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Chapter One
A azed back in surprise from the ain, just to make sure the reflection was her own “I don’t know, BiBi Maybe this costume is a little too much?”
“Too tie? Too ? Too much sexy?”
“All of the above” Twisting slowly, Madison eyed her reflection, wondering how the snug-fitting white peasant blouse BiBi had provided added the illusion of several inches to her average-size bustline The very low, square-cut neckline with off-the-shoulder, short puff sleeves revealed
Her blond-highlighted hair tu purple head scarf to brush her bare shoulders A burgundy corset accented with gold ribbons and threads laced tightly fro her waist look startlingly small above a cleverly draped purple sash The flirty, ruffled skirt in burgundy, purple, gold and black was bunched high on her right thigh, baring her right leg al frole bracelets clinked with the h heels on a pair of BiBi’s barely-there gold sandals added a good five inches to Madison’s already long legs She was glad she’d made time in her hectic schedule for a mani-pedi earlier that week
She lifted her ar that was supposed to be covered reaily with the movement “I like it,” she decided aloud “It’s fun”
BiBi clapped her hands “I knew this costulad you let me pick one out”
“I really appreciated your offer I’ve worked like a crazy person the past couple of weeks—including two nights on call at the hospital—just to clear ti fest
ivities There was no way I would’ve had tie to bring it if I’d found anything”
Corinna Lovato, BiBi’s younger sister and the htly past Madison to claith mirror “BiBi and I chose the outfits from our cousin’s costume shop I love mine”
Corinna did look fabulous in her alien princess garb, Madison had to adray shadow and charcoal liner ainst her flawless skin False green lashes sprinkled with glitter swept her cheeks when she fluttered thelitter had been brushed over her cheekbones, throat and cleavage Her dove-gray goas floor-length, skintight and cut daringly low, cinched at the waist with an intricately detailed goldher dark hair Long sleeves ended in flowing points around her hands, revealing nails polished in a glea jade
“You look beautiful, Corinna”
Corinna beamed over her shoulder “Thanks, Maddie So do you”
“We all look gorgeous” BiBi sly included herself and Hannah Thatcher in the coenie costue, and displayed her legs through pink-chiffon hareht up in a saucy ponytail secured by a felt-and-chiffon genie’s cap Hannah, who like Madison was in Dallas to serve as a brides, had been outfitted as a pirate wench in another low-cut peasant blouse, a short, tattered-he faux leather weskit jingling with fake gold doubloons
The costuinal, but no one could say they were bland, Madison thought with another glance at the iven BiBi authorization to rent her a costume fro
Madison and BiBi had known each other since college, having ned as roommates their first seood friends Their complex, sometimes drama-filled but ultimately hile relationship had survived four years of college in Louisiana, then they’d gone on separate paths afterward for the past seven years Madison had attended medical school in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was now in the fourth year of her psychiatry residency program BiBi had settled here in Dallas, Texas, to work as a physical therapist They’d stayed in contact through phone calls, eh they had seen each other rarely during these past busy years, their friendship continued
Local friends of the engaged couple were hosting tonight’s festivities in a hotel ballroo before the planned Sunday afternoon ceremony Mostly friends of Carl’s, BiBi had confided Aties to local civic and charitable organizations, Carl Burleson was an aspiring politician who cultivated contacts almost obsessively He ree and classraduating class froh The ones who could prove useful in the future, at least Carl was a nice guy, and people were naturally drawn to his extroverted personality, but he made no secret of his ambitions
The costu weekend of planned events Even though it was only the ood an excuse as any to have an early Halloween celebration, their friends had insisted BiBi had been thrilled She never uest of honor at a party, no matter what the occasion
Corinna adjusted the top of her dress, displaying just a bit e She looked toward her sister as she asked wistfully, “Do you think he’ll even notice ht?”
BiBi answered i to take one look at you in this sexy costuirls? How could any ht?”