Loving You (The Bridesmaids Club Book 2) by Leeanna Morgan Page B

“What do you think?”
    “All I can say is, wow ,” Tess said. “You look lovely. I couldn’t imagine you wearing any other dress, Julie.”
    “Neither can I.” Julie lifted her arm as Emily finished placing a row of pins from her waist to the top of the bodice. “I hope you know how much this means to me. To us. I don’t know what we would have done without your help.”
    “You would have had a beautiful wedding and a great marriage,” Tess said. “We’re glad we could help.”
    Emily made some final adjustments to the dress before Julie changed back into her jeans and t-shirt.
    After Julie’s mom checked that they’d pinned all of the changes in place, they left the boutique with smiles on their faces.
    Annie glanced at her watch and frowned. “I’ve got to go home.”
    “We’re meeting Molly at Charlie’s Bar and Grill for dinner,” Tess said. “Do you want to come?”
    “I can’t. I’m helping Dylan…” Annie felt a blush work its way across her face, “…find a house. We’re looking on the Internet tonight.”
    “Bring him with you. They’ve got wifi at the bar now. We could all help.” Tess watched Annie’s blush darken. “Why are you blushing?”
    Annie held her hands against her hot cheeks. “I’m not. It’s hot in here. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.” She grabbed her jacket and bag and headed toward the stairs. “Bye, Emily. Thanks for helping.”
    “It’s no problem. Aren’t you coming with us?”
    Tess grinned. “She’s got a date with Dylan.”
    Emily stopped putting away the pins and scissors on her work table. “Dylan Bayliss?”
    Annie nodded. “And it’s not a date. I’m helping him find a house. He doesn’t know whether he wants to keep renting or buy a property.”
    “Good luck with your search. It’s not easy finding the perfect place. It took me months to find this building.”
    “And look what else you found,” Tess said. “If Alex hadn’t been looking for a project to keep him busy, you might never have married him.”
    “Now he’s got lots of projects to keep him busy.” Emily sent a worried glance in Annie’s direction. “Just be careful. Dylan’s…intense.”
    “Don’t worry. I’m used to intense men. Enjoy your dinner.” Annie left before Tess and Emily could ask her more questions. She’d already had second, third and fourth thoughts about the other reason Dylan was coming to her house. And she still didn’t know if she’d done the right thing.
     
    ***
    Dylan checked Annie’s address, then knocked on the wooden door in front of him. The two-story condo sat in a fairly new residential development. She’d planted large pots full of daisies at the front door, making her home stand out against a row of identical apartments.
    The front door opened and Dylan stared at the pretty brunette in front of him. He’d never seen Annie with her hair loose around her shoulders or wearing a sundress. He felt ancient compared to the young, carefree woman in front of him.
    Not for the first time, he wondered if he’d done the right thing by asking her to help him. Sometimes, when he woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, he didn’t think he’d ever be able to get over what happened. Why he thought Annie could help, when no one else had, was beyond him.
    “You’re on time.” Annie opened the door wider and he stepped inside.
    “I didn’t want to be late in case you had other plans.”
    Annie shook her head. “Not tonight. You can leave your laptop in the living room, if you like? We can use my computer.”
    Dylan kept the bag close. “I’ve saved some properties that I like. I thought it might help if you saw them.”
    Annie walked past a staircase and through to an open plan living room. A small kitchen and dining area were off to one side. The walls and flooring were all different shades of beige with white trim. She watched his eyes skim across her home.
    “When I moved in I asked the landlord if I could paint