Austensibly Ordinary Read Online Free Page B

over my left eye. Desperate to hang on to the dress, I huffed out a retaliatory breath, willing it to back off. It didn’t.
    My mom looked at me quizzically. “Have you even seen the whole dress?”
    â€œUm, no. I just know I want it.”
    The look she gave me confirmed that I sounded as ridiculous as I looked, kneeling before a mostly obscured, plastic-wrapped dress with an I’m-not-worthy attitude.
    She stepped forward, stared down at me until, resigned, I unhanded the dress and scooted back on my knees. As she pulled the relevant hanger off the wardrobe rack and proceeded to unveil the rest of the dress, I stood up and tried to regain my composure, distractedly dusting off the front of my trousers.
    The top was just as lust-worthy as the bottom. There was a fitted, strapless satin bodice with lingerie stitching, a wide patent leather belt, and a flirty transparent chiffon wrap that tied in the front, all of it deep, dark, lustrous midnight blue. It was perfect. I had no trouble imagining the cool and composed Eve Kendall from North by Northwest sashaying through train cars in this streamlined number.
    She’d always been my favorite Hitchcock blonde. Partly because we shared the same last name; partly because she was sensible and savvy, not to mention sexy enough to end up with Cary Grant.
    I stared at the dress and smiled. All that was left was to wonder whether I could fit into it and fill it out. And whether my mother would let me have it.
    I turned to look at her, certain there was desperation in my eyes. “So, can I have it, Mom? I’ll buy it from you.”
    Her eyebrow went up and she eyed the dress she was still holding.
    â€œI plan to invoke the ‘Thou shall not make a killing off your daughter’ commandment.”
    â€œHuh. I hadn’t heard of that one.”
    â€œIt’s lesser known.” I was twitching, my eyes moving back and forth between the dress and my mom. I definitely wasn’t playing it cool. Closing my eyes, I took a slow breath. Opening them again, I tried to keep the pleading desperation carefully banked.
    â€œYou can have it. But I want to know where you’re going in it. A date? With Ethan?”
    â€œNo, Mom, not a date per se, and not with Ethan. Just a Halloween party—one of Syd’s things. It’s sort of a costume party. I’m going old-fashioned.”
    â€œOkay, well, it’s yours. Consider it my contribution to the Cate Kendall Happily-Ever-After Fund.”
    Nice. “Thanks, Mom. Okay, I’m just going to leave this back here and get busy on the shop. Is Dmitri working today?” Mom considered Dmitri one of her best finds. He was a fashion major at UT who could turn a canvas tote bag and a skein of yarn into something wonderful. Mom already had him on borrowed time.
    â€œIt’s Thursday. He teaches Pilates at that men’s spa. You’ll be on your own—at least for a little white—the computer guy is coming.”
    â€œWhat computer guy?”
    â€œThe Nerd Squad or the Geek Freak . . . something.” She moved to a little vanity table she kept in the corner and used occasionally as a desk. As I watched, she pulled out her powder compact and a lipstick and touched everything up.
    â€œUh-huh.” If I thought it odd that she felt compelled to refresh her makeup for the Geek Freak, I didn’t mention it. I chose to make my escape riding the high of mom’s largesse. And nearly barreled into someone barging in.
    â€œCate?” A familiar blonde blocked the door to the storeroom.
    â€œHey, Court!” I leaned in for a quick hug and got thumped hard on the back.
    â€œSorry!” She grimaced and held up the one-pound bag of Brach’s Autumn Mix in explanation, and my eyes glazed over. Courtney and I shared so much good taste.
    I’d been her devoted fan since the minute I discovered she carried candy in her bag. Not Altoids—that was for amateurs. This