CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Elaina—

Someone lays on a horn outside, and I dash to the window, twisting my hair in a bun on the way. I had time to take a long hot shower and try to get my head on straight. I can't do anything about what's happening, and I can't change the way Baja feels about me. I just have to hope those feelings are strong enough to overcome his fears.

So, I've decided to put it all out of my mind and enjoy this day with these women who, in such a short time, have come to mean so much to me. Besides, a voice in the back of my head whispers this may be the last time I see them.

If things don't work out with Baja, my only choice is to return to Denver and put my life together. Just the thought of that saddens me. I feel no connection to that city. I feel like I'm already putting roots here in Durango. But I know I could never stay here in the same town as Baja if we weren't together. It would be too painful.

I give Rosie a scratch on the head. "I'll be back to walk and feed you again in a few hours, baby."

When I open the door, Lola rolls down the window of a white SUV. "Bring Rosie."

"What?" I frown.

"We'll drop her by the clubhouse. Night Train says his dog has been moping around since she went home with you."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Come on."

I snap Rosie's leash on and head down the steps off the deck. Rosie and I climb into the backseat.

Evelyn is in the passenger seat. She turns and smiles.

"Isabella and Kate are meeting us at the shop. We'll just drop by the clubhouse on the way."

"Okay, great," I reply. Baja told me not to ask about club business, so I don't ask anything. I wonder if they'll be there when we pull up, or if they're long gone. I hate being kept in the dark. I don't know how these women do it.

After dropping Rosie off at an almost empty clubhouse, and knowing the men have gone off somewhere, we head to meet Kate and Isabella. When we walk in the door, I immediately know this place is different from the average costume shop. Its designs are much more upscale.

I look around in stunned silence. "Wow. This place is amazing."

Evelyn grins. "I know, right? The woman who owns it used to do costumes for Hollywood."

"It's so much better than what I expected," I say.

We spot the girls in the back and make our way toward them.

"I'm thinking of going as Little Red Riding Hood and making Utah go as the Big Bad Wolf," Kate says, holding up a costume that is sexier than any I've ever seen. "What do you think?"

"That could work, I suppose," Evelyn says, flipping through items on a rack.

"Have you found anything?" I ask Isabella.

She studies a costume and cocks her head, then keeps on flipping. "Not yet. It has to be perfect." She looks over at me. "How are things with you and Baja?"

Lola sidles up. "Yeah, did he do what I warned you he'd do?"

I nod. "He pushed me away last night when I made advances on him. Then this morning, when I threw some attitude at him, he took me out to the cemetery and showed me Hannah and Sophie's grave."

"Wow, that's a big step for him," Evelyn says.

"Huge," Lola agrees. "He really showed you? I'm proud of the boy."

"Yep. I definitely wasn't ready for that."

"It is a gaping wound—one he's carried for several years now," Isabella murmurs. "You need to be mindful of just how much it affects him."

"The funny thing is… it's only brought me closer to him. I was trying to take things slow, you know? I've got a long line of bad choices in men. I never pick the ones who want to settle down or who get me. I was starting to believe I'd finally found that with Baja. On the surface, he seems completely wrong for me—a biker with a wild lifestyle—but when I dig deeper, he's so much more than that. He treats me with more respect and caring than any man I've been with. But this is a big roadblock. He seems set in his decision to not open himself up to that pain again."

"He doesn't want to see you get hurt because of the club," Isabella says.

"Exactly. How can I fight that? I don't know what to do."

Lola leans an arm on the rack of clothes. "It's easy. But first you have to be sure you want a life with him. Because if Baja lets those protective walls down, he'll be devastated if you change your mind and hightail it to Denver. So, I'm asking you… Are you serious about this? About him?"

"Yes. He's the one. I know it."

Lola grins. "Then I know just the thing." She wanders off, meandering through racks to a far corner with a display of Star Wars costumes, and I can't even begin to imagine what she's thinking. She stops and points up to a display of a mannequin dressed as Princess Leia in her slave costume.

