“Fancy,” Anne texted back with a dancing girl emoji. Then she sent her sister a photo of herself in light colored jeans, a plaid flannel shirt, a trucker’s cap, and her hiking boots. “My evening attire.”
“Do you even own a pair of heels?” Dot loved to tease her little sister, but she was happy she’d landed right where she wanted to be.
Dot slipped her phone into her small gold handbag that went with everything and called for The Crew to get ready to load up. Danny would be there any minute. The thought of seeing him gave her a warm shiver down her spine.
Downstairs, Harper was settling Pippi in for the night on the couch with a chew toy, a blanket, and a promise that she’d be home soon.
“I always come back,” Harper said. Pippi gave her a pitiful “How could you leave me all alone here?” look but curled up in her bed and sighed loudly, resigned to her fate.
“She breaks my heart,” Harper said, kissing the dog’s head.
She had on white straight-leg pants, tan high-heeled clogs, and a Bohemian top in a deep copper that went well with her coloring. She’d left her hair loose and curly.
“They’ve evolved to make us feel guilty. It works! Anyway, don’t you look fresh!” Dot complimented her outfit.
“I don’t know. Are you sure?” Harper said, twisting this way and that, second-guessing her choice.
“It’s great!” Dot reassured her then called upstairs, “Mary! Danny’s almost here.”
“Coming!” A few seconds later, Mary came down the stairs in a black mini-halter tiered dress and silver spiky heels. She wore chandelier earrings and a stack of silver bangles on her wrist. She carried a black leather jacket over her arm and swung a new sleek black bag with a chain over her shoulder.
“Are you trying to give Jake a heart attack?” Harper asked.
“Yes,” Mary said simply as she applied one more coat of Tay Tay’s favorite Pat McGrath red lip gloss. She play-kissed the mirror, and Dot ushered them out and closed the door behind them.
They walked onto their porch and Dot waved to Danny as he pulled up in his four-door pickup. As they were getting into the truck, Dot felt her phone buzz in her handbag. She pulled it out and saw the message from Kitty she’d been waiting for about the dating profile.
“She loves it. No edits. Post anytime then send me the link,” Kitty said and added a star emoji.
“Oh wow,” Dot said.
“What’s up?” Danny asked as he pulled his truck onto the street to head to the bookstore.
“Long story—just a work thing. I’ve got one more thing I need to do tonight.”
“Need to stop at the office?” he asked.
“Nope! I can do it right here.” Dot waggled her phone at him. She read her Lopez dating profile one more time just to make sure there were no typos. “Okay, here we go.” Her finger hovered over the send button. This was so risky. But it was also exhilarating.
She hit “post” and said a silent prayer that it would work.
Chapter 56
Danny pulled up outside of Reader Falls and parked.
“Are you okay to stop in for a few minutes before we meet Jake and Tommy for dinner?” Danny asked. “The Jankowskis said it should be quick.”
“Sure, I love them!” Dot said. They all climbed out of the truck.
“I could pick up a new novel, too,” Harper said.
“Another one already?” Mary said.
“It’s my one indulgence!” Harper defended herself.
“Give me the one you just finished. I’ve been dying to read it,” Dot said.
“You two need to watch more TV!” Mary couldn’t keep up with Dot and Harper’s insatiable reading habits.