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“Gwendoline, what’s up, lass?”
But it wasn’t Angus who answered my call for help.
And it wasn’t Angus who dropped everything to come to help me.
Fifty-Six
WRESTLING WINE COUNTRY STYLE
Ophelia
I am in my office reordering what merchandise stock I need with the Papillons supervising from where they are nestled together on an ottoman beside my office desk.
I checked in with Gwen to see how her morning hike was going and color me surprised when I discovered Shamus was with her, knowing my BFF has the hots for him, but I am glad she isn’t on the trail by herself, stopping me from worrying about her safety.
Checking the time on my phone, it shouldn’t be too much longer until Gwen walks through the door, and I can grill her about the sexy Scotsman.
My phone sends me a security alert, so I stand and check the screens on the sidewall of my office, which shows various areas of my property under continual surveillance 24/7. There is movement on the driveway where Teagan and Alice are getting out of Shamus’s Pontiac, looking fashion fabulous.
I can deduce Shamus rode his motorcycle to the trail. I wonder if they rode together. All these new possibilities are filling my mind. Did they have a first date, or was it a non-date?
I wasn’t expecting any company other than my friend arriving home this morning. I’ve still got my hair twisted up in a towel and my robe on from showering after doing laps in my pool, but I think nothing of walking out to greet Tucker’s sisters with Coco and Oscar in my arms.
“Hey ladies, you lookgorgeous.What brings you here looking all fancy?”
It is a little after half past ten in the morning, and they are both dressed in romantic, floral, long flowing breezy dresses with their hair styled in messy up-dos, their makeup on point, and each holding a designer shopping bag.
“Ophelia, we have come to make you look prettier than you already are,” Alice announces, looking very pleased with herself dressed in white and pink floral.
“You have? To what do I owe the pleasure?” I am intrigued but confused.
“We have a surprise for you, well T—”
Teagan nudges her older sister in the side.
“—oh, yeah, I am not allowed to tell you too much. It is a surprise.” Alice’s eyes twinkle with mischief.
“Well, okay then. I gather I shall do as you ask without question. Is that the deal?”
“Yes. That would be perfect.” Alice raises the bag she’s holding out to me. “This is a Valentine’s Day gift for you to wear.”
“Oh… wow… that’s very nice… um…thank you.” Before taking Alice’s designer brand shopping bag, I hand over Coco to Teagan, who kisses him on his forehead and then snuggles him against her chest. She may look all fancy, but she doesn’t hesitate to hold my little boy.
Alice takes Oscar off me, cooing and cuddling the little guy so that I can peek inside the bag.
Peach, olive, and white material wait to get discovered in the bottom of the bag. I dip my hand inside, drawing out the most feminine dress I have ever seen or owned. I let the bag fall to the ground as I examine the romantic gown that will show cleavage and has cut-out bits on the side of the waist and back. The shoulders are a chaos of narrow ruffles that, when tied, will hold the dress’s bodice up, and they work their way over the shoulders draping down the back.
“Oh my… this is so beautiful, ladies. Who do I have to thank for this gift?”
“There are shoes in the bottom of the bag, too,” Teagan adds, dressed in her ultra-feminine dress of lilac and apricot floral.
“Oh, my.” I reach down into the discarded bag and hold up a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. “Wow! How did I not see these pretties? They will match the dress perfectly. I place them back in the bag and fold the dress, carefully stuffing it back into the bag. “Okay, so who is the stylist out of you two, and who am I thanking for these expensive gifts?”
Alice waggles her finger at me. “Ah-ah-aah.It is a surprise.”
“Ladies, I am totally in for what you have planned, but I hate to be a party pooper because I do have guests arriving after three today, so will that fit in with—”
“This is more a lunch thing, and we know you have bookings because we checked with Gwen. Speaking of, we have a dress for her as well.” Teagan holds up her bag as proof. “Gwen will be here shortly, and so will Paisley.”
