by Gina Wilkins
“That would be considerate of you,” she murmured, and tilted her head into a more accessible position.
With a muffled chuckle, he kissed her. After only a heartbeat’s hesitation, she was a willing and eager participant in the embrace.
His powerful reaction to their kiss in the office Saturday evening had caught him by surprise. He’d tried shrugging it off as first-time novelty, though technically it hadn’t been a first kiss between them, if he counted that embarrassing, medication-fueled buss after his surgery. He decided not to count that one.
He’d tried blaming mistletoe, even though Tess had assured him there hadn’t actually been any in the office. He’d even wondered if maybe he’d exaggerated the kiss in his memories, that maybe it hadn’t been quite as spectacular as he remembered. He knew now that he had not. Kissing Tess felt so damned good that he had to ask himself now what had taken them so long.
Only his awareness of their very public surroundings made him draw back reluctantly when he would have liked very much to deepen the kiss. He opened her car door for her and then moved back to watch her slide in. Even as they said their good-nights, he was tempted to ask her to come home with him for coffee—but maybe it was a bit too soon for that.
Step one, he reminded himself while he watched her drive away. He climbed into his own car with a mixture of frustration and satisfaction with the way the evening had gone. They’d get to step two when the time was right.
* * *
“I don’t know.” Tess craned her neck to study her back view in the full-length mirror. “Does it seem a little tight to you?”
Jenny and Stevie answered in unison. “No.”
A bold red sheath, the dress was closely fitted to her body, ending in a flirty double kick pleat just behind her knees. It wasn’t overtly revealing, just brighter and snugger than her typical outfits.
“Your butt looks amazing in that,” Stevie said bluntly. “I wish I could wear it, but that bateau neckline would never work with my boobs.”
Tess’s gaze was drawn to the reflection of her bust. The dress was definitely flattering there. As the least endowed of the trio, she couldn’t help but push her shoulders back and pose a bit, making her friends laugh.
It was Wednesday evening and they had gathered in Jenny’s fashion and accessories boutique, Complements. The store closed at seven on weeknights, staying open until nine Fridays and Saturdays, so Tess and Stevie often met there after-hours on Wednesdays to play in Jenny’s new deliveries. They’d even been known to pitch in hanging up garments and setting up displays, mostly because they had fun doing so.
Tonight both Tess and Stevie were looking for outfits to wear to the Holiday Open Home cocktail party the next night. Stevie was attending as one of the donors; she’d been selected this year to design and oversee the kitchen update. It was for a good cause, not to mention she’d make the most of the professional exposure.
They stood in the dressing room area where several cushy benches were grouped around a large, full-length, three-way mirror. Six stalls with floral curtains for privacy surrounded them, but since they were the only ones in the store, they weren’t overly concerned with modesty.
“The color is amazing on you, Tess,” Jenny assured her. “I told you it would be.”
Tess had worried that the red wouldn’t go well with her auburn hair, but she should have known to trust Jenny’s eye. “It does look festive without being too Christmassy. Not too splashy for the event?”
“You know what those things are like.” Jenny waved a dismissive hand. “There will be people there in designer silks and others in jeans. If Sandy’s there she’ll have on a few strips of cloth and a boatload of diamonds. Trust me, this dress is exactly right for a charity holiday cocktail party.”
Tess bit her lip against a grin at the description of their mutual acquaintance’s fashion tastes. A notorious man-eater, Sandy had once made a fairly blatant play for Gavin. Not that he’d had eyes for anyone but Jenny.
“I’ll give you the usual bestie discount,” Jenny added persuasively.
“Okay, I’ll take it.”
Jenny smiled. “Great. And since you’re in a buying mood, there’s another dress I want you to try on. I think it’s perfect for you, maybe for your cousin’s party.”
“I’m sure I already have something that will work for that.”
But Jenny was already headed out to the showroom, saying over her shoulder, “Just try it, okay?”
