“Oh my God oh my Godoh my God.”Kayla was practically bouncing on the toes of her peep-toed pumps. She was touchingly thrilled, just like Sherrie and Casey, and it warmed Britt’s heart clean through.
“At Maison Vert.” Britt pronounced this with the gravity it deserved.
Kayla froze.
“Britt...” she said portentously. “That place haswhite tablecloths. And candles. Holy crap.”
“I know. It’s a real date.”
“I mean, we all thought you and he were probably doing it, but if he’s taking youthere...”
We all?Was there some kind of Hellcat Canyon phone tree Britt didn’t know about during which her sex life was discussed?
She decided to neither confirm nor deny this. People weren’t stupid, and Britt wasn’t coy, and she supposed she and J. T. had been shooting off sparks.
“I’ve got a black dress. But it’s old and the fabric is starting to pill. And it would take me some time just to blow the dust and cat hair off it.”
“So yeah, you can’t wear that,” Kayla agreed. “That would just be sad. And you can’t wear one of your umpteen camisole-and-shorts ensembles.”
Britt gave a startled laugh.
“Sorry, it’s my curse.” Kayla sighed. “I can’t help it. You don’tknowhow I suffer, Britt. I notice whateveryoneis wearing and my mind is constantly giving them all makeovers, and in this town it’s exhausting. Practically everyone needs one. Youdohave a good sense of color.”
“Thanks.” She’d take a compliment where she could get it. “You know... I think I’d look good in white,” she tried, tentatively. And she shot a sidelong speaking glance at that dress in the window.
Kayla became a lot more cagey and a little sad.
“I know where you’re going with this, sweetie, and oh, I wish I could, I really do, but that dress costs a lot. And I have margins to meet.”
“Idohave a coupon... that one you sent out in the mail...”
“That will take it down to the high two figures,” Kayla said succinctly.
Aargh. Still too high. At least for her budget.
Sothiswas how Kayla managed to stay in business. She wasn’t a patsy. Britt both admired it and rued it greatly in the moment.
She was pretty sure Kayla would be immune to her puppy-dog eyes.
“Let’s take a look at the sale rack,” Kayla said briskly, “and see if we can’t make something work. We’ll make you lookgorgeous, I promise.”
The sale rack usually comprised rejected bridesmaid gowns.
They both pivoted sharply when the bell on the door jingled. A gust of air fluttered up the white dress on its stand portentously.
Casey Carson was standing there.
She closed the door behind her, and stood motionless in the doorway.
All was shocked silence.
“Casey,” Kayla said coolly.
“Kayla,” Casey said primly.
And that was the last word anyone said for about half a minute.
Britt half expected the soundtrack fromThe Good, the Bad and the Uglyto play over the sound system, but no.
