“The fact that you can’t even come up with an answer tells me that you probably have nothing to wear,” Brooklyn says.
“I have a lot of pretty dresses,” I object, but she shakes her head.
“No, I’m talking about underneath,” she says in a whisper, then nudges me with her elbow. “You should stop in at that cute new lingerie shop downtown on your way home, pick up something special.”
“I don’t know—”
“Do it or we’ll chaperone and make sure you pick out something crotchless,” Cassidy threatens, and I laugh at the same time that my cheeks burn red.
“Okay, okay,” I say. “I’ll do it.”
It’s not the worst idea ever. They’re right—it’s probably been years since the last time I went on a date that actually had chemistry, and my underwear drawer has been shifting decidedly toward the practical end lately. It wouldn’t kill me to pick up something that makes me feel sexy… and I must confess, if only to myself, that from the way he was looking at me, there’s a good chance Nash will get a peek at what I buy.
So I’m getting inseminated on Friday… that doesn’t mean I can’t have a little fun first. A last hurrah before I become a mommy and gain all the responsibilities that go along with the title.
After my shift ends, I drive to the lingerie shop and pick up something both lacy and silky that flatters my curves. Then, on a whim, I go next door to a boutique that always has drool-worthy dresses in the windows. It’s pricy, but I’m treating myself tonight, and I walk out beaming, with a navy silk wrap dress in a garment bag draped over my arm.
About an hour later, I’m back at my little Cape Cod, dressed and decidedly feeling myself, when the doorbell rings and my heart skips a beat.
He’s here.
I go downstairs and pull open the door to find Nash standing on my stoop, a little stack of paperbacks in one hand and a big grin on his face.
“Damn, you look gorgeous,” he says, drinking me in until I blush.
“You clean up well yourself,” I answer, emboldened to let my eyes drag over him. He’s wearing a suit that hints at muscular arms and toned pecs, and he’s got a scruffy but well-kept beard that instantly has me hot under the collar. I look to the stack of books and ask, “What’s that?”
“A bookquet,” he says, giving me that crooked smile as he holds it out to me. “I figured flowers are nice, but a librarian would appreciate this a little more. Three of my personal favorites.”
I take the stack, the three books neatly tied together with twine, and read the titles. “The Complete Sonnets of Shakespeare, The Great Gatsby, and…” I smile and look at him. “Watership Down?”
“That last one might have been Chelsea-influenced,” he says. “She’s been reading the bunny books she got from the library all day.”
“Well, thank you,” I say, “I love this—no one’s ever gotten me a bookquet before.”
“I’m honored to be the first,” he says as I lean back inside and set the books down on the table by the door.
“Should we go to dinner?”
“Just one more thing first,” he says, then suddenly I’ve been swept up in his arms, feeling the strength of them as he brings his mouth down to my own.
The kiss is fire. His scent swirls in my head and suddenly I never want to leave his embrace—as impractical as that is, but I’ll find a way if he’s game.
Then, he’s letting me go, looking sheepishly at me and saying, “Sorry, I just couldn’t go one more minute without doing that.” Before I have a chance to answer, he gives me his elbow and says, “Shall we go now?”
“Yes,” I say, but what I’m thinking is, or we could say to hell with dinner and just go upstairs instead…
4
Nash
I take Nora downtown, to a place my sister told me about. It opened up while I was overseas, and I’ve been dying to try it out—and I’ve got a feeling it’s right up Nora’s alley.
“A bookstore?” she asks as we park the car and walk up the sidewalk toward our destination. She smiles at me, her sapphire eyes swirling with amusement. “Continuing the book theme, huh?”
“Sort of,” I say, pulling the door open for her. “This is a functional bookstore, but it’s got a secret too.”
She raises an eyebrow at me and I’m mesmerized. Goddamn, I’ve never met anyone like her—stunning from head to toe, great with the kids at the library, and she tastes delicious too.
The kiss at her front door was totally spontaneous, and a bit of a gamble. She already told me I was being forward when I asked her out. What if she’d pushed me away, slapped me, told me to take a hike?