Page 157 of Dangerous Encore
"Are you excited?"Iask.
She nods. "And scared… really scared. But I have awhile."
"Not even six months." Piper squeezes Bella's hand. "Not to make younervous."
"Of course not." Bella grabs her takeout cup and takes a long sip. "My only cup of tea fortheday."
"You have to limit your caffeine?"Iask.
She nods. "I'm not sure Piper coulddoit."
Piper laughs. "Maybe."
"Have you and Kit talked about kids?"Bellaasks.
Piper presses her lips together. "Well, it's sort of… I don't know. We both have such fucked up families. And… I just can't picture it, me with a child. I'm not sure I want topictureit."
"That's fine, Pipes. Not everyone has to have kids,"Bellasays.
"You have time to figure it out," Iagree.
Piper nods, but there's uncertainty in her expression. "Hey. Why am I not heading to our first boutique?" Piper checks her mirrors then pulls the car onto the street. "It has the broadest selection. But I think this place in Santa Monica is perfectforyou."
"Oh?"Iask.
"You might not have time. The dresses are custom made and they take forever. I don't want to get your hopes up,"Pipersays.
"Try me." After that dinner with my mom, my hopes are sufficientlycrushed.
"They make these beautiful raw silk dresses. They're simple and elegant. And sexy too." She motions to Bella's cell. "Show her thepicture."
"She showed me this picture thirty times." Bella taps her screen a few times then hands her phonetome.
The sleek silk gown drapes over every curve of the model's body. It's backless, with thin straps and a deep v in thefront.
Piper is right. Simple. Classic.Incrediblysexy.
Mom wouldhateit.
I… I'm not sure howIfeel.
"It's beautiful, and it would look perfect on the beach. But do you really want Lacey stealing your dress?"Bellaasks.
"Each is custom made. The one I'll get will be different. If I get one. If we ever actually get married,"Pipersays.
"You're the one making him wait,"Bellasays.
"Yeah…" Her voice lifts back to a bouncy tone. "What do you think about the dress?Pretty,huh?"
"Beautiful." Itreallyis.
"Won't it be hot on the beach in all that silk?"Bellaasks.
"Not in January,"Pipersays.
"Have you set a date, officially?"Bellaasks.
"Yeah, but I'm not sure what it is. Mal is taking care of everything." My shoulders relax. I trust him with the details. I trust him to getshitdone.