My gaze trails over the skimpy, sexy costume, and my eyes widen. I slap a hand on my chest. "Oh, you have got to be kidding. I can't wear that."

"Why not?"

"Just look at it." I fling my hand out. "There's barely anything to it."

"Look, you show up in a costume like this, and Baja's gonna be putty in your hands," Lola insists.

"It's true," Kate says. "No man in his right mind is turning that down."

"I agree," Isabella says, sealing my fate. "Baja is not going to push you away. In fact, he may be fighting off every man in the clubhouse."

"You've all lost your minds," I say. "How about Cat Woman? I could go as Cat Woman."

"Nope. I'm going as Cat Woman this year," Evelyn says. She eyes me up and down, then flips through the racks and pulls out the costume. "I'm guessing this is your size. Try it on."

The next thing I know, I'm being herded toward the dressing rooms.

Hooking the hanger on a hook, I stare at it. It's well made, like really well made. Then I glance at the price tag. "This thing is four-hundred dollars!"

"Just put it on," Lola yells.

"Is this like the real deal?" I ask, staring at the workmanship.

"I told you; this lady is good. All her stuff is Hollywood quality," Evelyn says.

After changing into it, I stare in the mirror. It fits like a glove, but I'm so exposed. "You guys, there's no way."

"Just come out here already," Lola snaps.

"Fine." I fling back the curtain and step out.

There's a guy standing down the aisle, looking at a cowboy costume. His eyes drift over me, then he emits a low wolf whistle.

"Mind your own business," Evelyn snaps.

"Just sayin, lady. I'd get that one," he says, then ambles off.

Lola turns me toward a mirror on the wall. "Tell me that's not hot."

"But I'm half naked. I can't walk into the clubhouse in this," I protest.

"Sure, you can," Evelyn says. "We're all wearing sexy costumes."

My brows lift. "Like this?"

"Well, maybe not like that," Isabella murmurs.

"Look, do you want the boy or not?" Lola throws her hands to her hips and stares at Isabella. "Seriously. I mean, if she can't admit that, maybe she's not worthy of him."

"You want him, don't you?" Isabella asks.

"Yes, I want him. "

"Then go after him, girl."

Kate nods. "If you want results, that's the costume."

"It's settled then," Evelyn declares.

"But the price…" I object.

"It's my gift to you," Evelyn says. "I don't want to hear another word about it."

Lola has already moved off to the racks, and she pulls out a Hans Solo costume. "This thing is horrible."

Evelyn taps her finger on the side of her mouth, thinking. "You're right. Well, they don't have to go as a matching couple. Rock and I aren't this year."

Lola turns and grins. "Because you can't get him into a Batman costume."

"True." Evelyn turns to me. "Who's your favorite Hollywood crush?"

"You mean an actor?"

"Yes, who do you love?"

"That's easy. Johnny Depp."

She snaps her fingers. "Perfect. Come on." She stalks down the line and points to a costume on a mannequin. "This one."

It's an exact copy of Captain Jack Sparrow. "Oh, my God."

Evelyn shouts to a woman helping a couple at the register. "Hey, Ginger. You got this Jack Sparrow costume in Baja's size?"

"Let me check the card."

Evelyn turns to me. "She has all the guy's sizes on file. Makes it so easy."

A few minutes later, she skips over with one in a plastic garment bag. "This is his size. You taking it?"

"Yes," Evelyn replies. "It'll be perfect."

"I have the rest of the men's costumes you ordered all ready to go."

"It'll just be a few more minutes. Thanks, Ginger."

The women try on the costumes Ginger has held for them and show them off.

Kate does a spin, and her short dress twirls. She looks adorable as Little Red Riding Hood.

"I thought you're all going as movie heroes and villains?" I ask.

"They made an exception for me. I had my heart set on this one," Kate says.

Isabella steps out. "Trez and I are going as Starlord and Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy."

