Sophie, Aubrey, and Violet aren’t highly tanned, but at least what tans they do have prevent them from looking like someone who hasn’t moved onto the afterlife yet.
“It’s May in Montana, when most of us are still sporting our winter tans. You don’t look that much paler than us.”
“It’s not just that. My leg is badly scarred from the car accident I was in last year. It looks hideous.” Yes, that’s one of the adjectives a guy used after seeing the scars a few months ago. I was by the pool at the country club when he said it.
“I bet it doesn’t look as bad as you think it does,” Sophie says. “Was your leg burned?”
“No, but glass and jagged pieces of metal ripped up the skin.”
She cringes. “Oh, God. That sounds painful.”
“Maybe I can wear something else with the top.”
“Your jeans will go with it. But you should try on the shorts and see what you think.”
“All right.” I guess there’s no harm in trying them on.
I disappear into the fitting room.
I change into the outfit, then check out my reflection and grimace. The top is adorable. But while the shorts aren’t super short, all of my scars are on display.
“Kate?” Sophie says from the other side of the door. “Are you going to show us?”
Us?
I hesitantly unlock the door and open it. Sophie, Violet, and Aubrey are waiting for me when I emerge from the cubicle. I tentatively step out, prepared to meet their horrified expressions.
“Ohmygod,” Sophie says, grinning. “You wear that outfit tonight, and you’ll knock Noah on his ass. It looks amazing on you, Kate.”
“But what about my scars?” I ask, doing my best to cover them with my hand, which is pretty useless, given the extent of them.
“Your scars are fine. They don’t bother Noah, right?”
I almost burst out laughing. They don’t bother him because we’ve been sleeping together.
Well, not technically sleeping, but he has seen them and he still kisses them every time he goes down on me.
“No. He’s fine with them.”
The three women exchange knowing glances—after I’ve just confirmed what they’ve suspected all along. Noah and I are more than friends while I’m in Copper Creek.
“No, it’s not like that. We’re just friends. Well, I guess now I’m his boss. Actually, more like the cousin of the boss.” Which sounds better in my head, because now I’m not having sex with one of my employees.
All three look like they believe that as much as they would believe it if I had announced I’m the Easter Bunny.
Which is crazy when you consider it. Noah has a reputation of never having sex with the same woman twice. Why would Sophie, Aubrey, and Violet think things would be any different with me?
Even if they are.
“In that case,” Aubrey says, “you can also dance with Austin and Ryan. They’re both great dancers.”
“And if any other guy can get past those three,” Sophie says, “you’ll be so busy dancing, we might not see you for the entire evening.”
“Just because Noah is fine with these scars doesn’t mean other men will be.” Maybe if I wasn’t so pale, the scars wouldn’t be so noticeable.
“Kate, those scars don’t change who you are,” Violet says. “You’re sweet and funny and intelligent. The scars won’t chase guys away. The men around these parts are more put off by women who are high-maintenance than they are by scars.”
By high-maintenance, she’s referring to me. She’s just too nice to say it out loud.
