Warmth creeps across my chest and up my neck.
Lacey giggles. “I just told them about how you bought me the craft shop, and treat me like a princess, and always take care of me.”
Jamie hums. “Well, you’re always taking care of everyone else. Someone has to take care you.”
Freakin’ hell. The way she says it hasmytoes curling. I have to look away again because this woman’s aura is so intense. I swear there’s something magical about her. Is this town just a hotbed of activity?
“Thanks, Lacey. I look really good,” I say, keeping my eyes trained in the mirror and not on the two of them looking absolutely in love.
“That’s my little creative, always dolling everything up,” Jamie says.
Lacey clings to her side with a bright smile as she looks at me in the mirror. “Do you like makeup?”
I shrug again. “It’s expensive.”
I’d filched a few things from the shop down the street from our apartment ages ago and used them maybe twice. It’s probably all dried up by now, hidden somewhere in the back of the medicine cabinet at our place in Boston.
She nods. “Some is, for sure, but I bet if we hit up the CTS on the corner, I can find some nice, reasonable mascara. Make those lashes pop!”
“Best of all, no skill required,” Jamie says. “That’s how she got me wearing it. She started small.”
I look up and notice the subtle gloss on her lips, and the contouring on her cheeks. Okay, maybe she’s not a nymph, just really good at makeup and naturally tall…with a great hair-care routine and fashion sense. No, that’s probably Lacey, too.
“You ready or what?” Ace asks as he wanders over.
I smooth out the dress and look at myself one more time in the mirror.
Yes, I am ready.
“How do you think she looks?” Lacey asks him.
He seesaws his head. “Eh, okay.”
“My honor!” I yell, punching at him.
I stop just shy of hitting his arm. He moves to deflect and I change positions, coming in for another fake hit as I make oldkung fu movie noises. He pulls out his broken sword and starts chopping at my arms. I feign one getting cut off and wail in pain.
“The blood, so muchbloooood,” I groan, crumpling to the floor as Ace laughs.
“Excuse me!” the shop owner yells over our dramatic showdown. “Are you going to buy those?”
Embarrassment floods my face and I stand up. “Yeah, sorry!”
I run back to the changing room and get into my clothes, putting everything to buy in a neat pile. The gold necklace on top is just screaming to disappear into my pocket, but I squash the desire down. I left that life back in Boston where it served me. There’s no need for it here.
Lacey is already at the checkout counter when I come out of the dressing room. My chest tightens as I see her pull out a credit card.
“No, I’ve got it,” I say, fumbling with my wallet.
“Too late,” Jamie says. “You’re officially my wife’s project.”
A grouchy groan is on the tip of my tongue, but I hold it back in favor of gratitude. “Thank you.”
I’ll just have to give her free coffee for life. Hopefully she doesn’t want more than that, because I don’t have a lot to give.
Lacey gets the receipt and hands it to me, then covers my items in a plastic bag. She maneuvers everything with skill and suddenly I’ve got the bag handles in my hand, everything inside.
“What’s with the face?” Lacey asks as she ushers me outside.
