“Quite a bit,” I said quietly, hating the quaver in my voice.
“Does he like you?”
“I have no idea.” And I really didn’t. I knew I liked kissing him. And working with him. And being in his presence. And living in his house. But I didn’t know if he liked me. “How would I know that?”
“You could ask him.”
“That seems kind of obvious.”
She made a humming sound in agreement.
“So, panties?” I prompted. I had two pairs on my bed, one thong and one pair of briefs.
“Wear the panties,” she said.
“Really? Why?” I wanted to understand.
“I think you like him and, God bless his poor little soul, he likes you back. And you probably shouldn’t sleep with him on the first date, unless you really feel it. So, wear the panties, Shelly.”
I heard Mal yel
l through the phone, “Don’t wear the panties, Shelly!” He laughed and I could hear them scuffling for the phone.
“Wear the panties, Shelly,” Aubrey said again. “If you want to take them off later, fine. But start the night with the panties on.”
“Okay.” I’d wear the panties. “Thank you for the help.”
“No problem. Call me tomorrow and let me know how the date goes, okay? If you want to, that is,” she rushed to add. “Since Lynn’s not here and all.”
I smiled. “Really?”
“Yes. Really.”
“Thank you, Aubrey. I appreciate your help.”
“You’re welcome,” she said briskly. And then she hung up on me.
I smiled all the while I put on panties. Then I did a spin in front of the mirror.
And when Clark rang the bell at his own house, I opened the door and blurted out the words, “I’m wearing panties.”
His eyes dragged down my body. “Okay.” I felt every inch of his slow perusal.
I leaned in the doorway, suddenly unsure of how I should feel or how I should act. He stood there holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand, which he held out to me. “For you,” he said.
I lifted them to my nose and took in the heady scents. “They’re beautiful.”
“So are you,” he said.
And I closed my eyes and took another deep breath. When I opened them, he had stepped even closer. “You want to put those in some water?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” I said, as I jerked myself out of my stupor. “One second.” Then I closed the door in his face and ran to the kitchen.
He waited outside and was still smirking when I went back to the door. He said nothing. He just extended his elbow and I settled my hand inside his arm as we walked toward his car.
Chapter 30
Clark