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Bells turned and her shocked face had her running back toward me. “Sorry!” She took half the pile and urged me toward the back of the shop. Then she darted to the left and added three dresses to the pile.
I staggered toward the seats near the dressing rooms. There was a small staging area with what looked to be an area for alterations.
The woman came floating through the dressing area. “I’m Dee. If you need anything just let me know.”
“Thanks.” Bells bustled into the room with an armful of clothes and then dragged me behind her. “I want to see it all. Even if you hate it.” She smiled winningly and backed out the door. “Don’t make me stand guard.”
I sighed. I supposed this was going to be a bit more intense than I’d thought.
I fingered the teal dress she’d grabbed at the end, then set my pile down. But it would be worth it.
And I wanted to find something special for tonight. My heart tripped at the thought of just what tonight would mean with Beckett.
I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, but maybe it would be okay to dream a little.
Chapter24
Beckett
Hers
“You don’t have to go up that far.”
Justin wiggled up another half dozen branches with the long string of golden lights. “Relax, Beck. I’m just making sure you impress your girl tonight.”
My knee jerk reaction was to say she wasn’t my girl, but in truth, I wanted her to be. And that might be a stack of fool’s gold right about now, but it didn’t change facts. I liked her with me. Liked her smell on me, liked the way she felt under me and over me, and most of all, I liked hearing her laugh.
I had a feeling I was beyond fucked at this point and I just didn’t care. Maybe that made me an idiot, but I was willing to play the idiot tonight.
For her.
“Well, if you’re up there...”
Justin peered down at me. “Yeah, what now?”
I held up the package of paper lantern lights I’d bought.
“Man, you really do like this girl.”
“Shut up.” But I grabbed the pole I’d been ineffectually using to put the lights up before he arrived.
I wasn’t as young and nimble as my acrobatic daredevil younger brother was. Quickly, I unwound the string and fastened them to the hook at the end of the pole to hoist them up to where he could reach.
He grabbed the end then draped the awkward string over his shoulder so he could tack one end against the bark with his thumb. “Here?”
“Well, if you’re playing monkey…you could go up a bit.”
“Oh, can I?”
“You could.” My voice was deadpan and got the desired results. Justin snorted, but he climbed up a few more branches and plugged it into the larger string lights. It was a softer light but added a nice bit of red and orange color. Then he hooked the lantern lights to bow across the center of the old Ash tree across from my balcony deck off my bedroom.
I climbed the steps to make sure it made a good impression from the table I’d set up and gave him a thumbs up. We’d wrapped the tree and porch railings with tiny twinkle lights leftover from Christmas decorations I’d found in my shed. I wasn’t much for decorating, but I usually hosted our White Elephant family Christmas party, so I had some simple gear.
Then I’d bought a bunch of flameless candles to give some ambiance to my balcony and bedroom.
The sprinkler system had taken longer than I’d bargained for which meant I’d had to SOS my brother for some help. I was entirely sure I’d never hear the end of it.
But Helena was worth it.
