Girl in a Vintage Dress

by Nicola Marsh

  She would’ve liked to, for she’d adored her older sister. Until she’d turned into a stuck-up cow who wouldn’t smile unless she got paid for it.

  Curious to hear Cari’s perspective on her brother’s romantic endeavours yet kicking herself for caring, she continued to sip her cocoa, hoping her silence would be all the encouragement Cari needed. Thankfully, it was.

  ‘Sure, he’s done his fair share of dating. Nothing serious.’ Cari paused, shot her a sly grin. ‘And I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you.’

  ‘That’s because I’m a challenge,’ she said, wishing she’d remained silent when Cari shook her head, her grin replaced by a frown.

  ‘Do you always do that, sell yourself short? Because you shouldn’t. You’re a successful, attractive businesswoman.’ Cari glared for good measure. ‘And nobody gives a rat’s if your sister is a supermodel. You’re the one we know and love.’

  Lola choked on her cocoa, the sting of tears prickling her eyes.

  How could this go-getter, savvy corporate lawyer say something so right and mean it, when her own family didn’t recognise her worth?

  ‘Chase said something similar.’

  Cari snapped her fingers. ‘There you go. Two smart Etheridges can’t be wrong.’

  ‘You won’t be an Etheridge for much longer.’

  Cari glowed whenever any mention of Hugh or the wedding came up.

  ‘Actually, that’s why I came out here.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘Wanted to catch you in a quiet moment before we wind up tonight and you rush off tomorrow.’

  Lola gnawed on her bottom lip. Was she that easy to read? For that was exactly what she’d planned on doing, packing the last few boxes in the van at the crack of dawn and making a hasty getaway before she could be drawn into awkward goodbyes with a sexy CEO who could probably get her to stay with a lazy smile.

  ‘I’d like you to come to the wedding.’

  Lola’s mouth dropped open before she realised how ridiculous she looked and snapped it shut, as Cari held up her hand to stave off any potential refusal.

  ‘In my line of work, I don’t get a lot of downtime so I don’t socialise much. When I do, it’s with those crazy four in there, girls I’ve worked with for years.’

  For the first time since they’d met, Cari appeared uncomfortable as she squirmed in the seat before releasing her legs and sitting upright.

  ‘What I’m trying to say is, I don’t make friends easily, Lola. I don’t have the time or the inclination. But this past week has been great and I feel like I’ve known you as long as the four Bs. So what do you say? Will you come?’

  Speechless, Lola swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat. ‘But it’s a small wedding, close friends and family—’

  ‘I don’t even know if my own parents will show up so apart from Chase the family thing is moot. I want you there.’

  Distracted from her dilemma from a moment, she tried to make sense of what Cari had just said.

  ‘Your folks aren’t coming?’

  Cari shrugged, a wealth of hurt in her face. ‘They RSVP’d to the invite but with them you never know. Apparently they’ve got some graduation thing on the same day. Wouldn’t put it past them to decide to attend that at the last minute instead.’

  ‘But isn’t your mum…’ She bit back the rest of what she was going to say, understanding the pain Cari was going through, empathising completely.

  If she got married, would her mum be helping her choose a dress and flowers and catering? Not likely.

  Was that why Chase was organising the hen’s party too? He’d said it was because his sister had everything and he wanted to do something special, something out of the ordinary, but was it because their mother didn’t care enough to be involved in her only daughter’s wedding?

  ‘We’ve never been close so she isn’t involved in the wedding.’ Cari picked at a fraying thread on the cushion she hugged to her chest.

  ‘Chase practically raised me. We had nannies early on but once he was deemed old enough he picked me up from school, cooked dinner, helped me with my homework. He was amazing.’

  Trying not to pry but shocked that the two successful Etheridges had had such a stark upbringing, she said, ‘Where were your folks?’

  ‘At the university. They’re professors there. They basically lived there, using our house as a place to sleep whatever hour they came in.’

  Cari clutched the cushion tighter. ‘When Chase and I were young it wasn’t too bad. We’d do some family stuff at the uni after school. Picnics and walks mostly. But once Chase hit his early teens and could look after me and fend for himself, they withdrew, spending more time at work.’

