A Tangled Web (A Books We Love Erotic Romance) by Summer Jordan Page B
Authors: Summer Jordan
Ads: Link
reasonable elsewhere," she said, taking Angel by the elbow and ushering her towards the door. "You don't want to say your nuptials with a maxed-out credit card."
"There's a sales rack in the back where you might find something suitable," the clerk suggested, and Angel trailed off after her.
Erin , whose feet were tired, took a seat on a brocade loveseat and waited for Angel to return. At last, she emerged in an off-white bridal gown with an empire waist.
"What do you think?" she asked, twirling before Erin .
"It's very nice, but why don't you try something more svelte and sophisticated? That one looks a bit girlish."
Angel returned in one that was ivory with an overskirt of chiffon that started just below her hips. The silky material pulled at the seams, exposing something that Erin hadn't noticed before. Angel had a potbelly and, apparently aware of it, was trying to find a dress that disguised it.
"That isn't the one, in my opinion," Erin said, and Angel nodded her agreement, disappointment written all over her face. "I know a little shop that has designer outfits and I'll bet you can find something there."
"We were over my head here," Angel protested. "Even the sale prices are ridiculous. I can't imagine what designer gowns will cost."
"Trust me," Erin said. "The prices are reasonable. Let's get your car. It's a distance away."
Erin drove again since she knew where they were going, but when they pulled up in front of a place called Bridal Boutique on a strip mall set in the centre of a lower middle class neighbourhood, Angel gasped. Gaping at the words 'gently worn clothing" under the name on the storefront window, she grabbed Erin 's arm and dug her nails into her flesh.
"You want me to buy a second-hand dress?" Angel's eyes flashed with anger.
Erin pulled her arm away and rubbed it. She'd never seen her cousin act this way. "Wedding dresses, worn once, present a tremendous savings, and what's the chance anyone would know? I didn't mean to offend you, but I've been told they offer a fantastic selection of designer gowns here at moderate cost."
Angel didn't appear mollified. Sitting back, her lower lip pushed out, she assumed a tone that didn't set well with Erin .
"I thought we were friends but now you're acting just like my mother," Erin said. "Trying to cut corners and sweep my big moment under the rug. Mama doesn't even want me to have a train or tiara. 'Simple is better,' she says, but it's not. Why doesn't anyone understand?" Angel burst into tears. "A kind, wonderful man is marrying me and I want our wedding to be perfect."
Chapter Five
It was late when Erin entered Rendezvous alone. Feeling daring, she took a seat at the bar before realising the bartender wasn't Derek. Too embarrassed to jump up and move to a booth, she ordered a chocolate martini from the guy whose nametag said he was George. A crusty older man with a moustache and goatee, he didn't inspire her to create any sexual fantasies about his facial hair like she'd had concerning Derek's.
She'd argued with herself whether she should come or not and finally gave in. Now she wished she hadn't, but she'd grown more and more glum during her day with Angel, and laying eyes on Derek would have cheered her. Laying eyes? Ha! She'd hoped for more than that if she wanted to be honest with herself, and she'd crossed her fingers that by turning up after the busy dinner hour was over, he would have time to chat. She'd even imagined him asking her to stay until the club closed and leaving together.
Angel hadn't been her usual sunny self. She didn't like any of the gently-worn wedding gowns and Erin doubted that she'd have been any happier with them if they'd just come from a dressmaker's skilful hands. To be honest, none of them were flattering. Angel had gotten thin since Erin had last seen her. Yet she kept smoothing the material over her stomach and hips and complaining the fit was too tight. When they'd left the
"There's a sales rack in the back where you might find something suitable," the clerk suggested, and Angel trailed off after her.
Erin , whose feet were tired, took a seat on a brocade loveseat and waited for Angel to return. At last, she emerged in an off-white bridal gown with an empire waist.
"What do you think?" she asked, twirling before Erin .
"It's very nice, but why don't you try something more svelte and sophisticated? That one looks a bit girlish."
Angel returned in one that was ivory with an overskirt of chiffon that started just below her hips. The silky material pulled at the seams, exposing something that Erin hadn't noticed before. Angel had a potbelly and, apparently aware of it, was trying to find a dress that disguised it.
"That isn't the one, in my opinion," Erin said, and Angel nodded her agreement, disappointment written all over her face. "I know a little shop that has designer outfits and I'll bet you can find something there."
"We were over my head here," Angel protested. "Even the sale prices are ridiculous. I can't imagine what designer gowns will cost."
"Trust me," Erin said. "The prices are reasonable. Let's get your car. It's a distance away."
Erin drove again since she knew where they were going, but when they pulled up in front of a place called Bridal Boutique on a strip mall set in the centre of a lower middle class neighbourhood, Angel gasped. Gaping at the words 'gently worn clothing" under the name on the storefront window, she grabbed Erin 's arm and dug her nails into her flesh.
"You want me to buy a second-hand dress?" Angel's eyes flashed with anger.
Erin pulled her arm away and rubbed it. She'd never seen her cousin act this way. "Wedding dresses, worn once, present a tremendous savings, and what's the chance anyone would know? I didn't mean to offend you, but I've been told they offer a fantastic selection of designer gowns here at moderate cost."
Angel didn't appear mollified. Sitting back, her lower lip pushed out, she assumed a tone that didn't set well with Erin .
"I thought we were friends but now you're acting just like my mother," Erin said. "Trying to cut corners and sweep my big moment under the rug. Mama doesn't even want me to have a train or tiara. 'Simple is better,' she says, but it's not. Why doesn't anyone understand?" Angel burst into tears. "A kind, wonderful man is marrying me and I want our wedding to be perfect."
Chapter Five
It was late when Erin entered Rendezvous alone. Feeling daring, she took a seat at the bar before realising the bartender wasn't Derek. Too embarrassed to jump up and move to a booth, she ordered a chocolate martini from the guy whose nametag said he was George. A crusty older man with a moustache and goatee, he didn't inspire her to create any sexual fantasies about his facial hair like she'd had concerning Derek's.
She'd argued with herself whether she should come or not and finally gave in. Now she wished she hadn't, but she'd grown more and more glum during her day with Angel, and laying eyes on Derek would have cheered her. Laying eyes? Ha! She'd hoped for more than that if she wanted to be honest with herself, and she'd crossed her fingers that by turning up after the busy dinner hour was over, he would have time to chat. She'd even imagined him asking her to stay until the club closed and leaving together.
Angel hadn't been her usual sunny self. She didn't like any of the gently-worn wedding gowns and Erin doubted that she'd have been any happier with them if they'd just come from a dressmaker's skilful hands. To be honest, none of them were flattering. Angel had gotten thin since Erin had last seen her. Yet she kept smoothing the material over her stomach and hips and complaining the fit was too tight. When they'd left the
Similar Books
