I had come across attractive men in my lifetime. Even some close in looks to Ryan Steel. But I’d always held back, never let myself feel anything.
Now, looking at Ryan…
I couldn’t. There was a reason I stayed away from men. There was a reason I dressed the way I normally did.
I didn’t want the attention.
The clothes I was wearing weren’t my own. I had only brought a few pairs of slacks and shorts, several button-up shirts, a one-piece bathing suit in an unflattering brown, a pair of flip-flops, and a couple pairs of sensible shoes. Melanie had told me not to worry about what to wear for the wedding, that she would take care of it. But I’d had no idea that her future sister-in-law would take over my wardrobe this evening.
Marjorie was about six inches taller than I, and I shuddered to think of what this miniskirt I was wearing looked like on her. It probably barely covered her ass.
But she had insisted, and Jade and Melanie had agreed, that I wear something a little more exciting to dinner. Jade and I had the same size feet, so the strappy sandals I was wearing belonged to her.
They had oohed and aahed when I’d stripped down to my underwear to let them dress me like a Barbie doll. Yes, I was in shape. The only reason I didn’t have six-pack abs was my own choice. I didn’t particularly like six-packs on women.
* * *
“Wow,” Marjorie said. “Why on earth do you cover this body up?”
“I don’t know.”
That was a goddamned lie.
“Well, that’s over now. The three of us would love to look like that. How do you do it?”
All three of them were gorgeous in very different ways. I didn’t know why they’d want to look like me.
“I work out,” I said. “A lot.”
“Do you diet?”
I shook my head. “Nope. I eat what I want. I have a huge appetite from all the exercise.”
“Wow. What do you do for working out?” Jade asked.
“Weight training, interval training, kickboxing. When I get tired of that, I
do a little yoga.”
“Do you have to stay in shape?” Melanie asked. “To stay on the force?”
“No. The training was pretty vigorous when I was back in the academy, and we’re encouraged to stay in shape, but a lot of the cops I know have grown beer bellies.” I smiled.
“Wow,” Jade said again. “Too bad we don’t have a couple months before the wedding. You could get us all in tip-top shape.”
I warmed. They were all very beautiful with great bodies. When I said as much, Melanie said, “Thank you. That’s really sweet, Ruby. But you… There’s no comparison.”
Marjorie had taken it upon herself to pull my hair out of the bun. “And all this hair!” she exclaimed.
My hair fell nearly all the way down my back.
“Why do you keep it wound up so tight?”
“It’s just the style I’m used to.”
“I suppose it does suit you well when you’re working,” she said. “But this is not a week for work. We’re going to relax, celebrate, have fun. You need fun hair.” She began brushing my hair. “Amazing. Straight with just a little wave from being wound up. Not a bit of frizz on your whole head. You have a beautiful head of hair, Ruby.”
“I… Thank you,” I said.