Truly, Madly, Whiskey(63)
Crystal took it from her, admiring the dress. The bare shoulders would drive her man out of his mind. He loved kissing her shoulders. “This is gorgeous. What about the color? And it’s so feminine. I’m not used to wearing anything like this.”
Tegan glanced at Crystal’s Rolling Stones T-shirt. It was her favorite, with the big red lips. Her eyes dropped to her skinny jeans and ankle boots, then climbed back up to Crystal’s face. Crystal had taken extra time with her makeup this morning, giving herself smoky eyes to go with the dark outfit.
“There are not many girls who can make the outfit you have on look like it belongs on a runway, but you definitely do. I think you can more than pull off this dress. If you put your hair up and leave some tendrils hanging down, you’ll look beyond elegant. Throw in a pair of pretty heels, and no man will be able to resist you.”
“I don’t need every man, just one particular very hot one.” Crystal fidgeted with the ends of her hair. She could count on one hand how many times she’d worn her hair up in the last few years. It was another layer of protection, something to hide behind. Maybe it was time to step out from behind that shield, too.
“Come on.” Tegan walked toward the back of the store. “I’ll show you the dressing rooms.”
Dixie fell into step beside them. “I love that color.” She held up a short, off-white lace dress with a wide brown leather belt. “What do you think?”
“That is totally you. It’s perfect.” Crystal stepped into a dressing room, pushing away the reality that the last time she’d bought something this feminine was when she was in college. She hung the dress on a hook and looked at herself in the mirror, feeling nervous and oddly proud of herself for even considering trying on the dress.
She’d had black hair for so long, she couldn’t remember what she looked like with dirty-blond hair. How would Bear react if she ever went back to blond? Her heart squeezed with the memory of his silence when he’d seen her blond pubic hair, and she knew it wouldn’t matter what color hair she had. Bear’s affection was bone deep.
She changed into the minidress, instantly feeling prettier and even a little freer, though she was nervous about how feminine it was. The cutout beneath the choker, and the bare shoulders, made it super sexy. If she added one of her jeweled arm cuffs, she could take this dress from ultra feminine to edgy and hot. And Bear liked hot.
“Crys?” Gemma called out.
“In here.” She ran her hands nervously over the dress, preparing for Gemma’s reaction.
Gemma’s head peeked through the curtains and she gasped. “Oh my gosh. You’re gorgeous! Dixie, come see!”
Dixie’s head appeared above Gemma’s. “Holy smokes.” She held up her phone and took a picture.
“Do not send that to Bear!” Crystal reached for Dixie’s phone, but she held it up over her head. “Please don’t, Dixie. I want to surprise him.”
Gemma grabbed Dixie’s hand. “You can’t ruin this surprise for her.”
Dixie rolled her eyes. “Fine. But look how pretty you are. And he has to wait weeks to see you in it? Bear is going to lose his shit when he sees you.”
“You really think so?” Crystal hoped she was right. “You guys look amazing, too. Gemma, you were made for that dress, other than the excessive amount of boob space that needs to be taken in.”
They all laughed.
“I’ve got that covered,” Tegan said, waving a pincushion.
“And, Dixie?” Crystal shook her head. “I’ve never seen you in anything but jeans. Talk about stunning. You should wear dresses more often.”
“Yeah?” Dixie looked down at her dress. “For what? It’s not like I need easy access for anything. If only I could find a guy who isn’t afraid of my brothers.” She’d told them that she’d hooked up with a few guys over the years, but finding a man who was alpha enough, sweet enough, and who flew under her brothers’ radar was nearly impossible.
“Oh please,” Jewel said. “There has to be some guy in town who isn’t afraid of big biker guys.”
“You are now on my Find-a-Man-For list,” Crystal said.
“You have a Find-a-Man-For list?” Gemma asked.
Excited at the prospect of helping Dixie find a man, she said, “Well, I didn’t. But now I do.”
“I’ll help,” Gemma said. “Project Find a Man for Dixie. I like it.”
Dixie rolled her eyes. “Might as well start the interviews with, ‘Are you afraid of gnarly dudes on motorcycles?’”
“Yup,” Gemma agreed. “That’ll come right after, ‘How fast can you run?’”
“Okay, ladies. Let’s nip and tuck.” Tegan waved to the three-way mirror. “Step right up here on this platform, Gemma, and I’ll get you squared away. I’ve got to be out of here by nine. I’m making a clown costume for my niece, and she needs it by Friday.”
Gemma and Crystal exchanged a curious glance.
“You make costumes?” Gemma asked.
“Just for Melody. She loves to dress up,” Tegan said as she tucked and pinned the bust of Gemma’s dress. “I’ve made my own clothes for years.”
“Do you do seamstress work for other shops?” Gemma asked.