He sighs. “I wouldn’t know where to start. Bennet—” My name comes out rough. “I need to speak to you as well. I—I can’t right now.” He sends another dark glance over my shoulder, then his attention returns to me. “Not now.”

Disappointment and frustration grip my chest. Despite everything Wickham told me, I want to give in to the pull of this man. I want him to redeem himself. But there’s no coming back from what he did.

“Why not?” I ask his lips.

“I’m sorry, I need to go.” He releases me, taking a step back. But as my hand falls from his chest, he catches it, pressing my palm. “I’m sorry.” His thumb glances over my pulse point. “I’m in California with Charles for the week, but I’ll be back. And we’ll talk. I promise.”

He squeezes my hand again, and then he’s gone, leaving a chill at every point where we shared contact.

CHAPTER

14

Ming pinches the extra material at my sides. “This good?”

I look in the full-length mirror. With the sides held by Ming, the dress hints at the potential I sensed at the vintage shop last week. The long-sleeved, shamrock-green mini was meant to fit and flare, which it’ll do beautifully after Ming takes it in. Pearl buttons run down from the low V of the neckline to just below my belly button, revealing tiny peeks of skin between each fastener. The spaces are barely the width of a fingertip, but the neat dots of exposure push the dress to the spicy side of sweet.

I’m not exaggerating when I say, “Perfect.”

“All right.” Ming releases the right side and shifts to my left, plucking a straight pin from the (naturally) penis-shaped pincushion strapped to her wrist. “Prepare to be pinned.”

“Ooh, Jane! Can you move the phone a little? I wanna see!” My cousin’s voice comes out tinny from the phone’s speaker.

Jane moves from his spot on the bed, where he’s been lounging since commandeering my FaceTime session with Chloe to fill her in on the dream-turned-reality that is Charles Bingley. He points the back camera of my phone at the mirror, and Chloe squeals in delight.

“Ooh, looking good, Lizard. Ming, I know we haven’t met yet, but let me just say, you are skilled.”

“I know,” says Ming, who starts pinning.

“So, Chloe, has Bennet told you her news?” Jane catches my eye in the mirror. I mouth for him to shut up, but he just grins. “She’s getting back into the design game.”

“What?” Chloe shrieks. “Jane, turn me around. Or switch cameras, whatever. I need to glare at Liz.”

“Thanks so very much, Jane,” I growl.