Page 27 of The Charmer

"Perfect. And when I see you, we'll chat a bit more about the rest of the events."

"What's the dress code?"

"Elegant."

My heart sank. Just as I’d thought. I had to come up with something because no way in hell was I going to embarrass him.

"Great." My voice was tight. “I'm just thinking about what to wear.”

“If you want, you can send me pictures of outfits, and I can give my opinion.”

For some reason, I imagined him wiggling his eyebrows as he said that. Hmmm... is he flirting with me? The idea didn’t sound bad. The problem was that I didn't have more than one outfit.

“Won’t be necessary, but thank you for the offer.”

“Georgie, don't fret it. You're so damn beautiful that it doesn't even matter what you wear.”

Oh, this truly was flirting.

I cleared my throat. “Can you send me the details?”

“Sure, I'll do that right away.”

He sent me a message as soon as we hung up. He’d copied over the text of the invitation.

Julian:

Dear Mr. LeBlanc,

We’re honored to invite you again to our annual Mardi Gras Ball. As you know, past events have been a hit.

I read the rest quickly, then googled the address and the event name and saw a few pictures from previous years. It was even more elegant than I’d assumed. It wasn’t simply a party but truly a ball, complete with floor-length gowns and tuxes. I had absolutely nothing to wear, and I couldn't afford to splurge on a dress right now.

An idea percolated in my mind. Mom had been to a few balls when she was younger, and she had a dress I'd always loved. I’d worn it to a friend's wedding a few years ago, and it had been a hit.

I called her right away, since business was still pretty slow. There was usually a break like this between four and six o'clock, which was why I stayed at the store as late as possible during this season.

Mom answered after a few rings. "Hey, Georgie. Done with the day, sweetheart?"

"No, just having a lull."

"Right. I nearly forgot it's Carnival season."

I laughed. "Mom, how can you say that? There are plenty of celebrations around you."

"The animals keep me so busy that I forget what day it is half the time.” I smiled at the happiness in her voice. I was glad that she was so at peace. "Need me to come over to help out?"

"No, no. That's not why I'm calling. Listen, could I borrow your red satin dress again?"

"Sure. What do you need it for?"

"Funny thing, I'm attending a ball in the Garden District."

Mom whistled. "That's so exciting. I'm happy for you. It's going to be an experience, for sure."

"I think so too."

"Who sent you the invitation?"

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