“God, you’re bossy,” Hana huffed. But since she didn’t follow that up with anything, he figured she agreed with him.
Movement sounded, and Serenity walked down the stairs. Rory swallowed his tongue. She looked absolutely stunning in the sequined dress. She peered down at the gown, pleasure in her eyes, but her lips sat in a frown. “Rory, I can’t wear this.”
If he had his way, she wouldn’t be wearing it for long. “Why not?”
“Because it’s all...” She lifted her shoulders. “Sparkly.”
He grinned. “You look beautiful.” Her blush intensified.
The dress was silver-sequined and had tiny spaghetti straps. The material narrowed at the waist and came to just above her knees. The formfitting sheath looked stunning with the black high heels, which had crystals along the edges that threw light when she walked.
“Where did you get the shoes?” she asked.
“Those are Anna’s,” he admitted. “I borrowed them from her.”
Serenity smoothed a hand down the sequins. “And the dress?”
“My mom had that one,” he said. He’d tried to get Millie to change the pink dress, but she said it still wouldn’t fit right, so he attempted to find something similar. “She borrowed it from Nana a while back. I knew I saw it somewhere, but you look more beautiful in it than anybody I can imagine.”
She had piled her black hair on the top of her head, and the blond streaks showed in strategic places. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “This is even prettier than the pink one.”
“Let yourself have a bit of whimsy,” he said. “It’s okay, Serenity.”
Hana levered up on the sofa, keeping her injured leg elevated on two pillows. “Wow, you do look good. You should ditch this guy and find somebody hotter.”
Serenity rolled her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay with us leaving you? I feel bad.”
“I’m good. I was going to watch a marathon ofTheBig Bang Theory.” Hana smoothed the blanket over her good leg. “It amuses me.”
“All right,” Serenity murmured.
Rory reached for her coat and bundled her up, careful not to muss her hair. “I have the truck in the garage, so you don’t have to walk through the snow.” He fully intended to carry her from the truck to the lodge.
She grasped a small, silver clutch he didn’t know she owned and followed him outside to the garage. He lifted her into the truck, and they were soon on their way.
“Thanks for the dress and the shoes,” she said.
“Anytime.” He fully intended to make sure she had all the bling she’d never admit to wanting in her life.
They reached the lodge, and he parked at the curb, easily lifting her over the center console.
“What are you doing?” She laughed and slapped a hand against his chest to balance herself.
“You can’t walk in those shoes over the ice.” He planted his feet on the snowy road and carried her into the brick building, where the festivities were already in full swing.
Somebody had transformed the downstairs into a kaleidoscope of colors and dancing shadows. A disco ball was somehow mounted from the ceiling and flickered light in every direction. He grinned, noting it was lopsided.
“You can put me down,” Serenity said.
“Not yet.” He started up the stairs to the main ballroom, liking the feel of her in his arms—where she belonged. The clinking of glasses, laughter, and conversation swirled around them, and he paused before spotting Knox and Quint across the dance floor. Still carrying a rapidly snuggling-in Serenity, he maneuvered between bodies and headed straight for them. Finally, he gently placed her on her feet.
“Hey, Serenity,” Knox said. “How’s your roommate?”
She paused. “You mean Rory?”
“No, the hot chick on your sofa.”
Serenity cleared her throat. “Thathot chickcould probably kill you with her left pinky. So, you might want to behave.”