“And that,” Stevie said with a giggle, “is why Jenny now has two successful stores in the state and is considering a third.”
“She is good,” Tess admitted with a shake of her head. Twisting to admire the red dress once more in the mirror—her butt really did look good—she asked absently, “Aren’t you going to try things on?”
“Oh, yeah, sure.” Stevie turned toward one of the stalls. “Jenny hung some things in here that she thought I’d like. I just wanted to see that red dress on you first. I knew it would be amazing.”
“It is pretty, isn’t it?”
“You’ll knock Scott off his feet,” Stevie remarked through the open doorway to the stall, her voice muffled as if she were pulling her shirt over her head.
Tess’s hand froze on the side zipper of the dress. She moistened her lips. Yes, she’d wanted something nice to wear to the event, and she’d been pleased that the dress had suited her so well, but she didn’t want to look as though she was making any special effort to knock Scott off his feet. She turned when Jenny returned with a green garment draped over her arm. “Does this look like I’m trying too hard?”
Jenny sighed gustily. They were close enough friends that she understood the question immediately. “No,” she said firmly. “Looking nice and appropriate for an event—even looking as beautiful as you do in that dress—is not trying too hard. It’s simply putting your best foot forward.”
Stevie stepped out of the stall wearing a filmy black dress shot through with silver threads. The skirt fit snugly at her hips, then flared out around her knees. She did a little spin and the hem swirled around her.
Tess nodded. “Pretty.”
Shorter and curvier than her friends, Stevie’s blond curls and large blue eyes made her look younger than her thirty-one years. She tended to be a more bohemian dresser, so Tess wasn’t particularly surprised when her friend looked in the mirror, then made a little face at the reflection. “I don’t know. Maybe.”
“No.” Jenny thrust the green dress at Tess. “Try this on while I help Stevie find something that suits her better.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Stepping into the stall, Tess changed into the dress Jenny had brought her. A rich, dark green, it was another body skimmer, ending well above her knees to make the most of her legs without being too short for comfort. The neckline was a deep scoop outlined with a thin line of gold fish-scale sequins, just enough to add a little holiday sparkle.
It was a wholly impractical purchase, of course. Like the red cocktail dress, it would be something she’d wear only a few times. It was kind of hard to justify buying two party dresses at one time, but she loved them both.
“Gold earrings,” Jenny said appraisingly from the open doorway. “Thin black tights and those high-heeled booties I sold you in the fall.”
“You’re killing me.”
Her friend laughed without compunction. “Every girl needs to splurge occasionally. Especially when she’s seeing a new guy.”
Tess groaned. “Come on, Jen. Scott is hardly a new guy.”
“He is when it comes to your social life.” Jenny winked. “And I’m going to help you make sure he sees you as more than his trusty office sidekick.”
Warmth flooded Tess’s face, but she couldn’t help glancing once again at the mirror. She did look different dressed this way.
&n
bsp; “Okay, I like this one.” Stevie danced into view in a short rose silk dress with a filmy mesh overlay. Gray beads and sequins were worked into an overall art deco–inspired pattern on the mesh, which ended in a beaded, scalloped hem. “I feel like a flapper. Makes me want to do the Charleston.”
“T-strap shoes. Silver bracelets.” Jenny nodded as if it was all decided. “Do your hair in that little twist off the face I like so much.”
“Do you know how to Charleston?” Tess asked curiously.
Stevie laughed. “Not a clue. But it would be fun to learn, wouldn’t it?” She glanced in the mirror again. “Sold.”
Tess laughed. “Hooray for bestie discounts!” she cheered as she went in to change out of the green dress that would be accompanying her home.
When she carried her purchases into the glittering, holiday-decorated showroom, Stevie was already paying for her choice and looking forward to wearing it at the charity event.
“I hope I’ll get some new business,” she added. “I can’t wait to show you the kitchen. The updates are gorgeous, if I do say so myself.”
