I stop listening. While Belle continues her rant against me, Ispin around and open the cabinet behind me. On the bottomshelf is a shallow, rectangular box wrapped in a black satinbow. I pull it out and drop it on my desk with a soft thump.
Belle jerks back. “What is that?”
“Open it and find out.”
Her eyes are still narrowed in suspicion at me, but she opensthe lid like she expects a snake to pop out at her.
When she sees what’s inside, she sucks in a surprised breath.
“Where did you get this dress?”
“Something I had lying around.”
It’s not a lie. It’s just not the entire truth.
I pull the forest green material out and drape it over my arm.“Put it on.”
She takes it from my hands like it’s priceless, which is actuallynot too far off. “Why?”
“Because r
