“Are we day drinking?” Pierre asks.
“Yeah,” Emmett answers.
“If the Cap says so.” He chuckles.
“Right, well, now that’s settled, have fun, boys,” Harper says as we wave them all goodbye. I turn back and see Emmett closing the door. He looks up and winks at me before closing it.
We're in the third boutique when I find it. A red dress. Deep crimson. It hugs in all the right places and has a neckline that dips just low enough to be interesting without being inappropriate for a work event. The fabric is luxurious. Sophisticated. Sexy. Perfect to match Emmett's tie.
"That's the one," Issy says immediately. "You look stunning."
"Spin," Collette commands.
I do a little turn, and the skirt flares slightly.
"Oh, he's going to die," Harper says.
I freeze. "What?"
"I said the guys are going to love it." She's looking at me strangely. "You okay?"
"Yeah. Fine. Just ... hot in here."
"Try on the black one too," Issy suggests.
I disappear back into the dressing room. My heart is racing. Did Harper say Emmett? Or did I mishear?
When I come back out in the red dress, Harper is studying me. Really studying me.
"Come here," she says. "Your necklace is twisted."
I walk over, and she reaches for my neck to fix the chain. Then she stops, her fingers hovering near my collarbone.
"Jo," she says quietly. "Is that a hickey?"
My blood turns to ice. "What? No. I ... burned myself with my curling iron."
"On the side of your neck?" Harper raises an eyebrow. "That's a very specific place to burn yourself."
Issy looks over. "Let me see."
"It's nothing," I say, trying to hide it.
But Issy is already there, examining. "That's definitely a hickey."
Collette appears beside them. "Oh shit."
"You're seeing someone!" Issy's face lights up. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I'm not …"
"Jo, we can literally see the evidence on your neck," Issy asks. "Who is he?"
"Nobody. It's nothing. Can we just …"
"Is it serious?" Issy asks. "Do we know him?"
My throat is tight. I can't breathe. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not like this. Not yet.
