Page 122 of Third Time Lucky

I twirl around in front of the mirror, feeling like a million bucks. Mitzi was right; this is the one. The way it hugs my curves and accentuates all the right places makes me feel radiant. And the slit reveals just enough to be alluring but not too much. This is it – the perfect dress.

‘Back in my day, a dress like that would have turned every head in the room,’ she reminisces, a wistfulness in her voice.

What will it be like when I can use that phrase – ‘back in my day?’ Will Ash still be in my life, reminiscing about this exact dress with me?

‘It’ll turn at least one,’ I reply.

Mitzi chuckles and stands up, smoothing out an invisible wrinkle near my hip.

‘You have your mother’s charm and your grandmother’s poise. You’ll be the belle of the ball.’

‘Do you want to come tonight?’ I ask spontaneously. ‘I’m sure Ash won’t mind.’

‘Oh, honey,’ she laughs. ‘I just started aSupernaturalmarathon, and those Winchester boys would miss me if I didn’t spend the evening with them. Or perhaps I’d miss them? I’m unsure. What I do know is this should beyournight. Let that sweet man knock you off your feet.’

‘If he does any more, I’ll fall off a cliff.’

She chuckles. ‘He’ll catch you.’

He will. I know he will.

I can hardly contain my excitement at seeing his reaction to me in this dress. And I don’t have to wait long, as the doorbell rings just as I finish applying my favorite lipstick,Hermès Rose Épicé.

‘I’ll get it so you can make a grand entrance,’ Mitzi suggests, leaving my room as quickly as an eighty-something woman can.

One last glance in the mirror, clutch in hand, and I head toward the living room. As I step into where he’s waiting, his jaw drops at the sight of me. For a moment, he’s speechless, taking in every detail.

‘Wow,’ he finally says, placing a hand on the back of his neck and giving me that same smoldering look from last night. ‘Holy wow. You look… incredible. Beyond incredible,’ he says. ‘You’re breathtaking – dazzling – radiant – enchanting – glowing. I’m gonna have a hard time focusing on anything but you.’

He hands me a small bouquet of bright red roses. I don’t know what it is, but I hope he keeps being this sweet forty years in, too.

‘Thank you,’ I say, looking him over. ‘And you aren’t wearing polyester and ruffles!’

He pulls at the lapels of his very debonair all-black suit – tailored to perfection, hugging his muscular form in all the right places. I have never seen this man look hotter, except when he’s wearing nothing. I feel like I’m going on a date with 007.

‘I went all out and purchased this since I now have someone to do fancy things with,’ he says, smoothing the jacket. ‘But let’s be real, you’re going to steal every show.’

‘You sweet, sweet, man,’ I say, my heart doing cartwheels in my chest at his reaction. ‘But no way,’ I say, placing my hand on his chest and giving him a quick kiss on the lips. ‘You’re so handsome, it’s melting my brain.’

He smiles wide, pressing his lips to my forehead.

‘I like that,’ he says. ‘Ready to help Aaron prove he’s not a complete ass?’

I shake my head. ‘I need to do one more thing…’ I say, nodding in Mitzi’s direction. I walk her way and hand her the bouquet.

‘No, darling, I couldn’t,’ she says, her eyes on me.

‘I insist. Jesse was an idiot not to choose you. I’d bet money he died dreaming of you too. And tomorrow, you can live vicariously through me because I’ll give you every detail.’

‘Thank you, Lucy.’ She smiles wide, lifting the bouquet to her nose. ‘Now, let me snap a picture,’ she says, avoiding the fact that her eyes are glistening with tears.

God, I love her so much. She’s the perfect woman to look up to for the rest of my life.

* * *

‘My God, what took you so long?’ Aaron asks, frantically cooking up a storm and not in the black tie attire he requested.

Until recently, I’ve never witnessed Aaron nervous. He’s usually so casual and free, but now, he’s sweating, entirely focused and visibly fearful.

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