Free Candlemoth: A Holy City Romance by Pauline West

stepped out slowly and did an embarrassed whirl for them in front of the dressing room curtains.  Beren and Chandler’s eyebrows shot up like roller coaster cars. 
    “Is it okay?” I said.
                  “Oh my god.  Its destiny.  I need a picture.”  Chandler snapped a shot of me on his phone.  “Okay, and you have a pair of stilettos?  Red lipstick, your hair in a bun- and these-” he reached back to the counter and handed me a pair of heart-shaped aviator sunglasses.  “Promise.  Just try them on.”
                  “Oh, they’re cute!” I said.  And they were.  The dress was sizzlingly sexy, but matched with the carefree sunglasses, the outfit looked effortless.
                  “You’re adorable,” Chandler said.  “Razor hot.”  He smoothed my hair back behind my ear. 
    “This dress is incredible,” I marvelled.  “I feel beautiful, but strong, too.  Usually I don’t feel like myself in dresses, but it holds me in, and it still lets me move-”
    “Have you ever modeled before?” he interrupted.
    I shook my head.  “Nah.”
    “I think maybe I made that dress specifically for you,” Chandler said, suddenly shy. 
    I took off the sunglasses, amazed.  “You made this?  God, you’re talented.  You’re incredible.”
    “It’s one of a kind.  Do you like it?” Chandler said, unblinking.
    “I love it.  I love it, love it, love it.”
    “I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m putting a collection together.  I’m going to need a model.  I’ve been looking, but until now, nobody has seemed quite right.  I’d love for you to have that dress, Lily.  It belongs on you.  Would you do some modeling for me in exchange for it? It would mean you’d have to do some runway work-”             
    “Oh gosh, a thousand times yes!  Wait- a runway?  As in, walk a runway?  Um-”
    “I know you can do it, Lily,” Chandler said.  “You’re a natural.”
    I met Beren’s eyes.  “Maybe we can pull it off together,” I said.  Beren beamed. 
    Just then, the bell on the front door rang.  A group of women swinging designer bags stepped inside, taking off their shades.  “Oh wow!” I heard them say.
    Chandler slid the sunglasses back onto my face, smiled, and kissed my cheek.  “Come by next week and let’s talk.” 
    “Wait- I need to-”
    “It’s on me.”  Then Chandler pivoted on his heels, heading towards the new visitors.  “Welcome to Aerie, may I pour y’all a glass of champagne?”
     
    “I’ve never seen him warm up to anybody like that,” Beren said, as we walked back outside into the heat of the late afternoon.
    “He likes you,” I said.
    “I don’t know.  He likes his work.  But it’s sexy, isn’t it, how passionate he is?”
    “Very.  You should ask him out,” I said.
    “I don’t know,” Beren said, distracted.
    “Beren, are you actually intimidated?”  I squeezed Beren’s arm.  “I never thought I’d see the day!”
    “He makes me feel high.  You know?  Just being around him is like, this drug,” Beren said, shyly.
    “Come with me to see him next week,” I said.  “Let’s do this together.”
    “I’d love that, Lily,” Beren said.  “Jesus, his ass, right?”  He clutched his heart.  “That ass is gonna be the death of me.”  Giggling, we went back to my apartment and hung out while we got ready, cranking the radio up as loud as it could go without shaking my windows.  Singing at the top of your lungs with your best friend is the best high in the world.
     
    Then I drove to the Calhouns with my heart in my throat.  What if Ry wasn’t home?  Worse yet- what if he was?
    And what if Madison was there with him?
     
    ========= C hapter ==============================================
     
                  But when I walked up, Ry was outside on the porch reading a book with a small peg of bourbon in the glass beside him.  He looked up and