She looks hot in the tight leather outfit.

"I love it," I say.

Lola comes out dressed in a 17 th century French little girl's costume. "I'm going as Claudia from Interview with a Vampire. I'm going to do up my hair in ringlets." She twirls. "What do you think?"

The costume is cream lace and short and flairs out, exposing sexy stockings and bows.

"Sexy. Is Memphis going to be Louis?"

"Nope. Le Stat. Ginger has the best velvet brocade long coat with a frilly lace shirt. It's perfect."

"You guys are all going to be fantastic," I say.

"I'm so excited," Kate says, jumping up and down.

"So, Evelyn, you're going as Cat Woman. What's Rock going as?" I ask.

She tapes her finger to her chin. "I've got an idea. Give me a minute." Then she trails off to the counter and talks to Ginger, who disappears in the back briefly before poking her head out and nodding.

Evelyn claps her hands together.

"What's he going to be?"

"I was going to have him be the Joker. But with Baja going as Captain Jack, I just had the perfect idea, and Ginger has it!"

"Well, what is it?"

"He's going to be Captain Teague, Jack Sparrow's father. She's even got the shrunken heads to hang off his belt."

"Oh, my God. Keith Richards' character?" Lola asks, laughing. "He's going to die. Dad loves the Rolling Stones."

"I know, right?" Evelyn replies, excitedly. "It's perfect."

I laugh, and the girls look at me quizzically. "Baja was teasing Rock the other day, saying he should adopt him. I can't wait to see their faces when they get a look at each other."

"This is going to be the best party ever," Evelyn declares and holds her hand for high fives all around.

I change out of the costume, Ginger wraps it up, and Evelyn pays the exorbitant bill. Then we load the costumes into the back of the SUV.

"Where to now, ladies?" Kate asks.

"Let's hit Casa La Blanca for happy hour. They have that cute outdoor patio," Isabella suggests.

"Great. We'll meet you there," Lola says, slamming the rear door of her SUV. "We have to drop the costumes off at the clubhouse for the guys."

We drive over there, and the men still aren't back. I try not to think about it as we carry in the costumes and lay them across the sofas in the main room.

"I want all those candelabras set out, boys," Evelyn says to the two prospects at the bar. "And that spider web, too."

"Yes, ma'am," one replies.

"And make sure those purple lights are strung up."

We head out, and fifteen minutes later, Lola pulls in a spot in town, and I follow the girls inside. It'd dimly lit, but we walk through to the back and emerge in a Spanish-style courtyard with stone fountains and heaters.

Finding the girls at a table, we see they've already got chips and a pitcher of margaritas.

Pretty paper lanterns hang above us, and mariachi music is piped in.

"I love this place," I say.

"It's awesome, isn't it?" Isabella replies. "And they have the best queso." She digs a chip into the steamy, creamy cheese.

I take one myself. "What time does the party start?"

"Eight." Lola checks her watch. "We'll head to my house to get ready at about six. That should give us a couple of hours to relax and have a few drinks before we need to head out."

We order nachos and mini tacos, and soon the place is packed with people.

"It's a good thing we beat the rush, or we'd never get our food," I say.

"Oh, we'd get our food. Alejandro is half in love with Isabella. Just watch." Lola nods to the man heading our way with a big smile.

"And how are you pretty ladies today? Can I get you anything?"

I assume he must own the place.

His gaze settles on Isabella. "And how are you, my lovely? Would you like one of those Lemon Drops you love so much?"

She perks up. "I'd love one, Alejandro. You make the very best."

His chest puffs out, and he bows. "I'll be right back."

I grin. "Isabella's got an admirer."

"Trez better never find out, or we'll have to find a new place to drink," Lola warns over the rim of her margarita glass.

We all giggle, and Evelyn makes a toast.

"To the best girlfriends, old and new." She winks at me, and everyone lifts their glass.

"Here. Here," Kate says.

"To girlfriends," Isabella says.