Page 15 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“This one’s mine,” Nella says. She’s the quietest of the cousins, and she lives in Abieville like Lettie. Her dress has a scoop neck with a flowing skirt.
“It’s absolutely perfect, Nella.”
A dimple presses into her cheek. “Thank you.”
The triplets show me their dresses next, forcing me to identify which one of them is which. After I successfully place the right names to the right faces, all three of them applaud. “Therewillbe a quiz tomorrow,” Tess teases. “Just to be sure you didn’t get lucky today.”
“Yes!” Darby cheers. “Bring on all the tests!”
Olivia snorts. “You aren’t even kidding, are you, Darbs? No wonder you like med school so much.”
“For the record,” I say, “I can totally tell your personalities apart. But you do all kind of …”
“Please donotsay we look alike.” Olivia fluffs her hair. “I’mobviouslythe prettiest.”
Darby lays a palm on her chest. “Well, I’mobviouslythe smartest.”
“Hey!” Tess squawks. “What does that make me?”
We’re all quiet for two seconds, until Amber clears her throat. “Umm… Natalie?” She’s a pretty brunette with a chin-length bob. She’s about my build—except for a slightly biggernorth. “Thanks so much for trading dresses with me.” She nods at an unopened garment bag with my name on it. That one must be mine.
“No problem,” I say. “It’s loose at the waist, so hopefully that will work.”
“I’m sure it will, and I don’t really have another option.” Her brown eyes go soft. Almost apologetic. “I should warn you my dress is … form-fitting. I was trying to impress James. He’s my husband, but ever since our twins were born, he’s been calling me Mommy. And, well. I wanted to remind him I’m more than that.”
Olivia waves at Amber’s belly. “Mission accomplished, Mommy.”
“Anyway.” Amber passes me the garment bag with her name on it. “Here you go.”
When I unzip the bag, I see what she’s talking about. Amber’s dress makes Lettie’s bare-shouldered design look like Laura Ingalls on the prairie. Not only is the silhouette narrow, but the neckline is—in a word—exposed. Apparently, Mommy’s been hiding a secret slinky side. Even before putting the dress on, I can tell I’m going to look like an emerald sausage, except with less coverage. Forget an empire waist. I’d be better off with what Brady called anumpirecut.
At least that would probably come with a giant pad across my chest.
“Moment of truth,” Amber says. “Go ahead. Try it on.”
Violet, who’s finished helping Kasey out of her gown, comes over to us. Her eyes dart between me and Amber’s dress. “I’d better get the tailor.”
I feel naked already.
ChapterSeven
BRADY
Kasey and the rest of the bridesmaids just left in a cloud of perfume and cackles, but Natalie’s still in the back room doing … I’m not exactly sure what. The only people milling around the front of the shop now are me and the lady with the purple hair. I don’t remember her name, but she’s been hovering for a while, asking if I need anything.
I say no to a bottle of water.
No to a can of soda.
“How about a glass of champagne?” Purple-hair offers.
Champagne? Seriously? I thought this was a place for veils and stuff.
“I’m driving,” I tell her. Then I drop onto the chair closest to the door. It’s a long lounger with white leather upholstery like the rest of the furniture in this place. And while the seat is uncomfortable for a guy who’d rather sit up straight, it’s also the farthest from the changing room. This choice is not a coincidence.
Because what I need even less than a reclining lounger or a glass of champagne is a picture in my head of Natalie Slater in a state of … undress. I’m not exactly sure what the tailor is doing back there, but the proceedings are taking longer than I expected. When Natalie finally emerges, she’s wearing a sleeveless romper-type thing and dragging the pink carry-on behind her. She spots me up front and smiles. This woman is luminous.
Which is dangerous.
