Some Like It Haute: A Humorous Fashion Mystery (Style & Error Book 4) by Diane Vallere

and Nick came outside. “Kidd,” he said.
    “Taylor,” I said back, opting for mimicry like we were in fifth grade.
    “I almost didn’t recognize you. You look different.” He smiled and the crinkles at the corners of his root-beer-barrel colored eyes deepened. “New haircut,” he added.
    “I needed a change.”
    “Change can be good.”
    He reached up as if he were going to push my hair away from my face like he’d done so many times before. I put my hand palm-side out and stopped him before he touched me. The smile dropped from his face. We stared at each other as if there was something to be said but neither one of us knew where to start.
    “How’s the job hunt going?” he asked.
    “Great. But I’m guessing I shouldn’t count on you for a reference.”
    “Come on, you know it wasn’t like that.”
    “No, I guess it wasn’t. But hey, thanks for recommending me to Amanda.” I held both thumbs up and gave him a fake smile. “That’s sure to head somewhere really great.”
    He grabbed my wrist and pulled me around the side of the building. I looked over my shoulder at the parking lot. No signs of Dante.
    “If you have something you want to say, then go ahead and say it,” he said.
    “Me? What could I have to say? The last actual conversation we had was you telling me to turn my back on Eddie in his time of need. But all of a sudden, it’s your friend with the crisis. What do you want me to do now, Nick? Ignore Amanda’s problems and watch somebody destroy her business?”
    Nick’s eyes flashed. “It’s not the same thing.”
    “You’re right, it’s not. Because this time you asked me to help her.”
    “And I’ve felt guilty about that ever since.”
    “Well, don’t. None of this is for you or for her. I’m only trying to figure out who attacked me. Maybe nobody else cares about that, but I do. Saving Amanda’s business would be icing on the cake, but you know something?” I put both hands on his chest and pushed him back. “I can totally eat cake without icing.”
    He looked at me as if I’d turned blue and told him I planned to live under a mushroom. “Kidd, you’re not making any sense.”
    Did I just say something about eating cake without icing?
    I sensed that righteous indignation was a limited resource that would soon give way to tears. I would not let Nick see me cry. I would not let him know how I’d felt when the days after our last conversation turned into weeks. When I’d been in the hospital and he hadn’t even sent me a card.
    “Samantha?” said Dante from behind me. I looked over my shoulder and smiled. He approached us and put his hands on either side of my waist. “You didn’t have to wait outside for me.” He looked at Nick and then back at me. “How about I go get us a booth?”
    “Sure. I’ll be done in a second.”
    The bells over the door chimed as Dante disappeared inside. I turned back to Nick. The crinkles were gone from his eyes. “Kidd,” he said. “I never expected things to get so complicated.” He bent down and kissed my cheek. “Take care of yourself.”
    He went back inside, leaving me out front. Seconds later, Eddie came outside with a white pizza box balancing in his hand.
    “Dude? Are you okay?”
    A single tear dropped from my eye and left a cold track over my cheek. I swiped it away. ““I know you have to get back to Tradava, but I’m not ready to leave yet.”
    “I saw Dante come in. Are you responsible for that too?”
    I nodded. “Go. I’ll be fine. I’ll catch a ride home with him.”
    “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
    I pushed through the doors, scanned the interior, and found Dante seated at a booth in the back. I snaked through the crowd and lowered myself onto the opposite side of the vinyl booth. The wine buzz from earlier was wearing off, but under the circumstances, I knew it would be a good idea to order something to eat.
    “Hey,” I said.
    “Hey yourself,” he answered. “New look?”
    I