“All right, all right,” she said, waving a hand dismissively. “I trust your taste. It’s fine. I was just surprised. I guess I thought I was wearing something of my own.”

  She waited her turn for the food behind Maddie, who helped her load her paper plate with a sandwich and a pastry. She’d stupidly carried her beer with her.

  “Thanks,” she said.

  “No problem.”

  “Will you be there tomorrow?” she asked, unable to keep a hint of hope out of her voice.

  “I might drop by, but I have studio time most of the day,” Maddie said. “My fitting was a few days ago. But we’ll see each other at one of the venues later in the afternoon.”

  “Ah, okay,” she said. She felt slightly disappointed, maybe because she wouldn’t have a friend there, but she was probably fooling herself. If she was being honest, she was disappointed because she wanted to see her, and whatever that meant, it wasn’t good.

  Chapter Ten

  The virtual meetings with the CEOs in Sydney and Tokyo went as well as they could, considering Ryann was nearly stammering with fatigue by the end of the second. She’d always done well in one-on-ones with powerful people. Ted told her she could charm them better in person (by which he meant flirt with them), but she got the job done. By the end of both calls, she’d gotten both companies to confirm a start the last week of February—almost two weeks later than their original agreement. She sent a quick email to her board with the new dates and a longer one to Ted with more details before dropping, deathlike, on her heart-shaped bed, still fully dressed in her work clothes.

  She woke the next morning with a stiff neck, the room blazing with sunlight. She’d forgotten to close the blinds. She sat up, a crust of drool at the corner of her mouth, her eyes still sandy. She rotated her neck a couple of times, wincing, and made herself crawl over to the edge of her bed. She got up, staggering slightly before stumbling into the bathroom. It was blessedly dark in here with only one window, and she kept the lights off while she showered with water as hot as she could get it, her skin lobstering in the heat.

  She spent the next hour in her bathrobe, checking in with a couple of her board members over the phone before they flew home. Things seemed better on the London end now, too. They had agreed to the first week of March, but her CFO thought they might be able to bump that back to the last week of February with a little more needling.

  Nothing more could be done over the weekend, though she wanted to run the numbers one more time and set up a conference call with London. She got Ted and his team on it before wrapping up her morning.

  She still had an hour before she was supposed to be at the dress shop, and she had no idea who was taking her there, or if she was supposed to get there herself. No one had texted her all morning, and Stuart didn’t pick up when she called. Still, she needed to be dressed at least, and she started rooting through her only suitcase for something easy to take on and off.

  A knock at the door startled her. She walked closer.

  “Yes?”

  “Hi, honey. It’s Ethel,” she said from the other side of the door. “The hotel manager?”

  “Hi, Ethel. What can I do for you?”

  “I wanted to make sure you were okay. You weren’t down for breakfast again, so I’m checking to see if you’d like another German muffin.”

  She closed her eyes. Clearly the woman was trying to be nice, but she also didn’t like people keeping tabs on her, especially strangers.

  “No, thank you!” she said. “I appreciate it, but I’m going out for lunch soon.”

  “Okay, dear. I’ll let you get ready, then.”

  She spent the next thirty minutes dressing and doing her makeup and hair. She checked her phone several times, tried calling Stuart twice more, but at 11:45, she still hadn’t heard from anyone. She did an internet search for costume shops in town, but as far as she could tell, none of them were associated with Jai’s sister Julia.

  Frustrated with waiting, she got her laptop up and running again, trying to catch up with some of her email. As she was finishing the first one, someone was knocking on her door again.

  “Yes?” she called.

  “Ryann? It’s me, Janet. I’m so sorry I’m late.”

  She opened the door, and Janet came in at once, enveloping her before stepping away, her face red with embarrassment.

  “Oh, gosh,” Janet said. “I don’t know why I did that. You must think I’m a fruitcake. I’m so, so sorry. This is exactly why Jai didn’t ask me to help with anything. I always get things mixed up.”

