Page 161 of Dangerous Encore
"I'm not in love,"Isay.
Piper nods. "What is it youdon'tlike?"
"Theneckline."
"Boat neck. Not enough cleavage on display. Got it." She smiles. "Whatelse?"
"The fabric looks a little—" I lower my voice. "A littlecheap."
"Hmm. Fair." She gives me a long once over. "Do you like the sheath style? It's elegant. And you're tall enough to pull it off. Especially in a nice pair ofwedges."
"I don't know. It's pretty, but… a little prim and proper." I wink at Bella. "Nooffense."
"You can't top my wedding attire. The black shift dress I wore when I had to go into court." She laughs. "Veryclassy."
"And being drunk on gin and tonics?" Ioffer.
"Even more classy." She gives me a long once-over. "It looks great, but it's notyou. You're more spunky.Playful."
"Casual?" Ioffer.
Bella nods. "But not in a bad way. In a beach girl kindofway."
"Seashells in my hair?"Iask.
"Okay, I know you're kidding, but that would be really cute." Piper tilts her head to one side, assessing my look. "Let's try thechiffonone."
This time, it only takes two minutes to get me into thedress.
It's closer. Chiffon skirt. Empire waist. Thin shoulder straps. It's breezy, all right, but it's not remotelyflattering.
Piper helps me out of thedress.
We're in a routine by now. Unzip. Right leg. Left leg. Hip shimmy. Arms over my head—this one isstrapless.
She cinches thezipper.
Adjusts thebodice.
Her voice lifts. "Oooh! Don't look until we're at the mainmirror."
She pulls me toward said mirror before I can get a proper look. The dressfeelsright. It's a little too big, but the skirt has the right sway. The waist hits at the right part. The sweetheart neckline hugs my chestjustso.
Bella's eyes go wider. She claps. "It's so you,Lacey."
I let my gaze go to the mirror in themiddle.
Itis.
The ruched bodice is the perfect mix of simple and pretty. The chiffon skirt falls over my hips. It sways with each of mymovements.
The strapless bodice highlights my tonedshoulders.
The sweetheart neckline flatters my less than amplechest.
Between the jeweled waist belt and the slight pouf to the skirt, I actually lookcurvy.
"It's perfect." And it actually fits. I spin a few times to be sure. I am. This is the dress. I can see it gliding over the sand, whooshing as I dance with myhusband.
