Starr let out a frustrated noise as she ended the phone call. "That man!"
"Who?" Kelly and Gigi came down the steps.
"Brody" Starr spit out.
"What did he do?" Gigi wasn't sure how he could have annoyed her from his office.
"He asked me to Chris's Opening party."
"Um, you seemed to be encouraging him to ask you at dinner last night?" Kelly wasn't sure why this would upset Starr.
"I was, but this isn't how I wanted it to happen!"
"How did it happen?" Gigi was still confused as to why this upset Starr.
"He said he was asking me because your husbands told him to ask. I wanted him to want to ask me out!" Starr realized she probably sounded a little like she was pouting.
Gigi winced, "Brody is really nervous that you think he's too old for you. I know you see the hunk with a hero complex, but he sees himself as the boy his nineteen year old mother dumped at his aunt's house because she didn't want to tie herself down."
"I would never do something like that to Hope!"
"You wouldn't, but that doesn't mean deep down he doesn't keep expecting it to happen."
"What can I do to reassure him?"
"Just be there. Show him that you would be perfectly happy building a family with him and Hope."
"I don't know where this is going, but I'll try." Starr wasn't sure she was ready to make a lifelong commitment to Brody just yet.
"Do more than try!" Gigi snapped.
Both Kelly and Starr looked at her in surprise. "Can't I go out on a date with him first before I make a decision?"
Gigi shrugged, "Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. He's been through so much in the past few years that I want you to make sure you know what you are starting."
"He's not the rebound boy. I don't know where this will end, but I'm not a little girl pretending to live out 'An Officer and a Gentleman'!" Starr wanted to make Gigi understand that she wasn't playing around.
"We know both of you don't want to hurt the other. Let's head out and find an outfit that will make sure he knows you aren't a little girl," Kelly tried to play the peacemaker.
It worked, and they spent the next several hours enjoying themselves in the London stores. Starr had been buying essentials for Hope and herself, but now she was ready to focus on an outfit for the opening. The women ended up in a brightly lit store debating what to do next.
"What would make Brody realize this is a date?" Starr bit her lip as she looked at the different choices.
"I think we need to make sure that you look mature – mysterious rather than sweet," Gigi decided.
"You need to knock his socks off," Kelly grinned. "Why don't you look around and Gigi and I will pick something for you."
Starr could tell Kelly had a plan, but decided she didn't have to buy the outfit. She looked at a few items before a green blouse with a deep v-neck catching her eye. She picked it up as she saw Kelly and Gigi motioning her over to the fitting room. The two were giggling suspiciously. "Just try it on."
Starr started changing and grew more and more concerned. The stockings were pretty much fishnet, and then there was the spandex and black leather mini-skirt and plunging red halter to be topped off with the red stripper heels and jewelry. She grabbed her phone and texted them to come to the stall – no way was she letting people see her in this!
It was only a minute until, they knocked on the door. "Do you think Brody will like it?" Kelly asked while Gigi smirked in the doorway.
"I think he'll try to save me from life as a hooker! Or make him think I'm a little girl playing dress up!" Starr may have had one vision of Brody appreciating the outfit, but they weren't at that place yet. She picked the green blouse back up, "What do you think of this?"
Kelly narrowed her eyes as she studied it, nodding her head. "I like it. Let me see what I can do while you change."
Starr changed back into her own clothes. As she was putting the hooker outfit on the rack to be restocked, she gave into temptation and put the halter top with the clothes she was buying. It might look better with jeans. She drifted over to a display of boots. Starr ran a finger over some soft brown riding boots.
"Actually, those would go with this skirt," Kelly held up her choice.
Starr nodded, "Or what about these sandals?" She grabbed them and headed back to the fitting room.
Starr quickly changed her clothes, smiling at herself in the mirror. She liked the slight A-line to the tan leather skirt. She put on the jewelry they had picked out as well. She still couldn't make up her mind on the shoes. Deciding to ask Kelly and Gigi, she grabbed both and exited the room.
"I like it!" Kelly said as they studied it in the three way mirror.
"Yeah, it's still something to get a guy's attention, but this one looks like you aren't aware of the possibilities." Actually, this could be just the outfit to appeal to Brody. It was "nice" enough that she could wear it in front of Shane without bothering anyone, but at the same time the leather skirt and low neck would appeal to Brody physically, and everyone at the party would know it, Gigi thought.
"I'm not sure which shoes though I like them both," Starr looked down at her feet.
Kelly laughed, "You know Dorian would tell you to get both pair."
"I think I will. The day I saw you in Ireland I promised myself I would act more like a Cramer woman so that means getting both pair."
Gigi laughed, "I think London isn't prepared for the Cramer women!"
Starr looked in the mirror again, "As long as Brody doesn't know what hit him, I'll be happy."
Author's Note: I think it's Brody's aunt that's supposed to have raised him and told Gigi he was dead, but I couldn't find out for sure. It worked here to explain part of the reason he's hesitant, but I'm not sure if I'm not contradicting the actual show. I hope you'll be okay if I did.
Also, I created two boards on Polyvore to show the outfits I was envisioning in case anyone wants to check them out. polyvore com / coming_home / collection ? id = 1401471 Remove the spaces and add a "." Before com.