McKenna turned back to the rack and quickly flipped through more gowns but Taylor had seen the tears in McKenna’s eyes.
“But you’re happy now, right?” Taylor asked, worriedly. “You’re newly engaged and getting married later this year, so it’s okay?”
McKenna held a sleek dark pink gown against her slender frame. The long dress was cut asymmetrical with one shoulder strap and a sequin starburst at the waist. McKenna might not be a dress girl, but she was certainly drawn to gorgeous sexy gowns. “What do you think?”
Taylor noticed McKenna hadn’t answered her question. “Very pretty. And that dark coral pink looks great with your hair.”
“They always say redheads shouldn’t wear pink, but I don’t believe in following rules.”
“I think it’s gorgeous.”
“So what about you?” McKenna asked. “Are you dress shopping, too, or are you just giving me moral support?”
“I need a dress.”
“Good. Let’s find some things for you to try on. Have you seen anything you like? What’s your style?”
“Inexpensive?”
McKenna gave Taylor a pointed look. “No woman wants to look cheap.”
“No, I know, but I don’t have a big budget.”
“I’m sure we can find something pretty that won’t break your budget. So what do you like? Long? Short? Fitted? Full? And are you a pink girl, or red, or apricot or purple?”
“I like red better than pink,” Taylor said. “And apricot better than purple. And I don’t know about the rest. Just pretty. I don’t want to look like I’m wearing a sheet from my mother’s bed.”
“Got it.”
For the next half hour they tried on dress after dress, and took turns posing and turning in front of the tall mirror.
In the end McKenna chose the stunning pink asymmetrical gown with the starburst at the waist as it hugged her curves and set off her dark auburn hair, green eyes, and flawless, luminous skin.
“What about you?” McKenna asked. “What are your favorites?”
“I like the red lace cocktail dress,” Taylor said, “and the ivory dress with the bronze sequins at the bodice. That was really pretty, too.”
“The red lace dress is what old ladies wear to hide their jiggly upper arms,” McKenna said, “and the ivory dress is pretty, but it looks like a bargain priced dress. Something for teens to wear to their prom. You’re twenty-six and in June you’ll be Marietta’s new head librarian. You need a dress with wow factor, something that screams stylish, sexy, and sophisticated.”
Taylor shook her head. “Not sexy. Definitely not sexy. Stylish and sophisticated is good enough.”
“Why not sexy?” McKenna demanded, flipping through more hanging gowns, this time on a search for Taylor.
“Um, I’m not... sexy.”
McKenna paused mid-search. “Stop talking crazy. You’re beautiful.”
“I’m not, and even if I was, I can’t go to the Ball all... sexy. My date wouldn’t like it.”
McKenna turned to face Taylor, hands on her hips. “What?”
Taylor shifted from one foot to the other. “My date isn’t a... date. We’re just going as... friends.”
“I don’t get it. Who are you going with?”
Taylor had wondered when this question might arise. “Troy.”
“Troy Sheenan?”
Was there any other Troy in Marietta?
Taylor nodded. “Yes.” She avoided McKenna’s gaze, not wanting to see laughter or mockery in her eyes, because of course Troy wasn’t the right man for Taylor. Troy was... well... Marietta’s Most Eligible Bachelor. And probably San Francisco’s Most Eligible Bachelor, too. “Jane set us up. I guess Troy just broke up with a girlfriend and his dad is dying—”
“You and Troy.”
Taylor’s heart thudded. She swallowed uneasily, not wanting to think about Troy or the kiss, because the kiss had been so good and hot and sweet and sexy all at the same time. “We’re not a couple—”
“Maybe you should be a couple. He’s lovely.” McKenna said firmly. “And you are, too.”
“But there’s no... chemistry,” Taylor said, remembering Troy’s words. “And he has to have chemistry. You know.”
“How do you know there was no chemistry?”
Taylor blushed. “He kissed me.”
McKenna’s eyes gleamed. “And...?”
“I thought it was really good.”
“He was voted best kisser his senior year of high school. And of course, I never kissed him, but Sheenans are good lovers, so. You know.”