Page 168 of Tangled with the Tight End

I walk over to the coffee table and grab my cell.

Declan answers right away.

“Hey, Winona.”

“Declan. Ann is here.”

“Oh, good. Well, I’ve got a surprise for you.”

“Okaaay.”

“I want to take you on a date. Cass said you’re free tonight. And I figure since I’ve been in my boot for over a week, I can manage it well enough to get around. It’s high time I took my girlfriend out.”

“So … Ann is here to help me get dressed?”

“Basically, yes. Is that okay? I wanted to pamper you.”

“You do know most women just pick their nicest dress and curl their own hair, don’t you?”

“Do you hate it? The stylist?”

“Honestly?”

“Yes. I don’t want to mess this up.”

He’s so cute. He has no idea there’s literally no way he could mess this up. His effort alone is everything.

I turn so I’m talking to him instead of staring into the giddy faces of Ann and Cass. “I love it, Declan. I’ve never had anything like this. I wouldn’t want this every day, but it’s kind of fun having someone here to dress me. You’re the sweetest to do this.”

“Well, good. I’m so glad you’re happy. Have fun and call when you’re ready. I’ll have the car bring me to pick you up.”

“The car?”

“This time, I’m driving. But since I can’t actually drive yet … Well, I’m having us driven.”

My stomach feels all fluttery and I can’t stop smiling.

“Is this how Cinderella felt when the fairy godmother came to make her a dress?” I ask.

“You’re no Cinderella,” is his answer. “You’re so much more.”

He pauses and I just want to skip the makeover and drive to his house to order pizza. But another part of me doesn’t want to miss whatever he has planned.

“Call me,” he says. “I can’t wait to see you.”

“Me either. I can’t wait to see you, Declan.”

I hang up and look at Ann. “Okay. Well, I don’t know what he has in mind … I mean, I don’t know where we’re going to eat. The Fork and Fiddle is probably the nicest restaurant in town. I have a few dresses we can go through.”

Ann smiles. Cass lets out this excited little squeak.

“You’re not going to the Fork and Fiddle,” Ann says. “And I have dresses in my car. Give me a minute.”

She leaves, and next thing I know, she’s tugging a foldable wagon and a rolling suitcase, both filled with clothes. Once she’s inside, she takes a few poles and assembles a hanging rack.

“Do you need help?” I ask her.

“No. No. Don’t you fret. Besides, you’re going to need to save your energy for the fittings.”