  Lola didn’t blame Cari for her audible bitterness. She knew exactly what it was like to be ignored by your parents.

  ‘Now you can understand why having family at the wedding isn’t all important but I do want friends, people who mean something to me, to be there.’

  When Lola opened her mouth to protest Cari made a zipping motion over her lips.

  ‘And that includes you.’

  ‘Are you sure? I’m not—’

  Cari’s eyes narrowed. ‘No underselling, remember?’

  With a rueful chuckle, Lola finally nodded. ‘I’d love to come. Thanks for the invite.’

  Cari let out a whoop and hugged her and this time she fought a losing battle with the tears.

  It wasn’t until they’d both swiped their eyes and she followed Cari back into the house to get the dancing underway did she realise that her intentions of making a clean break from Chase once she left here had just gone up in a cloud of confetti.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  LOLA loved dancing. She loved the fluidity, the sensuality, the ability to lose herself in the music.

  She loved how people of any shape or size could seemingly float across the dance floor looking elegant and light-footed.

  And she especially loved the rhythm pulsing through her body, making her feet itch to get out there and join whoever happened to be dancing.

  Except tonight.

  Tonight, she’d intended on being the teacher, putting to good use the lessons she’d had when she’d first moved to Melbourne and opened Go Retro.

  She’d wanted to offer full service parties and as part of her packages she included old-style dancing. Anything from the waltz to the foxtrot, the Pride of Erin to the Charleston, she could do it all and dancing was the one time she never felt self-conscious about her size.

  Until Chase Etheridge walked in the room and propped himself against the wall at the start of the first lesson.

  ‘Hang on a sec, girls, back in a tic.’

  One of the Bs sniggered as she marched across to Chase, whose grin widened as she approached.

  ‘Don’t mind me, I’m here to pick up a few pointers.’

  Stifling the urge to smile right back, she tried a frown for good measure.

  ‘I don’t perform to an audience.’

  ‘Oh, I wasn’t here to just watch.’

  Before she realised his intention, he’d snagged her hand and tugged her closer, before spinning her out and back again, leaving her breathless.

  ‘When I said I want pointers, I want first-hand instruction from the teacher.’

  Trying to ignore the clapping and cheering from the girls, she pushed against his chest.

  ‘I don’t need a partner to teach, thanks.’

  He pretended to consider this but she could see the mischief shifting in his eyes. He was up to something.

  ‘Shame, because the rest of the girls will be partnered up and I didn’t want you to feel left out.’

  ‘Partnered?’

  She jumped as he whistled, a short, shrill call followed by what sounded like a herd of stampeding cattle coming down the hallway.

  When five guys burst into the room and Cari shrieked, she narrowed her eyes and glared.

  ‘This is a hen’s party. Where’d the famous five come from?�
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  ‘See for yourself.’

  Lola turned in time to see Cari fly into the arms of the tallest guy, a redhead, and kiss him silly, while the four girls didn’t waste time introducing themselves to the other guys.

  When Cari and Hugh finally disengaged, Cari looked so radiant she didn’t have the heart to chastise Chase further.

  ‘Where’d the posse come from?’

  Chase raised his hand in a casual wave that only guys could pull off when trying to act cool.

  ‘Hugh’s mates. Guys he’s invited to the wedding, I presume. I called him up, said Cari was pining and would love to have him and some mates join the girls on the last night for a bit of serious booty shaking.’

  She jabbed him in the chest. ‘That’s false advertising. We’re doing old-style stuff, not Latin American.’

  ‘We can improvise.’

  Sliding an arm around her waist and tugging her close, he murmured in her ear, ‘I quite fancy seeing you shake your—’

  ‘This must be Lola.’

  Trying to squirm out of Chase’s grip and failing, she managed a tight smile for Hugh, who was nothing like what she’d imagined. Somehow, she’d envisaged Cari with tall, dark and handsome, and the closest she’d got was with the tall.

