Page 11 of Take the Wheel

The back of Nancy’s head was unreadable.

Ari couldn’t push, but shecouldcharm. ‘I’ve learned to read your body language from the back, you know.’

Nancy was intrigued and amused. ‘Oh?’

‘Your shoulders have been saying no this whole time, but your hands are thinking about it,’ Ari told her.

Nancy’s fingers tapped once against the steering wheel. A tic, like she was holding back a response.

The sign for the Edinburgh exit flashed past.

Nancy exhaled sharply. ‘Fine. I’ll do it.’

Ari grinned. ‘Excellent. Take the exit.’

Nancy blinked. ‘What?’

‘We’re going shopping.’

Nancy groaned but didn’t argue. She just flipped the indicator and pulled off the motorway.

Ari sat back, smug. ‘Iknewyou were going to say yes.’

Nancy shot her a look. ‘Youdidn’t.’

‘And yet…’ Ari said, flashing her teeth in a smile.

Ten

Nancy stood in front of the mirror, dead-eyed, while Ari fussed around her like a woman possessed.

‘Turn.’

Nancy turned.

‘Hmm.’ Ari tapped a finger against her lips. ‘It’s good. But we can do better.’

Nancy resisted the urge to remind her that she had, at best,mildenthusiasm for this whole situation. Well, the money anyway. Instead, she yanked at the neck of the sequined dress she’d been stuffed into as if adjusting it might somehow make her feel less ridiculous. But it was no good. She looked like a mirror ball.

The shop was the kind of place Nancy would normally avoid on instinct. It was the sort of boutique where the staff looked at you like they could guess your salary within seconds. Ari, of course, fit right in.

‘This one is fine,’ Nancy said flatly.

‘Not if you hate it,’ Ari countered.

Nancy sighed and looked at herself again. Itwasfine. The cut was good, the fit was sharp. That was enough.

Ari, unfortunately, had other ideas. She gave Nancy a critical once-over, then flicked through the dresses on a nearby rail, the silk and chiffon whispering as they slid over each other.

Nancy closed her eyes briefly. She wastired. They still had a few more hours on the road before they reached the venue, and every minute wasted in this shop was another minute she wasn’t in the car, getting this whole thingover with.

‘We should go,’ she said, pinching the bridge of her nose. ‘We still have to drive—’

‘We’re staying in Edinburgh tonight.’ Ari said it like it was already decided.

Nancy frowned. ‘No, we’re not.’

‘Yes, we are. The festivities don’t actually start until tomorrow, and the wedding is the day after. Today is just the big receiving. We don’t need to be received.’ Ari plucked another dress off the rail and shoved it at Nancy. ‘Try this. Then we’ll go have a nice dinner, and in the morning, you can drive us the rest of the way.’

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