by Lucy Smoke
"What happened to the red dress I gave you?" she asked immediately.
I shrugged. "It didn't fit." I didn't wait for her to say anything else. The only opinions that mattered were the guys' opinions.
I walked out into the store. Marv stood to the side beside Texas, both scrolling through their phones. Bellamy leaned up against the nearest wall, a bored expression on his face. They straightened and stared when they saw me. Bellamy's jaw hung open slightly. Texas raised his eyebrows, scanning me up and down. Marv pursed his lips, but didn't look too displeased. Lindsey came behind me, her brow furrowed and a frown firmly on her face. Before she could say anything though, Marv spoke.
"Not bad. It's actually quite lovely," he commented. "I like the skirt and the mesh. Modest, elegant, but still fun, still her."
Lindsey sputtered. "Yes...well...uh, I do try to choose the dresses to match the clients."
I rolled my eyes but decided to remain quiet. I didn't want to be mean.
"I'd like to see more, in a few different colors, if you don't mind?" Marv said.
"No problem!" Lindsey beamed.
"Ah, yes, I was actually talking to Harlow. What's your opinion?" Marv's tornado eyes zeroed in on me, refusing to budge, demanding he know.
"It's nicer than the first one I tried on. I like the color combination." I fingered the mesh and the blue flowers. "I don't dress up, though, so I'm not an expert."
"No, it's beautiful. Would you like to try on more?"
I hesitated. I would have been perfectly fine just buying this one if I absolutely needed a dress. I flinched at how much it would cost, but I wanted to please the guys. I tried to find the tag, peering behind me and to my side, when Marv caught my shoulder and turned me back to look at him.
"What are you doing?"
"I want to know how much it is," I said, trying again. Texas laughed and shook his head.
"Why?" Marv's brows were drawn over his sparkling, silver eyes. Confusion clouded his handsome face.
I sighed. "Marv, I need to know how much it is to know if I can afford it." It was embarrassing to admit, but I wasn't sure if I could afford even a headband in this place. I didn't particularly like Lindsey, but neither did I want to waste her time.
"It doesn't matter," Marv huffed. "I'm paying for it. So, tell me, do you want to try on more?"
"Marvin," I said, enunciating his full name. "You can't buy me a dress." His eyes scanned up, just over my head, I imagined at Lindsey.
"Can you give us a moment?" he asked. I heard the clicking of her heels as she walked away. He waited a few more moments with his hand firmly gripping my arm before his eyes turned back to mine. "Sunshine," he began quietly, and I thought I heard something else I couldn't name in his voice. "I'm going to buy you this dress."
"I–" Marv pressed two fingers to my lips to silence my protest.
"Not only is this something you're going to need very soon, but you forget, I've been in your room. I know you don't have anything like this." I flicked a panicked glance over at Texas and Bellamy; both watched on. Texas wasn't laughing now. "You take such good care of your mom, you have such a big heart, Sweetie. Let us take care of you for just a little bit. Can you trust us to do that?" He leaned closer as though he didn't want the others to hear his next words. "Can you let me do that?"
“What about Iris?” I asked. “I mean, if I’m working for them, then you don’t have to spend your money.”
He scratched his chin. “If it will make you feel better to think of it as Iris, then do that.”
“Marv,” I warned.
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I am a part of Iris and therefore, technically Iris is buying you this dress.”
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. I didn't want them to take care of me. I didn't know how I was supposed to let them. I hadn't had anyone to help me or take care of me in a long time. My mom was too sick. Michael was gone. Who would have? A part of me was scared, truly terrified that the moment they got what they wanted – my cooperation and assistance – they would pat me on the shoulder and usher me back to my life with a farewell smile. I didn't want to get so involved in them, only to be used and rejected in the end. Marv's tone of voice, especially around his last plea, felt more like he was asking something else, something more intimate. But could I really tell him no?