  Hugh had bright blue eyes and red hair and a smattering of freckles that made him look ten years old, yet she knew from Cari’s chats he was a thirty-two-year-old corporate lawyer constantly underestimated by his peers and courtroom foes.

  ‘Nice to meet you.’

  ‘Likewise.’

  She smiled and stuck out her hand, engulfed in his but thankfully not squeezed too hard before he released it. ‘So you guys up for some dancing tonight?’

  Hugh pulled a face and lowered his voice as he glanced over his shoulder and saw Cari making a beeline for them. ‘I loathe anything involving my two left feet but my bride-to-be is insisting on dance lessons so thought it wouldn’t hurt to get in a bit of practice tonight.’

  ‘Brave man.’

  Chase clapped him on the back as Cari joined their group and hooked her arm through Hugh’s, gazing up at him in obvious adoration.

  When Hugh glanced down and their eyes locked, communicating some silent sweet message that had them both blushing, a lump formed in Lola’s throat.

  What would it be like to be in sync with a guy? To be totally on the same wavelength that you didn’t have to speak to convey thoughts?

  She’d love to find someone like that, someone who openly adored her yet would be happy with the real her, the woman behind the pin curls and red lipstick.

  She’d never met any guy she’d been willing to reveal herself to, never come close.

  And Chase chose that moment to slip his hand into hers and gently squeeze, as if sensing her thoughts and the lump in her throat grew to boulder proportions.

  ‘Looks like the gang over there is still busy with introductions. Why don’t we wait fifteen minutes then get started?’

  Shooting Chase a grateful glance, Lola watched Cari and Hugh do their eye contact thing again, as if words weren’t necessary.

  ‘Fine with me,’ Cari said, snuggling closer to Hugh. ‘Gives us a few minutes to catch up.’

  ‘That’s what they’re calling it these days,’ Chase muttered, masking his cheek with a discreet cough when Cari glared.

  ‘Come on, hun, I’ll show you the flowers I’ve chosen.’

  As Cari tugged Hugh towards the door in a hurry, Chase murmured, ‘Bet those pics are in her bedroom.’

  Hugh grinned and gave him a thumbs up while Cari tilted her chin higher and pretended not to hear.

  Waving a hand at the four Bs doing their best to match up with Hugh’s mates, Chase said, ‘Want to get some air?’

  ‘Yeah, why not?’

  Belatedly realising they were still holding hands, Lola let Chase lead her to the atrium, her favourite place inside the house during the day when sunlight flooded through the floor to ceiling glass.

  Now, as they stepped inside and she reached for the light switch, Chase stilled her hand.

  ‘It’s better this way.’

  Lola had no idea what he was referring to but her heart pounded in anticipation as he led her deeper into the cavernous room and tugged her down on a chaise longue beside him.

  ‘Look up.’

  She craned her neck, only momentarily resisting when he eased her back so her head rested on his shoulder, his arms sliding around her middle to cradle her close.

  ‘Wow,’ she breathed out on a sigh, blinking and refocusing at the twinkling stars scattered across the midnight-blue sky.

  ‘Yeah, wow,’ he echoed and as she tilted her head slightly, she realised he was looking at her, not the stunning solar show overhead.

  A raging battle took place between her head and her heart.

  Head: ‘What the heck do you think you’re doing? Last night, remember? Clean break? Hello?’

  Heart: ‘When he holds you like this, couldn’t you just stay this way for ever?’

  Head: ‘Dummy, there’s no such thing as forever with a guy like him.’

  Heart: ‘Yeah, but being in his arms feels so good. This is the last time, must savour it.’

  Head: ‘Sheesh, don’t say I didn’t warn you.’

  ‘What are you thinking?’

  With a reluctant sigh, she eased out of his arms and sat up, her heart aching while her head approved.

  ‘I’ve got a ton of work to catch up on at the shop so I’ll be leaving early in the morning.’

  ‘Running away?’

  He spoke so softly she barely caught it and couldn’t read his expression in the shadows.

  ‘We both need to get back to Melbourne.’

  Back to the real world.

