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I grunt as I squat to pick up another chair. “I don’t have anything else, and everyone’s going to be in costume tonight.”
“I say this as your friend, and not your boss—” Amelia grabs a chair and slides it across the floor to the table— “book club can shove it.”
I snort. Which crushes my ribs. “And what do you say as my boss?”
Amelia sighs. “That as long as it doesn't come out of the library's budget and I don’t end up filling out a workplace injury report, keep up the good work.”
"Can you imagine if I put a Regency dress on the reimbursement form and word got to the Board?" I start to laugh then stop with a quick exhale. “I need to… learn to breathe… in little breaths,” I puff. “Just like Gabriella does. Abigail Cameron definitely got that part right. I wonder if she wore a corset the whole time she was writing. You know, to stay in character?”
“Doubt it.” Amelia purses her lips. “You sure you don’t want to change? They say breathing is kind of important, and you really don’t need to kill yourself for your job.”
“Says the branch head who works twenty-four-seven.”
“I don’t work that much. And anyway, we’re talking about you, not me.”
“I’m fine and I look good.” I twirl once and the skirt billows around me, making me feel like I’ve truly been transported into the book. At least, I do until I have to grab the table to regain my balance.
Amelia pulls out a chair and gestures for me to sit. “You’re not trying to impress a special someone tonight, are you?”
“If you mean Cam, you know we’re just friends.” I roll my eyes. “And there hasn’t been any other man at book club since Millie brought her husband and he kept reading all the dirty bits.” I steel myself and ease into a chair. “Book club is the one night a month I have a reason to make an extra effort to look nice. And,” I fan myself, "The Duke’s Treasure is worth dressing up for!”
Amelia grabs one of the paperbacks I’ve stacked on the table and sits down across from me. “Abigail Cameron, huh? She’s the one you keep talking about, right?”
I nod. “Her books are amazing. Every single one was a #1 New York Times bestseller.”
“I don’t really read romance, I mean, happily ever after? Come on! But maybe I should make an exception.” Amelia flips to a random page. “A bare ankle? Really?”
“Back then, it basically had the same effect as going topless.” My belly does a little flip just thinking about it. “You have to read it, Ames. The chemistry between the Duke and Gabriella has been off the charts since book one. It’s probably the closest I’ll ever get to having a swoon-worthy relationship."
“Or you could always ask Cam out.”
“Amelia!”
“He’s hot, and you’re the one who keeps checking him out.” Amelia wiggles her eyebrows.
“His hotness is irrelevant. We practically grew up together.”
“Well, you can still go out together.” She raises her hand when I start to protest. “As friends. Go to a fancy restaurant. Dress up. See where the night takes you?”
"That would be weird. Plus, he’s more of a black T-shirt and jeans kinda guy.”
"Maybe you and I can do a girl's night instead? Drive into the city, go to a fancy restaurant? Flirt with some hot men? It's not like there's much pickings in this town."
I nod and smile, like it’s a good idea. But in my heart, I have no interest in flirting with random men, hot or otherwise. I may not have the fairy tale love story, but until Cam starts dating again, I’d much rather spend time with him than go through another awkward first date.
Amelia gets to her feet. "I should get back upstairs. Jane’s up there by herself, and with all the tourists coming to take photos of her with Byron, she’s probably swamped.”
“Or she’s filmed another viral video in the time you’ve been down here with me.” I’m only half-joking, since practically anything Jane posts online these days hits a million views before lunch. “Could you let the ladies know the meeting room’s open so they can come on down?”
“Will do.” Amelia waves as she heads out.
I reach across the table to grab my water bottle for a quick sip, and let out a pained grunt. Oh, right, the corset.
I consider taking it off but at this point that seems like more work than I have energy for. And the ladies will be here in a minute, so I should at least stay in costume until the group photo. If the corset is still bothering me then, I’ll go change.
I pick up my personal copy of The Duke’s Treasure and leaf through it to go over all the passages I’ve flagged for discussion as the ladies start shuffling in. They’ve all dressed up for the occasion, but none of the other fancy historical dresses look like they're cutting off air supply.
Ruthanne the Brash swoops into the room and clears her throat loudly to draw attention to herself so we can admire the details of her handmade dress.
