Page 20 of Kiss Me at Midnight
“Pockets,” Grandma Dotty breathed in apparent wonder. “As simple as a plain egg salad sandwich. What they won’t think of next. Do you like it, Lily?”
Lily nodded. It was casual and feminine. It would be comfortable in any uncomfortable situation.
“We also have a black strapless gown with a beaded bodice.” Marta held up the second option. “It has a beautiful, floor-length skirt.”
“And a slit up to my hoo-ha.” Holding the dress to her shoulders, Grandma Dotty extended one pink track-suited leg forward and struck a pose. “I’m no Angelina Jolie. Does it come with matching panties?”
Marta pressed her lips together and shook her head, although her action didn’t disturb a single pink hair.
“Pass?” Lily asked her grandmother.
“Pass.” Grandma Dotty took the dress from Marta and returned it to the closet. “What else do you have?”
Marta radiated displeasure from the tight line of her mouth to her narrowed eyes. “The third option is a burgundy asymmetrical gown with cap sleeves. The skirt hits just below the knees in front and is full length on the back and sides. This gown won’t fall off or trip you unless you walk backward.” Marta held out the skirt for Grandma Dotty’s inspection. “It plunges in the back. Very sexy.”
“No pockets though.” Lily’s grandmother snatched that away as well. “We’ll take the two-piece, please.”
“I always try a dress on before making a final decision.” Rachel settled back into the pedicure lounger. “You never know what works for you until you try. That’s also been my philosophy with men, although my dad hates that I think that way.”
“But if it works for you…” Lily handed her grandmother the strapless gown. Might just as well start with the least likely dress. She helped her inside the dressing room and then turned to face Rachel with a polite smile. “What does your dress look like?”
“The bride’s gown is a secret,” Marta cut in, increasingly the buzz-kill. She should consider using her planning skills for more somber events, like funerals.
“Marta, we can tell my maid of honor. It’s a simple A-line.” Rachel contradicted her wedding planner with a wave of her hand. And then she fixed Lily with a penetrating stare. “Who would have thought you’d catch Judson Hambly?” She tsked. “I’m envious. He’s talented and rich. And someday he’s going to be a billionaire.”
It was Lily’s turn to wave off assumptions. “I love how down-to-earth Jud is. What do you love about Paulo?”
“Honestly?” Rachel ran her fingers through her thick red tresses. “I love that he treats me like a queen no matter what mood I’m in.”
Lily held her breath. That didn’t seem like true love.
But Rachel wasn’t done. For the first time since they’d come downstairs, she seemed to glow. “I love that Paulo smiles when we hold hands, as if that alone would make him happy. I love that he’s dedicated to his career. I love that he goes into beast mode when he’s on the basketball court but that he’s gentle as a kitten when he’s with me.”
That ranked among the most romantic answers Lily had ever heard.
“Kittens have claws.” Grandma Dotty opened the changing room door and took a few mincing steps forward. The sight of her made everyone speechless. Grandma Dotty had put her plain white bra over the top of the strapless black dress’s bodice. “I had to make adjustments because it was too loose up top. What do you think? Am I a fashion designer? Is it me?”
“No.” Marta handed her the burgundy dress.
*
“I finally found your man cave.” Jud stepped into a room with a big screen television, a mini bar, and two rows of reclining black leather chairs.
The groom had disappeared when the women had gone to try on dresses and experiment with hairstyles for the wedding.
Paulo spared Jud a quick, unwelcoming glance. He sat in the front row of seats playingCall of Duty.
Did he notice the way Rachel was staring at me earlier?
Jud couldn’t tell. He picked up a controller from a shelf near the screen and took a seat next to the seven-footer. “I got dibs on next game.”
Paulo’s video game character was blown up. He released a string of curses anyone could translate. Then he said something else, presumably in Portuguese. From his tone, Jud took it to mean the big man blamed him for losing.
“That was totally not my fault.” Jud let out a nervous chuckle. If the dude had eyes and a possessive bone in his body, he should be considering pummeling Jud for other reasons, also not his fault.
The big man reset the game, giving no indication of his feelings toward Jud either way.
Jud leaned forward, both hands on the controller, ready to game.
