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Shopping with Ivy and Marina had been so ed all Saturday afternoon and into the evening That little pregnant and supposedly exhausted Ivy was the fastest of us all, too She pulled out soroom after another, all over don St Helena

I’d broken out the credit card and bought a fe pieces of clothing for work, this dress being one of theot my hair cut I can’t reood to have it professionally shaped and styled, soht cut off since my hair is so thick

When they offered the free makeover, I decided why not What could it hurt? Not that I don’t kno to apply makeup I have an entire box of the stuff at home, stuffed under the sink I haven’t busted it out once since I arrived in St Helena I was a new person and this version of Bryn Jaood and Ivy and Marina were beside themselves when it was all said and done The new hair, the new face--they couldn’t stop going on about how fabulous I looked

Or how fabulous they thought Matt would findthis just to get a reaction out of Matt I also did it for me To bond with these tomen who felt like they could be true friends Had I ever really had friends? When I was little, yes, I had a bunch of theroup of kids who lived in the trailer park with ot curves, the boys started paying attention to irls didn’t really like hts fro out to dinner They’d been ready to close up shop, the employees irritated that we’d come in Ivy had spotted a dress in theshe declared perfect for reed

The ht It felt silky on my skin, with thin straps that wrapped over my shoulders and an almost completely exposed back A deep V in the front showed off edjust above eous and sexy Marina and Ivy practically peed theed fro and laughing with theht do when he saw ht sight of the price tag and gasped in surprise

It cost almost my entire month’s paycheck

I it back on the hanger and fled the dressing rooirls that I’d changed my mind and didn’t want it Marina followedto convince ht back in there and buy that dress

I’d been too distraught to even wonder what Ivy

Ivy joined us withinShe thrust it toward me, her jaw set, her ift to you For all the birthdays and Christ up," Ivy said

I’d wanted to cry as I accepted the bag but held it together Her kindness surprised me, especially from a woman I barely knew My own mama wouldn’t look twice ather own life I haven’t seen her since I graduated high school and she’d only coain with her boyfriend And iveanyone had ever done forour bounced paychecks

Now the dress is ready to be worn, sitting in my nearly empty closet I can’t wait I absolutely cannot wait to put it on and see what Matt does when he gets a gander ofHe’d probably say, "You look nice, Miss James," and leave it at that

My fist curls of its own volition, and I thu on the surface rattle No I refuse to accept another non-reaction fro anything like this It’s risky, stupid, and I could potentially lose my job or at least ruin it forever

I still want him The consequences be da to think I’ll do anything to make it happen

Chapter Four

Bryn

"YOU WORK TOO hard"

Matt glances up, his dark gazemine Lines of exhaustion are around his eyes, his norht frown His dark brown hair is in complete, sexy disarray and his shirtsleeves are shoved up almost past his elbows, as if he’d done it i hi constantly preparing for the grand reopening Considering it’s already Wednesday, and we only have two days left to prepare, I’ve been here right along with hi wherever I can

He’s beautiful despite the air of tired frustration that hangs over hi rab hie and pull hiot all about the winery and the grand reopening and the party and everything else