. “It has long sleeves, but banquet rooms are always kept cool.”
Sasha held up the burnt-sienna wrap dress. “This is gorgeous, and it’s as soft as butter, but I’ve never worn this color before. I hope it doesn’t make me look washed out.” She tried it on and was shocked by how great it fit and how elegant she felt in it. She opened the curtain, and Birdie and Bobbie gasped.
“Wow,” Birdie said. “You look amazing.”
“Ezra is going to lose his mind,” Bobbie added.
She inhaled deeply, unable to suppress her grin. “That’s the hope. Does it show too much cleavage?”
“No. Just cinch it a little higher. I’ll show you.” Bobbie untied the knot Sasha had tied above her hip, pulled the fabric a little tighter and higher, and retied it. She turned Sasha toward the mirror. “See? But you’ll need a plunge bra.”
“They sell them down the street at Heidi’s Lingerie,” Birdie said.
Sasha’s heart skipped as she turned, admiring the way the dress hugged her in all the right places. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt this beautiful before.”
“That’s because you’re a weirdo,” Birdie said. “Dresses don’t make you beautiful. They just amplify your natural hotness. You’re always gorgeous. We all are.”
“You should’ve been a cheerleader,” Bobbie said.
“Pfft.And follow the crowd?” Birdie waved her hand. “No thanks.”
“Birdie would’ve rewritten every cheer. Right, Bird?”
“That’s right.Let’s go, Sasha.” She clapped, emphasizing each word like a cheer. “Pay for the dress, because your sister is the best, and she needs a margarita.”
Sasha and Bobbie laughed, and Bobbie said, “Well, that’s a first.”
