Both Ellie and Natalie chuckled as their assigned assistant smiled wide. “That’s exactly how you’re supposed to feel.”
“Well, I’ll let you ladies to it.” Neil offered El a friendly nod. “You look beautiful, Eloise. As always.”
“Oh, um…thanks.” She gave him a parting smile.
Not waiting for him to leave, she spun on her socked feet and headed back toward the dressing room to change. Her inner girlie girl did a little dance when the gown’s skirt twirled in a wide arc around her ankles.
Within minutes, she was out of the dress and back into her borrowed jeans, sneakers, and baby blue, lightweight sweater. And when the other two women were ready, the three close-knit friends walked out of the formalwear shop with smiles on their faces and bagged gowns in their arms.
“What’s on the agenda for you ladies today?” Ellie asked as they made their way down the sidewalk toward the building’s nearby parking garage.
“I’m going home to drop off my dress, and then I’m headed back to the office,” Cassie responded first. “I have court in two days, and with all the wedding planning, I’ve gotten myself a bit behind. It’ll be a couple of late nights, for sure, but after that—”
“It’ll be six whole days in the land of sun and sand,” Natalie finished for the other woman.
“Oh, that’s right!” Ellie looked over at a smiling Cassie. “I forgot you and Archer are taking off right after the reception.”
“We’re staying the night at a hotel near the airport,” the almost bride nodded. “Our flight to Hawaii boards at an ungodly hour the next morning, so we wanted to make sure we were close, just in case.”
“Eh, who needs sleep, anyway?” Nat teased. “I’m sure the two of you will have plenty of time to, ahem,relaxin bed during your honeymoon.”
Both Ellie and Cassie laughed at their friend’s use of air quotes.
“Yes, well…” A pink hue filled Cassie’s cheeks as she smiled with an almost bashful, “I can’t argue with that.”
The light-hearted conversation continued as they covered the distance between them and the garage. As they walked, Cassie talked about Archer some more, and it was so incredibly easy to see she was head over heels for the man she was about to marry.
The conversation soon shifted to Natalie, and the other woman mentioned she was heading to the Eagle’s Nest office to fill in at the front desk so Hannah could attend a funeral. When Cassie asked for more, all Natalie knew was that the young woman who’d died had been a close childhood friend, and her death was very unexpected.
“That’s so sad.” Ellie frowned. “Hannah’s only like, what…twenty-five?”
“Twenty-eight,” Natalie correct. “And yeah. That’swaytoo young to die.”
For the next few steps, the friend walked in silence. They were less than a block away from where the garage entrance when the sound of rushing footfalls reached Ellie’s ear.
She turned to see Neil—freaking Neil—jogging toward her.
“So, El.” The annoying man sidled up beside her. “You, uh…you got a date for this shindig you’re getting all dressed up for?”
Her heart kicked into gear as Lucky’s gorgeous face filled her mind’s eye. “Not yet,” she didn’t technically lie. “But I’m not—”
“Great! Tell me when and where, and I’ll go right back in that shop and reserve another tux. Think about it.” He gave her shoulder a playful nudge. “You and me, dressed to the nines…we’d be the best-looking couple in the joint.” Neil’s brown eyes slid to Cassie as he added an insincere, “No offense.”
“Um…non taken?” Cassie’s response came out more like a question.
Please, please make him go away.
“I appreciate the offer, Neil,” Ellie did lie then. “But I’m good. Thanks.”
“Come on, El. You and me…it’ll be just like old times.”
She didn’t want old times. She wanted…
Just say it. Lucky already told you he didn’t care who knew about the two of you, and it’s the only way you’ll get this guy to leave you alone, so just…freaking…say it!
“Actually, I will be with someone at the wedding.” Ellie stopped walking altogether. Her gaze bounced between her two friends and the man she was desperately trying to cut ties with, once and for all. “His name is Lucky. Well, that’s his nickname, but his real name is Jason Lucas. He’s a former SEAL and a security specialist with Eagle’s Nest, and we’re…” She looked at her friends rather than Neil as she confessed, “We’re dating.”
Dating.That was a good label for where they were with things. Technically, there’d been no actual date yet, but there would be. Tonight, as a matter of fact. After they both finished working for the day.