"What do you say?" his inquiry drew me back to him. I shook under his stare.
"O-okay." I nodded. I would let him buy me a dress. It wasn't a commitment. It was for the party. Whatever they needed me for, they would need me dressed up.
In the end, I was pushed back into the dressing room with Lindsey who took the red dress away and presented me with a new selection. Most of the dresses were similar to the style of the one I had originally chosen. Some were more outrageous that others. Some were simpler. I glanced through several, tossing them out of the pile before I even set one foot in their skirts.
It came down to four options: the original and Marv's personal favorite, an empire-waist, teal dress that Lindsey had actually admitted looked good, a red, sheath dress with an over skirt that opened in the front and flared out, or the very last dress I had tried on: a jewel encrusted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and loose fabric that fell longer in the back than the front – it was gorgeous. I hadn't yet shown the guys. Marv had already chosen a favorite and so had Bellamy – the red dress – and anything that made Lindsey admit that someone might just be pretty was something to be considered. But this dress...it made me feel stunning.
I stood for a few more moments in front of the mirror, twirling back and forth. It was Texas who came to the dressing room door asking for me. I took a deep breath and told him to go wait with the guys; I would be out in a moment. He grumbled good naturedly about ‘girls taking forever to get ready’, but proceeded to do as I asked.
I slipped on a pair of thick heeled, silver pumps that Lindsey had given to me, “to get the full effect," she had said. I wanted that to convince the guys that this was right. I liked the other dresses, but I loved this one and wanted them to love it too.
Feeling more confident than I had in a long time, I strode to the front of the hallway of dressing rooms where the guys had congregated to sit in a collection of lavish settees. I closed my eyes, inhaled, and stepped out, opening them again. My eyes immediately went to Marv. His lips parted and his own eyes widened. A hand reached up to the knot of his bowtie. I glanced over to Bellamy, whose expression was blank, as though shock had wiped away all cohesive thought. Was that a good thing? Last was Texas, who had stood when I exited.
"That's the one." His voice was practically a whisper, like he didn't want to destroy the magic. I nodded, smiling wide enough that my cheeks began to hurt. I spun in a circle, staring down to watch how the dress flowed.
"I love it," I beamed.
Marv cleared his throat. "Yes...well, um...it's certainly..." He turned to Lindsey, who stood silently off to the side. "We'll take it."
Thirty minutes and two hundred dollars later – I almost choked over how much the dress cost – and I was back in the front seat of the SUV with all three guys. "Where's your car?" I peered back at Marv.
"I caught a ride here," he said.
"Oh." I sat back in my seat as Bellamy drove. "So, what now?"
"Hmmm?" Marv answered.
"I mean, what do we do now?" I repeated. "Are you going to teach me more self-defense? Do I need to know anything for this party?"
"No."
I huffed in irritation, flipping back to glare at him. "No, you're not going to teach me more self-defense or no, I don't need to know anything for this party?"
Marv scrolled through something on his phone. "Both."
"Why not?"
"Hmmm? Why not, what?" he replied.
I groaned, pausing to watch him fiddle with his phone. Texas did the same, but he was likely playing his game. Marv wasn't even paying attention!
"Why don't I just dye my hair pink and become a flamingo
?" I said blandly.
"You would be a beautiful flamingo, Sunshine," he stated. "But we quite need you in human form right now."
Bellamy chuckled. I shot him a seething glare which only led to more laughter.
"This is stupid," I snapped.
Marv looked up, dropping his phone in his lap. "What's stupid?"
"Just tell me what this party is! I need to know. How am I supposed to help you if you won't even tell me what it is that I'm supposed to be doing?"
"You're not supposed to be doing anything yet, Harlow." Marv leaned forward. Texas glanced up from his screen. "This is just a preliminary meet and greet. We just want to show you off. If we show up with you in tow at the last moment, it will be suspicious."
"Who are you showing me off to?"
