There was something about dresses that just made Kate feel awkward. She was a woman inside and out, yes; she had no real issue with dresses. But standing in a changing room with a silky frock on made her feel like a bloke on a stag night—all she needed was a nurse’s hat.
“Kate-oh!” Mikey called out between giggles. “Why you take long?”
“Dresses are kinda tricky,” Zoë oozed out.
Kate tried to ignore the flash of Zoë and Darcy on the catwalk and them not on a catwalk… Shake it off. She picked up the twig-heeled excuse for a shoe and fanned herself with it. Over and over, her mind kept replaying Darcy under her on the kitchen table. Slow torture; she could even taste the sauce.
“Do you need any help?” Blanche asked, peeking through the gap at the top of the door. Too tall, that’s what she was, and very pleasant when Darcy wasn’t around. She doted on Zoë. “Honey, it goes on your foot.”
Kate held up the offending shoe. “This should be on a rack in a dungeon somewhere.”
“It’s only three inches. That’s slight assault.” Blanche winked, then laughed. “You just try to remember: head up, shoulders back. Own it.”
“Until I go flying into the camera and you need to pull the lens from my nose?” She sighed and bent over.
Blanche cleared her throat. “Bend your knees, or you’ll look like you’re on a porn shoot.”
Kate snapped back upright.
Blanche laughed. Her laugh was even lower than her voice. She winked, then scowled. “Great. The bitch has arrived.”
“How do you know?” She glanced around, didn’t know why. What was the cupboard with a mirror going to reveal?
“Zoë just introduced her to the camera.” She growled. “Suck up.” She muttered something and disappeared.
“My dear Sproutman,” Darcy announced like she was laughing. “How is your mission?” Her tone was so full of genuine affection.
Kate groaned and rested her head against the wall. She couldn’t go crazy over Darcy McGregor. Unobtainable and then some. No, she had to…dislike her somehow, but how could she dislike the woman when she was so good with Mikey? Her heart couldn’t take it. Darcy was unavailable. On another level, gorgeous level. No, no, don’t think on that…
No, Darcy was mean, really mean. A mean, big, gorgeous bitch who made disgusting sauce taste sublime. Ah, shit.
Kate climbed onto the edges of the door and peeked through the gap. Yup, Darcy was fussing over Mikey and giving him some kind of toy. Then she turned and beamed at Susannah as she strode towards the changing rooms.
“Is that cellulite?” she shot at Blanche as she strode by and flicked at Blanche’s very short skirt.
Blanche sucked in a breath and craned her head around to check out her own backside. Darcy strolled on, smug smile on her face.
Yeah, she was a bitch, but ugh, did it suit her. She reached Zoë and gave her a flirty wink—and cue that smug glance back at Blanche, who folded her arms. Kate leaned her chin to the top of the door. What a bitch, what a woman.
“Kate, you need to come out,” Darcy said, then stopped. Her eyes glinted—panic? She glanced back at Zoë who did her best I-didn’t-hear-anything-wrong-with-that face.
Blanche just rolled her eyes and clipped Zoë across the head. “Suck up.”
In response, Zoë poked her in the side, and they started bickering under their breath.
Susannah smiled, a warm, sweet smile, and nodded.
It made Darcy’s shoulders relax. She nodded back and turned to the door. “We’re about to start filming… Kate?”
Why had Darcy looked so terrified? Kate swallowed. “Er... give me a minute.”
“And rolling…” Marge grinned and motioned to the cameraman.
Darcy turned to the camera. “Helping a woman to feel good in clothes that are unfamiliar can be a difficult task.” She motioned to the changing room. “Clothes that are different can pull at your insecurities, and Kate may feel this way.”
Kate went to lower herself down. Her dress caught on the hooks, and she tried to tug it free. Rip. Oh shit.
Darcy walked over to the door and peered at it—guess she couldn’t see Kate peeking over. “Kate, do you need help?”
“No?” she whispered, squeaked. Hopefully Zoë hadn’t made the dress. “Just…um…hanging out.”
Darcy raised an eyebrow at the door. “The camera is rolling. Please don’t be worried about how you look. You’ll be wonderful.”
“I look like I’m in drag,” she whispered down to her.
“Not in the right dress.” Darcy’s gaze flicked over the door, and her smile was unguarded, full of gentleness and compassion. “You’ll look beautiful.”
“Not sure about that.” She tried to tug herself free again. Another rip. Oh shit. She’d have to stay on the door, feet clinging to the ledge at the bottom, hands white from hanging on.
“I am.” Darcy frowned, and she put her hands on her hips. “You need to come out.”
“You’re a fine one to talk,” she mumbled. She couldn’t hold on much longer.
Darcy’s eyes narrowed, and she yanked open the door. Kate swung into the wall with a thud, smacked her nose, and groaned.
“Where—?” Darcy peered up at her, mouth contorted. “I know dresses aren’t your thing, but they are not that hard to put on.”
“I…er…” The cameras were still rolling. Marge, Zoë, and the others were howling with laughter, that complete unhinged silent laughter. Sniggers came from the crew, side gripping, silent laughter, from Susannah who bent double. “It’s a security thing. Thought I needed to be on the door.”
Darcy blurted out her gorgeous laugh. “Best we lower your expectations.” She put her hands on Kate’s hips and eased her down. Rip. The front of the dress flapped forward, and out was her bra and stomach on national TV again.
“Don’t think anyone is in doubt you’re female now,” Zoë said, gaze locked on Kate’s bra. Blanche slapped her across the head while also staring at the bra. Darcy stared at the empty changing room, her face bright red.
Kate pulled up the flapping material. “Think I might need a replacement.”
“Cut, move to the catwalk segment,” Marge managed, tears rolling down her cheeks. “The shot is too shaky.”
The cameraman lowered his large camera, shoulders shuddering. “Sorry, Marge.”
Kate eased Darcy out of her way and walked back into the changing room. She closed the door. Dresses were not for the faint-hearted.