I pointed at Parker. “He’s my date.”
“He can’t go dressed like that!”
“I was going to wear a different tie,” Parker said, miffed.
“That is not period appropriate!” one of the associates said as she revealed a hanging bag and unzipped it.
“Oh no,” Parker said as the contents were revealed.
“Oh yes!” I yelled, clapping my hands as the associates laid out the white silk shirt, black jacket, and white pants along with a pair of shiny black knee-high boots.
“You have to put it on, Parker. You’ll look amazing. Jasmine really came through for me!”
“I won’t,” he huffed and crossed his arms.
Spoiler: he did put it on. Parker’s ass looked amazing in the pants. His shoulders looked amazing in the jacket. Hell, basically all of him looked amazing.
“We need to take a picture for Instagram,” I said, handing the associate my phone. “Smile!”
Parker scowled. “These pants are tight.”
I ogled him then squealed, “I know!”
“I can’t wait for the gala,” one of the associates said as she rang us up after we’d changed. “We’re combining forces with my sister’s restaurant, Girl Meets Fig. We’re going to have several dresses on display, since we make them in the city and employ people around town.”
“Pretty clothes and good food. I love it!” I exclaimed as Parker handed over his credit card. I tried not to visibly wince as I looked at the total.
“You didn’t have to spend that much,” I said as we drove over to the convention center.
Parker looked over at me. “You’re worth it. I wanted to thank you for all your hard work. Besides, the nonprofit is supposed to be about supporting and growing local businesses.”
* * *
Vendors were already startingto set up in the convention center when we arrived. I spent the next few hours answering questions, helping the various vendors set up their tables, and trying to keep Ida from talking too loudly about her latest sex food creation, goddess cake.
“It’s the libido-enhancement cake for women. Men shouldn’t have all the fun. Bettina’s been trying it out. She found this man online,” she was saying as I was trying to help Jasmine rearrange a seating area so that it felt less separated from the rest of the space. “She’s been blogging about my whole edible sex paint and food line. I was thinking Hazel was going to start the business, but she’s so busy with that café and her man that she just didn’t have the time. She lets me make the edible underwear in the kitchen though. She developed it. Such a smart gal!”
“Did she develop the goddess cake too?” I asked.
“No she did not!” Hazel called out from a few tables away, where she was directing Archer and Parker to move a large donut machine.
“Don’t be shy, Hazel,” Archer said, sliding the large fryer onto a table. “You and Ida did it as a team. Also, it led to an intense four hours in bed, on the bed, next to the bed…”
Hazel rolled her eyes. “You’re terrible. And your little brother is right here.” She motioned to Parker.
“I hope you’re keeping the sex cake separate from the rest of the bakery items,” I said in concern. “As much as I like sex, I don’t think I can deal with four hours of it.”
“You can,” Ida said emphatically. “You just have to work up to it. I have a tool for that.”
“The vendors are supposed to have an emphasis on food,” I reminded Ida. “Please don’t hand out sex toys.”
* * *
“I thinkIda had her fingers crossed behind her back,” Parker said later when we were back at his condo, dressing for the evening.
“We put her in an out-of-the-way corner next to a large column,” I said, throwing up my hands. “Hopefully this doesn’t turn people off. I should have had more time to properly plan the event. But we needed to make a splash.”
“It will be fine. Besides, you look amazing in the dress,” Parker said.
