Page 94 of Wardrobe Malfunction

“She’s in Hawaii.”

“Oh.”

“Right.” She sighs again.

“So, I was hoping you might know some dress designer who could fix it up.”

I lift my eyes to Charly. “Actually,” I tell my mom, “I have one sitting right in front of me as we speak. She’s really talented.”

Charly’s eyes flash to mine.

“You do?” My mom’s voice lifts with hope.

“Yep. She works on wardrobe here. Charly. She’s an amazing seamstress. I bet she could fix it, no problem.”

Charly’s brows lift. I fight back a smile.

“We’ll pay her.”

“I’ll sort that, Mom.”

“You’re my star, Vaughn.”

She’s been saying that to me since I was a kid. It never fails to warm my insides. Because she means it in a whole other way than the rest of the world does. She has always said that I’m her little star, that I brighten her world. And I might be a grown-ass man, but when your mom says something like that, you revert back to the five-year-old kid who thought she was the only woman in the world you would ever love. Well, that still is true because I haven’t ever been in love.

My eyes drift back to Charly, a different kind of warmth spreading across my chest.

“Tell Sasha it’s going to be fine. Take a picture of the dress, the damage, and send it to me. I’ll have Charly take a look and see if it’s fixable. And, if it is, FedEx it to me out here, Charly will fix it, and I’ll bring it back with me.”

“I’ll take the picture now. Sasha will be over the moon!”

“Don’t tell her until Charly says for sure if she can fix it.”

“Okay. I’ll send the pic now and then call me back once Charly’s had a look. And tell her not to worry if she can’t; we appreciate it all the same.”

“Will do, Mom. Love you.”

“You, too, baby.”

We hang up, and I put my cell down on the table.

“So…from the gist of that, I got that you need me to fix your sister’s wedding dress. I gather it’s for a wedding because of the Vera Wang comment.”

“My parents’ puppy went to town on my sister’s wedding dress.”

“Crap,” she says.

“Yeah, Sasha’s apparently freaking out.”

“Well, I’ll take a look and see what I can do.”

“I’ll pay you.”

She stares at me. “Don’t be stupid, West. I don’t want your money. I’m happy to help your sister.”

I reach across the table and take ahold of her hand. “You’re the best.” I lean down and kiss her hand.

“I know.” She grins, and I smile.