Playing With You Page 2

  Deena laughed. “It’s sexy. You’ll look great in it.”

  Ricki shook her head. “I’ll try it on, but don’t expect much.”

  With a grin, Deena walked over to another display of black dresses. “Why don’t you try this one?” She handed over a simple black dress that had a half-inch wide beaded V-cut neckline that glittered in the light. “I like the touch of sparkle.”

  “Oooh, that’s beautiful.” Ricki joined Deena at the display. “I like that.”

  “How about a dressing room?” A pretty woman who clearly worked for the boutique joined them.

  Ricki handed the dresses to the woman. “You lead, we’ll follow.”

  The petite dark-haired woman led them to the dressing rooms in one corner and opened the door to one of the rooms. She put the dresses on a hook on one wall inside the room. “I’m Drew.” She smiled as she came back out of the room. “Let me know if you need any other sizes or anything else.”

  “Thanks.” Ricki slipped into the room and smiled at Deena before she closed the door behind her.

  “I want to see how they look on you.” Deena’s voice was slightly muffled through the dressing room door.

  “Okay,” Ricki said.

  After she stripped out of her T-shirt and jeans as well as socks and shoes, she picked out the low-cut black dress to try on first. She slipped it over her head and tugged it down. It had a button at the neck in the back and she slipped the button through the loop. She frowned as she looked at her reflection in the vertical mirror and adjusted her breasts in the plunging neckline. It was even more revealing than she’d realized. She tugged down the dress that came a little high on her thighs.

  “Uh, I don’t think this one works,” she called out.

  “You have to model it out here,” Deena said.

  Reluctantly, Ricki opened the door and stepped out into the hallway that ran along the length of the dressing rooms.

  “That’s beautiful,” Deena said. “Look at your reflection.” She took Ricki by the shoulders and had her face the full-length mirror on the far wall. Deena stood behind Ricki as she smoothed the arms of the dress, her cool fingers brushing Ricki’s skin. Deena was close enough that Ricki caught the scent of her lilac perfume.

  Ricki cocked her head to the side. “This dress says ‘come on in and get some.’”

  Deena laughed and Ricki smiled at the infectious sound as she looked at the woman’s reflection while she stood behind Ricki.

  “Okay, maybe this is a second date dress,” Deena said with a grin.

  “Try a much farther down the line dress.” Ricki stared at the large amount of cleavage showing. “Maybe date five or six.”

  “Ha.” Deena let her hands slide down Ricki’s arms before stepping back. “A woman as beautiful as you is not going to last three dates, much less five, before you go to bed with someone.”

  Ricki felt her cheeks heat. “It might take me a bit longer than that.”

  “Why don’t you try on the red one?” Deena said.

  Ricki slipped back into the dressing room, glad to get out of the much too revealing dress. She put the dress back on the hanger and set it on the hook she designated as “definitely no.”

  The red dress was pretty but felt tight across the bust line and the hips. Still, Deena insisted on seeing it.

  When Ricki came out of the dressing room, Deena cocked her head to the side. “The color is good on you and I like the dress.” She reached forward and adjusted the dress at the waist. Ricki was surprised by how familiar Deena acted each time she adjusted Ricki’s dresses. “But you’re right,” Deena said as she let her hands fall away from Ricki’s waist. “It’s a little snug. It might make it hard to sit comfortably.”

  “You’re telling me.” Ricki headed back into the dressing room and shimmied out of the too-snug red dress and hung it on the “absolutely not” hook.

  “I like this one,” Ricki said when she had the midnight blue dress on. It looked better than she’d thought it would. “It fits well.”

  “Come on out,” Deena said.

  When Ricki walked out, Deena took her by the shoulders and looked her up and down. “Attractive, but you were right earlier. It’s too conservative.” She turned Ricki around, still holding on to her shoulders. “This dress says look but don’t touch. Ever.”

  “Oh, come on. It’s not that bad.” Ricki laughed. “Besides, if I don’t like this guy that might be the exact message I want to give him.”