“Will Joe be back from Austin in time to attend the party with you?”
Stevie’s smile dimmed noticeably. “No, they’re staying a little longer, making some good contacts in the Austin music scene. Joe thinks they have a nice gig lined up for next weekend.”
“Good for them.” Tess resisted an impulse to glance at Jenny, though she suspected they were both thinking the same thing—that this was the beginning of the end of Stevie’s relationship with Joe.
Tess had heard all about Stevie’s romantic history during late-night girls-only wine and confidences sessions. She knew her friend had a weakness for musicians, several of whom had broken her tender heart over the years. Would her heart be broken again, or was Stevie more prepared this time, more guarded?
At least she didn’t have to worry about having her own heart shattered if this experiment with Scott didn’t work out, she told herself. By approaching their relationship logically and cautiously, based on friendship and mutual goals rather than capricious emotions, they were protecting themselves against the sort of pain Stevie seemed to continually court with her impetuous infatuations.
“Well,” Jenny said brusquely, breaking into Tess’s somber thoughts, “it’s Joe’s loss that he won’t get to see you in this dress, at least not this time.”
“That’s okay.” Stevie’s usual glint of mischief lit her eyes as she grinned at Tess. “That’ll free me up to spy on Tess and His Highness all evening. After all, Jen, I promised you all the juicy details.”
Tess rolled her eyes as Jenny laughed. “There will be nothing to report. We’re just going to make an appearance at this thing, do a little networking and schmoozing for the business, then get out of there.”
“To go where and do what?” Jenny teased lightly. “Do you and Scott have plans for after the party?”
“We haven’t talked about it.”
They hadn’t actually had an opportunity to talk about anything but business since they’d parted in the parking lot Monday night. The past two days had been one pressing situation after another. Scott hadn’t even had a chance to attend the office baby shower yesterday.
Only once had she suspected Scott’s thoughts had wandered into personal territory. She’d caught him looking at her lips as she’d stood beside his desk waiting for instructions while he’d listened to a long-winded caller on his phone. Something had told her he was remembering their kisses—which, of course, had sent her thoughts, too, in that direction. Her lips had tingled as she’d instinctively moistened them. His eyes had narrowed and darkened, his expression making her pulse rate jump. She hadn’t quite known whether to be relieved or a little disappointed when Andy had rushed into the room with another decision to be made, pushing all private issues aside.
“Has he said anything more about, you know, wanting to have your babies and stuff?” Stevie inquired, a little too artlessly.
Tess gave her friend a chiding look. “It’s been a very busy week at work. And honestly, Stevie...”
Stevie shrugged. “You know I’m still concerned that you’ll settle for Scott because of all the pressure your sister has been putting on you, and maybe the biological clock thing. I remember that silly, panicky feeling just before I turned thirty. I met Joe not long after that,” she added quietly.
Was Stevie acknowledging that Joe had been a “Mr. Right Now” who’d shown up at a time when she was vulnerable? It was what Tess had always believed, but she hadn’t thought Stevie was aware of it.
“A lot of people might be surprised to hear you suggest Tess would be ‘settling’ for Scott Prince,” Jenny commented. “You are aware that he’s one of this city’s most eligible bachelors?”
Waving a hand dismissively, Stevie said shortly, “I’m not denying that Scott’s a great catch. I’m just saying Tess deserves more than being a means to an end for a guy who’s already accomplished many of his life goals and now wants to check marriage and kids off his list of aspirations.”
Both Tess and Jenny stared at Stevie in response to that rather astringent assessment. Tess swallowed past a hard knot in her throat, while Jenny frowned in disapproval. “That was kind of harsh. I can’t imagine Scott sees Tess as just a means to an end. I think it’s more likely he’s realized how lucky he is to have her in his life.”
After a moment, Stevie held up both hands in apologetic surrender. “You’re right. That was a tacky comment. Sorry, Tess, I certainly didn’t mean to imply that Scott wouldn’t be damned lucky to have you. I just hope he knows it, that’s all.”
