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“I just wantedto tell you I like her.” Zoey leaned against the counter, her hands resting on the edge. “Tina isgorgeous—man, thoselegs. I’d kill for legs like that. But she also isn’t somebody who’ll put up with your bullshit, either.”
I agreed with her about the legs, although I kept that quiet.
Out loud, I said, “We’re just friends, okay?”
“Uh-huh.” Zoey rolled her eyes. “Go on and tell yourself that if it makes you feel better. But you have never asked me to make one of your girlfriends a dress before. I’m glad she liked it, though.”
“We both did.” Memories of the minutes we’d spent in the rooftop garden while the fireworks exploded overhead threatened to distract me, but I gently nudged them aside. “Tina loved it. She mentioned it more than once.”
“She was an inspiration to design and dress, built like an Amazon with stunning curves, strength, and grace. But you haven’t told me why you hired me to make her such an expensive gown. If it’s not because she’s special to you, then what is it?”
“We’re just friends, honestly. Tina has a promising interior design business, however, she’s still trying to establish it, and her funds are limited. I didn’t want her to feel like she had to buy a dress just because I invited her to the gala, but I wanted her to wear something nice.”
Zoey’s smile spread over her face. “I’ve already said it once, but it was my pleasure to do the dress for her. She rocked the hell out of it, too.”
“Yeah.” When she first stepped out on the porch, the shimmering blue caressed her curves like a lover. “She did, didn’t she?”
“So, just friends, though. Uh-huh.” Zoey gave me a sarcastic look.
“You’re a brat,” I told her.
“Guilty as charged.” She spread her arms wide and gave a playful bow.
“I should go look for Tina,” I said, making my tone brisk.
“Zoey, I am grateful to you for designing the dress for her. Her outfit was stylish andveryappropriate for such an important event. It was one less thing I had to worry about. I can’t imagine Tina would ever have owned an outfit like th––…what’s the matter?”
Zoey’s eyes widened, and this time, there wasn’t any humor in the warm brown depths, just panic. And a warning.
I glanced back and saw Tina.
Her face was pale, expression blank. Save for her eyes.
The look in her eyes was…bleak, sad, and hurt.
What the fuck?
“Tina?” I asked, taking a step toward her.
She turned and strode away, tension showing in every line of her body, from the stiff set of her shoulders to her long strides.
“Tina!” I called after her.
She flinched and shook her head, moving faster now.
Hesitating, I looked back at Zoey.
She only glared.
I was used to that, always pissing off one of my brothers or sisters.
But Tina…
I started down the hall, only to stop because I had no idea where she’d gone. Deeper into the house? Out to the patio?
Bewildered, I turned to Zoey, who had moved to stand next to me. “What was that about?”