  “Trust me.” Deena smiled at Ricki over her shoulder in the mirror. “I have an eye for these things and this is not the right dress for you. Now try on the next one.” She gently pushed Ricki toward the dressing room door.

  “Okay, okay.” Ricki couldn’t help laughing again. She stripped out of the blue dress and hung it on the “no” hook.

  Next came the simple black dress with the sequined neckline. The moment Ricki put it on, she knew it was the right dress. It hugged her curves, but wasn’t tight and made her waist and hips look slimmer.

  She struggled with the zipper that ran up her spine from the waistline to the neck and couldn’t get it up by herself. “Here I come,” she said as she opened the door.

  Deena clapped her hands together. “Gorgeous. You look simply gorgeous.”

  “Can you help me with this zipper?” Ricki turned so that her back was to Deena and held up her shoulder-length hair up with both hands to get it out of the way.

  “Of course.” Deena’s cool fingers ran along the length of Ricki’s spine as she slid it up to the neck and a shiver ran down Ricki’s back.

  Ricki let her hair fall back to her shoulders as she stared at herself in the mirror. “I really like this one.”

  “It’s perfect.” Deena looked at Ricki’s breasts. “It shows just enough cleavage to be sexy without saying ‘tackle me now.’”

  “And it’s a good length.” Ricki brushed her fingers over the hem of the dress that came to just below mid-thigh.

  “It’s exactly right.” Deena gathered Ricki’s hair and held it up on top of her head. “You should wear your hair up with this dress. It will show the elegant line of your neck.”

  Ricki nodded as Deena released her hair. Ricki glanced at the price tag and her eyes widened. “I’m not so sure this is the right dress after all.”

  Deena waved Ricki’s concern away. “It’s perfect and worth every cent.”

  “You’re right and I absolutely love it.” Ricki put her hand on the handle to the dressing room. “Now to get home and take a shower and get ready. It was a long day at work.”

  She went into the dressing room, slipped out of the dress and put it on the hanger which she hung on the “no way I’m letting this one go” hook.

  When she was dressed, she brought all of the dresses out with her.

  “Let me take those.” Deena took the rejects and put them on rack of dresses clearly intended for the clerk to return to the floor. The clerk, Drew, was just outside the room and Deena handed the remaining dress to her. “She’s going to take this one, Drew,” Deena said. “But first we’re going to do a little more shopping.”

  Ricki raised her brows. “More shopping?”

  “You need some great shoes to go with that dress,” Deena said and took Ricki by the hand and led her to the huge display of shoes. “I’ll lay odds that you need something that says, ‘I’m sexy.’”

  Ricki laughed. It was amazing at how natural it felt for Deena to act like they’d been friends for ages.

  “Look at these.” Deena held up dressy shoes with heels that had to be three inches.

  Ricki frowned. “A little high, don’t you think?”

  “Nope.” Deena picked out two more pairs with two and a half to three inch heels. She showed the heels to Drew who nodded.

  “What size?” Drew looked at Ricki’s feet. “Around an eight?”

  “Good eye.” Ricki sat in a chair by a mirror and took off her shoes and socks again as Drew left to get her size.

&nb
sp; Drew returned with four boxes. “I didn’t have one of the shoes in your size, but I picked out a couple of others you might like.”

  Ricki rolled up her jeans before slipping on the shoes. She wobbled as she stood up. “I think you’re crazy, you know that, don’t you?” Ricki said to Drew who raised an eyebrow. “I’ll kill myself in heels this high.”

  “They look wonderful.” Deena looked exceptionally pleased as Ricki walked back and forth, testing them out. “You’ll be fine.”

  Ricki looked down at the shoes then sat in the chair again and removed the shoes. “These are a little tight across my toes.”

  “Try on this pair.” Deena handed her a pair of red heels that Drew had brought out.

  “Red?” Ricki took the heels. “The dress is black.”

  “It’s the style now,” the clerk said. “Shoes can accent your wardrobe rather than just being something to get you around in.”

  “If you say so.” Ricki slipped on the heels and stood. “These are actually pretty comfortable.” She walked back and forth in front of the mirror. “They are cute.”