Tess cleared her throat. “We’re just exploring possibilities, Stevie. I haven’t even decided what I’m going to do yet.”
“Don’t listen to me, okay?” Stevie’s eyes were suddenly a glittering bright blue, glossed over by unshed tears. “Just have fun and make up your own mind what you want, with or without Scott. I just want you to be happy. I want all my friends to be happy.”
Visibly concerned, Jenny moved around the counter to catch Stevie’s fluttering hands. “What’s going on, Stevie? Is this about Joe?”
Pasting on a semblance of her usual sunny smile, Stevie freed one hand to dash at her eyes and shook her head. “No. I’m fine, really. Just... I don’t know, I’m kind of out of it today. I didn’t sleep very well last night and I had to get up early this morning to feed Dusty before I left for work. Sorry.”
Jenny patted her shoulder. “Of course. Do you need chocolate? I think I have some in my office. PMS is a bitch, am I right?”
Stevie’s smile flickered momentarily, but she nodded and laughed cheerily. “You’re so right.”
Stevie was smiling again, but Tess still had some doubts about her friend’s state of mind. Still, she went along with the change of subject. “You’re still feeding your neighbor’s cat? When is he supposed to be back from his business trip?”
“Tomorrow, thank goodness. Dusty’s a sweetheart, and I don’t mind sitting with her to keep her company when I have extra time, but I know she misses Cole.”
To avoid any further potential pitfalls, they kept the conversation breezy for the short remainder of their visit. They parted on their usual affable terms, agreeing to get together again soon, with Tess and Stevie saying they’d see each other at the Holiday Open Home. Just to make it clear there were no hard feelings, Tess added a little extra warmth to her smile when they waved goodbye in the parking lot.
Still, Stevie’s words echoed in her thoughts as she drove home. Tess deserves more than being a means to an end for a guy who’s already accomplished many of his life goals and now wants to check marriage and kids off his list of aspirations.
She had a few life goals of her own, which just happened to be aligned quite closely with Scott’s. Yet she didn’t actually see him as just a means t
o an end, did she? Which brought up the question—what, exactly, did she want from Scott?
* * *
She almost chose not to wear the new red dress after all. For some reason, only minutes before Scott was due to arrive at her door, she glanced in the mirror and was taken aback by the reflection of the polished woman in the bright red dress with a glitter of diamonds at her ears. It wasn’t that she hadn’t dressed up for an event before, or worn bold colors. But something about that woman in the mirror looked different tonight, and she couldn’t quite define what it was. Telling herself she was being silly, and that Stevie would certainly report to Jenny if she didn’t wear the red dress, she turned away from the mirror and carried her tiny purse into the living room to wait for Scott.
She tried to remember if he’d ever actually been inside the condo she’d purchased two years ago. Had he come in the time he’d stopped by in his four-wheel-drive truck to pick her up for work after a late-January ice storm? No, she recalled, she’d met him downstairs.
She cast a quick glance around her place, trying to see it through his eyes. Stevie had helped her decorate in a warm, cozy style built around classic pieces with unexpectedly whimsical accents. The colors were greens, grays and off-white, her favorite combination. It was so well suited to her.
She sat down on the cushy sofa and sighed, trying to release some of her nervous tension about tonight. When her doorbell rang, she found herself wishing she could exchange the snug red dress for comfy pj’s and spend the evening at home with popcorn and hot cocoa. Alone? Maybe.
Or maybe not, she thought, opening the door to find Scott standing there looking like sex in a suit.
“You look very nice,” he said. “Are you ready to go?”
Maybe it wasn’t quite the reaction she’d hoped for from all the effort she’d put into her appearance tonight. Still, she told herself it would have been foolish to expect Scott to be knocked off his feet, as Stevie had predicted, by a snug red dress. Whatever she wore, she was still just Tess. She supposed he knew her too well by now to see her any other way.