Page 63 of Repeat Business
“Oh, well. We’ll have to think of something else then.”
“Trust me. I’m sure you will.”
She moved to the side so I could step past her and reach the closet. On our bed she’d laid out a tacky gray wool suit that I refused to sweat to death in during the Labor Day weekend heatwave. “Are you sure this is required?” I asked giving one more attempt to get out of her made-up duties. At some point I’d admitted defeat even if I hadn’t vocalized it to her.
Katy nodded. “You’re going to look dashing.”
“And I most definitely am getting a reward. Don’t forget that part.”
She laughed and took the jacket from the bed. “Yes, definitely a reward. But you have to look good for the picture in the paper.”
“There will definitely not be a picture this year. Other people in town should get pictures.” Why was I always the one who had to have pictures taken in ridiculous costumes at embarrassing moments? Katy had a whole scrapbook of them somewhere in the house. She wouldn’t tell me where she kept it hidden because she knew I’d throw it away.
“Oh, this year the Labor Day celebration is getting a full three-page spread. There will definitely be room for a picture of you, Pierce. You have to look your best. My entire career is riding on it.”
I took the jacket from her and stared at it before slipping out of my other one. “Your career at the Women’s Auxiliary?”
“It’s a very prestigious position in this town.”
Next thing I knew she’d be running the phone tree. “You are so lucky I love you.”
She tugged on the lapels of the wool suit while I buttoned the front. “I am. And so glad you fought for me all those years while I’d been stupid.”
“Winning you was the best reward ever,” I said.
Her smile grew, and she shoved up against me, the metal of her hoop skirt cutting into my shins even though it was round and she had layers of material on top of it. “Better than the stock market six years ago?” she asked and then kissed me.
It had been a banner year. Profits all around as oil surged. “Better,” I said between when her lips released mine and I claimed hers. “I love you, Katy Kensington.”
She smiled. Getting her to take my last name had been one of our most rigorous negotiations, but as I did with the important things, I won. “And I love you.” She kissed me one last time and then pulled back. “Technically we don’t have to be at City Hall for another two hours.”
“Two hours? Then why are you dressed now? Why are you making me dress now?” She really wanted to kill me if she wanted me to wear that suit two unnecessary hours.
Katy shrugged. “To make sure it looked okay. And now I know so we have time to get undressed, mess up my hair, and then redress.”
“Done,” I said, unbuttoning the suit jacket again and pushing Katy so her back hit the mattress and her skirt flew up in the air blocking my view of her while she kicked her legs wildly. “Pierce!”
I laughed. “I love to make you scream my name.”
Katy rolled over so I could unlace the back of her dress. “Make me scream it in a good way, ass.”
“As you wish,” I said. I kissed along her neck and down her spine while releasing each of the straps holding her outfit together.
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