Page 43 of The Dating Contract

“I’m in a pickle,” she said, deciding to tell Shayna instead of her cousin or her sister. “I need a dress for the Tzedakah Exchange gala.”

“Luckily for you,” Shayna said as she grabbed her phone and purse, “I know a few people who know about dresses.”

Leah, of course, wasnotsurprised that after a few calls, Naomi and Judith both showed up, making excuses for Livvy as they sat in the car while Shayna drove across the county to the formal-wear shop she knew.

“This place is legendary,” Naomi said with a grin. “How did you know this place?”

Leah had stopped being surprised by Shayna’s random bits of arcane information a long time ago. But all the same, Shayna told the story about a dress of hers that had gotten stuck in customs. “They drove to new Jersey to get that dress,” Shayna said with a smile. “And Leah needs a dress to impress. They also have a kids section, so I’ll be getting Ramona something.”

“Ramona’s going?” Judith asked.

Shayna nodded and pulled into the parking lot. A furniture store, a huge bookstore and a few random shops flanked the store. “Yep. Her hockey team is making a presentation, or at least they’ll be there to look adorable. So she needs a dress.”

“Already?” Leah asked, then remembered the organizational philosophy. “I guess once a unicorn always a unicorn.”

Shayna nodded. “Pretty much.”

“Wait,” Judith said, “is this the Tzedakah Exchange gala that you’re going to?”

Leah nodded. “Yeah.” The Jewish charity organizations were way too close for comfort in most cases, and the last thing she wanted to know was that her sister was going. But she asked anyway, maybe just to be polite. “You going?”

“Yeah,” Judith said, much to Leah’s chagrin. “Asher’s officially going, and I’m his plus-one.”

Which made sense; her client and future brother-in-law had begun an organization that worked with Jewish hockey players five years before.

Yet another hurdle she’d deal with at the gala, and heading toward it.

Great.

*

Samuel hated therules for suits, but there were benefits to having a brother-in-law who paid attention to fashion.

Tommy directed him first to his favorite store, and once he’d bought the suit, his brother-in-law led the reluctant trio out of the city and to a tailor who would make sure that whatever garment he brought in would be altered in time for the gala.

“Why are we going to Westchester?” Aaron asked as they pulled into the shopping center parking lot, which was the question that Samuel wanted to ask, except Samuel wasn’t interested in incurring the wrath of someone who was helping him.

“The guy’s practically retired,” Tommy said. “But he’s here, with a few of his relatives, and enjoying himself.”

“Don’t question it,” Samuel said. “He got me a suit.”

“That I did,” Tommy said as they headed toward the store, unassuming as it was.

“Hi,” Tommy said as they opened the door. “Tommy Levine-Goldfarb. Mottel’s expecting me.”

The woman who met them nodded, and shortly, an older man emerged from the back.

“Hello, Mottel,” Tommy said, gesturing. Which Samuel figured was his cue. He figured correctly, thankfully, because the next move was to point. “My brother-in-law needs to be fitted for an event.”

The older man didn’t say anything, just waved his arms and pointed toward the dressing rooms.

And so, deciding that this was even more of his cue, Samuel followed, going into the fitting room and putting the suit on.

“Guy’s brilliant,” Tommy said.

As he came out of the dressing room, the older man looked him up and down. “A few small adjustments,” Mottel said as he came out of the dressing room. “You will be good.” And as Mottel began pinning and pulling, out of the corner of his eye, Samuel saw a vision.

A short jacket over a dress, fitting curves that went on for days, blue eyes that met his, chestnut hair with a hint of a curl.

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