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“It’s a date.” I pull her hand to my lips and kiss it.
“All right.” She nods and lets out a shaky sigh.
I reluctantly surrender her hand, then head toward the stairs.
“Hey, you’re not done,” she calls, and when I turn back to her, she gives me a devious smile. “You said you were available for another chore.” She leans down and pats Jinx on the head. “I’ve got a litter box that could use a good cleaning.”
I groan, but then it turns into a laugh. “If that’s what it takes to earn your forgiveness, then lead me to the box of pain.” I eye Jinx, who I could swear is smiling, and Lena laughs.
She grins and gestures toward her front door. “After you.”
9
LENA
“Is this dress too short?” I turn around to show Kimber my back side. I bend over a little to see how high the dress rides up.
“I see you trimmed the hedges, too.” I jerk around to look at her with my mouth open.
“I did no such thing!” Okay, maybe I trimmed up a little down there, but there’s no way she could see that. “Is it really that short?” I pull at the bottom of the dress. It ends mid-thigh, but I’m not really used to wearing dresses. It’s slim pickings in my wardrobe when it comes to fancy clothes. Since this is one of the nicest restaurants around, I don’t think yoga pants or cut-off shorts are going to fly. I need to fit in so that no one stares at me. I’m already flustered about going out with Heath on a date, wearing this dress and going to a place that has a lot of people. I’m praying that I can make it through this without embarrassing myself in front of him.
“It was a test and you failed. Now I know youdidshave your lady business.” She points at me with a smug look on her face. “I don’t blame you. The man didn’t only mow your lawn, he weed whacked it and cut your hedges.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “That’s dedication.”
I know. It was torture to watch him in all his sweaty glory, pushing that mower across my yard. The man is built but lean. I was already having a hard time staying mad at him, and then he went and took off his shirt. I half wanted to yell at him to put it back on, not wanting Mrs. Winsten next door to see him, but my other half wanted to enjoy his defined abs for myself. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of him or the way the sweat dripped down his body as he labored to gain my forgiveness. Thoughts of him working to pleasure me had crossed my mind more than once during his little lawn show. His attention to detail had me squeezing my thighs together.
“You think he was telling the truth?” I ask, breaking myself from my own thoughts. I look down at my feet. Crap I’m going to need shoes. “About his job calling him away?”
“Lena.” Kimber says my name softly. I look back up at her through the phone.
“The man is sexy as fuck. He doesn't have to work at getting laid. If he’s looking for an easy lay, he’d go get one.”
I scrunch my face, not enjoying that thought.
“But he’s not!” she shouts, jerking me from my jealous imaginings. “He’s working at getting time with you. He’s committed. So yeah, I believe him that he got called to work and had to leave you that night. I wasn’t a fan at first, especially since he ditched you, but the lawn and the apology and the dinner? Yeah, I think he’s trying, he’s not just out for what he can get.”
More relief fills my chest. I believed him, but getting Kimber’s reassurance makes me feel better. I’m the one who makes up crazy stories about Heath in my head, whereas Kimber is the more rational one. Well, sometimes. If we don’t count her wanting to egg Heath’s house and booby trap it. She always has my best interest at heart, and I know it hurts her to see me sad.
“I really like him.” I fiddle with the hem of the dress. My anxiety is starting to grow a little. I tamp it down, because I want this. To go and be able to have a nice dinner and get to know him. I never thought the desire to be close to someone could outweigh the anxiety that came with it, until Heath. This is a big step for me, but it’s one that I need to take.
“You’re going,” Kimber says firmly. We both know it will be good for me.
I nod. “Yes, I really want to go.” I acted smug on the front porch, feeling as though I had the upper hand, but I was on my own turf so it was easy. Now, we’re venturing out into the night. I think I’ll be okay. When I’m near him, I feel calmer. Even when we’d cut the butter together with a real, actual, sharp knife, he had this soothing effect over me. It was more intense than when I hold the babies at work. I only grow flustered with Heath if I think I’m going to do something to embarrass myself that will send him running. I’m hoping in public that same calming feeling will be there, and I’ll be okay. “I like him,” I admit.
“Well duh.” She laughs.
“This was supposed to be a spy mission.”
“You were never on a spy mission. You were on a ‘stalk the sexiness next door’ mission.”
I give her a glare. She knows I hate when she calls him sexy. I think I have jealousy issues. I guess you can add that to my list of quirks. It is never-ending.
“What happens when he finds out I’m crazy and goes running for the hills, taking my heart with him?”
“Then we burn his house down.” I wait for her to laugh but she doesn’t. “Now, moving on, the silver flats. Do not. I repeat do not wear those pink heels you got last year that are still in the box.”
“But they’d match.” I motion to my simple white dress. I love it. It cups me tight up top holding my boobs in place but flares out some as it tapers down. There is a little bit of tulle under it to make it swish back and forth when I move.
“You almost killed yourself when you bought them.”