  “Sexy as hell, is more like it,” Deena said.

  Ricki tried on the other two pair of shoes but ended up choosing the red ones. The clerk carried the box of shoes up to the front register where the dress was waiting.

  Just when Ricki thought they were finished, Deena led her over to the costume jewelry, hair clips, and dressy purses. “Do you have jewelry?”

  “I have diamond earrings that will go with that dress,” Ricki said. “That sparkle at the neckline is more than enough.”

  “Right.” Deena picked out a pretty black, slender hair clip. “Do you have clips?”

  “Not as pretty as that one.” Ricki shook her head and Deena held the clip as she went to the selection of evening purses. They spent a few minutes picking out an attractive little beaded black clutch that would go well with the dress.

  Ricki carried the purse and hair clip and Deena accompanied her to the register.

  “What were you here looking for?” Ricki asked Deena. “I didn’t even think to ask. You didn’t come here to dress me.”

  The woman shrugged. “Just killing time before I head back to the hotel. I didn’t have anything in particular in mind.”

  “I take it you aren’t in the mood to search for homes today.” Ricki handed the purse and clip to the clerk.

  Deena shook her head. “There’s something about looking for a place alone that’s not as much fun as looking with a friend.”

  “Kind of like dress shopping.” Ricki smiled. “I tell you what. You helped me. I’ll be glad to show you around town and at least help you find a neighborhood you like.”

  Deena visibly brightened. “I’d love that.”

  “I take Sundays off.” Ricki handed the sales clerk her Visa card. “Does the morning work for you?”

  “Perfect.” Deena looked delighted.

  “I can pick you up at your hotel,” Ricki said as they walked out the door of the dress shop, Ricki carrying the dress bag over one arm, the shopping bag in her opposite hand. “How’s ten-thirty in the morning?”

  “Sounds great,” Deena said.

  “I’d better get home and shower before my date.” Ricki sighed. “Hopefully it’s someone worth wearing this dress for.”

  “If not, I’ll take you out to dinner and you can wear the dress for a girls’ night out,” Deena said with a smile.

  “Deal.” Ricki walked up to her charcoal gray Prius. “Do you need a ride back to your hotel?”

  “I’d love one.” Deena ruffled her short blonde hair. “I went for a walk and I think I strayed a little far.” She told Ricki the place she was staying in, and Ricki recognized it as an extended stay hotel.

  Ricki unlocked the driver’s and passenger doors and put her bags in the back seat. She climbed into the driver’s seat as Deena sat on the passenger side and they shut the doors. In the confined space, Deena’s lilac perfume was a little stronger. It was a pleasant, old-fashioned scent that was at odds with her modern appearance.

  “Where are you from?” Ricki asked as she drove Deena to her hotel.

  “Tucson.” Deena braced her elbow on the window frame and plucked at her hair as they drove. “Have you always been in Prescott?”

  Ricki shook her head. “Moved here from Phoenix after my divorce.”

  “Owning a popular bakery like you do, you must know everyone,” Deena said.

  “Not really.” Ricki glanced from the street to Deena. “I know a lot of people thanks to the bakery and being here a while, but the town is growing so fast and it’s spread out across Prescott Valley. It’s impossible to know everyone.”

  “So it’s possible you could know your blind date when you meet him,” Deena said. “It’s also possible that you don’t know him.”

  “Exactly.” Ricki let out a little groan. “I’m really not looking forward to this.” She flashed a smile at Deena. “Of course if he’s hot it will be a different story.”

  “Here’s hoping you’ll enjoy yourself one way or another,” Deena said as Ricki pulled the car up to the hotel Deena was staying at. From her side vision, Ricki thought she saw Deena roll her eyes as she spoke. Surely not. Maybe Deena had something in her eye or Ricki had just imagined it.

  Ricki parked. “I’ll see you at ten-thirty on Sunday morning.”

  “Wonderful.” Deena put her hand on the door handle and started to open the door. “Thank you.”

  “I’m the one who owes you a thank you.” Ricki smiled. “You picked out the perfect dress and I really appreciate your help.”

