Loving You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 2) (34 page)

Sally smiled. “Is poufy even a real word?”

“It is when there isn’t enough pouf in the dress,” Molly said. “And Annie’s right, the skirt needs to be fuller.” She walked across to a rack of petticoats and started working her way through the hangers.

“What about this one?” Tess held a petticoat in the air and everyone considered the fluffy white creation.

“It might work…do you want to try it on, Hailey?”

“I’d love to.” Hailey was a petite blonde with a megawatt personality. She’d written to The Bridesmaids Club, asking for four dresses for her sister’s wedding. Alice, the bride, had been so thankful for their help that it made Annie feel proud of what they were doing.

Instead of walking back to the changing room, Hailey stood where she was and wiggled out of the petticoat she had on. With some careful maneuvering, she pulled the new petticoat over her hips.

Annie flicked the skirt of Hailey’s dress in the air. This time it sat further out, supported by the tulle petticoat they’d found on the rack.

“It’s perfect,” Molly said. “What do you think, Alice?”

Alice smiled. “You were right. The dress did need more pouf. Thank you so much.”

Sally reached inside a box and handed Alice four white plastic bags. “Put the dresses on their hangers and cover them with these bags. They’ll keep the dresses clean when you transport them between here and home.”

Alice walked into the changing room with her four bridesmaids. Their smiles were so wide that Annie knew they’d enjoyed themselves. “Another five happy customers.”

Tess re-hung the dresses the bridesmaids hadn’t wanted. “It doesn’t matter how many times we give away dresses, it always feels special.”

“You’re right,” Molly said. “There are happy hormones in this room.”

Sally looked at Annie. “Talking about happy hormones, a little birdie told me they saw you with Dylan yesterday.”

Annie picked up the petticoat Hailey hadn’t wanted. “Dylan goes to lots of places with me.”

“Of course he does.”

“He’s my friend.” Annie wasn’t ready to explain what was happening between her and Dylan. They’d started off taking things slowly. That had lasted all of five days. Since then, Annie had been living in the middle of a whirlwind. It had been nearly three weeks since Dylan had told her he wanted to be her boyfriend. And just over a week since she’d become the happiest person in Bozeman.

Tess walked back from the small kitchen carrying two cups of coffee. She passed Sally one cup, and Annie the second. “I hope that smile means everything is working out for the opening of your business?”

Annie sipped her coffee. “The painters have finished the kitchen. The cream color we chose looks lovely.”

“Did the electricians check the wiring?” Tess asked.

“They were in the warehouse last week, before the painters arrived. The wiring was fine. They made sure the ovens were working, too.”

Molly sat beside Annie on a sofa. “So everything is okay?”

“As okay as it’s ever going to get,” Annie said. “Some days I have to pinch myself. I can’t believe how far I’ve come from where I was five years ago.”

“Time heals a lot of things,” Molly said.

“Time and good friends,” added Sally.

The door to the changing room opened and five giggling women emerged carrying big, white bags.

Tess met them in the middle of the room. “If you need anything else, just give me a call.”

Alice hugged her. “Thank you. It’s amazing what you’ve done for us.”

Tess touched the bag in Hailey’s arms. “This is the easy part. It’s what comes after the wedding that’s important. I hope your marriage is even more amazing.”

Max, the Irish Wolfhound Sally was looking after, stood up and yawned. His jaws quivered as he settled back into the blanket Tess had left on the ground for him.

Hailey laughed. “I think someone is telling us it’s time to go home.”

Sally went across to Max and scratched between his ears. “He’s a big softy. He likes coming with me, don’t you boy?”

Max looked up, and Annie could have sworn he smiled.

Alice and her sisters gave everyone a hug before they left. Annie closed the door after them and sighed. The loft seemed incredibly quiet after they’d gone.

Max wandered over to Sally and sat at her feet. She absently stroked his fur while she sipped her cup of coffee.

“What happened about the home you thought you’d found for Max?” Molly asked.