Marv grunted. "Talk to Knix," he said, then returned to his phone.
I decided that the first chance I got, I would do just that.
Knix was sitting on the couch watching an old rerun of a 90s TV show when we returned. I made a beeline for him, intent on getting some answers. He looked up, lines of happiness forming at the edges of each eye, his lips twitching.
"How'd it go?" he asked.
I opened my mouth to ward off his question and start my own interrogation when Bellamy cut me off. "She's beautiful." I sputtered, rounding back on him. He moved past me, grinning with the garment bag clutched in his hands. "You wouldn’t believe someone could look this gorgeous."
Texas headed out of the living room, head down on his phone, and I had to wonder if he was playing his game at all or doing something else.
"Knix," I said, standing in the middle of the living room.
His head jerked up. "Yeah?"
"What is this party about?" I asked. "Who is going to be there? What do you need me for?"
He arched a brow, sliding a look to both Bellamy and Marv, who stood a little behind me, holding the shoebox containing the silver heels that had bewitched them. Marv shrugged as Texas returned to the living room, sans phone, taking up position against the wall next to the kitchen’s entrance. The flat screen television cut off and Knix motioned for me to move closer. I did so hesitantly. He gestured for me to sit on the coffee table directly in front of him.
"You want to know?" It seemed a silly question considering how long I had been asking, but I nodded anyway. "Okay."
"Okay?" I said. "You're just going to tell me?"
"We've received some intel that there might be a scam going on in the area. It's on the wealthier side of town – near where Marv's parents live. Apparently, someone sends out free couples’ retreat invitations to specific people. When the couple arrives, they spend two days at a small private resort on an island just off the coast. The couples that have gone complain about things being stolen – family heirlooms, expensive jewelry, money from wallets, etcetera.”
“Officers haven't been able to catch anyone in the act. No one is allowed to leave the island the entire time that the couples remain there, and the staff changes every time. There's no way to know how the items are being stolen or how they are getting off the island."
Marv coughed to get Knix's attention and I turned towards him. "My parents received an invitation about a month ago to go to this couples’ retreat. The company that owns the retreat and island are very good at keeping what has happened on the down low, so they didn't know. Fortunately, they won't be able to make it. Since the invitation is not specifically addressed to them as a couple but to the Carters, we decided it would be beneficial if I were to take their place."
It clicked. "You need me to act as your cover."
He nodded. "The invitation is not for singles and this company is owned by very traditional, old, southern businessmen. Therefore, I can't go in with say Texas or Bellamy as a gay couple."
"Why me though?"
He blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, why pick me? Don't you – doesn't Iris have girls to help you out? I'm not very good with sleuthing."
"You never know until you try," he replied, "and we were considering recruiting a few females anyway." I didn't like how he made it sound like I wouldn't be the only one. "Alex is close to Knix. We're all friends, but they've worked together, and when Knix mentioned wanting to recruit a girl, he recommended you."
That had me thinking. "Would you have considered me if he hadn't?" I had to know. Was I just a convenience?
"Little Bit." Knix captured my chin, angling it towards his and holding me to face his piercing gaze. "We can't know the answer to that. It's like Schrödinger's cat. We would never know unless it hadn't happened that way. But it has. You're with us now." Those blue eyes flickered. "Unless...you don't want to be?"
"I..." Did I? I stared hard at him, trying to find something in his blue eyes that would tell me the answer.
"If you don't want to do this, Harlow," Bellamy said. I could barely make out his form in my peripheral vision. "We can find other ways. This job is not solely dependent on you. There's no pressure."
That wasn't quite right, though, because there was pressure. I felt it; the pressure to be good enough for them, to succeed, the pressure to take care of my mom, to finish high school. I shut my eyes, warding off Knix's penetrating gaze. The fingers on my face tightened, but not enough to hurt. He seemed to realize that I couldn't answer.
"Do you want to know the rest of the plan?" he asked.
