Page 68 of Ultimate Justice

“Yo,” Deck said. “Tori’s holding dinner. You coming over anytime soon?”

“Negative. I’ll be later than expected.” A lot later.

…

“That’s the one.” Tori nodded as Marlie turned in front of the oak mirror, getting her first glimpse of the velvet cocktail dress’s plunging backline. For that matter, the front of the dress barely covered her breasts. The off-the-shoulder sleeves were the only things keeping it from sliding down her arms.

A knock sounded on the other side of Tori’s bedroom door.

“Come in!” Tori called out.

Deck stuck his head in. Instead of looking at Tori, he looked at Marlie. “Evan just called. He—” His jaw dropped. “Wow. Evan’s gonna swallow his tongue when he sees you in that dress.”

Really? she nearly asked. That wouldn’t sound too pathetically needy. The bigger question was, why hadn’t he called her directly?

Duh, because this isn’t about you. It’s about the case. His whole life seemed to be about his job.

“I knew it was the right dress.” Tori winked at her as she slipped her arm around Deck’s waist. “Now get your tongue back in your mouth.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He grinned and kissed the top of her head. “My observation was fact-based only.”

Tori narrowed her eyes. “Good comeback.”

He cleared his throat, now looking at Gemma. “Evan and Brett had to go to the airport for an interview. They don’t know what time they’ll be done.”

Brett’s girlfriend shrugged. “I’m used to it by now.”

“Ladies. Noah and I will be watching a movie.” Deck gave a quick salute as he backed from the room and shut the door.

Marlie looked at herself in the mirror again. “Seriously, I don’t know.” Given that she’d given all her pretty dresses to Goodwill, she was grateful to Tori for loaning her a dress for the wedding but didn’t think she could pull it off the way Tori could.

Gemma propped a pillow behind her on the bed, taking a sip of wine. “Purple is definitely your color.”

Marlie snorted. So I’ve heard. “I’m not sure I can wear this.”

“Why not?” Tori parked her hands on her slim hips. “You’ll make Evan look good.”

“Don’t tell Brett I said this”—Gemma lowered her voice to a whisper as she glanced at the door—“but Evan is hot.”

“Gemma, really?” Tori glared at her friend.

“What?” Gemma held her arms wide, the engagement ring on her left hand sparkling.

At learning Brett had popped the question, Marlie had wanted to make an excuse and bolt, but that would have completely derailed the healing process she was determined to keep on track. Running like a frightened rabbit every time someone else experienced joy wasn’t the answer.

“Deck is hot, too,” Gemma continued, “but of course, I have lust and love in my heart only for Brett. Especially now.”

“Thank you for that,” Tori said, and they all laughed.

Marlie had to admit she’d done more than her fair share of laughing over the last three hours.

On the way to the FBI office, Evan had dropped her and Noah at Deck and Tori’s house for safekeeping. Apparently, word had spread like wildfire that she’d agreed to go to the wedding. The moment they’d finished dinner, Deck had whisked Noah off to his man cave to try on a suit procured from a neighbor, then watch The Pride of the Yankees with Gary Cooper.

Tori and Gemma had made her their personal project, plying her with wine while they did her hair and makeup and she tried on dress after dress. She liked these women, enjoyed talking with them. Aside from Tish, she hadn’t had any social interaction with other women in years. Until now, she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed it.

Working at North Metro, she already knew Tori was an ER doctor, and a very good one, at that. Over a bottle of wine and baked ziti, she’d learned Gemma was an investigator for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That, and the woman had a tendency to speak her mind.

Gemma refilled all their glasses, emptying the bottle of Chardonnay. “So, what’s it like sleeping with Evan?”