Page 219 of Pumpkin Spice Promises

“I know.”

“You can put on jeans.”

“I know.”

“And Beau will still look at you like he’s forgotten how to breathe.”

That made me smile. “You’ve noticed that?”

“Everyone with functioning eyesight has noticed that.”

I laughed.

Meme adjusted a strand of my hair. “The question is whether you’re wearing this because you want to or because you’re trying to prove something.”

“I want to wear it.” My gaze returned to the mirror.

Meme smiled. “Then stop staring at yourself like you’re waiting for permission.”

Headlights swept across my bedroom wall, and my heart instantly jumped in excitement.

Meme’s smile became downright obnoxious. “Your mechanic’s here.”

“He’s not my mechanic.”

“He certainly isn’t mine.”

Beau’s truck was parked near the porch when I stepped outside. The October evening had finally developed an edge of coolness that hadn’t existed a few weeks earlier. Summer still fought for the afternoons, but mornings required jackets now, and once the sun disappeared, the air carried the first real promise of fall.

Marigold was changing with it.

The oak beside the house had begun turning from the top down, green leaves giving way to muted gold. Along the driveway, one of the maples had gone almost completely red over the last week. Fallen leaves gathered against the porch steps and scattered across the gravel whenever the wind moved through.

Beau climbed from his truck, his blue eyes finding me, and he froze.

I had spent the last half hour convincing myself the dress wasn’t a big deal. Women wore dresses every day. There was absolutely nothing revolutionary about fabric ending above someone’s knees.

Then Beau looked at me.

My nerves eased just enough for me to smile. “You okay?”

His gaze traveled slowly from my boots to my face. “No.”

I laughed.

He shut the truck door and came toward me.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Extremely.” His hands settled around my waist. “I had an entire plan for tonight.”

“Had?”

“You’re creating complications.” Beau kissed me before I could answer. His mouth lingered long enough to make me forget the argument anyway. When he pulled away, his eyes dropped again. Not to my prosthetic, they swept over my entire body. Heat spread beneath my skin at the desire in his eyes.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

“Thank you.”