Page 36 of All Dressed Up

Maybe close proximity was all that was needed to show Will that they belonged together and that he didn’t need to start dating Amber, or any other woman in this town for that matter.

She laughed, saying out loud, “I’m partnering with a ghost to win Will’s heart. Have I lost my mind?”

Her tote flew off the table onto her marble floor with a loud thud.

She jumped back, fear racing through her veins.What the... She took cautious steps toward it, lifting it up.

Her pulse quickened at its heaviness.There’s something in there!Judging by its weight, it was more than words on paper. She shoved her hand in and removed a white metal Help Wanted sign in bright red letters along with a notecard.

Tearing open the envelope, she read it out loud.

You can’t win his heart until we find it. We’re going to need some help. XX, Mary

Rachel reread the card, dumbfounded. What was Mary talking about? “Do you mean Will’s heart?” She picked up the bag and shook it. No reply.

“Thanks a lot, partner,” she muttered, staring down at the sign for a few minutes before setting it down on her work space.

She gazed out the glass door, not a soul on the street. “Where are you, Will?”

She not only needed his heart to get here but the rest of his body, too. He seemed pretty pleased this morning when she’d showed off the upstairs, but with each ticking minute, she wasn’t so sure.

Come to think of it, he had hightailed it out pretty fast while she and her brother were catching up with Marc. Maybe he’d been having second thoughts, and she was only now realizing it.

When she woke up from her nap, the first thing she’d done was check her phone, but there wasn’t a message from Will letting her know what time he’d be over with Emma. She dismissed it as his having a million other things related to the boutique on his mind. She had sent him a quick reminder text to get that confirmation.

Two hours later, he confirmed that Emma, Abby, and Emma’s mother, Sheila, would stop by the bridal shop at 7:00 p.m. He’d meet them all there.

She tapped the notecard on the counter.And so I wait.

Twenty minutes later, the doorbells finally chimed, and Emma walked through along with her mom and Abby. She and Abby both looked cute in pretty floral print sundresses. Mrs. Stevens, who always made Rachel call her Sheila, radiated in her turquoise top and matching bohemian flowing skirt.

“Hi, ladies!” Rachel waved them in. “Welcome to Will’s satellite boutique. Let me get you some cool beverages.” She went to her flower cooler and reached for the Riesling and sparkling grape juice bottles she’d stored in there earlier. “I’m so happy you’re here,” she said, going to work on the drinks for her guests.

“It’s so thoughtful of you to let Will use the upstairs,” Emma said, taking the wine glass Rachel offered.

“Happy to help him. Donovan would kill me if I didn’t offer my assistance to his best friend.” Rachel popped open the bottle of sparkling grape juice for Abby, trying not to read in to the sheepish smile Emma was now giving her. Rachel’s hooking up with Will last winter wasn’t really the best kept secret. Most of the town knew. She turned to Abby, handing her a flute filled to the rim with the sparkling, non-alcoholic juice.

Abby took the glass, groaning. “A few more months.”

“You say that, but you look like you’re about to pop tomorrow,” Emma kidded.

“Thanks a lot.” Abby gave her cousin a playful side eye. “Just wait until you’re preggo.”

Sheila admired the flowers on the work table. “These are beautiful.”

“They’re for Emma.” Rachel handed the small bouquet to the bride-to-be. “A little bird told me that you’ve received these before.”

Emma beamed. “Was this bird handsome with dark black hair, wire-rimmed glasses, and the bluest eyes you’ve ever seen?”

“He might have been...” Rachel laughed. When Jason came to town two years ago, all the women in the Spring Curls could go on and on about were his ocean blue eyes.

She, however, preferred drowning in Will’s chocolate brown ones.

“They’re beautiful.” Emma brought the flowers up to her nose, inhaling. “...and smell lovely.”

“Just something to consider for your bouquet,” Rachel said. “I’ll put some more samples together when you’re ready to talk flowers. I’ve got a bunch of ideas for different combinations that I really think you’ll like.”

“Thank you.”

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