  “It’s no problem,” she said. “Really. Let me grab my coat.”

  “You’re so nice,” Janet said.

  As she donned her coat and checked her hair and makeup again, she watched Janet in the mirror. She was still standing inside the doorway, wringing her hands, clearly worried.

  “Is the shop far away?” she asked, indicating the door.

  “No, thank God,” Janet said, leading them out. “It’s like ten minutes. But we’re still going to be late.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine, Janet.” She put a hand on her shoulder. “You can always blame me.”

  Janet laughed, and she was relieved to see her relax a little, some of that pent-up tension loosening her shoulders.

  “You’d do that for me?” Janet asked.

  “Of course! Stuart’s like a brother to me, so that makes you my new sister-in-law, too. Okay?”

  Janet beamed. “You’re the best. Thank you. Just remind me of that when Jos gives me a hard time.”

  “Jos is the oldest, I take it?”

  Janet sighed. “Yes. And she never lets anyone forget she’s in charge. You’d think, now that we’re all adults, all that crap would be over with, but it’s not. It was kind of a relief when she moved to Denver. We only see her for holidays and things now.” She winced. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be airing the family laundry. I have a bad habit of saying everything that’s on my mind. I blame it on spending all my time with children.”

  “It’s fine—I promise.”

  They were outside now, and Janet pointed at a bright-red classic VW Beetle. They both climbed in, Ryann tickled by the idea of being in one of these things. She’d seen them around, of course, but didn’t think people actually drove them as their primary car. It was loud when it started, but it seemed to run well, and they tore out of the downtown area, tires squealing on the corners.

  “Sorry,” Janet said, when she had to brace herself from sliding out of her seat. “I drive like shit, too. It’s because I’m always late, I guess.”

  She wasn’t used to this kind of woman—the self-deprecating kind. Was she supposed to reassure her, even if what she’d said was true? She settled on a weak smile, which Janet returned tenfold.

  “We’re going to be great friends,” Janet said, squeezing her hand. The motion made the car swerve wildly, and she was forced to grab the dashboard and her seat again.

  The brick building they pulled up to ten minutes later didn’t seem like a dress shop, or a business of any kind, really—a little like Joan’s bakery yesterday. Both businesses seemed to be for people in the know. A small sign was affixed above the door, but as this entrance was in the back of the building, it hadn’t been redone in a while, and the lettering was faded to the point of illegibility.

  Janet dragged her inside by one hand. It was even stranger inside than the out, the two of them walking into a lowly lit room packed with garment racks and clotheslines stuffed with dresses and suits.

  “We’re back here,” a woman called from somewhere in the distance.

  Janet led her through tight rows of clothing to a back area. Here was a small office and some brighter lighting. They also found the other sisters, all of whom were seated on a couple of old couches, drinking champagne.

  “You’re late,” Jos said.

  Janet said, “It’s not my fault—”

  “It’s not, really. It was mine,” Ryann said. “I got the times mixed up.”

  Jos narrowed her eyes. “Okay. We’ll blame the new girl this time.”

  Julia stood up, holding two champagne flutes.

  “There are some sandwiches, if you want anything to eat,” she said, pointing.

  She grabbed a plate before taking a seat on the only empty couch. Janet joined her a moment later. Ryann smiled at her, sipping the surprisingly good wine.

  The other three sisters were watching them, Jos’s eyes still narrowed, assessing, the others smiling lightly, like Janet.

  “So…” Jos finally said. “Maddie’s new piece is in the wedding for some reason.”

  “What?” Janet said.

  Joan said, “She’s not—”

  “I mean, I get it,” Jos went on. “You’re hot. You’ll be great in the photos.”

  “Jos,” Julia said. “You are way off base, here.”

  Jos glared at her. “Let me finish. Anyway, it seems a little premature for you to be actually in the wedding. I can see you coming and being there for Maddie, but in the actual party? I mean, how long have you two been together? She didn’t even mention you at Christmas.”

