Page 23 of A New Chapter

Chapter 13

When Emma swung open the door on Saturday evening, Zack’s mouth gaped, and his eyes grew wide.

“Wow, Emma, you look amazing! Friends can say that, right?”

Emma chuckled. “Yes, of course. You’re looking pretty fine yourself.”

Zack puffed out his chest. “Why thank you, ma’am.”

As they walked out to the Range Rover, Zack put a hand on her elbow, presumably to keep her from tripping in her heels. Emma decided not to fight it and let him play the role of the gallant gentleman. When he opened the car door and she slid in, the hem of her dress rose, and she caught him peeking at her legs. So much for the perfect gentleman!

“How long of a drive do we have?” Emma asked as she tugged the hem of her dress back down.

“About thirty minutes,” Zack replied with a smirk.

“What?”

“You can’t wear a dress like that and expect me not to look at your legs,” Zack said unapologetically.

Emma rolled her eyes but didn’t try to hide her smile. “So it’s a guy thing, I take it.”

“Pretty much. I’m sure I won’t be the only guy who checks you out tonight.”

“Really? Even if I show up on your arm?”

“Doesn’t matter. You’re going to have to face it, Em. You’re a looker. In fact, I should probably warn you about a couple of my coworkers.”

“Ok… “

“Dan, my boss, is single and horny as hell. I swear his goal in life is to have more women than he has Facebook friends! Then there’s Rick, and his wife, who are confirmed swingers… ”

“Hold up,” Emma said, turning in her seat to face him. “Are you serious? You actually know people who do that?”

“You’d be surprised what people do behind closed doors. Not everyone is as squeaky clean as you are.”

Emma’s eyes bulged. “Excuse me? Who says I’m squeaky clean?”

“You married Mark right after college, correct?” After she nodded, he continued.

“So I’m going to guess that you might have slept with one or two guys before him and, since your divorce was fairly recent, no one since him. Am I right?”

Emma turned away from him in a huff. So I don’t sleep around. What’s wrong with that?

“Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” Zack said, borrowing a line from Seinfeld.

“I happen to believe that sex is a meaningful act that should be between two people who actually care about each other. If that makes me squeaky clean, then so be it!”

“I agree with you.”

Wait, what? “You do?”

“Sure. Just because I’m a flirt doesn’t mean I sleep around, Em.”

She was saved from further discussion when he pulled up to the reception hall, and they were immediately approached by a valet. Emma had never been to Buhl Estate before, but she knew it was a popular wedding venue. Zack placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her into the exquisite ballroom. Some of Zack’s coworkers spotted them right away and waved him over to a group of tables toward the back wall. Emma felt several pairs of eyes upon them while they made their way across the empty dance floor.

“We can leave whenever you’re ready,” Zack whispered in her ear.

“We just got here!” Emma exclaimed. It felt good to get dressed up and go out with a handsome man. She didn’t want to think about the evening ending before it had even really begun.