Page 37 of With This Ring
Skye’s posture wilted, and her lips formed a straight line.
Dakota nodded toward the workroom. “Would you please bring out the gowns I finished steaming earlier? They’re in the wardrobe bags on the rack to the right.”
“Sure.”
“Thank you.” She returned to the front, where Hudson sat on the chair, scrolling through his phone. Shane stood by the platform, off his call and ready for his turn. Again, neither man interacted with the other, as if they were strangers instead of future brothers-in-law.
She handed Hudson the socks. “Let me know how the shoes feel.” Then she turned to Shane. “Are you ready?”
She quickly recorded Shane’s measurements, then gave him his own pair of shoes to try on. Then they all three walked to the counter together.
While she rang them up, Skye came out to the floor and startedadding the restored gowns to the racks. Her expression appeared irritated while she worked.
Dakota calculated the tickets and told them the total.
“I’ll pay for both.” Hudson had his black credit card on the counter in a flash.
Shane speared him with a look. “I don’t need you to pay for my tuxedo,” he groused.
“I said I’d pay for the wedding. That means all of it.” Hudson handed Dakota the card. “Charge me for both.”
“No.” Shane handed Dakota his own card.
Dakota paused, an awkward silence surrounding the men. Taking the easiest path, she ran both cards and printed their receipts, which they each signed.
“My groomsmen and my dad plan to come within the next week,” Shane said, pushing the signed receipt toward her.
“Fantastic.”
The men slipped their receipts and cards back into their wallets.
“Thank you for your business,” she told them.
Hudson nodded and followed Shane toward the door.
She kept her eyes on the front window as Hudson said something to Shane. Both men glowered while they seemed to share a heated discussion. Curiosity niggled at her, and she contemplated the tension and their disagreement about the payments. Shane wasn’t a fan of Layla’s older brother, and boy, would she love to know the story behind their fallout.
“You okay, Auntie?”
Dakota turned to where her niece sat on a stool. “Yeah. Why?”
“You seem, like, really preoccupied.”
“The taller man who just left? Well...” Dakota swallowed. “He’s Layla’s older brother.” She paused. “And also my ex, Hudson Garrity.”
“I thought he looked familiar. He came to all of my dance recitals with you when I was little.”
Dakota turned her attention to straightening the counter and filing the receipts, hoping Skye would drop the subject.
“What exactly happened between you two?”
Dakota shrugged as if it was no big deal at all. “We grew apart.” She picked up the socks Hudson used, then turned around and saw Skye on her phone. “Who are you texting?”
“Gunner.” Skye kept her eyes focused on her phone, her thumbs moving swiftly over the digital keyboard.
“But you’re at work.”
“I know, but there’s not a ton going on here.” She looked up, her brow pinched. “When are you going to let me do more than clean, move the inventory, and update the website?”