Wrecked by AJ Harmon

of
the most delicate and gorgeous fashion and Bess was enjoying the leftovers.
Clara informed her that some of the dresses were, in fact, from that era, being
carefully preserved for the modern-day woman to enjoy, although not many
realized what they were missing.
    Regina and Bess drooled over many of the gowns that Clara
had selected, and Bess tried most of them on, but once she found the one ,
it was all over. She stood in the small room outside the changing room and
stared at her reflection in the multitude of mirrors that surrounded her. From
every angle she was amazed at the way she looked and Regina could only gasp in
delight.
    “It’s like it was made specifically for you,” Clara declared
with joy.
    “Ethan isn’t gonna be able to take his eyes off you,” Regina
whispered. “I mean, you are gorgeous without the dress, but wearing that?
Damn!”
    “I’m taking it you like it?” Bess asked hesitantly.
    “Uh, yeah!”
    Clara fiddled with the long skirt, pulling it so it fell to
the floor in soft flares and folds, making her look tall and elegant. “You’ll
need shoes with about two inch heels,” she noted.
    “That works,” Regina replied. “Ethan is a good five to six
inches taller than her.”
    “I don’t wear heels,” Bess worried.
    “Two inches aren’t heels,” Regina laughed. “They’re just
heel lifts.”
    “Oh! I think I might just have the perfect pair. What size
shoes do you wear?” Clara asked Bess.
    “Eight.”
    And Clara hurried off to find shoes to compliment the dress.
    “You seriously look amazing,” Regina said as she walked over
to Bess. “If he hasn’t already, Ethan is gonna fall head over heels for you
tonight.”
    “Pfft,” Bess huffed. “Ethan would never want a girl like
me.”
    “You’re clueless, aren’t you?” Regina chuckled.
    “Here!” Clara interrupted as she shoved a pair of silver
sandals into Bess’s hands.
    “Oh, man. They are cute,” Bess grinned. “I think I might
even manage to stay upright in these.”
    Regina and Clara scoured the store and found a couple of
perfect accessories to complete Bess’s ensemble, and once they were carefully
wrapped and placed in her shopping bag, Bess was set for the evening with an
outfit that truly made her feel beautiful. She couldn’t wait to get home and
get ready for her date with Ethan.
    *****
    Ethan stood on the porch and adjusted his bowtie for the
umpteenth time. He felt much more at ease in scrubs and tennis shoes, but he knew
he looked good in his Armani tux. He just hoped like crazy that Bess would
notice. He’d never really cared what a woman thought of him, but Bess was very
different from other women. Talking a step forward, he wrapped his knuckles on
the wooden door a couple of times and waited.
    When the door swung open, his breath was snatched from his
lungs as he saw Bess standing before him. She was nothing short of stunning and
his jaw dropped in response. The first thing he noticed was her eyes, dark and
smoldering under thick black lashes and expertly applied makeup. Her lips were a
pale mauve and glossy… so ready to be kissed properly.
    She wore a silvery satin gown that gathered at her waist
with a belt and then fell to her feet that were adorned with silver sandals.
Even her toenail color matched her lips. Ethan’s eyes rose back up to her face
and golden hair, ringlets cascading down her back, begging him to run his
fingers through the silky curls. She literally had stolen his breath… and his
heart.
    “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he
whispered softly as he reached for her hand.
    “Thank you,” she blushed.
    “Are you ready to go?”
    Bess grabbed the silver clutch from the table next to the
door and nodded with a deep breath.
    *****
    Andrew stood in the window watching Bess walk to the car
with Ethan. She looked dazzling and he looked smitten. Andrew smiled. There was
nothing quite like the feeling of new love blossoming. He remembered it