Page 39 of Crave the Moon (Nightcreature 11)

“Because you can’t,” Ashleigh said.

“I assure you I can.” Gina leaned down and grabbed her white pumps from the bottom of the closet. Especially since she didn’t have much choice.

“Ew!” Ashleigh exclaimed.

“Not those shoes,” Amberleigh agreed.

Gina turned them over. They were a little scuffed on the heels, but otherwise they seemed fine to her.

“White pumps are for weddings,” Ashleigh whispered as if it were a secret.

“Only?” Gina asked.

“Maybe christenings.” She glanced at Amberleigh.

The other girl shrugged and murmured, “Confirmations?”

“Bar Mitzvahs!” Ashleigh announced.

“I think that’s Bat Mitzvahs,” Gina corrected.

“Bats don’t have mitzvahs.” Ashleigh laughed. “You’re silly.”

“That’s me,” Gina agreed, heading for her room with her white dress and white shoes. “Silly, silly, silly.”

“Hold on.” Amberleigh stepped in front of her and peered into Gina’s eyes. “You really gonna wear that?”

Gina nearly walked past without answering. But there seemed to be someone home behind Amberleigh’s usually vacant blue gaze for a change. “I have a business meeting tomorrow.”

She didn’t, not really. She hadn’t bothered to call Mr. Morris and set up a meeting. That would only give him a chance to refuse.

“With a man?”

“What difference does that make?”

Amberleigh lifted a brow and waited. Gina sighed, thinking of the short, squat, strange little man who had bought her ranch from the bank. She hated the guy. But he was a guy. And the last time she’d visited him, asking for an extension on their loan, he’d taken one look at her dusty boots, faded jeans, and flannel shirt, lifted his lip, and said, Next time, wear a dress.

“Yeah,” she said. “It’s a man. So?”

“Important?”

“Very,” Gina agreed.

; “In that case, sugar.” Amberleigh took the white garment from Gina’s hands; Ashleigh took the white shoes, then together they tossed them into the closet and slammed the door. “You’re gonna need a better dress.”

CHAPTER 9

“Why are there dresses?” Gina asked, voice muffled as she pulled on a third, or maybe a fourth. Her head popped out the top. “For that matter why would there even be dress?”

“You never know when you might need a hot outfit.” Amberleigh’s forehead creased as she studied Gina.

“I know,” Gina muttered. “Three days past never.”

“This one works.” Amberleigh smiled. “Don’t you think so, Ash?”

Gina was shocked that she fit into Amberleigh’s clothes. The blonde appeared smaller in some ways and larger in two others. But with a little tugging and pinning—why Amberleigh had pins in her suitcase was as much of a mystery as why she had dresses—Gina had to admit the dress worked.