Page 44 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

Amber nodded, despite the uncertainty eroding her confidence. Was this what Scott was talking about? But she couldn’t imagine her life without him. That had to mean she was ready. So why couldn’t she tell the most important man in her life that she loved him? She knew she did, and she’d said those three small words to past boyfriends without issue, so it wasn’t as though she had troubles forming the words. But whenever she thought of telling Scott, she felt as though a huge weight settled on her vocal cords. It was as though once those three tiny words were said she would never be able to take them back and her whole world would become entirely different. It would change everything.

“Thanks again for sorting out my ordering system, Amber,” Benny called, drawing Amber from her thoughts. He paused as he walked by with his daily deposit for the bank.

Amber waved at him absently. Maybe shewasn’tready for Scott. But what would she need to do in order to be ready?

“Well, now,” Benny continued. “You two could pass for sisters. What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

The sisters shared a glance.

“Oh.” Benny nodded and kept going. “Okay.” He paused with his hand on the door, then muttered something to himself and kept going.

Amber sighed. Things were about to get complicated again.

* * *

Amber needed to woo Scott.Delia had said her husband showed his love in different ways and that words weren’t everything. Maybe Amber could show Scott she cared with gestures. All she needed was a good dress and some courage. She hadn’t seen him since the kiss, but she hoped that if she appeared looking amazing he would see how silly he had been to say they needed to wait.

She’d fortified herself with chocolate and coffee, worked through most of the night to get ahead on her database job, served her shift at Benny’s--where she’d told her boss not to talk to a soul about Delia and that she’d tell him everything when she could--grabbed her three friends, and was ready to find The Dress. As for the courage part of the plan, Amber hoped it would appear by magic when she needed it most.

“Why do you need a dress?” Jen asked. She’d just come out of the woods after an all-day hike with clients and was wearing a T-shirt she’d designed with a hiker running from a bear, plus wrinkle-free shorts, and hiking boots. Not exactly someone who might grasp the need for the perfect dress, but Amber had chosen her for her common sense, hoping it would level out Mandy’s intricate sense of style sense, given that Amber still needed to look like herself. She’d brought Nicola along to break any tie votes between the friends, and because she looked as though she could use some good old-fashioned retail therapy.

“I want to feel feminine,” Amber replied.

They were in Wanda’s wedding store and Amber was hoping to find a little black dress. Or a cute red one. Or really, anything that would show her man she was ready.

“No wedding to go to?” Jen asked, eliciting a frustrated sigh from Mandy.

“She’s trying to get Scott’s attention,” Mandy explained.

“Shh!” Amber said, casting a quick look around the store. She didn’t want word getting back to Scott before she had a chance to make her move.

Mandy ignored her. “Remember? Like we did for you and Rob? The dress that made you look like Marilyn Monroe.”

Jen brightened. “Oh yeah! That almost even worked.” She yawned again, slumping in her seat. “But not really.”

Nicola held out a dress. “I think I’m going to try this one on.”

“We’re here for Amber, not ourselves.” Mandy reached for a dress, checked the tag, then put it back. “If I’d known you wanted to wow Scott, I could have watched for something in the designer sales I go to. Huge savings.”

“Would they have my size?” Amber asked doubtfully. She didn’t think designers were used to covering this much ground.

“Hi, ladies,” Wanda said, joining them. “What are we looking for today? Are you planning your wedding, Mandy?” She eyed Mandy’s engagement band. “Have you chosen your special date?”

“Oh.” Mandy looked around the store, eyes wide. “Um. No, not yet.”

“We’re here for Amber,” Jen said, yawning. “She wants to look ‘feminine’.” She used air quotes around the word.

“Ah, want to catch a certain officer’s eye, do we?” Wanda smiled knowingly and began rifling through the racks with an expert’s speed.

“Um…” Amber gave her friends a feeble shrug. “Maybe?”

“Any color or style preferences?” Wanda asked, holding out three casual, summery dresses.

“Not yet,” Amber said. The store was overwhelming. So many dresses, from casually simple to wedding gowns that looked as though they should be worn by princesses.

“Who was that woman in town the other day?” Wanda asked as she handed Amber a few choices. “The one who looked like she could be your sister?”

“Delia. Are these my size?” Amber glanced at the tags. They were. Wanda was a magician.

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