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“Hi, dear. I live in Brookswood and heard about your delicious banana bread and cookies. I’m having my bridge club tonight and I’d love to wow the ladies with your goodies.”
“That’s wonderful. Thank you. I have cookies here.” She pointed to the cookies in the case. “And if you see nothing you want here, I can decorate some for you. It’ll take me about an hour to get them decorated and let them set up, but it can be done.”
“Oh, that sounds perfect.”
Shianne stood and scooped up their empty lunch containers, wiped the table with a napkin and waved as she walked out the front door. Lara’s heart felt lighter as she helped her customer.
At four o’clock on the dot, Shianne walked in the front door with a dress bag.
“You had to close up early to be here right at four.”
Shianne shrugged. “There wasn’t anyone around and I’m excited for you to see this beauty.”
She hung the dress on the utility room door, which was just to the left of the bakery counter. She unzipped the bag and gently removed the bag from the shoulders of the dress. Lara stood transfixed as Shianne revealed the dress to her.
She stepped forward and touched the pretty netting and the gold applique. The strapless top showcased an interesting, pleated front. The blue was unusual, just like her eyes, and the transition from blue to white created a stunning visual.
“Wow.”
“Right? I knew you’d love it. As soon as I saw it, I knew you needed to have it.”
Shianne clapped her hands together. “Oh, wait.” She picked the hanger off the door and spun the dress around. “Look. The back laces up.”
“Wow. It’s stunning.”
“I know! I know! Hold it up to you.”
Lara’s fingers shook as she took the hanger in her hands and pulled the dress tightly to her. She looked down at it and the way it fanned out made her feel like she’d glide across the floor.
The doorbell rang, and she looked up to see Tate and Spencer standing before her.
His eyes blazed into hers, and it felt like the world had stopped moving for a moment.
Shianne started talking. “I’ll bet you’re Tate.” His eyes then moved to Shianne’s. “And you must be Spencer. Lara told me she’d met you guys.”
Tate turned his million-watt smile on Shi as he introduced himself. “Yes. Tate Vickers.” She giggled as he shook her hand.
Spencer repeated the action. “Spencer Lawson. Nice to meet you.”
“So, this is the dress I picked out for Lara for the Bourbon Ball. Isn’t it fantastic?”
Tate nodded. “It is. It matches your eyes.”
He said it softly, but she heard it. Her heart squeezed tightly, and her body heated. She felt the prickling in her chest, and she knew she was bright red.
Shianne clapped her hands. “I know. You guys need to meet people in town. You should come to the Bourbon Ball. It so happens, we don’t have dates.”
She looked at Shianne and shook her head. That girl. But the cat was out of the bag now. She locked eyes with Tate.
“Tate, would you be my date for the Bourbon Ball? Spencer and Shianne can go together, and if you need us to find dates for your friends, we’ll see what we can do.”
Spencer chuckled. “That sounds fun. And it appears this ball is formal?”
Shianne responded, “It is. But I can get you hooked up with a tux if you need me to. I have a friend in Brookswood who owns a larger shop than mine and they carry tux rentals, too.”
“When is this Bourbon Ball?” Spencer asked.
“It’s in two weeks. It’s THE event of the year around here.”