I sighed, relieved, and nodded. He released me, and I relaxed back.
"We had to bump up our timeline because there's a meet and greet with heads of the company and their families. It's something they have never done before, and we assume it's because they want to assure people that everything will be alright, and there will be no more thefts."
"It's free?" I squinted in confusion.
"The meet and greet?" Knix scrubbed a hand down his jaw line. "Yeah, so is the actual retreat."
"Then how do they make money?" It made no sense. A company wouldn't want to be caught stealing from clients. Literally stealing, and not just money fraud, though they wouldn't want that either. It sounded like the boys considered the company the prime suspect. I said as much.
Knix's face bloomed into a stunning smile that lit up the room. "That's why you are perfect for our team," he said, causing a blush to rise to my cheeks. "The retreat isn't the company's source of income. They work with a variety of collaborated businesses and wealthy benefactors in the area. This is their way of saying thank you, a perk if you will. It makes them money by keeping their benefactors and business associates happy."
"Having their things stolen wouldn't make them happy," I replied.
He continued to grin. "I was hoping you would pick up on where I was trying to lead you. You didn't let the opinionated version color your own thinking. That's an important quality to keep. But you're right. They wouldn't. We don't believe the company itself is actually responsible. We were informed of this via several different channels: Marv's and the company itself."
"What's the name of the company?" I asked.
"It's Sweratt Incorporated," Marv said. I tilted my head. "The company itself does a lot. They run the gambit for legal assistance to website development. There are so many branches to this company, it's difficult to tell where the head is. For this branch, though, it's mostly a contractor for local businesses on security systems."
"Has anything been stolen from the actual businesses they work with?"
I jumped when Bellamy hooted. "Look at her, and she questions if she's cut out for this!" I frowned at him. If this was as crucial as Knix made it seem then he needed to take it seriously.
"Forgive him," Knix said, shaking his head.
"No, as of right now, there hasn't been any reported breaking or entering. There hasn't been anything reported missing." Texas finally came around to stand next to the couch. "But that's not to say there won't be."
I nodded, and quiet fell over the room.
After a few moments, Knix stood up. "I think it's time to get you some
thing to eat and take you home," he announced.
"I should probably go now," I agreed. "I haven't checked on my mom."
"Nope." Knix leaned down and plucked me up from the coffee table, throwing me over one wide shoulder. His broad arm wrapped around my waist, holding me up there like a box to be carried and I was so stunned, I didn't fight it. My stomach pressed down into him. His body was so warm. I could feel it through his shirt and mine.
"No?" I huffed.
"I checked on your mom just after you left this morning. Marv did it before he met you at the mall."
"We actually went to the outlet," Marv said, ever so helpfully.
Knix turned towards the front door. "We'll go out and grab dinner for us and the guys, and then we'll drop you off," he continued.
I was still focused on ‘the checking on my mom’ bit. "I locked the door," I grunted, pressing my palms to Knix's back, and arced up, hitting my head on the ceiling. I dropped back down with a whimper. "I have the keys." I reached back, feeling for my butt pocket where the keys were …not. "Where are my keys?!"
I heard a jingle and Texas rushed ahead to open the front door for Knix. He held my house keys up for me to see. "Marv grabbed them from you on the way to Knix’s this morning. He passed them off to me, and I made copies." He handed them to me and I noticed a few new additions. "You now have a key to our apartment and Knix's house."
"Knix's house?" I asked.
"It's the house you saw this morning," Knix said. He shut the door and carried me down the hall, into the elevator, and out into the parking lot, before setting me down next to the SUV. "Hop in."
They were going to drive me crazy, but I got in the car anyway. Maybe I liked crazy.
Chapter 13
After a small argument about stealing my keys, the boys got their way, and I reluctantly agreed that they could have spares for emergencies only. We picked up pizza and ate dinner before Knix dropped me off in front of my house with a new phone and a worried look.