  “My pleasure.” Deena opened the car door. “See you Sunday.”

  Ricki gave Deena a smile before the woman climbed out and shut the door behind her. She watched Deena walk up to the hotel before she backed up her car and headed away toward home.

  Chapter 3

  Ricki walked from the garage door into the house and laid the dress bag over the back of a kitchen chair before she dropped the shopping bag with the shoes, evening purse, and hair clip on the table. She set her everyday purse next to the shopping bag, along with the mail she’d picked up at the mailbox.

  She’d purchased the fixer-upper house when she moved to Prescott. Working on the house herself, and making it look and feel just the way she wanted it to, was one of her passions. She’d had to hire some outside help, but for the most part she was doing it herself. It gave her a sense of pride and accomplishment whenever she finished a project before starting another.

  Xena slid in through the doggy door by the double French doors and bounded up to Ricki, tail wagging as she pranced and greeted Ricki with joy.

  Ricki knelt to hug her golden retriever. “Xena, girl. It’s good to see you. How’s my warrior princess?”

  The golden wriggled more with happiness and licked the side of Ricki’s face causing her to laugh and give Xena another hug.

  “All I can say is that Aunt Madge had better come through,” Ricki said to Xena as she released the dog and stood. “I’d rather spend the evening home with you than end up on a date with some loser. But Auntie promised no losers. I’m holding her to that.”

  Xena gave a sharp bark and Ricki nodded. “That’s right. If Aunt Madge sends me out on a rotten date it’ll be the first and last one.”

  Of course Madge wouldn’t see it that way. Once she sank her teeth into something, she didn’t easily let go.

  Xena turned and headed straight to the kitchen, her toenails clicking on the tile floor. The kitchen had been the first place that Ricki had remodeled after the exterior of the house had been painted and the front and back yards cleaned up.

  First she’d sanded down the cabinets and painted them, and then had torn out the linoleum and had put down new Saltillo tile herself. She couldn’t afford granite so she paid to have Corian countertops installed instead. She’d also replaced all of the old appliances with new ones, including a second oven. She couldn’t afford everything at once, so she b
ought things she needed or wanted, as she was able.

  Ricki went to the pantry where she selected one box of treats from the collection she kept for Xena. She opened the container and then held up a piece chicken jerky.

  Xena sat and waited for Ricki to give her the treat even though her eyes said she wanted to do anything but sit still. After Ricki gave Xena the jerky, the dog gulped it down and started prancing around the kitchen, still excited that Ricki was home.

  “I need to get you a buddy.” She leaned a hip up against the counter as she talked to Xena. “What do you think of a chocolate lab? They’re beautiful, just like you.”

  Xena barked twice and Ricki grinned. “I take that as a sign of approval.”

  Ricki turned to a cabinet and grabbed a prescription pill bottle. She opened it and dumped one of the antidepressants into her palm before getting herself a cup of water and downing the pill. She put away the bottle and drank another glass of water before rinsing out the cup, drying it, and putting it in a cabinet.

  Her cell phone rang and she dug it out of her jeans pocket. She looked at the screen. “Aunt Madge,” she said out loud and looked at Xena. “Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’s calling to say my date cancelled.”

  Xena wagged her tail.

  Ricki pressed the on button and held the phone to her ear. “Hi, Auntie.”

  “Are you ready for your big date?” Madge sounded delighted as she spoke. “I promise you’re going to love him.”

  Sure she would. “Where did you find this guy?” Ricki asked.

  “No clues allowed, young woman,” Madge said. “I just wanted to make sure you’re getting ready. He’ll be there at seven-thirty.”

  Ricki glanced at the clock on the Keurig coffee maker. “It’s only six-thirty. I have plenty of time.”

  “I hope you have something elegant to wear.” Madge was all about style and class. “Like I told you before, he’s taking you someplace nice.”

  “I went dress shopping today.” Ricki looked at the dress bag lying over the back of the kitchen table chair. “I found something suitable.”

  Madge’s voice had a slight note of disapproval and Ricki pictured her aunt’s frown. “Suitable better not be boring.”