Chapter 23
Laney
Upon researching the Winchester galas, I had a mini panic attack.
The events were at a much grander scale than I’d imagined, not only in terms of the sheer number of attendees, but the dress code required.
Isabelle and Tess had offered to go shopping with me, but honestly, carving out time for that was proving more difficult by the day.
After looking online at a few dresses, I realized that I couldn’t drop so much money on anything without trying it on first. That meant that I actually had to carve out time for a shopping trip.
Ordering something online and then sending it back if it didn’t fit was even more of a hassle, though, so I was going shopping with Isabelle and Tess.
After some back and forth messaging, we decided tonight was the night.
Not that we had too much time left since the gala was in two days, but I wasn’t a big shopper, and I’d sort of forgotten I needed a dress.
On the way there, I was surprised to get a phone call from Ian and Dylan.
“Hey, boys,” I greeted.
“Ace,” Ian said.
“Hey, Laney,” Dylan added.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of having both of you call me?”
“We just wanted to check on you,” Ian said. “And ask you how Isabelle’s doing.”
“She sounds a bit down on the phone,” Dylan added.
My heart just about melted at this. “She’s hustling, but it’s harder than she imagined, I think. Just putting it out there, but if you two were to visit, I think she’d be very happy.”
“We plan to do that anyway. We’re coming to the gala,” Dylan said. The guys were running their own company in Washington and were flexible with their time.
“Perfect. I think she misses her friends. I meet with her as often as I can, and Tess and Josie are too, but the more familiar faces the better. I’m actually meeting them now. They’re helping me buy a dress.”
“Okay, we’ll leave you to it, then,” Ian said.
“Have fun. And Laney? Take care of her, okay?”
“I will. Promise. Got to go.”
“Bye.”
I met Isabelle and Tess directly in front of the store in Soho. Tess was already there when I arrived, and Isabelle arrived two minutes after I did.
“Tess, I love your shoes,” Isabelle said, her gaze glued to Tess’s high heels. They were absolutely gorgeous: bright red peep-toes with a five-inch heel.
“Thanks,” Tess said, smiling, taking my arm. “Let’s get you dressed, girl.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m ready.”
I wasn’t a big shopper, since I wore scrubs at work and practically lived in jeans and simple tank tops when I was outside the hospital. My last shopping spree had been before Rome, where I’d gone to H not too summery.
I stepped out of the changing room, twirling. Tess clapped, taking pics and sending them to Skye.
“This one gets my vote,” Isabelle said.
“No, no, no. Wait until she tries all of them on. I’m telling you, Danielle has a special talent.”
By the time I changed into the second dress, a dark green with a thread of silver at the hem, Danielle had returned with the champagne and poured it generously in three glasses. We clinked them, grinning as we took our first sip.
“Feel free to sit down and keep them on for a few minutes,” Danielle said. I appreciated that she wasn’t hurrying me. When she asked what type of shoes I preferred, I blushed.
“I’m not very good with heels, so something elegant but as flat as possible.”
“Don’t worry, I have just what you need.”
She returned with gorgeous black velvet shoes with rounded front and thin, two-inch heels.
I went back inside the changing room. No matter which dress I tried on, it just fit me as if it was custom made. I looked as if I was some sort of actress at an Oscar event. At least, that was how I felt.
“Okay, I have a serious problem,” Isabelle said. “I love all of them.”
“That’s my problem too.” I pouted, swinging from one foot to the other. I was trying on the Roman dress for the second time.
“Tess, help.”
“Well, I vote for this one. You tried it on a second time, which means you have your heart set on it. Unless you want to buy more than one?”
“No, no, no. Don’t tempt me. I don’t even have space in my closet for more than one.”
Tess stared at me. “Girl, burn that closet and buy a new one.”
I giggled. “I just have to move out. My apartment is far too tiny.”
Winking at me, Tess refilled her glass and Isabelle’s. I debated holding back, but why deny myself this pleasure?
I’d already decided on the dress, I had tomorrow free, and I was out in the city with these two kick-ass women. Time to have some fun. Who cared if I was tipsy? I held out my glass for Tess to refill and then I sipped half of it at once.
“I need to cut off a few inches,” Danielle commented. “I can do it tonight if you want. Just give me twenty minutes. Looks like you girls still have half a bottle to drink.”
“Oh, yeah,” Tess exclaimed.
“Twenty minutes sounds great,” I said.
I put my glass down on a coffee table, heading back inside the changing room to take off my beautiful dress and hand it to Danielle.
I’d already changed into my jeans and tank top when I heard Isabelle whisper, “Laney’s sooo happy.”
I peeked out of the changing room again.
“Are you girls talking about me?” I asked.
“No,” Tess answered suspiciously fast.
Isabelle was avoiding my eye. Aha. They thought they could fool me this easily? I wasn’t even tipsy yet . My instincts were still sharp. Others were fast asleep, judging by the fact that I stepped onto the curtain, nearly ripping it, on my way out of the changing room.
“I definitely heard my name,” I said. Isabelle sighed, shrugging.
“Fine, we were talking about you. Nothing bad, I promise.”
“I didn’t think it was bad. I just want in on it.”
Tess laughed. “You, miss, are very brave. Usually when someone in the family realizes we’re talking about them, they run in the opposite direction.”
I sat next to them on the velvet couch, sipping from my glass.
“So? Which one of you will fess up?” I asked.
