Page 66 of The Prince Who Loved Me

“Bummer.” Paisley wiped her mouth with a paper napkin.

Brandi swallowed a sigh of relief and changed the subject. “Let’s find you a wedding date.”

“Oh, and not only will I be dateless, but I’m one of the bridesmaids,” Paisley said. “Because any man would run screaming once he sees what I’m wearing. Get this—a yellow romper. A romper!”

“One of those short-shirt combination things?” Charlotte asked.

“Yes! And let me tell you how yellow makes my skin look green.”

Brandi tried to stifle a laugh, but it snuck out. Charlotte joined her.

“I know, laugh all you want.” Paisley tried to keep a straight face but a snort escaped her. “Hello insult. Meet injury.”

“Make sure you take pictures,” Brandi said. “Lots of them.”

Conversation continued, with them reading Charlotte’s profile and offering suggestions. It was too matter-of-fact, lacking personality. Together the three of them hashed out something new, and Charlotte pressed a button to make it live.

“Okay, ladies. I’m counting on you for this.” Charlotte made a mark in her tablet. “I’m giving this one two weeks, andthen we’ll go with the outrageous suggestions.”

Brandi observed how many times Charlotte made a note on her tablet. Anytime she remembered a task, or when she agreed to Paisley’s plan, or when she wiped her forehead in mock relief when someone accepted her clover and solidified a date, into the tablet it went. Just like Wendy did.

Maybe Brandi should get one. She wanted to be professional, after all, and Charlotte and Wendy were both successful. Plus it would give Wendy a heart attack in the process.

Charlotte turned her tablet around so everyone could see it while they went through the men on the Blind Date site. She and Paisley picked out a couple to contact with a clover. Brandi didn’t say much. Her mind was back at Fountenoy Hall.

“Boy, if you don’t meet the definition of a mushpuppy, I don’t know who does,” Paisley said. “You keep smiling when there’s nothing amusing, and don’t think we haven’t noticed you looking at the time.”

“New relationships.” Charlotte let out a decisive snort. “You’re in the stage where you can’t bear to be apart for more than two whole hours.”

“Well, two and a half,” Brandi said. “Which means you guys get me for another hour at least.”

“I’ll drink to that!” Paisley lifted her ice cream cup. They all pretended to clink champagne glasses.

“Ooh, the men are on the move,” Charlotte whispered.

They approached, and Brandi gave them a cursory glance, letting Paisley and Charlotte take care of the eye contact and smiles.

“What are we celebrating?” one asked. He wore jeans and a red plaid shirt over a white t-shirt, and a cap on his dirty blond hair.

“The fact that we don’t have to go home,” Paisley said.

“Always a cause for a party,” said the other with a knowing grin. He wore khakis and a light blue button down.

“Why don’t you join us?” Charlotte held out her hand. “I’m Charlotte. This is Brandi and Paisley.”

“I’m Kirk. My brother Elijah.” Kirk was the hatless one.

Who would have expected to meet anyone in the ice cream shop? Kirk slid into the booth next to Charlotte. Elijah shot him a glare, but dragged over a chair from a nearby table.

“So, Charlotte,” he said. “What brings you here tonight?”

Brandi nearly laughed. It wasn’t like they were at an arts and craft show looking for that special turkey for Thanksgiving made out of pipe cleaners and pinecones.

Charlotte indicated her feast. “Best ice cream in town.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow that disappeared under the brim of his cap. “You seem like the type who likes to mix things up.”

The old, attention-seeking Brandi would have given her input at that moment and showed them her cup of fudge swirls, coconut, and sprinkles. This Brandi enjoyed the experience of watching from the sidelines as Charlotte answered the question.