Page 50 of Whatever Lola Wants

“Yeah. Simon’s here for some bachelor party planning. Hey Simon, we gotta split,” he called out.

Lola watched Simon emerge from the first floor guest room they’d outfitted as Grant’s office.

“Hey,” he said to Lola with a casual nod, then turned his attention to Grant. “What’s up?”

“Dress emergency.”

Simon eyed the garment bag. “You found her a dress?”

“I may have found her a dress. I won’t know until the two of you get the fuck out.”

Simon’s brows rose at the profanity, then drew together in a frown as he looked at Grant. “How come you can’t be here?”

Grant shrugged. “Apparently it’s some kind of wedding rule.”

Lola rolled her eyes. “Jesus, you know nothing. Go on, get out of here, and take your equally dim friend here with you.”

“We’re going, we’re going.” He jerked his head at Simon. “Come on, I’ll buy you a beer.”

“Works for me,” Simon said, agreeable. His golden eyes lingered on Lola as he walked past. “Good to see you, Lola.”

“Yeah, you too. Bye, now,” she called sweetly, and slammed the door behind them.

“Lola?” Anna emerged from the kitchen, Henry at her side. “Why did Grant and Simon leave?”

“Because I told them to,” Lola said firmly. She locked the front door and held the garment bag out of a curious Henry’s reach. “Guess what this is?”

Cautious hope lit Anna’s eyes. “Did you find a dress?”

“I didn’t just find a dress,” Lola told her. “I found a miracle. Come on, I’ll tell you about it while you try it on.”

“Henry, stay,” Anna ordered and headed up the stairs. She turned right to go into her bedroom, then stopped when Lola tugged on her sleeve.

“Uh-uh. Guest room.”

“Why?”

“Because if your man comes sneaking back he’ll look there first, and we’ll hopefully have enough warning to hide you before he sees.”

“I don’t actually mind if he sees it ahead of time,” Anna said, leading the way into the guest room.

“And if you want to show him, you can—but after you’ve decided if it’s your dress.” Lola closed the guest room door—and locked it. “It has to be your call, not his.”

“Right. Sensible.” Anna rubbed trembling hands on her thighs. “Let’s see it.”

“Give me a hand getting it up here. It’s heavy and I’m short.” Anna lifted the hanger to hook it over the top of the closet door, and Lola laid a hand on the zipper. “Now, it’s not the exact one you liked, and it’s not white, so…” She unzipped the bag, peeled it back, and held her breath.

Anna stood frozen, mouth slightly agape, eyes wide. “Oh, my God. Oh my God, Lola. Where did you find this?”

“Remember I told you I put the word out at my office that you needed something fast?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Well, someone’s cousin was planning this huge wedding, but eloped instead. Apparently, the bride found out she was pregnant, and the wedding was six months off, and she knew her family would have a fit over it. So they ran off to Vegas. But she’d already ordered the dress.”

“It’s pink.”

“Blush,” Lola corrected. “I know you were looking at white or ivory, but?—”

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