Sally wrinkled her nose. “I got an email from Dylan’s friend yesterday. I’m going to see him on Sunday.”

“Have you actually talked to him, yet?” Annie asked.

“No. He’s been spending a lot of time away from Bozeman. He used to volunteer at the animal shelter during weekdays. He didn’t come to any of the weekend events we organized, so I never met him. ” Sally looked down at Max. “I’m not sending Max home with someone who won’t give him a great life. If Dylan’s friend can’t give Max a stable home, then I’ll keep him with me.”

Molly sighed. “Your apartment is even smaller than mine. Max doesn’t fit.”

“I could work something out.” Sally tilted her chin at a stubborn angle.

Annie knew that Sally was running out of options. Because Max was such a big dog, it wouldn’t be easy finding another home for him. “Maybe Todd wasn’t ready to look after Max before now?”

“I hope that’s the reason he didn’t contact me.” Sally frowned, then glanced at Tess. “While we’re talking about contacting people, did you send your wedding invitations out last week?”

Tess left a plate of cookies on the coffee table and sat down. “They’re in their envelopes and ready to go.”

Annie laughed at the expression on Tess’ face. She looked as though she was heading toward a prison sentence instead of one of the happiest days of her life. “It’s not too late to elope.”

Molly reached for a cookie. “Don’t you dare. I want to wear the bridesmaid’s dress I chose.”

“Me, too,” Sally said. “Who knows, we might find some yummy bachelors at your wedding.”

Tess grinned at the hopeful look on Sally’s face. “Don’t get too excited. Apart from Logan’s friends and a couple of cousins, the rest of the unattached males are twice our age.”

“Age is no barrier to a match made in heaven,” Sally said with a dramatic wave of her hand. Max got excited and yapped his agreement. Sally patted his head. “Maybe I should marry, Max. At least he’s loyal and doesn’t disagree with me.”

Molly laughed. “You really need to spend more time away from the animal shelter.”

“Or with someone like Dylan.” Sally smiled at Annie. “Is there another match made in heaven happening right under our noses?”

Three pairs of eyes swiveled toward Annie. She bit into her cookie to delay the inquisition that was about to start.

What her friends didn’t know was that she may not have found a match made in heaven, but it was pretty close.

Chapter Thirteen

Dylan stared at Annie’s front door. He was nervous, too nervous for what he had in mind. He’d told Annie he’d pick her up at seven o’clock. He was early, which wouldn’t have been bad if it had been six-thirty in the evening. But six-thirty in the morning had issues that he didn’t want to consider.

Annie could be sound asleep, in the shower, half dressed…if he didn’t stop now, he’d never make it through the next few minutes. He looked at his truck, looked at the door, then wiped his hands down the side of his sweatpants.

As soon as he rung Annie’s doorbell he’d be putting in motion a series of events that could change his life forever. Events that he never thought he’d do.

Annie had turned his world upside down and inside out. She’d given so much of herself, helped him in ways that no one else had managed to do. And now it was time to tell her how much she meant to him. How much he wanted her in his life.

The front door flew open and a brown, furry barrel ran straight into Dylan. He stumbled backward, grabbed hold of a wooden post and hung on for dear life.

“Max, no.” Annie raced after Max, jumped a hedge between her house and the neighbors, and disappeared out of view.

Dylan pulled himself upright and ran after Annie. Max could move fast and he was heavy. If a 130 pound Irish Wolfhound didn’t listen to you, you could be in serious trouble.

By the time Dylan got to the neighbor’s front yard, Max and Annie were nowhere in sight. He stopped and listened. Annie was talking to someone, apologizing for the mountain of dog that had probably destroyed most of her neighbor’s garden.

When he saw Annie, he smiled. The old blue sweatshirt and tight black leggings she had on clung to her body. Her short, dark hair glistened with water. She was holding the collar around Max’s neck and talking to a lady who must have been well into her eighties. Every now and then, Max gave a half-hearted whimper and Annie patted his back.