  A world filled with monthly mortgage repayments and bills and ledgers in the red, a world far removed from hot-air balloons and late night chats over cocoa and charming billionaires hell-bent on flirting their way into her heart.

  When the silence stretched between them, she blurted, ‘But I’ll see you at the wedding.’

  ‘Cari invited you?’

  He made it sound as if his sister would’ve been more likely to invite the man on the moon.

  Hugging her arms around her middle, she nodded. ‘You got a problem with that?’

  ‘Do I look like I’ve got a problem?’

  He leaned towards her, his intent clear as her heart stalled before stuttering and stomping all over the place and she shuffled backwards until her back hit the arm rest, effectively trapping her.

  ‘If we’re seeing each other at the wedding, why don’t we catch up before then? There’s a new hotel opening in town early next week.’ He paused, almost uncertain, as he added, ‘You should come with me.’

  Confused, Lola searched his face for some clue as to where the invitation had come from. Was he asking her out on a date or just thought it’d be nice to catch up as friends before his sister’s wedding?

  She couldn’t gauge much from his expression. Strangely, she could’ve sworn she’d seen a flicker of something when he’d asked her to the hotel opening, but it was gone so quickly she might have imagined it.

  Unsure how to respond, some of her misgivings must’ve shown for he pinned her with an intense stare.

  ‘As my date, in case you were wondering.’

  He snagged her hand again and this time she let him, doing a happy dance on the inside.

  He’d asked her out. On a date!

  Instilling the right amount of casualness into her voice, she nodded. ‘I’d love to.’

  ‘Great.’

  He jumped to his feet and tugged her along with him, until she was snug against his chest and his arm held her waist tight.

  ‘Let’s do a warm up dance.’

  Blown away by his spontaneity, she said, ‘But there’s no music.’

  ‘We’ll improvise.’

  With that, he held her close, leaving her no option but to rest her cheek against his chest as he hum
med a hit of days gone by as they gently swayed side to side.

  On a romance scale of one to ten the dance scored an eleven and as Lola’s eyelids fluttered shut, she still had stars in her eyes.

  Not from the view overhead but from being in the arms of the man she’d fallen for.

  ‘You lied.’

  Lola ignored Imogen, propped against the counter, as she turned and checked out her rear in the mirror, hoping this dress had been the best choice. She’d only tried on five before finally deciding. ‘Lied?’

  Satisfied her butt didn’t look gi-normous, she leaned forward and slicked another layer of Plum Crush on her lips.

  ‘You did do the horizontal cha-cha with Chase, otherwise you wouldn’t be dressed like that.’

  ‘I didn’t!’

  Not for any lack of wanting to. ‘And what’s wrong with the dress?’

  Imogen smirked. ‘Sex on legs, baby, sex on legs.’

  ‘Rubbish.’

  Though as Lola did another twirl in front of the mirror, she had to admit Imogen had a point.

  The strapless magnolia satin calf-length dress embossed with violet and ebony flowers hugged her curves, the rich material draping and clinging in all the right places, making it look as if she’d been poured into it.

  So what? This hotel opening was a big deal; at least, the fact Chase had asked her on a first date was a big deal and she had to look the part.

  ‘I reckon you lied about not reading those romance novels too. That dress reeks of heroine-seducing-hot-hero material.’

  Imogen rubbed her hands together. ‘I want details, girlie. You’ve told me practically nothing since you got back from the mansion.’

  ‘Nothing to tell,’ she said, allowing herself the luxury of a small secretive smile as she remembered the kisses, the chats, the dance in the atrium.

  ‘Your lascivious grin says otherwise.’

  ‘You’re imagining things.’

  Lola quickly ducked her head on the pretext of shoving her lippie into the plum sequinned bag she’d chosen to go with the dress.

  ‘You know, if you don’t tell me anything I’ll be forced to approach the source himself.’ Imogen smirked. ‘Oh, look, here he comes now.’

  Lola’s head snapped up in time to see Chase enter Go Retro and her heart danced a jig while she managed to shoot Immy a warning glare.