Page 88 of With This Ring
“My dad said he’d come tomorrow,” Shane said. “He couldn’t get away from the office today.”
“That’s no problem at all. Give me a moment and I’ll just grab your tuxes.”
She retrieved the garment bags and handed them out before the men disappeared into the dressing rooms. Then, one by one, they came to stand by the platform, and her stomach pitched. The sleeves on Shane’s coat were too long, while his best friend Dalton’s sleeves were too short. Steve, the groomsman, had trousers so loose he had to hold them up, and to add to her embarrassment, his coat was too tight. Even Hudson’s trousers needed hemming.
Oh no.
She’d really messed up this time. The lack of sleep was taking a toll on her, affecting her job qualityandher reputation.
Heat infused her cheeks as the men stared at her. “I’m—I’m so sorry. I’ll make it right.” She pointed to the groom. “Shane, let’s get your sleeves fixed first. I’ll grab my supplies.”
She pinned Shane’s sleeves and then checked his trousers. After dealing with the issues with Dalton’s and Steve’s tuxes, Hudson climbed up on the podium.
Dakota kept her focus on the hemline while working to calm her fluttering nerves.
“Where’s Skye?” Hudson asked as she carefully pinned the hem.
“She had a meeting after school.”
He was silent for a moment. “Everything all right?”
“Just fine,” she quipped. Inside, though, she was falling apart. Having to work on these tuxes again would set her behind, and she still was dealing with final adjustments to Layla’s gown. “I can’t believe it’s the middle of May already. The wedding is only a few weeks away. I’ll get these tuxes fixed quickly though.”
When she pushed another pin through the material, she missed her mark and stabbed herself. “Ow!” she hollered before shaking her hand and sticking her throbbing finger in her mouth.
“You okay?” he asked, his expression warming with concern.
She nodded and wiped her finger on a tissue.
“Those dark circles under your eyes tell me you’re not sleeping, and it’s not like you to mess up tailoring.”
She returned her focus to his hem. He was right. She hadn’t been sleeping, but she couldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting it out loud.
“Have you thought about that loan I offered for the store?”
Anger sluiced through her, and she glared up at him. “Are you trying to throw money at me like you throw money at everyone else?”
“You’re really bringing that up again, huh? That all I care about is money?”
“Obviously! Your solution for every problem is to pay for it.” Her voice was louder than she’d planned, and when she turned around, she found Shane and his friends staring at her. Her face was so hot she thought it might combust, and her hands quaked as she checked the cuffs on his jacket and the waist of his trousers.
An instrumental version of Alison Krauss’s “When You Say Nothing at All” began to play through the sound system, but she ignored it. “You’re all set. I’ll just take care of the hem on your trousers.”
Hudson’s face was twisted with a glower.
“You found a house?” Dakota heard one of the groomsmen ask Shane.
Hud’s head snapped toward the groomsmen.
“Shh,” Shane hissed. “Yeah, I’m going to show it to Layla and see if she likes it. I’m already approved for the loan, and my folks are helping with the down payment.”
Hudson’s eyes homed in on his future brother-in-law. “Shane, did I hear you say you found a house?”
Shane shot his friend a sharp look before he turned toward Hudson. His expression sparked. “Yeah.”
“Where is it?” Hudson asked.
Shane licked his lips. “It’s on Catawba Avenue near Red Rock Court.”