  “Jos, you’re completely wrong about her,” Janet said, holding back laughter.

  Ryann held up a hand and gave Janet a quick wink. “It’s okay, Janet.” She turned to Jos. “I guess it does seem really fast. But we’re just really in love, and I think Stuart and Jai recognize that it’s for keeps.”

  Joan and Julia laughed, and Jos threw them a confused look. Janet’s eyes were bulging, and she slapped her hands over her mouth to keep from laughing.

  Jos, still oblivious, went on. “I mean, okay, yes—who wouldn’t be in love with Maddie?”

  “Aren’t you married?” Janet asked, giggling a little.

  “Aren’t you straight?” Julia added.

  Jos tutted. “Oh, come on, you guys. We all have a crush on Maddie—we have since we were kids. What’s not to like?” She narrowed her eyes at Ryann. “You better not be fucking around on her.”

  “Oh, no. I would never,” Ryann said. “In fact, I don’t, uh, fuck around at all. Even with Maddie.”

  “What?” Jos said, slamming her glass down on the table. “You mean to say—”

  “We’re waiting for marriage.”

  Jos’s mouth opened and closed several times, fish-like, before everyone else burst out laughing. Ryann managed to keep a straight face for a few seconds before she, too, cracked, chuckling a little at the way the other sisters carried on. Julia stood up to clap her on the back, and Janet squeezed her arm, still giggling.

  “What’s going on?” Jos said. “Why are you all laughing like that?”

  “Oh, man, did she ever get you!” Janet said between giggles.

  “Ryann is Stuart’s friend, you ass, not Maddie’s girlfriend,” Joan said, pushing Jos’s arm.

  “Wait, what?”

  “We were trying to tell you,” Julia said. “But you steamrolled over us. As usual. Ryann was playing along.”

  “Really?” Jos said. “But last night—”

  “You didn’t let Maddie explain then, either,” Ryann said.

  “But the two of you were holding hands,” Jos said. “What was that about?”

  Ryann laughed. “Have you seen her? You’d hold hands with her, too.”

  Jos laughed at that and stood up to give her a high five. “All right. You got me. Jesus. Once you said you hadn’t slept with her yet, I should have known—”

  “Okay, okay!” Julia said, standing up. “Enough about Ryann’s sex life, or lack of a sex life—whatever. We need to start on the measurements.”

  “Does that mean I get to see this one naked?” Jos said, winking at Ryann.

  Ryann laughed. “In your dreams.”

  “But you are a lesbian, at least, right?” Jos asked.

  She shook her head, amazed at this woman. “Yes. What’s that have to do with anything?”

  “I’m making sure my gaydar still works.”

  “That’s not a thing,” Janet said. “Straight women don’t get gaydar.”

  “Uh, they do, too!”

  As they continued to argue, a little lift of something like hope rose in Ryann’s chest. She’d been dreading this more than she’d realized. Not this moment, specifically, since she hadn’t known about it until last night, but dreading moments like it, personal moments with people she didn’t know. But she found, as they laughed and joked and teased each other, that she didn’t feel left out or awkward. They’d made her part of it.

  Once they’d finished their lunch and drinks, Joan led her into a small dressing room near the office. She was asked to step onto a small circular dais on the floor, and then Joan began taking measurements.

  “What kind of dress am I going to be wearing?”

  “It’s a nice red and white in Regency style.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Joan laughed. “That’s why the guys asked me to do this—not just because I can squeeze you in before the wedding, but because I do this style all the time. I already have the dresses made for a show from last summer, so it’ll only take some alterations for everyone’s measurements. You’re in red, Maddie’s in red, the guys are in white, and the rest of us ladies are in pink.”

  “But why Regency?”

  “Oh, gosh, of course you don’t know. My brother has like a real thing for Jane Austen—the books, the adaptations. He’s been nuts about her since he was a kid. He and Stuart are going to England for their honeymoon to see her house and her grave, places where the movies were shot—that kind of thing.”

