“Good.” Was it her imagination, or did some of the tension leave his shoulders? He touched his lips to hers and murmured, “I really wish I could do more than kiss you.”
“So do I,” she whispered back. Her lady parts hadn’t seen action in nearly six long years and were champing at the bit to play with him. “But we can’t. Not now.”
He sighed. “I know. I’d never do anything to jeopardize Izzy’s happiness and wellbeing.”
And that, she thought, is exactly why I said yes.
Chapter Fifteen
“I don’t haveanything to wear on a date,” Bex complained, the contents of her closet dumped on her bed. She flopped atop the pile and glanced over at Brooke, who was going through her drawers. “Literally seventy-five percent of my clothing is activewear, and I don’t have any panties that aren’t cotton. How sad is that?”
“All the more reason to go shopping,” Brooke said, shuffling through her shirts. “You, me, Kat, Megan. Maybe Faith, if she’s interested, although I get the feeling she owns enough clothing to fill several closets.”
“I’m so keen for that. We should make a trip to the city. Izzy could spend the day with Mum and Dad.”
“It’s settled, then.” Brooke held up a fitted cream sweater. “What about this?”
Bex shrugged. “It’s nice enough. It doesn’t exactly scream ‘ravish me’ though, does it?”
Brooke waggled her eyebrows. “Is that what you want it to say?”
“Maybe,” she admitted. “I don’t know.” She groaned. “Why does life have to be so complicated?”
Brooke’s lips twitched. “Maybe because you haven’t dated since Izzy was born and then you went and fell under the spell of your ex brother-in-law.”
A bark of laughter escaped Bex. “It’s so wrong, isn’t it?”
“Not at all,” Brooke assured her. “You’re a yummy mummy. Anyone would want to be with you. And have you seen that man? No one could blame you for wanting to jump his bones. If I had a principal who looked like that…” She trailed off, staring into space, eyes unfocused.
Bex laughed again. “God, I love you.”
“Don’t you forget it, chickee.” Brooke tossed her the sweater and went to the closet, where she scanned the few remaining dresses. She reached into the back and pulled out a knee-length emerald green dress, then stroked a finger down the front. “This is perfect.”
Bex shook her head. “I haven’t worn that dress since before I got pregnant.”
She’d only kept it all these years because the thing was gorgeous, clinging to every curve and revealing hints of what little breasts she had. She’d always remembered how beautiful she’d felt in it, and never had the heart to throw it away.
“Then this is the right time to bring it back out and reclaim some of your lost youth.”
“It was hardly lost.” Bex eyed the dress longingly. The thought of trying to pull it off at nearly thirty was ludicrous. “I doubt it’d even fit me anymore.”
Brooke rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? You have the most amazing figure of anyone I know.” She thrust the dress at Bex. “Try it on. If it doesn’t fit, I’ll let it go, but I really think this is the dress for your date.”
Sighing, Bex scrambled off her pile of clothing, and then stripped down to her underwear. She unzipped the dress and slipped into it, conscious of the way it followed the contours of her body so closely. It fit over her butt without ripping, which was a good start.
“Can you do me up?”
Brooke eased the zip up, taking care not to catch her skin. Finally, she reached the back of the neck, and Bex released a long breath.
“It still fits.”
“Of course it does. Turn around and let me see.”
Hesitantly, Bex spun to face her friend, watching Brooke’s gaze sweep over her before returning to her face.
“You look hot. Michael is going to swallow his tongue when he sees you in this.”
“His tongue?” Bex snorted. “You have such a way with words.”