Page 75 of Bayside Heat
“I’m sorry about your grandmother.”
Sadness washed over him, and just as quickly, a smile lifted his lips. “Thank you. I miss her, kookiness and all. She was a wild one until the day she left us.”
“Have you thought about hiring a company to help you redesign?”
He wagged his finger at her. “Are you going to give me a sales pitch for your overpriced Boston firm?”
“No, not at all. I was actually thinking about a friend of mine who owns a small interior design firm here on the Cape. Maybe you know of her? Justine Harkness? She owns Shift Home Interior in Hyannis.”
“I don’t, but I’d be happy to talk with her. Why don’t you give me her information and write down your name so I can tell her you referred me?”
She followed him to the counter, where he gave her a pen and a notepad.
“This might be just the kick in the pants I need to get started.”
Serena wrote down her name and Justine’s contact information as Desiree and Violet came out of the dressing rooms.
“Holy cow!” Emery squealed.
Serena and Donovan hurried over. Desiree twirled in a peach, lace-up corset maxi dress with ruffles from hips to ankles, and Violet crossed her arms over the knee-length, curve-hugging, sleeveless black dress with a slit up the right side.
“What do you think?” Desiree asked. “I still can’t believe I found a wedding dress so easily. I wasn’t even shopping for one when we found it.”
“You look beautiful,” Violet said. “It’s…” Her eyes filled with warm emotions Serena had never seen. She quickly schooled her expression and said, “It’s perfect.”
“It’s feminine and breezy. I love it,” Mira said. “You’ll knock my brother’s socks off.”
Emery touched the ruffles and said, “It’s so you. It’s really stunning.”
“You make me want to have a beach wedding,” Chloe said. “But for that I’d need a man.”
“I can help with that,” Donovan offered, making them all laugh.
“Desiree, you are the most gorgeous bride I’ve ever seen, other than Mira, of course. And, Violet…” Serena was at a loss for words. She must have looked it, because Violet rolled her eyes.
Serena carefully uncrossed Violet’s arms and walked around her, visually following the gold metal zipper, which started just below her ribs on her right side and wound around her body, across her lower back, and over her left hip, ending at the top of the slit on her upper thigh.
“Let me show you the pièce de résistance.” Donovan took hold of the zipper at her ribs and unzipped all the way around her lower back and over her left hip, revealing a sexy path of tanned skin that snaked around her body.
“Holy cow, Vi. You look like a model,” Desiree said. “You should wear dresses more often.”
“Right,” Violet said sarcastically.
Emery walked around Violet, assessing her, and said, “Seriously, you look like you could catch fire.”
“I’d do you,” Chloe said, “and I’m not into girls.”
Violet rolled her eyes again. “You don’t have to butter me up. I can wear it for an hour or two, but I’m not wearing heels.”
“I almost forgot!” Donovan hurried over to an antique armoire and pulled out a boot box. He opened the top and handed a pair of black, wedge-heeled and fringed ankle boots to Violet. “Harley-Davidson Tybee boots, the hottest boots around for our biker girls. The hidden wedge heel and stylish fringe makes them perfect for dressing up or leathering up.”
“These are kickin’,” Violet said.
Desiree beamed at her. “Really? You’re going to wear the dress and the boots?” She threw her arms around Violet, nearly toppling them both over. “Thank you! I wouldn’t have cared if you wore your leather miniskirt and bikini top, but this means the world to me.”
“Whatevs, sis,” Violet said with a sigh. “Can I change now? I’m freaking starving.”
“Yes. Go!” Desiree nudged her toward the curtain. Then she threw her arms around Donovan and kissed his cheek. “You’re amazing! Thank you so much for everything. The dress fits perfectly, and Violet looks like a dream. Now I just have to find heels.”
