The Dream Dress A Novel (Weddings by Design)

Author:Janice Thompson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Wedding costume—Fiction, Weddings—Fiction, FIC042040, FIC027020
ISBN: 9781441212368
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2014-01-20T06:00:00+00:00

Cheek to Cheek

Don’t needle the seamstress.

Author unknown

The next few days I bounced back and forth between my work at the shop and my design for Scarlet’s gown. I managed to cut out the paper pattern for her dress and was happy with it. Soon—when things slowed down—I would work up the courage to cut into those expensive fabrics.

I fended several calls from Nicolette that week but knew she deserved an answer. Soon. Still, I couldn’t commit to make her dress just yet, could I? Not without time to think it through.

As I slaved away in my workroom late Friday afternoon, my thoughts shifted to Nicolette. I couldn’t help but think about the design she’d selected and how perfect it would look on her. I could still see the look of joy on her face as she’d shared all of the reasons why she loved the gown in the first place.

I loved that she loved my design. Was that wrong? Under these circumstances, maybe. She was, after all, my boss’s client. Or had been, anyway. To steal her away would be… unethical. Right? Then again, didn’t the bride always get what she wanted, not what others wanted for her?

“Gabriella?”

“Hmm?” I turned to face Demetri, who glared at me from the open doorway. “I’m sorry. What, Demetri?”

“I’ve been calling your name several times over. Vhat are you doing in here?”

I pointed at the dress I’d been hemming and pulled another straight pin from the pincushion on my wrist. “Hemming this bridesmaid dress. Isn’t that what I’m supposed to be doing?”

“Yes, but you didn’t answer zee question. I asked you to help Kitty at zee front desk for a few minutes vhile Lydia and Corinne assist me vith something.”

“Oh, sorry.” I scrambled to my feet and brushed the loose threads off my slacks. “I guess my mind was on other things. I didn’t hear you.”

His eyes took on a beady look, and I began to sweat under their glare. “Your mind has been on other things a lot lately. Zis vorries me.”

“Nothing to worry about.” I pulled my arm back, and the pincushion caught on the edge of the hem, nearly pulling Ginger down on top of me. Demetri caught her as she plummeted and set her upright again. In that moment, I had a weird flashback to an earlier mental image—one where Demetri waltzed me across the dance floor, stomping on my toes all the way.

He gestured for me to walk to the front of the store, but I could read the concern in his eyes as I passed by him. Not that I blamed him for being concerned. Lately I couldn’t seem to keep my focus. How could I, with so much work left to do on Scarlet’s gown? I’d given her a design she loved, sure, but implementing it was another thing altogether.

All of this wee-hours-of-the-night stuff seemed to be zapping my daytime creativity. Something had to give. I couldn’t burn the candle at both ends much longer.

And this whole fiasco with Nicolette? I needed to make a decision… and quickly.

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