Page 69 of Last First Date

The dress did more than just wrap around Waverly’s body. It framed her, drawing attention to the undeniable allure of her form that I had ignored. She looked like a Greek goddess. Every curve was accentuated, her skin glowing against the deep red fabric. Despite the amount of skin showing, the gown was elegant and tastefully provocative.

“I think I should look for something a little less… or rather a little more,” she said. “More of everything.”

“Not a chance,” I said. ‘You’re supposed to turn heads. You will absolutely be turning heads in that. I think that’s the one. Now, we need to find shoes.”

I couldn’t stop stealing glances at Waverly when she was engrossed in inspecting shoes. I’d never considered myself to be a man with a foot fetish, but watching her slip on one heel after another was turning me on.

Finding the right pair took longer than I’d expected, seeing how Waverly was not as decisive with footwear as she was with gowns. Finally, she settled on a pair of strappy stilettos, the thin heels and sleek design complementing the dress perfectly.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m not sure I can walk in these.”

“You’ve been walking,” I said.

“Just here,” she argued.

“But you know they look good,” I said.

“I think we’re done here,” she declared. “I’m shopped out.”

“You need a backup gown,” I told her.

“Why?”

“Trust me, I’ve been around enough women to know you should always have a backup gown. And you’ll need an outfit for the meeting with the journalists.”

She groaned. “It’s too much.”

“This is all on them,” I reminded her. “You may as well enjoy it. You’re not going to find this kind of shopping in Utah.”

“Good point,” she said, smiling.

“After you’re done, we’ll get an early dinner.”

“Are you bribing me with food?” she teased.

“Yes.”

“I don’t think I’ll be eating until I get back home,” she said. “I’m going to be wearing a very skimpy gown and lingerie in front of strangers.”

“You have to eat. We can order light. You don’t have to starve yourself.”

She gave me a small smile, but I could see the nerves dancing in her eyes. This was all so new to her. I wanted to protect her from the harsh reality of this industry, but at the same time, I knew she could handle it.

We spent the next hour searching for the perfect backup dress and a stunning outfit for the press meeting. Waverly wasn’t as hesitant anymore. She was growing comfortable with the glamorous side of this world, and it warmed my heart to see how she was embracing it.

After we finished shopping, we headed back to the hotel. While she got ready for dinner, I took care of finalizing details for the event. I was not getting nearly as much work done as I should have. She was a distraction but the best kind.

The launch party was mostly planned. I was lucky. I didn’t have a lot to do except follow up and handle a few details the company wanted changed from the initial plans.

The catering had been arranged but I double-checked the menu to be sure. The music was sorted as well. A local band would be providing the night’s entertainment.

This was going to be one of those events that was featured on social media and the news. It had to be good. While the news wasn’t going to report on who helped plan the event, the people behind the scenes would know. That was how word of mouth worked. The other event companies were going to be eating their hearts out. I was making my mark on the scene. This was the first of many major events, if I had my way.

I worked for a couple of hours when I realized what time it was. I quickly changed and met Waverly in the lobby for a simple dinner at the hotel restaurant. I was committed to not crossing the line with her again. At least not until I figured out what I was doing with her.

I cut dinner short, telling her I had a lot of work to get done. She seemed very eager to get away from me as well. It was for the best. We didn’t need to spend any more alone time together.

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