Page 52 of Small Town Sash

"Remember this?" Braden asked as he took Hadley's hand, leading her in an impromptu dance on the cobblestones.

"Hard to forget," she murmured, laughter lacing her words while they swayed without music, save for the rhythm of their own connection.

"I've got one more destination for you," he whispered against her ear. He pulled back gently and fished the final clue from his pocket.

"I have a neck and no head, two arms but no hands. What am I? A blouse," Hadley guessed with a massive grin. "But where do we get one?"

"I thought it would point to the dress shop better than that," he told her sheepishly. "I guess I should have thought of that one better."

"That's okay. It still works," she said, taking his hand and pulling him toward her new work, where Candace greeted them with a knowing nod.

Hadley's latest sketch hung in the window—a knee-length dress of flowing fabric the color of twilight skies.

"Try it on," Braden encouraged.

"How did you get this done so fast?" Hadley questioned wide-eyed. "I just sketched it a couple of days ago."

"Lucky for me, Candace is a fast seamstress," Braden explained.

Hadley took the garment and slipped into the dressing room. She emerged minutes later, looking radiant. The dress seemed to capture her essence—elegant yet vibrant.

"Stunning," Braden breathed out, meaning every syllable.

"Thank you," she whispered, cheeks flushed with a blend of pride and pleasure.

"Braden, this..." Hadley searched for words as she twirled around in the dress. "No one's ever done anything like this for me."

"You're worth it," he said quietly. "You're worth so much more."

"Still," she insisted, reaching over and squeezing his hand. "It means everything."

"Good," he replied, his smile soft and genuine. "Because that's what you mean to me."

"I don't know how to thank you."

"There's no need to. But I do have one more clue for you," Braden's voice cracked the way it did when nerves got the best of him. He pulled out one last piece of paper and handed it to her.

"Oh really," her attention snapped to the paper as she unfolded it. "What did the boy squirrel say to the girl squirrel when he wanted to take her out on a date?" Her brows furrowed together for several seconds before she shook her head. "I have no idea what the answer is."

"I'm nuts about you," Braden told Hadley as he took her hands in his. "Would you like to go out with me? On a date?"

For a moment, there was silence. The sort that stretched just long enough to make Braden consider enlisting Dash for emotional support.

"A real date?" Her head tilted, dark curls tumbling over one shoulder.

"Like...dinner and a movie. Just you and me—" He stumbled over his words, his usual confidence taking a backseat.

"Okay, then." She looked up with a smile. "Yes, I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Really?" He blinked, surprised by the ease of her acceptance.

"Really," she confirmed, squeezing his hands. "But if you bring up swimsuit competitions, the deal's off."

"Deal." He laughed, relief flooding through him. "Swimsuits are officially banned from our conversations."

"Good." She pulled back, the spark in her blue eyes igniting something warm inside him. "So, when is this date?"

"Is tomorrow night too eager?"

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