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Paige soon learned there was one universal thing no girl could resist: playing dress up on another girl.

As Mariah dragged her into their room, Bailey and Tess eagerly padded along behind, but they froze in the doorway when they saw the guy lounging against the door, waiting for Mariah. In cowboy boots, lean blue jeans, a shiny brass belt buckle, and a Western pearl-snapped shirt, he’d crossed one booted foot in front of the other.

“Howdy,” he greeted with a Texas twang as he tipped his cowboy hat to them.

Covering her heart with one hand, Bailey sank against Tess as she gawked.

“All you really need for a costume party is some kind of ears and a kickass skanky dress,” Mariah instructed, pulling Paige along. Reaching into her closet, she tugged out a pair of bunny ears and set them on Paige’s head.

“Oh, those are perfect.” Tess clapped, skipping closer. “So do you think you have a kickass skanky dress that’ll work?”

Mariah rolled her eyes. “Look who you’re talking to here. Of course I do.”

And she did. It was red, sinfully tight, and short enough that Paige wouldn’t dare bend over while wearing it.

“It’s stunning,” Tess said, her voice awed. “Let’s try it on.”

When she reached for the hem of Paige’s shirt, Paige skipped backward and sent the cowboy a leery glance. “Umm…”

He grinned at her, flashing a pair of deep dimples. “Don’t stop on my account, darlin’.”

Bailey whimpered.

“Try it on after we’re gone then,” Mariah said with a sigh that told Paige what a prude she thought she was. “If that one doesn’t work, try this.” She shoved an emerald green dress into Paige’s arms. After grabbing up the overnight bag she often took with her when she stayed out all night, she strutted toward the cowboy. “Come on, handsome. Let’s go have some fun.”

With a nod, he pulled open the door, and let her precede him into the hall. As he stepped from the room, he glanced back, tipping his hat again to Paige, Bailey, and Tess.

“Ladies.”

The three waved as if in a trance, watching him shut the door. Slowly turning toward Tess and Paige, Bailey gulped down an audible swallow. “I cannot believe what I just saw.”

“I know, right?” Paige shook her head, a little flabbergasted herself. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen her with the same guy more than once.”

With a gasp, Bailey clasped her arm, hanging on tight. “He’s been here before? Do you know him? What’s his name? Is he single?”

“Hello.” Tess waved a hand in front of Bailey’s face. “You just saw him with the hooker!” She snorted. “And you ask if he’s single?”

“You’re right.” Bailey slapped the palm of her hand against her forehead. “Of course he’s single.”

Tess turned to Paige. “Is she for real?”

Paige had to bite her lip to keep from laughing.

“I wonder if he’s a real cowboy or if he was just wearing those clothes to look like one.” Bailey stared longingly toward Paige’s door as if she wanted another look at his…spurs. “Oh, what does it matter? He filled out those Wranglers like oh…my…gawd!”

Paige arched her eyebrows Tess’s way. “I’m going to go out on a limb here and say Bailey’s got a thing for cowboys.”

Tess sighed. “How’d you guess?”

As if she heard neither girl, Bailey glanced at Paige. “So do you think you can introduce us?”

“You are so pathetic.” Groaning, Tess put her back to her roommate, dismissing her as she faced Paige. “Let’s try on the red one first.”

It fit. A little too well. Her suitemates cheered and wolf-whistled as she spun in a circle before them.

Paige winced. “You don’t think it’s too—”

“You are wearing that dress and that’s final.” Bailey pulled out a chair from Mariah’s desk and dragged it to the sink. “Now sit. We’ll do your hair and makeup too.”