Just a Little White Lie(62)

“You want the finest in town,” Chad said, “we should go to Miss Lydia’s.”

“But she’s so expensive,” Marsha wailed.

“I don’t think that matters.” Chad took in Lucinda’s outfit. “Eileen Fisher top and pants?”

Lucinda nodded.

“Coach bag and sandals?”

“Yes.”

“Marsha, sweetheart, this lady’s got her finger on fashion. She’s not gonna be squeezin’ a nickel when it comes to shopping. Are you, sugar?”

Lucinda had to laugh. Chad was adorable. “No, sugar, I’m not.”

The second they walked into Miss Lydia’s, Lucinda set aside her problems with Jake, her problems with her dad, and gave in to the fun. This was Marsha’s moment and darned if she’d put a damper on it.

Miss Lydia had to be nearly eighty, but she had two other saleswomen who did the real work in the shop, allowing the owner to simply have fun with her “guests.” Such delightful, old-fashioned service coupled with one-of-a-kind pieces made Lucinda’s heart smile.

She watched Marsha’s transformation from awkward and shy to twirling diva and snacked on the iced tea and scones Miss Lydia set out for them. Chad had a great eye for accessorizing.

An hour later, the counter was stacked with several new work outfits as well as a killer little black dress, spike-heeled shoes, and silver jewelry. She stood firm on a fantastic black lace bra and thong to titillate Shorty when he asked Marsha out. And Lucinda had not a doubt he would. The day had been a total success, and Marsha looked unbelievable.

Shorty was playing at the Dixie Dog tonight, and Lucinda found herself wishing she could be a fly on the wall when he first set eyes on Marsha. If she didn’t knock his socks off, the man was dead, and Marsha should move on.

When they boiled back onto the street, loaded down with packages, Marsha gave both Lucinda and Chad another hug. Her happiness was infectious, and Lucinda couldn’t wipe the silly grin off her own face. Why hadn’t she done something like this sooner? Who would have thought spending money could be so much fun?

“Okay, I gotta run now. Things to do before work,” Marsha said. She squealed. “And I gotta try everything on again—at least a dozen times.”

“Could you drop me off at my place, Marsha?” Chad asked. “I’d intended to catch a ride with Birdie, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen.” He wiggled his brows.

“Sure.”

They headed off down the street to Marsha’s beat-up Chevy, and Lucinda, humming softly to herself, wandered slowly toward the Jeep. Despite the rocky start, it had been such a beautiful day. Storm clouds loomed to the east, but you never could tell. Sometimes they skirted you. Sometimes it didn’t rain on your parade.

Her stomach growled, Despite the scone she’d eaten, she was hungry. Maybe she’d stop into Annie’s and see what today’s blue-plate special was.

Breathing deeply, inhaling the scents of the flowers and the summer day, she walked the block to the Blue Moon. In the little park at the end of the street, a worker was busy mowing the yard. Both the whir of the machine and the smell of the newly cut grass brought a smile to her face.

She tipped her head back, let the sun shine on her and simply enjoyed the moment. Maybe Pride was exactly what she’d needed. Maybe she was precisely where she was meant to be at this moment, here in small-town USA rather than on some tropical beach. With the dolt.

A small corner of her brain, the organized planner, fought the idea, but she squelched it, refusing to let it ruin her mood.

She reached the end of the block. What the—

Seated right inside the window at Annie’s at a cozy little table for two was a vibrant, dressed-to-the-nines Wanda Sue. And across from her, smiling his slick-as-a-snake smile, sat Donald.

Well, well.

Neither saw her, both totally engrossed in whatever nefarious scheme they were hatching.

Leaning close, she rapped on the window. The two jumped like rabbits frightened out of their burrow. Putting on her best, most insincere smile, she finger-waved.

Oh yeah. They were up to no good. They had the look of cornered bank robbers or a pair of two-year-olds who’d just used a pair of scissors on Mommy’s best dress.

They sprang apart, leaning back stiffly in their own chairs. She loved it.

It did present her with a problem, though, because she really was hungry. She barely resisted chewing her lower lip. What to do. Should she blithely go in, solo, and eat beside the duo? Could she do that? Pull it off? She couldn’t decide.

She smelled him first. That warm, heady scent mixed with a whiff of peppermint. Clean. Like damp earth right after a summer rain.