Once Upon a Date - Susan Hatler Page 0,30

publish your wonderful book just as it is. It’s absolutely perfect.”

I listened with my mouth hanging open as Jodi gushed about the various parts of my book that made her “swoon.” I called her back and my eyes widened at the offered advance, which was far bigger than the ten thousand dollar advance Brooks had offered.

But I was supposed to be at Brooks’ office tomorrow to sign the contract.

Now, I was torn.

Chapter Twelve

“Are you ready for some serious retail therapy?” Krista asked, wearing an animated expression. She loved shopping, especially when it involved trying on glamorous gowns and sparkly shoes. “Seriously, Michelle. Isn’t this fun?”

I shrugged. “Meh.”

She turned to me as we were about to push open the door to a boutique dress shop downtown. “What do you mean ‘Meh’? We are trying on gorgeous dresses and all you can say is ‘meh’? What’s going on with you?”

I reached past her to push the door open, and then sighed. “It’s a book thing.”

Her eyebrows came together as we breezed inside, and she set her purse down on one of the luxurious chairs in the middle of the floor. I sat down in the other chair and crossed my legs.

“This chair is nicer than anything I have in my apartment. Think I can smuggle it out in my tote?” I joked, as I stroked the plush blue velvet. The chair reminded me of Brooks’ incredible magic carpet ride, and butterflies returned to my stomach. I was so torn between wanting to take the offer from Jodi, and being loyal to Brooks. After all, he’d just made editor, so I would be the first author he signed.

“No, I don’t think you could smuggle out an entire chair,” she said, holding up a gown she’d found. “But you might be able to get it under this skirt. Would you look at the layers on this?”

“It’s pretty,” I said, without much interest.

The dress was ice blue with long lacy sleeves, a fitted bodice, and the frothiest skirt I had ever seen. “You should totally try it on,” she said.

I rapped my fingers against the arm of the chair. “Why don’t you try it on? You found it.”

She put her head to one side and raised her eyebrow. “Because you are into this fairy-tale style dress, and it would look magical on you. I’m more into a slinky, can’t-breathe-in-this-but-it-looks-good-so-I’ll-wear-it-anyway kind of gown.”

“You know, your logic actually make sense,” I said, getting up to open the curtains of a changing room and going inside with the dress.

“You’ll never guess what my boss has done now,” Krista said.

“What’s she done this time?” I asked, stepping into the dress and pulling it up before sliding my arms into the sleeves.

“She asked me to go out for donuts yesterday when the woman is so anti-sugar. I mean, not even in her salad dressing. So, I asked her if she was sure she wanted to eat a donut and she said yes, and asked me to buy a dozen and bring them back for the staff, which was weird because there were only three of us in today, get me?”

“Uh-huh.”

“How’s it going with the dress?”

“I’m pretty sure the sleeves are giving me a rash. Can you grab me another one to try?”

Krista passed a red number in to me, but the fabric felt too stiff. “So, I got the donuts, and then an hour later she came out all red faced from her office and asked me to go and get some donuts.”

“She asked you again?”

I heard Krista’s earring jingling as she nodded. “Yep. Weird, right? So, I said to her ‘you do know I’ve brought you a box already?’ and she looked all confused, rubbed the sugar from her chin, and burst into tears.”

I poked my head out through the curtains, and handed Krista the dress. “Hate it. What about that blue one? So, what happened next? Did she send you for cookies?”

“Good one, but no.” Krista swapped dresses over for me, and then disappeared into the next cubicle to try on a black satin sheath dress she’d found. “She said I was making things up to confuse her, and then she shut herself in her office all day. All I know is, by the end of the day that donut box was empty and I only had one.”

There was silence for a few moments. “Everything all right?” I asked.

“Ta-da!” she exclaimed. Krista had somehow managed to pour herself into a sheath dress and looked stunning as she turned