Dylan glanced across the yard and saw the object of Max’s affections. An orange and white striped cat sat on the back fence, licking its paws and looking altogether pleased with itself.

Max tried to pull free, but Annie held on tight and told him to sit.

“Do you need help?” Dylan asked.

Max’s head swung toward him and he barked a good morning greeting.

Annie repositioned her feet to accommodate Max’s new found interest in Dylan. One quick move from Max, and Annie would end up flat on her back, staring at the sky.

Annie sighed. “Mrs. MacNamara, this is my friend, Dylan.”

Dylan smiled at Annie’s neighbor, then turned his attention to Max. “How about I take you home?”

Max wagged his tail and looked at Dylan with a goofy smile on his face.

Annie nudged Max forward. “Thank you. That’d be great.”

Max didn’t need any encouragement. He trotted toward Dylan, happy to be the center of everyone’s attention.

Dylan bent down and patted Max’s head. “What are you doing here, boy?”

Max sat down and thumped his tail against the ground, waiting to see what Dylan wanted to do next.

“Max has taken an interest in my cat, but don’t worry about Peaches,” Mrs. MacNamara said. “She’s quite happy on the fence.”

“I’m sorry about Max,” Annie said.

“That’s okay. Peaches is used to him. Between you and me, I think she deliberately looks for him when Sally visits.”

“He wouldn’t hurt Peaches. I think he likes having a friend to play with.”

Mrs. MacNamara smiled. “You could be right. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to have breakfast and get ready for Church. It was nice meeting you, Dylan.”

Dylan nodded. “Nice meeting you, too. Come on, Max. You and I are going to have a talk.”

“I’ll come with you,” Annie said. She waved at Mrs. MacNamara and followed Dylan and Max. “Thanks for being early. I thought Max wanted to go outside to do his business, but he wanted to chase Peaches.”

“I thought Max was living at the animal shelter?” Dylan really needed to call Todd. A dog as big as Max needed wide open spaces to run around in. A small apartment in the middle of Bozeman wasn’t the best place for him.

Annie bent down and tried to rescue some flowers that Max had trampled under his paws. “He stays at the animal shelter during the week, but Sally brings him home on the weekends. We sat up talking for so long last night, that she decided to stay here. She still had Max’s blanket in the car from Tess’ place.” Annie stood up and wiped her hands down the side of her leggings. She’d pushed extra soil around the fragile stems of the flowers. For the moment, they were standing upright. “Max was good all night. When he woke up, he must have seen Peaches sitting outside.”

Max gave a deep bark of delight. Annie looked up and saw Sally standing in the driveway, rubbing her eyes and looking bewildered. “What are you doing outside?”

“Max saw Peaches,” Annie explained. “He can’t stay away from her.”

Dylan patted Max. He could understand that kind of adoration. He was having a hard time staying away from Annie.

Sally snorted. “Max has a thing for any cats who wander his way.”

Max looked up at Dylan. It sounded as though he had a reputation around town. His big, brown, doggy eyes wouldn’t get him out of the mess he was in this time.

Sally yawned, then looked at Annie’s clothes. “Where are you going? It’s too early to be out of bed.”

Annie started walking up her driveway. “It’s all Dylan fault. He’s going for a run and he wants company. We thought we’d head across to the Bozeman Creek Trail.”

Sally opened the front door and stared at her. “You’re going running?”

“No. I ride my bike. Dylan thinks he can beat my trusty two-wheeler.”

Sally looked at Dylan as if he was crazy. “Most people sleep-in at the weekend.”

“I’m not most people.” He walked past Sally and went straight into the kitchen. “Did you bring some food for Max?”

Sally followed him, skidding to a halt on the wooden floor. Her bright green socks matched the pajamas and sweatshirt she was wearing. She must have borrowed them from Annie. “I’ll take Max home for breakfast soon. I didn’t plan on staying the night.”