Page 34 of With This Ring

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Dakota hurried over to the front counter of her store as the phone rang Wednesday afternoon. “Fairytale Bridal, this is Dakota. How may I help you?”

“Hello,” a woman said. “My daughter is getting married in July, and she’s looking for yellow bridesmaids’ gowns. Do you have any yellow dresses?”

“Yes, ma’am. We have almost every color you can imagine.”

“Now, when you say you haveeverycolor I can imagine, does that mean you have butter yellow?”

“I sure do. Different styles too. Would you like to make an appointment to come and see them?” She balanced the receiver on her shoulder and peered out the window just as a gray Infiniti SUVpulled into a spot in front of her store.Uh-oh. That can’t possibly be...

Hudson climbed out of the vehicle and stood on the sidewalk.

Her eyes rolled heavenward.Not again.

Maybe he was going to Swanson’s Hardware. Surely he needed something from there and hadn’t come downtown just to see her.

“Now, you’re positive you have butter yellow?” the woman continued. “I don’t mean citrine or oatmeal. I needbutteryellow, specifically.”

Dakota forced her lips into a smile despite the woman’s condescending tone. “I’m sure I have butter yellow in several styles.”

Out on the sidewalk, Hudson turned toward the hardware store and spoke to another man. She shifted to see the other man’s face but couldn’t from her angle at the counter.

The woman harrumphed. “Now, you understand that I need butter yellow, right? We’ve been to several stores, and they tried to sell us canary and lemon chiffon.”

“I understand completely.” Dakota brushed her hand over her forehead. “I’m sure I have what you need, ma’am. When would be a convenient time for you to come in and see our selections?”

She knew Shane Simpson had an appointment for a tux fitting at three o’clock today. Had he invited Hudson to join him? She pulled her schedule up on her computer and found that both Shane and Hudson were listed at three. Had Skye added Hudson to the appointment and forgotten to tell her?

The bell above the door dinged, welcoming Shane into the store with Hudson right behind him.

Oh no.

She lifted her chin and gave Hudson her best aloof expression while also trying not to stare at him. He was clean-shaven and wore a dark-gray Henley shirt with a snug pair of jeans.

Shane stood to the side, his countenance grave. He folded his arms over his chest, and tension radiated in the room. It seemed the two men weren’t happy to see each other, which she found curious.

Dakota held up her finger, indicating she would be off the phone soon, and Shane nodded before crossing to the display of tuxedos. Hudson remained near the jewelry counter, where he perused a row of cufflinks. Yes, they were definitely avoiding each other.

“Now, you’recertainyou have butter yellow?” the woman asked yet again, bringing Dakota’s focus back to her tedious phone call. “I don’t mean sunflower or bumblebee yellow.”

Dakota took a deep breath and mustered up all the patience she had. She had nearly every possible shade of yellow, and as much as she didn’t appreciate the woman’s attitude, she needed the sale. “Ma’am, I’m positive that I have the color you’re looking for. Now, when would you and your daughter like to come in?”

“Friday at ten works for us. We’d like to get these dresses in the works. July will be here before you know it, and my daughter has fourteen bridesmaids. You know how it is when you’re in a sorority.”

Fourteen bridesmaids!Excitement rushed through Dakota. This could be the financial break she’d been waiting for. “Yes, ma’am. I sure do.” Her hands shook as she booked the appointment, taking the woman’s information before hanging up the phone and turning her attention to Shane and Hudson.

“Sorry about that.” She touched her hair, hoping her French braid was still intact and presentable.

“No problem,” Shane said, but his sour expression indicated otherwise. Maybe he wasn’t thrilled to be here. Or perhaps his issue was with his future brother-in-law.

She grabbed her clipboard, a measuring tape, and a pencil from under the counter before looping the tape around her neck and joining Shane by the display of suits. “Do you know what style of tux you’d like?”

Shane gave her a helpless look before pointing to the framed poster of a man in a traditional tuxedo. “Layla said she’s fine with regular ol’ black-and-white.”

“Perfect.” She checked a few boxes on her tuxedo order form, then divided a look between the two men. “Who wants to go first?”

A cell phone started to ring, and Shane fumbled for his phone in the back pocket of his jeans. “Sorry. Gotta take this. My boss.” He rested the phone against his ear and wandered toward the racks of gowns for bridesmaids. “Hey, Ramón.”

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