“Hey,pixie,” he coaxed. “Are you having second thoughts?”
“Ialways have second thoughts, Beck. I won’t lie. This is hard. I thought I wasgoing to spend the rest of my life with this man, and now not only have Ifailed at Plan A, I never made a Plan B.”
“Youfailed at nothing, Andie. He failed because he was too fuckingstup—sorry. He was too stupid to appreciate what he had. So look at it thisway: he was your dress rehearsal. Plan B is your original Plan A: marrying the rightguy.”
“Ican’t ever imagine getting married again,” she chuckled through her tears. “Ithink you’re supposed to wait at least ten years between, right?”
“There’sno rule about time, pixie,” he sighed. “I’ve known people who married the dayafter their decree was final.”
“Thatseems so … tawdry.”
“Youfind that right person, you go for it. Or so I’ve been told.”
Beckettdishing out romantic rah-rah? The irony must have escaped him, and she couldn’tbring herself to point out that a commitment-averse manwhore was not the bestcandidate for relationship advice—unless, of course, it had to do with STDs. Hewas so sweetly, so solidly in her corner, no questions asked, and she loved himfor it, even if she found it a bit misguided.
As ifhe read her mind, he said, “You still with me, pixie? You’re probably wonderinghow someone like me can go all Dear Abby on you. It’s your own fault for makingme watch all those goddamn romantic comedies.”
“Onlytwo, Beck. Speaking of movies, maybe it’s time we started this one?”
“Sure.But first I want to ask you something.”
“Okay.”
“SoI’ve been invited to this fancy New Year’s bash at the Broadmoor in ColoradoSprings. It’s a big deal, and some movers and shakers are attending. I washoping you’d be my date and keep me out of trouble.”
“Do youneed my help to stay out of trouble?”
“Always.”
“Whyme? Are all your playmates busy?” She regretted the sarcastic words as soon asthey left her mouth.
Somethingakin to a hissing balloon came from the other end. “I don’t have any playmates.Look, I’ll get us two rooms, and I promise to behave. I am now holding my handup in a scout salute. I’ll send you a selfie.”
She bither lip to keep her laugh contained. “I remember your last pledge. When youstayed over? Boy scout is not what comes to mind.”
“It wasjust a hug. And I was drunk.”
“No,you weren’t. And that’s no excuse anyway.”
“Shit.I was hoping you hadn’t noticed.”
“Alittle hard to ignore.” She swallowed her snicker.
Heguffawed. “Not sure what to say to that. Busted, I guess. It was a moment ofweakness brought on by whatever the hell perfume you were wearing. Just don’t wearthat fragrance, and you’ll be safe.”
“Iwasn’t wearing perfume. Maybe a suit of armor is in order. Is this a dress-upaffair?”
“Blacktie. If you have a dress—or a suit of armor—to show off, now’s the time.”
Shedidn’t have a dress to show off, but she perked up at the thought of shoppingfor one in Seattle with Gwenn. “Okay. I’ll go.”
“You’rekidding!”
“Oh.You weren’t serious?”
“I’m asserious as a game misconduct. I just didn’t think you’d agree.” He rumbled alaugh.
“I havea closing coming up. I’ll use some of that money to buy something fancy.”
“Yeah?Is it that little place in North Park Hill?”
“Thesame. Little house, little commission, but—”
“Hey!Celebrate your victory. Little commissions add up to big commissions. For whatit’s worth, I’m proud of you.”
It wasworth more than she’d expected. A blush rose from her toes to her scalp. “Well,it hasn’t happened yet.”
“Itwill. You’ll sprinkle your pixie dust and make it work. You always do.”
She swallowedthe “aw, shucks” on the tip of her tongue and said instead, “That’s very sweetof you to say, Beckett.”
“Yeah,well, don’t let the word get out, or you’ll ruin my reputation as a womanizingasshole. Now stop talking so we can watch the movie.”
“Whatmovie?” she giggled.
“I haveno fumbling clue.”
.~ * * * ~.
Paige and Gwenn were trolling Northgate Mall, dodgingfrenetic Black Friday shoppers who all seemed to walk five abreast as thoughthey were human fences.
“I’mnot sure how much of this I can take, Gwenn.”
“Lightweight.I’m going to maximize every minute without the kids, especially with this oneon the way.” She patted her slightly swollen stomach. “Come on. There’sNordstrom. They’ll have something slinky.”
“Notsure how slinky I want to go.” Too slinky and I could unintentionally inviteBeckett to bring on his alpha male. Not sure my shaky defenses would withstandthe onslaught.
Gwennpinched Paige’s sleeve and dragged her into the store. Soon they were delvinginto racks of evening wear. With an “ooh” and an “ah,” Gwenn pulled out anultramarine lace sheath with a deep neckline.
“Oh myGod, Paige, this would be gorgeous on you!”
“It’spretty,” Paige agreed. Then she glanced at the tag. “It’s almost four hundreddollars!”
Holdingit up by its hanger, Gwenn turned it this way and that. “Well, of course. It’sa Tadashi. I bet it fits like a glove. And this blue with your coloring isperfect. At least try it on.”
“Areyou buying?” Paige scoffed. Tentatively, she inspected the elegant dress.
“No,you are. And just think how Beckett’s jaw will drop when he sees you in it.”
“Idon’t want jaw droppage. Hand and lip roaming might follow.”
Gwenncackled. “You really expect him to keep his hands and lips to himself? Youagreed to spend the night with him, which begs the question, do you really wanthim to hold back?”
Paige’seyes widened. “Yes! To both questions! And I’m not ‘spending the night.’ Justsleeping in the same hotel.”
“Well,that sounds boring.”
“I’mstill married,” Paige protested.
“In nameonly. Live a little, Paige. You deserve a fling. And what better man to have afling with than the ‘All-Nighter’?” Gwenn pulled out two more dresses andthrust them at Paige.
“Gwenn,it’s not like that. We’re just good friends,” Paige spluttered.
“Yeah, yeah,I know, sweetie.” She flapped her hand at Paige. “After this, we head toVictoria’s Secret. Your underwear has to be deserving of the new dress. In caseyou get in an accident, of course.” She winked.
In thedressing room, Paige was down to the last dress—the Tadashi. She wriggled intoit and twirled in front of the mirror, willing herself to dislike what she saw,but the dress was everything its price tag promised.
“Whatdo you think, Gwenn? The black one’s
