The Sheriff's Mail-Order Bride (The Watson Brothers #2)(48)

Gina reached up and wiped up the dribbles with a tissue before throwing it in the bin. “Poor little man is teething again. If he starts to fret too much, call me and I’ll come back and get him.”

“We’ll be fine won’t we, young buddy?” He kissed Gina on the lips and winked at Callie. “You ladies have fun and buy something stunning. My bride is going to look incredible on her wedding day regardless of how many people are there.”

“She will, trust me on that one.” Callie smiled and grabbed hold of Gina’s arm. “Come on, we have shopping to do. See you guys later.” She waved and pulled Gina out of the office.

“I have no idea of where to start first.” Gina looked down the street both ways and sighed.

“Well, if you go down there, you have the dress boutique and they have a mix of all kinds of clothes or go right down the street to the bridal shop. I think that’s your best bet. If we head the other way there’s a cute little dress shop, I haven’t had a chance to go in and look yet.”

“Bridal shop it is then.” Gina hooked her arm through Callie’s and they hurried down the street. “I have no idea what I’m going to buy, no idea at all.”

“Let’s wait and see what they have and we can see what takes your fancy first.” She laughed. “I’m so not a girly girl so you’ve picked the worst person possible to go dress shopping with, I tell you.”

“No, I haven’t. You’re my friend and I value your opinion. And I know you’ll tell it like it is.” They both burst out giggling over Callie’s trademark saying, lightening the mood and soothing Gina’s frazzled nerves.

Married in Marietta stood out amongst the other shops. Baskets of flowers soaked up the sun on the path in front of the large bay window. They stepped through the open door into a feminine room filled with mannequins displaying dresses in soft colors and a wide variety of fabrics and styles. The smell of vanilla filled the shop and soft music played in the background.

“Can I help you, ladies?” A petite sales assistant walked up to them.

“She’s on the hunt for a wedding dress.”

“Lovely, I’m sure I can help out. I’m Lisa, by the way.”

“Hi. This is Gina Taylor and I’m Callie Watson, Chance’s wife.”

“I heard he’d brought back a bride. So nice to meet you both. Now, what exactly are you looking for? A short, long, or evening type of dress?” She stood with her hands clasped in front of her waiting for Gina to answer.

“Um, look to tell the truth, I have no idea. I’ll know it when I see it.” She glanced around and found herself sadly overwhelmed by the dresses on display. “I’m sorry I’m not much help. It’s going to be a small wedding at home so nothing too over the top.”

“Let me see what we have in your size then. I’m guessing a six?”

“Yes.”

“Right, you go into the dressing room and I’ll start bringing in the dresses I think might be suitable. We can try every dress in the shop if you like, until you find what you’re after.”

Callie pushed her toward the back of the shop and into the dressing room. “Strip.” She stood at the door and waited for the first dress to arrive before handing it over to Gina.

“What do you think?” Gina gazed over her shoulder to see how the back looked and pulled a face at her reflection.

“Nah, not you. If it was, you would know right away. Here’s the next one.” She passed in a frothy bundle of baby blue tulle and stepped back. When Gina was dressed she eyed it critically. “Nope, next one.”

Gina was desperate for a drink of water by the time they’d gone through eleven different dresses. “This is really pretty.” Callie handed her a cream dress with a wide flowing skirt of lace and thin straps over the shoulders.

A wave of relief rolled over her. This was it, the dress she wanted to get married in. Gina stepped into it and pulled the straps up over her shoulders. She turned to the mirror as Callie did up the zipper for her. The color brought out highlights in her dark hair, and she twirled to get the effect of the wide skirt.

“It’s you, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“That looks really pretty. I thought it would.” Lisa stood at the door clasping her hand to her heart. “I love it when I see the right dress on someone.”

“How much is it?” Gina reached for the tag, but Callie quickly turned it over so she couldn’t see it.

“I have instructions that you aren’t to know that part.”

Gina didn’t try to argue because she knew it would be pointless.

“How about shoes to match? I have some lovely stilettos that color.” Lisa hurried out and came back with a couple of different sizes for Gina to try on.

By the time they had the dress and shoes packaged up, Gina was missing her little boy. She let Callie use the credit card Rory had given her to pay for the purchases while she looked the other way as instructed. If that was all it took to make her new bestie happy, it was the least she could do.

They walked back toward the sheriff’s office to collect Fisher, relaxed and happy that the two things on their list today had been achieved without spilling blood or having to beg.

They found Rory standing on the steps watching the passersby, chatting with the locals. Fisher sat snug in his arms taking it all in. When the girls arrived Fisher squealed and reached for his mother. She passed her parcels to Callie and took her son. “How is Mama’s little man? Been working hard?”