Page 8 of The Dom with the Clever Tongue

Cross shrugged. “You’re just giving them pointers. If it looks like it’s going farther than that, just remember to eat your Wheaties.”

Malachi smirked. “Is that what helps you manage Gemma and Izzy?”

“No, you’re just puny compared to me. You need all the help you can get.”

“Most humans are puny compared to you. I’m pretty sure you’re part sasquatch. You’re about as pretty as one.”

He attempted a pretty face but managed to just look weird. “Well, Gemma and Izzy think I’m pretty.”

“Nah, they tell everyone they stick around because you’re hung like a donkey.”

“You would know.” Cross chuckled.

Malachi shot up straight in his seat. “We vowed never to discuss the ruler incident.”

“I may still be hung over from that night.”

He laughed out loud. “That was when we were in the twelfth grade!”

“Shhh. I’m trying to block it out again.” Cross stared at the ground and shook his head.

“You’re the one who brought it up.”

Chapter 4

“I think I should change my name.” Reece stuck a pin in the silk fabric then pointed at her messy desk. She really should start cleaning in here more often. “Can you hand me that gold trim?”

“This?” Scarlet picked up a spool of ribbon.

“No, silly. The trim!” She shook her finger at the bundle of shimmery trim on the other side of the desk.

“Oh.” She handed it to her. “Well I don’t know what I’m doing!”

Reece chuckled. “You’d think you’d have caught on by now. You’ve been helping me do this for the last year.”

A brow arched. “I can’t even walk out the door without something in my wardrobe clashing.” She ran a finger over the blue silk at the top of the gown Reece was currently working on. “Or so you tell me. Matching colors and fabrics will never be my thing.”

“It’s not much different than construction.” She measured the bust then wrote the number on a paper on the desk. “We’re both building something using a formula of numbers.”

“Yeah, except what I make is sturdy and holds up a house, and what you make is...”

“Shallow and useless?”

Scarlet sighed. “You know I don’t think that. I was gonna say pretty to look at. What you do for these girls is...remarkable.” She smiled as she ran her gaze over Reece’s newest project – a sky blue silk A-line gown that would flatter any body type.

That was her goal – taking donated dresses and fixing them up to look current and fit every body type. She knew better than most that girls come in all shapes and sizes. Many teenagers in the city would’ve loved to go to prom but couldn’t afford a dress. Having missed her own because her single dad hadn’t had the money for a ticket, the hair, and the dress, it was an easy decision to start anorganization to help girls in the same situation. Even if she’d had the money to buy a dress in high school, it would’ve been impossible to find one in her size. Especially back then where the only larger sizes came in old women’s styles.

A few years ago, when she’d worked her way up the ladder in her career, she’d had some extra money and wanted to help young girls that were in similar situations as she’d been. At first it was just her, redesigning and sewing as many gowns as she could in the months before prom. Now it’d grown and three other women helped her in their spare time. And Scarlet. Even though she had no interest in fashion, prom, or sewing, she’d spent many late nights the month before prom, handing Reece this and that, trying things on, sometimes turning into a human pincushion. It was one of the things that had made Reece fall in love with her.

“You give them a chance to feel like a movie star even if it’s just for one night,” Scarlet said. “Passion is rare and I admire it in you.”

Reece looked back at her girlfriend and smiled. “Thanks, pookie.” It was a daring move. Scarlet hated nicknames and it was Reece’s favorite way to tease her.

A handful of glitter landed all over her head and shoulders.

“Ahh! Bitch!” She brushed the silver flecks off her shirt. “Now I’m gonna have glitter stuck in my hair for days!”

“Serves you right. I’ve told you no pet names.”

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