“Actually, you’re right. Abby and I are going to do a girl day,” Chelsea said, her eyes wide in innocence. “Hair, nails, feet, all of it. My mom sent the dress for Abby and one for me. And your tux needs to be pressed. It’s a busy day ahead. By the way, Abby sent me a text asking if we knew where Scully was. What have you done with him?”
“What makes you think it was me?”
Chelsea narrowed her eyes at him.
Eli chuckled. “My cousins flew in, and while you were wherever you were all yesterday afternoon, they were giving Scully dance lessons.”
“That was really nice of you.” She flung the covers back to get out of bed, but Eli caught her hand.
“In case you missed it, that was a hint for you to tell me where you were.”
“The First Lady called me to ask—” She broke off at his look. “You’re not the only one who can lie. Where were you?”
“Since we both ended up in the same place, I guess we were doing the same thing. How long will it take to do your hair today?”
“Hours,” she said, smiling. She got up, pulled on one of his T-shirts, and went into the bathroom.
When she came out, Eli was leaning back on the pillows, his hands behind his head. “You either tell me what you’re planning or I’ll have you kidnapped and held in custody until after the dance.”
“Oooooh. By Men in Black? Men so physically fit they can hardly wear a suit? Will they have those little microphone thingies in their ears? Can they—”
“Chelsea!” Eli said in warning.
She sat down on the edge of the bed and began to rub moisturizer on her legs. “Okay, I’ll tell you—but only because we need you. And it’s nothing bad.”
“We is you and who else?”
“Pilar. I really like her! I’ve never had a lot of women friends in my life.”
He looked at her long leg that she was stroking. “Can’t imagine why.”
“You’re sweet. But anyway, do you think you could make Grace’s computer at Frazier Motors stop working for a day?”
“Enough that the local repairman, who happens to be Scully’s dad, has to be called in to fix it?”
She kissed him on the forehead. “Now who says men don’t have brains?”
When she started to get up, Eli pulled her down onto the bed and began kissing her. “Are you the one doing matchmaking now?”
“I am.” She kissed him back. “Pilar’s already told Lanny about it, and he’s ready for a system breakdown.
We’re all just waiting on you to go to the dealership and do it. It’s early, but Lanny will let us in before the place opens.”
“Puh-lease,” Eli said as he kissed her more.
“You can break a computer from a distance?”
Her tone of innocence made him laugh. “You know I could have done that when I was eight. You’re up to something and I want to know what it is.”
Smiling, Chelsea rubbed her leg between his. “Speaking of ‘up’ . . .”
With a groan of exasperation, Eli pulled her on top of him.
12
They made an entrance. Chelsea insisted that they wait until thirty minutes after the dance started before they entered, then she and Abby went in front, Eli and Baze behind them.
Chelsea’s gown was a deep, rich blue halter top, with the sides open to the waist. There was a slit up the side of the skirt almost to her hip. The fabric had tiny brilliants woven into it so that it shimmered in the shadowy lights, glowing like candlelight under silk. In her ultrahigh heels she was six feet tall and very impressive.