“Shall we be one hundred percent truthful?” Isabelle whispered to Tess, who nodded excitedly.
“Well, I was just telling Tess that you look very happy. And that I’ve known you for a long time, and on a happiness scale of one to ten, you’re somewhere at twenty.”
“That’s very accurate,” I confirmed, sipping some more champagne. This was fun.
“She gets so exuberant when she talks about Cole. Her voice gets a little higher pitched, and she smiles all the time. I can tell from her voice,” Isabelle added.
Tess held up her glass toward me, winking. “You definitely passed the test.”
I felt my eyes widen. “I was on a probation period?”
“Well, not exactly, but I was trying to gauge just how much you’re into Cole.”
“Very, very much,” I assured her.
“I like this evening. So full of confessions,” Tess said with a whisper.
“You have one to make too?”
“Well, now that we’ve established you’re super into Cole, I can get attached to you. I don’t have to hold back anymore.”
I pulled her into a hug, and we both laughed. I was bursting with affection for Tess. I’d never met anyone who wore her heart on her sleeve the way she did.
“I knew I liked you from the first time I met you,” I told her.
She straightened up, grinning. “You were such a champ, calming Skye and Rob, putting up with everyone in the family panicking.” To Isabelle, she said, “She’s a tough one.”
“And don’t I know it?”
Danielle returned with the dress just then, asking if I wanted to try it again. Since she’d really only shaved off a few inches and hemmed it, it wasn’t necessary. I was just about to head off to pay when my phone beeped. I had a message from Cole.
Cole: How are my girls doing?
I showed the message to Tess.
“What do you think? Should I fess up that we’d love if he picked us up?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Tess agreed. Pressing the button, I stepped a little away from Isabelle and Tess. I was certain Cole would say something inappropriate on the phone. I gave him two minutes.
Cole answered right away.
“I was expecting pictures,” he said instead of hello.
“You asked for them; I never agreed to send any.”
“Laney…” Yum, his voice sounded a little growly, a lot delicious. “You can still send me some now.”
“Cole Winchester. The only way you’ll see me naked is in person. I’m not sending you nude pics.”
“I’d actually meant pictures of you trying on dresses, but I like how you’re thinking.”
I felt my cheeks heat up and then my ears.
“You can still send me pictures of the winner.”
“It’s already packed. I’m going to pay.”
“Okay. How are my girls?”
“We’re having fun. But we’d love if you picked us up. I’d love it, actually.”
“Where are you?”
“At a store in Soho. The name is Fashion After Dark.”
“I’ll google the address and pick you all up in about twenty minutes.”
“Wow… I think I like you even more than before,” I whispered.
“How much?” he asked.
“Hmm, I’ll show you when we’re alone.”
“I like that plan.” After a beat, he added, “Just looked up the store’s address. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Perfect. Thanks.”
After I paid, we waited for Cole outside the store. He arrived quickly, in a sleek black BMW with a driver. Getting out of the car, he surveyed the three of us slowly.
“You all look very happy.”
“We are. It’s been a very productive evening. And quite informative. I found out that your girl here is head over heels for you.”
I groaned. “Tess, I told you that in confidence.”
Tess covered her mouth, wincing. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Cole looked between the two of us with warm eyes.
“Come on. Let’s get you all home.”
“Wow, you came in a company car. I feel so fancy and important,” Tess exclaimed as Cole helped the three of us into the back seat. He was in front, next to the driver.
“I didn’t know you have company cars,” I said.
“I don’t use them often, because of traffic. Hunter uses them sometimes. Mostly, we keep them for clients who require royal treatment when we have a meeting.”
“I totally get it. I feel like royalty,” I said, sliding lower on the leather seat.
“So, Tess…, you were saying earlier about my girl being head over heels for me?” Cole asked this so nonchalantly that I couldn’t help but laugh. But I did glance at Tess with a raised eyebrow so she didn’t accidentally spill the beans again.
“My lips are sealed,” Tess said confidently.
“So are mine,” Isabelle declared, as if suspecting Cole might focus on her next.
He chuckled, turning to look at the three of us briefly.
We dropped off Isabelle first and then Tess. Cole slid next to me on the back seat after that. I leaned my head on his shoulder. I drummed my fingers on his chest, undoing the top button of his shirt and sliding my hand in there.
“I love you,” I whispered in his ear. Okay, so this wasn’t the best time, but I just wanted to tell him, and I didn’t want to wait one minute longer. “I know the girls ratted me out, but I wanted for you to hear it from me too.”
“Baby….” He jerked his head back a little until we had eye contact before cupping the back of my head. “You mean it? Because I love you with all I have, and I didn’t know if telling you was a good idea.”
I swallowed hard. “I’m afraid of how much I love you, but I do.”
He pressed his lips against my forehead, and I felt them curl in a smile. “Fuck, baby. I can’t wait for us to be alone.”
We were both whispering, but even so… it was better to just wait. A few minutes later, the car pulled in front of Cole’s building, and we both practically ran to his door. Once inside, he cupped my face.
“Say it again.”
“I love you, Cole Winchester. I love you.”
“Babe, I love you too. What am I going to do with you?”
I had no idea how he was doing it, but I could swear some of my fears just kept melting at seeing the pure joy in his eyes, feeling his hands on my hips.
“I’m at your mercy, Mr. Winchester. Do your very best.”