over, Zoe,” she said, shooting a warning glance at her friends.
Julia shoved items of clothing aside in Natalie’s closet. “What do you mean you didn’t tell him Friday was your birthday?” She wore slim-fitting slacks and a bright green sweater that showed her figure to advantage.
“I didn’t want him to make a big deal of it.” Natalie pulled a box from the top shelf and opened the lid. She lifted out a black snakeskin heel. “How about these Pliners that you got me last year for Christmas?”
Julia glanced at them. “I love those on you. They make your legs look fabulous. You need a short skirt.”
“Not short!”
“Trust me on this—men love short skirts.” Julia held up a black skirt that had a flirty ruffle on the bottom. “This is perfect.”
“I’ve never worn it. Don’t you think it’s a little, well, daring for me? Maybe even too young?”
“You’re thirty, not fifty. You’re young enough to wear anything. Let’s figure out the top.” Julia rummaged again until she found a red lace top with a V-neck. “I’ve never seen you wear this either. It still has the tags on it. Hey, wait a minute.
I bought this for you last year for your birthday.”
“I hate to remind you, but I’ll be thirty-one on Friday.
And yes, you got me the top.”
Julia put her hands on her hips. “I bet I got the skirt too.”
Natalie suppressed a smile. “You have a good memory.”
“Well, you’re wearing it on Friday. He’ll be speechless.”
She perched on the rose coverlet on the bed. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Nat.”
Natalie’s smile faded at the serious expression on Julia’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“I was in the bank today and overheard two women talking about Carson being Mia’s father.”
The strength went out of Natalie’s legs, and she sank onto the bed beside Julia. “Zoe must have overheard us.”
Julia nodded. “It’s probably all over town by now.”
“I hope Mia doesn’t hear about it.”
“You probably ought to warn Carson.”
The thought of telling Carson made Natalie spring to her feet and pace the lavender carpet. “He’s going to think I was gossiping.”
“It’s not like you’re a couple. Not yet anyway.”
“We might be heading that way.” Natalie settled on the carpet with her legs crossed. “I don’t know what’s happening between us.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I want to. I’m trying to. Working together has made me see he’s got integrity. How could a man of integrity ignore his daughter?”
“You know what I think.”
“That Lisa lied. I’m beginning to wonder myself.” She decided to change the subject. “At least the town project is moving along. I think we’re going to do this!”
Julia’s expression turned thoughtful. “You know what would be great? If Sawyer would write a song to go with the town.”
Natalie gaped when the suggestion took hold. “That’s a great idea! Can’t you just see what kind of attention that would bring us? I wonder if he would do it.”
“Carson could ask him. He might make it a song about his fiancée and how smitten with her he was when he first laid eyes on her.” Julia sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever feel that kind of overwhelming attraction. Men are pigs.”
Natalie laughed. “You haven’t dated the right one yet.”
“And I’m not likely to in this hick town,” Julia said gloomily. She sprang to her feet. “I’d better run. We’ll come to the coffee shop for our birthday cake and party before the big dinner.”
“You will be gone before he comes, right?” Natalie gave an inward shudder at the thought of the girls being there when she left with Carson.
“We’ll be perfect ladies. Shelby has been coaching us.”
Natalie walked Julia to the door. “That wasn’t a promise.”
Julia’s smile was impish as she opened the door—and ran smack into Carson. He caught her before she could fall.
“Sorry,” Julia said, laughing. “Hi, Carson.
Julia shoved items of clothing aside in Natalie’s closet. “What do you mean you didn’t tell him Friday was your birthday?” She wore slim-fitting slacks and a bright green sweater that showed her figure to advantage.
“I didn’t want him to make a big deal of it.” Natalie pulled a box from the top shelf and opened the lid. She lifted out a black snakeskin heel. “How about these Pliners that you got me last year for Christmas?”
Julia glanced at them. “I love those on you. They make your legs look fabulous. You need a short skirt.”
“Not short!”
“Trust me on this—men love short skirts.” Julia held up a black skirt that had a flirty ruffle on the bottom. “This is perfect.”
“I’ve never worn it. Don’t you think it’s a little, well, daring for me? Maybe even too young?”
“You’re thirty, not fifty. You’re young enough to wear anything. Let’s figure out the top.” Julia rummaged again until she found a red lace top with a V-neck. “I’ve never seen you wear this either. It still has the tags on it. Hey, wait a minute.
I bought this for you last year for your birthday.”
“I hate to remind you, but I’ll be thirty-one on Friday.
And yes, you got me the top.”
Julia put her hands on her hips. “I bet I got the skirt too.”
Natalie suppressed a smile. “You have a good memory.”
“Well, you’re wearing it on Friday. He’ll be speechless.”
She perched on the rose coverlet on the bed. “I don’t know how to tell you this, Nat.”
Natalie’s smile faded at the serious expression on Julia’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“I was in the bank today and overheard two women talking about Carson being Mia’s father.”
The strength went out of Natalie’s legs, and she sank onto the bed beside Julia. “Zoe must have overheard us.”
Julia nodded. “It’s probably all over town by now.”
“I hope Mia doesn’t hear about it.”
“You probably ought to warn Carson.”
The thought of telling Carson made Natalie spring to her feet and pace the lavender carpet. “He’s going to think I was gossiping.”
“It’s not like you’re a couple. Not yet anyway.”
“We might be heading that way.” Natalie settled on the carpet with her legs crossed. “I don’t know what’s happening between us.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I want to. I’m trying to. Working together has made me see he’s got integrity. How could a man of integrity ignore his daughter?”
“You know what I think.”
“That Lisa lied. I’m beginning to wonder myself.” She decided to change the subject. “At least the town project is moving along. I think we’re going to do this!”
Julia’s expression turned thoughtful. “You know what would be great? If Sawyer would write a song to go with the town.”
Natalie gaped when the suggestion took hold. “That’s a great idea! Can’t you just see what kind of attention that would bring us? I wonder if he would do it.”
“Carson could ask him. He might make it a song about his fiancée and how smitten with her he was when he first laid eyes on her.” Julia sighed. “I don’t think I’ll ever feel that kind of overwhelming attraction. Men are pigs.”
Natalie laughed. “You haven’t dated the right one yet.”
“And I’m not likely to in this hick town,” Julia said gloomily. She sprang to her feet. “I’d better run. We’ll come to the coffee shop for our birthday cake and party before the big dinner.”
“You will be gone before he comes, right?” Natalie gave an inward shudder at the thought of the girls being there when she left with Carson.
“We’ll be perfect ladies. Shelby has been coaching us.”
Natalie walked Julia to the door. “That wasn’t a promise.”
Julia’s smile was impish as she opened the door—and ran smack into Carson. He caught her before she could fall.
“Sorry,” Julia said, laughing. “Hi, Carson.
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