trunk. “Thanks for your help, Latrisse. Mrs. Smith’s a sweetheart, but she doesn’t have your fashion flair.”
“Are you kidding?” Latrisse said. “I’ve had a blast. And I’ve racked up some major brownie points with the boss.”
Sassy giggled. “We did some serious damage to my credit card. Taryn and I needed everything.”
“We did not ‘need’ everything. You bought everything.” There was more than a hint of disapproval in Taryn’s tone. “There is a vast deal of difference.”
“Oh, pooh, it was fun. Admit it.”
“The breeches are passable.”
Passable? Taryn was stunning in form-fitting jeans and a loose, sleeveless top. Too bad the huntress had insisted on buying a pair of black lace-up combat boots.
“Don’t buy those,” Sassy had protested. “They’re hid-jus.”
“They are not hideous. They are comfortable and sturdy. More importantly, I can fight in them.” Taryn demonstrated a flying roundhouse kick to prove her point. “If you prefer I can wear my doeskins.”
Sassy had given up on the boots.
She slammed the lid of the trunk and turned to Taryn. “Are you sure you don’t want to get that dress before we leave?”
“Thank you, but no. I am in your debt already. Rest assured you will be fully recompensed as soon as I obtain proper currency.”
“I’m not worried about it,” Sassy said. “I wish you’d change your mind and get the dress. It looked three kinds of darling on you.”
“A Kirvahni warrior does not run around in a shift.”
Even a peppy perkster knew when she was licked. With a sigh, Sassy admitted defeat and smoothed the pleats of her black-on-ivory fit and flare “shift.” The dress hit her right above the knees—very professional, she thought. A pair of bright red ankle harness pumps and a matching handbag added some pizzazz to the outfit.
A girl had her standards, after all.
She glanced at her watch. “Goodness, look at the time. It’s almost ten. We have to scoot.”
She hugged Latrisse good-bye. “I’ve found my fashion soul mate in Hannah. Isn’t that creamy?”
“Totally smooth,” Latrisse agreed. “You need anything else, give me a holler.”
“I will. Tell Mrs. Smith I said thanks again for letting me use her office phone.”
Sassy had called Wes several times from the house that morning with no luck. She’d left messages on his work phone and his cell. So far, there had been no response.
“Not a problem,” Latrisse said. “It’s hard to get cell service in Hannah. Were you able to reach your party?”
Sassy shook her head. “It rolled straight to voice mail.” For like the umpteenth time. At least she knew the landline at the house wasn’t the problem. “I left a message.”
Wes must have gone home. He had no relatives in town, and Hannah’s solitary motel was a dump. Leaving town in a snit was one thing, but he wasn’t taking her calls, which told Sassy he was mad as fire. Really, Wes’s continued refusal to communicate was the teensiest bit annoying, because it meant Sassy would have to go to Fairhope. A girl didn’t break up with her fiancé over the phone. A thing like that should be done face-to-face.
Mother-of-pearl, Sassy dreaded the drama. Going home meant dealing with Mama, and Mama was a handful on the best of days. Mama would not be happy with Sassy for breaking Wes’s heart. Poor Wes adored his Sassy Bug. He was going to be crushed when Sassy ended things, but she couldn’t marry a man she didn’t love. It wouldn’t be right . . . for either of them. And then there was the whole I’m not human thing. Wes wouldn’t marry a Rite Two Episcopalian, much less a woman from another species.
Evan sauntered down the sidewalk looking bad-boy delicious in a pair of Trey’s jeans and a black tee shirt. His glossy dark hair was tucked behind his ears, and his studs and earrings were on display. Hard to believe this was the same grubby creature Sassy had stumbled upon in the witch’s shed a mere two days ago. He’d changed. So had she.
“Hel-lo, mama.” Evan gave a low whistle and looked Latrisse up and down. “Where you been all my life?”
“In school learning about helping verbs, dickwad,” Latrisse said. “And I am not your ‘mama.’”
She spun on her sexy high heels and disappeared into the store with an enticing sway of her hips.
Evan watched her go, his sensuous mouth tilted in a smile. “Dayum. I’m sorry I didn’t hang with y’all now.”
“Do not be,” Taryn said. “’Twas a tedious and everlasting process.”
“Don’t pay any attention to her. She talks a