yeah, and she would kill to thrill the man who’d held her nightmares at bay through the second half of last night. She fingered the exquisite material of the beautiful blue dress Becca offered. “Okay, I’ll try. I just don’t know, though. I think you’re shorter than me without those crazy heels, thinner too. Bitch.”
They both cracked up.
“We’re not that different, you’ll see. It’ll work. You have a great figure. A bunch of these are stretchy and some I hemmed myself so we can undo the no-sew tape really easily.”
Brielle relented. “All right. I’ll come down at lunchtime if you really don’t mind.”
“Fantastic.” She leaned in for a one-armed hug, squashing some of the dresses between them.
Sunset painted the city an array of pretty colors. Glass buildings reflected streaks of citrus hues from orange to yellow with a few pinks splashed about. Bright lights dotted the skyscape, mixing natural light with fluorescents.
Brielle should know. She concentrated on the twinkling to distract herself from the tiny car they flew through the streets in. Focusing on the outside calmed the anxiety that built inside her despite the relaxing soft jazz, which floated from the speaker hidden in a door or the back of her seat somewhere.
“Becca, would you mind cracking your window a little?” She tapped the other woman on her shoulder.
“Are you too warm? Kurt usually freezes me with the air conditioning, so I have it set on something less than arctic.”
“You ladies have no idea how good you have it in those almost-nothing dresses. Try wearing a full suit and jacket in the middle of summer,” he grumbled, still with a smile. No doubt he approved of the tangle of crisscross straps and delicate yet tasteful strips of emerald silk that tied his wife up like a Christmas present he probably couldn’t wait to unwrap.
Brielle fanned her face. “Sorry, no. The temperature is fine. Although if you’re uncomfortable, Kurt, I could live with it cooler. I’m just having a hard time catching my breath back here.”
“Honey, you should have said something.” Kurt glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “I forget sometimes how small this car can seem. Luke’s always bitching because his long damn legs fold up to his chin when he rides in it. Says he loses all his cool points, grunting and groaning as he tries to get out with some semblance of grace.”
Now that she knew him, she could imagine him saying it. How he would sound, the bold smile he’d have on his face and the way his eyes would crinkle a tiny bit at the corners as he made himself the butt of a cosmic joke.
“Next time you can sit up front.” Becca pushed a few buttons. The covering on the sunroof slid back and then the glass lifted. The extra pane helped Brielle see more of the clouds and the breeze was enough to splash her cheeks without disrupting the stylish half-up, half-down curly hairdo Becca had crafted.
“I’m sure Luke won’t let her out of his sight next time. Good luck riding on his bike in a dress like that, though.” Kurt smiled at his wife. “Maybe he’ll be forced to give up that ridiculous thing after all.”
“How can you guys be so confident this is a good idea? Are you sure he’s not going to mind me showing up unannounced?” Acid churned in her stomach. She folded her hands over the gurgling in an attempt to still the nervous reaction.
“I’ve known the guy since we thought girls were icky.” Kurt shifted smoothly as he wove between traffic and zipped through a yellow light. “He’s had about a hundred and forty-seven crushes since then. Never once did I believe it was the real deal. Hell, I didn’t used to think there was such a thing. Maybe partially because I’d see him ‘fall in love’ over and over, only to change his mind once the infatuation wore off.”
“You’re not making me feel a heck of lot better.” Closing her eyes didn’t help the dizziness starting to spin her world
They both cracked up.
“We’re not that different, you’ll see. It’ll work. You have a great figure. A bunch of these are stretchy and some I hemmed myself so we can undo the no-sew tape really easily.”
Brielle relented. “All right. I’ll come down at lunchtime if you really don’t mind.”
“Fantastic.” She leaned in for a one-armed hug, squashing some of the dresses between them.
Sunset painted the city an array of pretty colors. Glass buildings reflected streaks of citrus hues from orange to yellow with a few pinks splashed about. Bright lights dotted the skyscape, mixing natural light with fluorescents.
Brielle should know. She concentrated on the twinkling to distract herself from the tiny car they flew through the streets in. Focusing on the outside calmed the anxiety that built inside her despite the relaxing soft jazz, which floated from the speaker hidden in a door or the back of her seat somewhere.
“Becca, would you mind cracking your window a little?” She tapped the other woman on her shoulder.
“Are you too warm? Kurt usually freezes me with the air conditioning, so I have it set on something less than arctic.”
“You ladies have no idea how good you have it in those almost-nothing dresses. Try wearing a full suit and jacket in the middle of summer,” he grumbled, still with a smile. No doubt he approved of the tangle of crisscross straps and delicate yet tasteful strips of emerald silk that tied his wife up like a Christmas present he probably couldn’t wait to unwrap.
Brielle fanned her face. “Sorry, no. The temperature is fine. Although if you’re uncomfortable, Kurt, I could live with it cooler. I’m just having a hard time catching my breath back here.”
“Honey, you should have said something.” Kurt glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “I forget sometimes how small this car can seem. Luke’s always bitching because his long damn legs fold up to his chin when he rides in it. Says he loses all his cool points, grunting and groaning as he tries to get out with some semblance of grace.”
Now that she knew him, she could imagine him saying it. How he would sound, the bold smile he’d have on his face and the way his eyes would crinkle a tiny bit at the corners as he made himself the butt of a cosmic joke.
“Next time you can sit up front.” Becca pushed a few buttons. The covering on the sunroof slid back and then the glass lifted. The extra pane helped Brielle see more of the clouds and the breeze was enough to splash her cheeks without disrupting the stylish half-up, half-down curly hairdo Becca had crafted.
“I’m sure Luke won’t let her out of his sight next time. Good luck riding on his bike in a dress like that, though.” Kurt smiled at his wife. “Maybe he’ll be forced to give up that ridiculous thing after all.”
“How can you guys be so confident this is a good idea? Are you sure he’s not going to mind me showing up unannounced?” Acid churned in her stomach. She folded her hands over the gurgling in an attempt to still the nervous reaction.
“I’ve known the guy since we thought girls were icky.” Kurt shifted smoothly as he wove between traffic and zipped through a yellow light. “He’s had about a hundred and forty-seven crushes since then. Never once did I believe it was the real deal. Hell, I didn’t used to think there was such a thing. Maybe partially because I’d see him ‘fall in love’ over and over, only to change his mind once the infatuation wore off.”
“You’re not making me feel a heck of lot better.” Closing her eyes didn’t help the dizziness starting to spin her world
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