Page 11 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“Kasey’s there with the rest of the bridesmaids,” Beau says, “and I think she could really use her maid of honor.”
“Oh no.” Natalie’s face falls. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Amber.”
“Kasey’s friend fromThe Chronicle?”
“That’s the one,” he says. “Turns out she’s four months pregnant.”
“Oh!” Natalie grins. “But that’s great news.”
“It is,” Beau agrees. “But what’snotgreat is her dress doesn’t fit.”
“Oooh.” Natalie winces. “She probably got measured before she knew she was pregnant.”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, so Amber can’t wear her dress.” She tips her chin and shrugs. “That’s not the end of the world.”
“I tried telling Kasey that, but apparently my future bride doesn’t want my opinion. And she won’t let me come to the salon. I’m hoping you can talk her off the cliff when you get there.”
“Hmmm.” Natalie chews at her lip. Then her eyes go wide. “I can do better than that. I’ve got an idea.”
“Hit me. I’d love to tell Kasey you can help.”
“Kasey let us design our own dresses,” she says, “and I chose a cut with an empire waist. It’s fitted around the bodice, but the rest is loose. So if Amber’s only four months along, my dress should probably fit her. She’s about my height, isn’t she?”
“Sheisabout your height.” There’s a pause on Beau’s end. “But other parts of her are… definitely bigger.”
Nat wrinkles her nose. “Like her stomach? Duh. She’s pregnant.”
“No.” Beau chuckles. “I was thinking a little north of there.”
Before I can help myself, my gaze flickers to Natalie’s chest, then back up again. I flinch when she catches me looking.
“I’m sure Amber can squeeze into the bodice of my dress.” Nat harrumphs. “Inadequateas it may be. It’s not like she’s some Victoria’s Secret model.”
“Yeah.” Beau snorts. “You’re both way too short.”
“And you’re way too hilarious.” Nat shakes her head. “Go ahead and keep laughing about how small mynorthis, while I go rescue Kasey and Amber.”
“Great, Nat,” Beau says. “You’re the best.”
“What am I?” I scoff. “Chopped liver?” But Beau’s already ended the call. Now it’s just Nat and me again. Alone in my quiet truck. By now both the moose have made it a safe distance into the field, so I start the truck up, and focus on the road as we make our way to the turnoff toward Southampton.
Out of my peripheral vision, I see Natalie digging in her purse. When a pair of socks falls out, she laughs to herself. I like that sound. A little too much.
“Want a piece of gum?” she asks. “It’s the least I can do, since you’re stuck driving me all over the place.”
“I don’t mind.” I slide my gaze over to her. “But if you’ve got extra…”
She dives back into her purse and slips out a couple of foil-covered sticks. She unwraps the first stick and pops it in her mouth. Watching the gum disappear between her teeth makes me gulp. Then she unwraps the second stick. “Here.” Before I know what’s happening, she slips the whole thing into my mouth.
Whoa.
Her fingertips touch my lips, and a shockwave pulses through me. When the taste of cinnamon explodes across my tongue—along with the memory of her kiss—I almost swerve off the road and plow straight into a tree. If I’m not careful, I’ll get us both killed. So I return my focus to the road and grip the wheel. After another minute of silence, Natalie turns toward me.
“Hopefully this dress switch with Amber will work,” she says.
