I turn to Charlotte. It’s either that or laugh at Mimi’s expression. “Can you give us a few options?”
“Oh, absolutely.” Charlotte twirls away. All she’s missing is a wand, and she’d be a very posh Fairy Godmother.
“What has gotten into you?” Hand on her hips, Mimi eyes me warily. “I don’t need an evening dress. I just need something to schlep around in and maybe something to get me to work on Monday.”
“What if one of your upcoming dates invites you somewhere fancy?” I ask a little caustically. There’s no way she’s going to date anyone, not if I have my way, but the idea is like a scab I keep picking. She gives a tiny shake of her head as though she can’t believe what she’s hearing. Fair enough. I can’t believe it, either. Except when I add, “What if I want to take you somewhere special?”
“Like where?”
“That would be telling.” The event that springs to mind is the one that got me into trouble in the first place. It was after such agatheringthat I’d found I was pleasuring—fingering?—the sister of my deceased best friend instead of the woman I’d anticipated.
“Yeah, and this,” she says, pointing at her still moving mouth, “would be asking.”
“I’m always getting invited to things. Galas and art shows, gallery openings, the opera.”
“Those are the kind of places you take a date,” she says carefully.
“You did say I could ask you out.”
“Are you asking me out?”
“Are you angling for me to ask you out?”
“Are you going to answer the question?” she says, fighting a smile.
“I’ve taken the liberty to hang a couple ofgorgeousgowns in the dressing room,” Charlotte announces, oblivious to the charge bouncing between Mimi and me.
“Thank you.” Mimi turns her attention my way. “I’ll try them on, but that’s all I’m promising.”
“That’s fine.”
The rest I can work with.
25
MIMI
“Yes, that’s much better,”Charlotte decrees, fastening the last hook on the most beautiful evening gown I’ve ever seen. Black lace over a sheer under dress, the fabric clings to me like a second skin to my knees where it flares gently. It even has a train! It’s grown-up and sexy and, in truth, makes a person take a second look because it looks like I’m naked underneath. I’m not naked. I’m also not wearing my own underwear. “Infinitely better.” The corseting of this bra doesn’t interfere with the flow of the dress.”
Apparently, my own bra did. It was also an unsightly slash across the backless element. I said my imagination worked just fine, that I didn’t need to try the “correct” underwear. But because Charlotte is very thorough and likely working on commission, she insisted. She also brought matching panties with an obscene price tag considering the tiny amount of fabric, along with a pair of shoes with heels as high as a skyscraper.
“Surely, it doesn’t take that long to put on a dress.”
My stomach flips. There’s something kind of wicked about dressing and undressing knowing Whit is just on the other side of the door, listening to the sound of zippers overlaid by the low hum over our conversation. Conversation, I’ll admit, I’ve been hamming up kind ofgirl’s time!I’m not sure Charlotte gets what I’ve been putting down, but she’s played her part all the same. We chat, we giggle, we admire, makingoohsandaahsbefore I open the dressing room door with ata-da!kind of reveal for Whit’s endorsement.
He wanted to play dress-up, so I get to ham it up.
“I love the way this one feels,” I murmur sultrily as I slide my hand over my hip as though he could see.
“Yes, it really is rather beautiful on you.” Bending, Charlotte adjusts the train like a lady-in-waiting.
“Thank you, Charlotte. You’re such a doll.”
“Come on,” Whit mutters in complaint. If I’m not mistaken, that was his forehead hitting the door.
“When was the last time you wore a dress?” I ask, not bothering to hide the smile from my words.
“I remember taking a few of them off.” Charlotte giggles quietly, like he needs the encouragement. “And it never took this long.”
