Page 24 of All Dressed Up

CHAPTER SIX

Will finished his beer and set it on the bar. What a freakin’ day.

Minutes ago, he’d made the dreaded phone call to his mother, filling her in on what had transpired. Even though the fire from theButtermilk Advocatehadn’t spread, the smoke damage had been massive. All the bride and bridesmaid dresses for the season were completely ruined.

His mom’s voice had cracked through the phone the second he’d said the word “fire.” In her motherly fashion, she reassured him that everything would be okay and told him she was just grateful that he wasn’t hurt.

He knew the fire wasn’t his fault. Still, when he hung up, he felt like a colossal failure. There were thirty wedding dresses in the inventory that were to be worn this summer.

How was he going to tell one bride—let alone thirty—that her perfect dress was ruined?

And the one he was dreading telling the most: Emma Stevens.

Her beautiful dress shouldn’t have even been in there. She’d brought it in a couple of weeks ago when Abby had come in for alterations to her maid-of-honor dress. His mom had ordered a couple of veils for Emma to try on from a contact in Baltimore who was known for her exquisite work. They weren’t quite ready, so Will offered to let Emma keep the dress there until they came in.

If only he’d gotten her gown out first. Things had happened so fast. When he bolted into his shop and inhaled the heavy smoke, he’d sprung into action, grabbing the closest stack of dresses he could get his hands on.

Unfortunately, those were part of a new shipment that hadn’t been sold. The gowns for their June and July brides—stored way in the back—were now ruined.

He took another swig of his beer. So much for stepping in and running his mother’s boutique. He should cut up his ties, throw on his dirty overalls, and go back to being an auto body mechanic.

“Care for some company?”

He turned to the side to see Amber slide onto the empty stool next to him.

Crap! His date. He’d forgotten about the text he’d sent earlier. He’d never checked to see if she replied. “Hey...” He smiled, taking her in. She looked really pretty in a white tank and long flowing yellow skirt.

“I heard about the Belle Bridal Boutique.” She offered a sympathetic smile, fiddling with her yellow bangle bracelets. “I wasn’t sure if you’d be here, but I thought I’d check.”

He cracked a smile. That was nice of her. Real nice. “Yeah, it’s been a day,” he admitted and motioned for the bartender. “Can I get you a drink?”

She laughed. “Why don’t I get you one instead?”

After the day he had, he wouldn’t say no to another drink—or thirty. One for each freakin’ ruined dress. “Sure, I’ll take another beer.”

She ordered a tall neck and a margarita for herself. “So, do they know what started the fire?”

Will leaned his arm on the bar. Adam had given him the scoop as the fire truck was preparing to return to the station. “Not yet, but they think it was electrical.” He shook his head. “The boutique shares the same ventilation with theButtermilk Advocate. The smoke came in fast.”

“Hey, bro.”

He glanced over his shoulder to see Donovan and Rachel standing behind him. “Hey.”

“How are you?” Rachel asked, worry etching her pretty face.

He laughed bitterly. “Not my best day. Thanks again for taking the dresses. I’ll pick them up tomorrow.”

“No rush. And what about the other ones?” she asked.

He knew she was referring to the gowns that were to be worn this summer. It was also nice of her to ask given the whole “call the cops” trick he’d played on her the other night. “All ruined. Thirty dresses with massive smoke damage.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He grabbed his new beer. “And that’s why I’m drinking.”

Rachel gave him a sympathetic smile, turning to his date. “It’s nice to see you, Amber.”

“You, too. I love your top.”

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