She scanned the area, searching for her man. As if her heart knew exactly where he was, her gaze went straight to where he stood across the street. There was his beautiful face. She fluttered her fingers when he smiled at her, then she took a step to go to the parking lot to check on her deputies, who were directing departing traffic. Something struck her on the back of her legs.
“Ow.” She was wearing her sheriff’s uniform. Who would whack a cop and expect to get away with it? She spun, ready to have a word with the offender. Okay, Miss Mabel was the only person who could whack her without ending up in handcuffs, and that was only because, like Fuzz, the woman terrified her.
“Stay still, girl,” Miss Mabel said.
“I’m just going to check on my deputies.” She edged away from Miss Mabel’s deadly cane.
“They’re fine. Don’t move.” Miss Mabel looked up.
Skye looked up. All three of the drones were hovering above her head, then one lowered, stopping in front of her face. The other two floated behind it. A metal arm sprouted from the drone closest to her, and in its claw was a piece of paper that said Follow Me.
She was whacked with the cane again. “Go on, girl. Off with you.”
“Off with me where?” It was disconcerting getting whacks and being called girl by a little old lady who was half her size.
Miss Mabel rolled her eyes. “Can’t you read? Follow the spaceship.”
“I’m going,” she said, sidestepping the cane coming at her legs again. Jeez.
The drones led her to a black limousine parked at the side of the museum. Parker stood behind the open back door, and Everly stood in front of it, her face lighting up at seeing Skye. “Miss Skylar, here you are. You have to get in.”
“Where are we going, sweetie?” Where did they get a limo, and why?
“You’ll see.”
Skye was more confused than ever when Parker, without saying a word, closed the door behind them, then went to the driver’s side and got in.
Everly hopped to one of the other seats. “It’s so big in here. Are you excited, Miss Skylar?”
“I might be if I knew where we were going.”
“To—”
“Everly,” Parker warned.
The little girl dramatically sighed. “It’s a surprise. I want to tell you, but Uncle Tris made me promise not to. He said if I did, I couldn’t have any more pickles.”
“Well, don’t tell me then.”
Everly chatted away, jumping from one subject to another, and from one seat to the other, for the next ten minutes until Parker came to a stop in front of Fanny’s shop. Apparently Fanny was expecting them, and before Skye could figure out how it happened, she was in a dressing room, putting on a dress that Fanny swore was perfect for the evening.
What evening? What was Tristan up to? She had to admit as she stared at the dress in the mirror that it was beautiful. The azure-blue wrap dress made her eyes pop, and the surplice bodice showed a hint of cleavage but not too much. She really liked the fluttery short sleeves, and the just-above-the-knees hem was the perfect length. She turned and looked over her shoulder at the back. The dress was flattering, and she loved it. But why was she trying it on?
“Come out, Miss Skylar,” Everly yelled. “I want to see.”
“I knew that dress had your name on it as soon as I saw it,” Fanny said when Skye came out.
Everly circled her, then threw her arms wide. “It’s so pretty, Miss Skylar, but you need shoes. You can’t go barefoot.”
“Okay, but why am I trying it on? I mean, it’s beautiful, but I don’t understand what’s happening. And there’s no price tag on it.” She’d already decided she was going to buy it. It was too perfect not to, but go barefoot where?
“Oh, there’s no price tag because the dress is already yours.” Fanny picked up a pair of silver sling-back pumps with kitten heels. “These are perfect for that dress.”
“Are they already mine, too?”
The woman gave her a sly smile. “Of course.” Her gaze lifted to Skye’s head. “The bun is fine for work, but tonight it has to go.”
“Huh?” By the time Fanny and Everly were done with her, along with the dress and heels, she was wearing dangling silver earrings, a silver bangle bracelet, and her hair was down.