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The dress caught the lights from the Christmas tree and seemed to glitter as she held it up.
She glanced over her shoulder at Dawson. “Do you think they thought we didn’t own formal wear?” She said the words carefully, as if she wasn’t quite sure whether to be insulted or not.
“I have no idea,” said Dawson. “But the ball is tomorrow. Are you free?”
She pressed the dress against herself and swayed as if dancing to some secret music, letting it swish around her. “If I wasn’t before, I am now. I am definitely going to the ball.”
She looked excited.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the dress and sandals again. “St. Eligius is the most exclusive hotel in the city. Have you ever been there?”
“I interviewed a very famous basketball player there,” he admitted. “The guy was staying there with his entourage. I think they had the whole floor. I, on the other hand, bought some sodas at the bar for myself, the cameraman, and the sound guy and nearly passed out when they brought the check.”
“So, you’re just as excited as me then?” she teased.
“I guess so,” he said, watching the expression on her face.
Of course, he liked the invitation to one of the swankiest balls in town, but somehow the thought of going with Piper was so much more significant.
“Let’s make a deal,” he said suddenly.
She looked surprised but stopped spinning around with her dress. “Okay.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet, how can you say okay without a second thought.”
She moved her head, and he could tell she was thinking about her answer.
“Because I trust you,” came the response.
It was like a fist tightening around his heart. All the little signs. All the glances, the smiles, the electricity in the air when their skin came into contact. Those few words were like a stamp on his heart. She trusted him. That was all he really needed to hear.
He licked his lips. “Let’s leave the clue solving until after the ball.”
It was a delay tactic, and he knew it. But he needed it. He needed this to continue for as long as it could. He liked being around Piper, he liked her company, her thoughtfulness, and the little things that went along with that. Solving the clues, was beginning to feel like a weight around his chest. That sensation of reaching the end of a long trail for treasure and a mighty portcullis in a castle slamming down between them before they reached the prize. Win or lose, things might be different. And he didn’t want that. He wanted things to stay the way they were.
Her answer was soft, as was the expression in her eyes. “Okay,” she agreed. “It’s only one day. It will give us time to”—she paused for the briefest moment—“think about things,” she finished.
He froze, wondering exactly what she meant. Think about the clue or think about… them.
He ran his fingers over the tuxedo. “Do you think this was Margaret Smith’s doing—or do you think it was McNally, Sully, and Travers?”
“Oh,” she said with confidence. “I suspect this was Lady Margaret—that’s what I’ve started calling her in my head. I’m kind of sad I didn’t get to know her as an adult. I have a distinct impression that Margaret Smith was a mischief maker and likely a whole lot of fun.”
“I think you could be right.”
Piper picked up her jacket. “I have to head home. I’ll need to rearrange my plans for tomorrow to make sure I’m free at night. I wanted to take some temperature readings in my greenhouses for research. But I can do it tonight instead.” Her dress had been carefully placed back in the white box and she balanced it in her hands. “The car’s picking me up at 5:40 p.m., ten minutes after you tomorrow night. I’m glad I merit an extra ten minutes to get ready,” she joked.
“I’m sure you’ll look perfect.” He wanted to move closer. He wanted to ask her to stay longer. But instead, he held the door for her then walked her down to her car.
As she pulled out of his parking lot, Dawson went back up in the elevator and back into his apartment. The only lights on at present were from the Christmas tree.
It was special. As he touched the squinty star, he felt a whole wash of memories from his childhood. Why had he taken so long to put this back up again? He’d been worried about missing his mother. But instead, all he did was remember her support, her love, and her spark.
As he looked around his apartment, he felt another pang. Empty. A feeling he hadn’t experienced when Piper was here. She’d made the place feel happy, alive.
Dawson took a deep breath. He knew what he should do. Whether it was memories of his mother that was giving him the push, or the soft invisible hand of Margaret Smith, it didn’t really matter. They were conspiring against him.
And he hoped they would win.
