Page 38 of Pipe Dreams
Lauren held the dress up and tried to see it with unbiased eyes. “Mike Beacon bought me this dress as a surprise. I wore it to a wedding here in Florida.”
“Wait!” Becca squeaked. “What do you mean he bought it as a surprise? Like—he walked into a store and chose it?”
“He did, in one of those boutiques on Collins Avenue in South Beach,” she said, her eyes traveling the soft gathers of silk at the bosom. “He bought it because he said it was exactly the same color as my favorite hydrangeas. It fit me perfectly, too.”
Georgia laughed over the rim of her wineglass. “I love Leo desperately, but I’d be terrified to see what he’d walk out of a dress shop with.”
Ari snorted. “Patrick would probably choose stripper wear.”
“Right?” Georgia cackled. “Try it on, Lauren. I want to see.”
“We’re dressing Ari right now,” she dodged.
“True,” the publicist said, sipping her wine. “But later I want a look at this mythical creature—a nice dress chosen by a man.”
Ari tried on a fit-and-flare dress that Lauren had brought in white with little black hearts all over it. “What do you think?” she asked, emerging from the bedroom.
“Cute!” Georgia said. “It’s so whimsical that I wouldn’t have thought you’d like it. But it’s adorable.”
Ari turned in a circle. “It’s not too young?”
“Oh, please!” Lauren said, clasping her hands. “In the first place, you’re still young. Because if you’re old then there’s no hope for me.”
Becca giggled.
“And furthermore...” Lauren walked in a circle around Ari. “That looks fabulous. Your legs look about seven miles long, and your coloring makes you the only person I know who can wear white in April.”
“True dat,” Becca agreed. “Well, Georgia could. She’s sort of golden all year round.”
Ari smiled, moving over to admire herself in the bathroom doorway, where she could see the mirror. “If you really don’t mind, I’d love to borrow it.”
“I really don’t mind. Lending out a dress almost justifies my shopping habits.”
“I’ll be really careful.”
“I’m not worried.” Lauren chose a sandwich for herself and began to relax. “What are you wearing, Rebecca?”
“I’ll show you after we paint everyone’s nails. Let’s put a few inches of water in that ridiculous hot tub and we can all soak our feet. And Lauren—that glass of wine I poured is for you. I’m not allowed to have any alcohol yet.”
“Bummer,” Lauren sympathized.
“It really is.”
•••
Lauren had gotten a pedicure before leaving New York, so she didn’t need Becca’s services. But facing a black-tie party with Mike Beacon in attendance required careful attention to the rest of her grooming. She curled and styled her hair while everyone else got painted. The constant chatter of female voices in her suite made her feel less lonely.
Becca unveiled her dress, and it was soher—a strapless vintage dress from the 1950s. Rose-colored lace flowers covered white fabric, and a matching satin sash circled the waist.
“Wow!” Georgia said. “I’m glad you decided it was time to wear that one.”
“I know, right?” Becca gave it a little shake. “I hope it’s dressy enough. Nate asked me to have drinks with him before this shindig starts. He’s meeting his old friend before the party starts, and he says...” She pulled out her phone and squinted at it. “Stick close because I don’t want to talk business. Alex wants to pick my pocket on the router division.”
Lauren laughed. “Oh, Nate. Way to handle it like a grown-up.”
“I met Alex once a long time ago,” Becca said. “Do you think Nate has a thing for her? Is there another angle, here? Am I supposed to make her jealous or something?”
“No,” Lauren said quickly. “Nate doesn’t want to get an offer from Alex on the router division because he thinks he can get a better deal if someone else offers first.”