  She hadn’t thought to ask about the honeymoon and could hardly believe her ears. It was the very last thing she could imagine Stuart agreeing to go along with.

  “Really?”

  “Yep,” Joan said, jotting something down. “And don’t worry—the dress is really nice. It won’t seem like a costume at all. And you have the figure for it. You’ll look great.”

  She let her mind wander as Joan continued to take measurements, writing things down in a little spiral notebook. Stuart had described exactly the kind of wedding he’d envisioned—she had the dream book in her suitcase to prove it—and it didn’t include anything like this.

  “What are they wearing—the guys?”

  “Same era, only in men’s styles. Jackets, waistcoats, white leggings, buckle shoes, the whole shebang. Maddie, too.”

  This gave her pause, and a slight blush rose to her cheeks at the idea. She too had liked and read most of Austen’s books in school, and she’d seen the odd adaptation here and there over the years. Kiera Knightly and Rosamund Pike had been really hot in that one movie. She could picture more or less what those suits and dresses looked like, and imagining Maddie dressed like Mr. Darcy wasn’t exactly a terrible fantasy. Still, the whole thing was a little strange. She was going to have to grill Stuart when they finally had a moment alone. This seemed like an awfully big concession.

  She rejoined the other sisters when Joan finished with her, Janet heading back for her measurements. Jos called her over to try on shoes, and the two of them ended up laughing about it quite a lot when they wanted the same pair. They eventually decided to flip for it, though it took a while to find a coin to use. Ryann won the toss, and Jos tried to wrestle the quarter out of her hands to flip again. Ryann squealed and pushed at her, nearly doubled up with laughter.

  “Ha!” Ryann said, finally holding up the coin clutched in one fist. “No cheating, Jos. I won fair and square.”

  “What did you win?” Maddie asked from behind them.

  She spun, her face flashing with heat at the sight. Maddie was smirking lightly, clearly recognizing the effect of her entrance, as everyone fell silent at the sight of her.

  “We were just talking about you,” Jos said, giving Ryann a side eye. “Ryann was saying—”

  “Never mind, Jos!” Ryann glared at her. “What are you doing here? I thought you had studio time today.”

  “I did. I knocked off a little early because Julia asked me to come over for my final fitting, and I’m supposed to take you to one of the venues after this.”

  “Ah.”

  They were quiet, staring at each other for a long beat. Finally, Jos cleared her throat.

  “Um, okay, as much as I like watching you two make heart eyes at each other, we were in the middle of a major debate.”

  “The shoes are mine, Jos,” Ryann said, without breaking eye contact with Maddie.

  Jos sighed dramatically. “Fine.”

  Janet came out from the back, squealed at the sight of Maddie, and rushed her, throwing herself into her arms.

  “Isn’t this fun? I can barely stand the excitement.”

  Maddie laughed. “Me, either.”

  “I can’t wait to see what you’re wearing,” Janet said.

  Julia came from the dressing room. “Oh, good—you’re here. Come on back, Maddie. Let’s see how it fits.”

  Maddie followed her to the rear, and Ryann sat down with the sisters again, Jos shoving another flute of champagne into her hands and sitting next to her, uncomfortably close.

  “Are you trying to get me drunk?” Ryann asked.

  “Is it working?”

  Joan swatted her sister’s knee. “Give it a break, Jos.”

  “For real,” Janet said. “Be nice.”

  “I am nice. I’m trying to get to know her a little, loosen her up a bit,” Jos said, smiling slyly.

  Ryann took a long pull on her drink for courage. “What do you want to know?”

  “Stuart told Joan, who just told me, that you’re a big-time hotshot in New York. Judging by those clothes of yours, I don’t doubt it.”

  “Thanks?”

  “What’s your love life like out there?”

  “Jesus, Jos,” Janet said.