Page 36 of Rekindle My Heart

Erica murmured, “Here, here.”

Liz set her glass on the side table, then pulled out a red gown— long fall of smooth fabric in soft pleats, with a kiss of beadwork at the bodice. It was exquisite. “I think you should try this one on first. It has some give in the hips if Ryan was off.”

“My mom used to say they were good child-bearing hips.” Erica rolled her eyes. And no way she was the same size as the curvy pinup model holding the dress. Her gaze dropped to her chest or, rather, her lack thereof, then back to Liz and her perfect hourglass shape.

“Stop that,” Lorna scolded. “Don’t compare. Trust me. We all want to hate her on principle, but she’s too damn likable.”

“Aww, thanks.” Liz gave her friend a quick hug.

“Erica, you’re a knockout, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors with these clothes. I mean, they look comfy, but they have to be two sizes too big. You need something to accentuate your assets.” Mira cupped her hands under her own chest to emphasize the point.

“Don’t feel bad. She does that to me as well,” Lorna whispered.

“You gave up on yourself when you got divorced. Your wardrobe is much improved since you and CJ hooked up.”

“Jeez, thanks.” Lorna chuckled.

“Tell you what, you look at the dresses I brought and then try a few on, and we will go from there.” Liz waited patiently for her reply.

Erica would swear the woman could see right into her soul and knew her worst self-doubt. Taking one large inhale, she pushed down her insecurities. “Okay.”

Mira cheered. “It’s dress-up time.”

Five minutes later, Erica stood in her bedroom staring at a body she didn’t recognize. She slid a hand over the soft, wide straps that slipped off her pale shoulders. They added a hint of sexy to this classically beautiful dress. A slight flare below the knee fell to the floor adding to the Marilyn Monroe silhouette. But it was the deep blue that made her eyes pop that had her questioning who this vamp of a woman was.

She blinked at the transformation this piece of fabric did to her. The slightly hippy tomboy was gone, and a curvy—dare she say attractive—woman took her place.

You look beautiful, honey.Tears stung at the bridge of her nose as memories of the last time she tried on a long gown flashed in her mind. Her mom had swept her hair aside and whispered those words.

Erica had felt like a princess. For all of two minutes. Then Sarah came into the room in her strapless, pink chiffon, and Erica morphed in the time it took the fitting room door to bang closed. Her mother exclaimed, “Look at how beautiful my baby girl is.”

Yup, that was all it took. No more Cinderella at the ball. Nope, Erica had been relegated back to the maid scrubbing floors.

She shouldn’t have been shocked. Erica had been her baby girl once, not that she could remember it, but when Sarah was born with a heart defect, all her mom’s concerns, cares, and love went to Sarah. “She’s your baby sister. You need to be strong for her. Take care of her.”

Scanning the gorgeous dress through watery eyes, one thought surfaced… She’d trade all the pretty dresses in the world to have Sarah back.

“Come on, we’re dying. Let’s see it.” Kate’s voice drifted down the hall.

“Does it fit?” Liz asked from the other side of the door.

Erica blinked the moisture from her eyes and pushed her memories into a box. Now wasn’t the time. As if emerging from a deep sleep, she exhaled, then really looked at herself.

It didn’t look like her or feel like her. But… She turned from side to side. She liked it.

She threw a seductive look at herself in the mirror. A snort bubbled out. Could she pull this off? She didn’t know, but the tingling in her stomach suggested she might.

As if emerging from a deep sleep, she sucked in a deep breath. Then with one last glance at the mirror, she opened the door. A round of gasps echoed in the room.

“You look… Wow.” Kate raised her glass.

“That really brings out your eyes,” Lorna said.

“Yes, but I want to see the green one,” Mira added, obviously not ready to settle on a dress after just one.

Amy stood quietly stroking a finger across her mouth. The woman’s scrutiny chased shivers down Erica’s neck. Detective Larson was a formidable cop and one of Ryan’s best friends. And the woman’s opinion mattered to her. Hell if she knew why. There was nothing between her and Ryan Daniels. Not in thirteen years, and never would be again.

“I can see why Ryan is cow-eyed over you.”