double D chest size, going braless was an act of bravery in itself. Still, the gathered, elastic binding of the bodice did a lot to hold her in.
“Oh, thank God you’re here.” Mrs. Warren grabbed Cait’s hand and pulled her to the side of the wide hallway.
“Of course. I’m here to help.”
“And thank God, I say again.” Mrs. Warren had a touch of drama in her. “The room isn’t properly laid out and the coat check is a mess.” She stepped back. “But you look wonderful. Going for the homely bride, were you? Because the dress is ugly.”
Cait nodded, reminding herself that she actually liked this woman. She scanned her eyes up and down Cait’s body.
“Well, if that was your goal, I’m afraid you failed. You should have done something to tone down your eyes and maybe hide your shape a bit. You look lovely, and I have to say, I’m pleased to see you dressed as a bride. So many women tonight will be dressed in those dreadful bridesmaid’s dresses, looking frumpy as if that was their right. I think we have an obligation to make ourselves look attractive.” She smiled at Cait. “If nothing else, to taunt men with what they could have had, if they’d behaved better.”
Cait couldn’t stop her smile. Mrs. Warren had attitude and the chief made it quite clear she ran their household.
“Let’s go.” She clutched Cait’s hand and dragged her up the slight incline to the coat check room. The roll-up covering for the window was down. “Please, could you handle this? The volunteers will be here in thirty minutes and it’s nowhere ready to be used. Fix it, please.” With that command, she pushed Cait’s shoulder toward the door and walked away, calling for the next victim—uh, volunteer—she saw.
Cait sighed and stared at the door. This wouldn’t be so bad. She could spend her night trapped in the coat check. Could be worse.
She pushed open the door and stopped.
It just got worse.
Officer Rain Lucas looked up, his eyes filled with irritation and frustration. But after one heartbeat, his gaze dropped to her chest. Surprise flared in his brilliant stare, followed quickly by hunger.
Cait wanted to groan. The man hadn’t said two words to her beyond work in the six months since he’d been back on duty. His return to “light duty” had been one of her first jobs as the department spokesperson. The news media was all excited about an officer returning to the job after being shot. Rain had been less than thrilled. He’d refused to do interviews and barely gave her enough personal information to sound credible.
In the past six months, they’d managed a civil working relationship, and now he was staring at her breasts as if he was a teenager seeing his first skin magazine. Every time he looked at her from now on, all he would notice was her breasts. Damn, this dress had been a monumentally bad idea.
The fact that he and his friend Tanner starred in her late-night fantasies really had no place in her thoughts. It had been easier when Rain ignored her. Now the hungry look in his eyes was going to stick with her.
Tonight, he was out of the crisp blue uniform he wore on the job and dressed in a tux. The collar was open, his tie hanging down at one side. He looked disheveled and sexy—like a hunky groom who’d just had a quickie with his bride in the coat check room. Or more likely, one of the bridesmaids.
Cait’s nipples tightened behind the silk bodice but she didn’t have the courage to look down to see if they were making an appearance.
Man, it’s hot in here.
The door closed behind her with a thump, surprising both of them. The sound seemed to jerk him out of his breast-induced stupor. He snapped his eyes up and glared at her. The annoyed look helped her control the reaction of her own body.
“What?” she demanded. Instinct, honed from years in junior high as the most developed girl in her class, insisted she fold her arms over her chest but pride wouldn’t allow it. Rain was the