Page 14 of Rush

Plans settled, he watched Nora leave with a bounce in her step. Forcing his gaze from her swinging hips, he turned his attention to the just-waking-up Sophie. “Hey, Peanut, I have some good news…”

Chapter Six

“What do you think of this one?” Emerson held up a lilac sundress for their inspection.

Nora was out shopping withthe girls—as Oz liked to call them—getting a few new things for her upcoming trip.

“It’s cute,” Nora admitted, eyeing it up and down.

“Does it come in a different color? That won’t have enough of a contrast against her skin. It won’t pop,” Ivy chimed in, ever the artist.

“No, darn it.” Emerson’s lips puckered. “And it’s a steal, too.”

“The whole store is on sale. I’m sure we can find something just as cute.” Ivy announced a fact that was hard to miss with the red and white signs on all the racks.

Nora flicked through dresses, sliding hangers along the metal bar. She wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for but had a feeling she’d know it when she found it. Something feminine and a little flirty. Different from her usual staple of cotton t-shirts and jeans. Not because she was trying to catch the attention of a certain someone. But would it be the end of the world if Linc actually noticed she looked nice? And if nothing else, a pretty dress would boost her ego.

“Oh! What about this one?” Ivy asked, holding up a mini dress that was leaf green with a tiny, yellow flower print and had a low neckline, capped sleeves, and just the right amount of swish at the hem.

Nora loved it. “Do they have it in my size?”

“Yep, right here.”

“Go try it on,” Emerson piped in.

Nora took the dress to the back of the store where the dressing rooms were located and slipped it on. It fit perfectly and was even cuter than on the hanger.

“Well?” Ivy asked as soon as she reappeared with the dress slung over her arm.

“I’m getting it.” Nora made her way to the register.

Emerson followed at her heels and slapped a credit card down on the counter.

Nora pushed it away. “Thanks, but I’ve got this.”

Emerson pushed the card back. “Oz will kill me if I let you pay.”

Nora pushed the card back, keeping her hand on top of it that time. It might be futile to argue with Oz as she’s never won a battle when it came to paying for something, but Emerson was a different story. “Oz will never find out if we don’t tell him. Besides, I’m making good money now.”

Emerson released a small huff. “Fine. But you have to promise to never tell him.”

Nora held up a pinky. “Promise.”

Emerson linked her pinky with Nora’s then shoved her card back into her purse.

“Where to now?” Ivy asked after they’d completed a circuit of the mall. “Do you need anything else?” She eyed the pile of packages in Nora’s hands.

“I got a new dress, bathing suit and two pairs of shoes,” Nora ticked off. “I think I’m all set.”

“I’m not ready to go home,” Emerson protested. “Leslie and Matt have got the pub covered and Oz is at his friend Cooper’s for poker night.”

“So is Colt.”

Nora’s thoughts flashed to Linc at home with Sophie and not out with the guys and wondered if he missed what his life had been like before Sophie came to live with him? Would he have been at poker night? Or maybe out on a date? At a party? It was a Friday night after all.

“Let’s go dancing.” That suggestion came from Ivy.

Emerson was fast to second the idea. “Yes! Oz has never taken me. He claims to have two left feet.”

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