“For the sake of appearances.”
“If you start playing for appearances, I will too.” She narrows her eyes.
“It’s two friends having lunch.”
“Not because Daddy said so?”
“Nope. He wants me to be close to you, but that doesn’t mean I’m here only because of him.”
Juliana watches me for a long while, then relaxes a little. “You and your way with words. Don’t you get tired of riding the fence?”
“Never.”
“Ah, you’re that brand of kinky.” She laughs lightly. “So, are you going to go shopping with me too?”
“Depends, what are we shopping for?”
“I was thinking lingerie, and you know ... I can think of a few teddies that would look wonderful on you.”
I roll my eyes. She’s ridiculous, but I pay and we head down the road. Her dogs trot along in front of her, but the leash never pulls tight.
“Are you staring at my poms?”
“No. Just the dogs,” I say.
She shakes her head. “The dogs are poms. Pomeranian is a mouthful.”
“Oh. I suppose I am.”
“Nolan and Charlie. They’re good boys. Reliable, protective, but willing to cuddle.”
“So that’s why you don’t worry about not having a boyfriend.” I tease.
Juliana gives me another honest smile. “If I was that easy to please, you would have swept me off my feet already.”
“I was willing to try until you laughed at the idea. Now you’d be lucky if I looked at you more than a potato.”
“Then I’m the sexiest potato you’ve ever seen because I’ve seen you staring more than once.” She bumps my hip. “Stop hesitating.”
“You know how you look, Juliana. You flatter yourself in every dress and it would be worse if I didn’t appreciate the best view in D.C.”
“From hesitating to flattering shamelessly.” She pats my back. “Maybe the fence is the best place for you.”
“Now who’s being kinky.”
Juliana laughs, but we head right into some high-end boutique. She hands me the dogs’ leashes and winks at me as she picks up a few pieces of lingerie that don’t work to hide a thing, only heighten what’s already there.
She hums to herself and strokes a top made of silver chains that would hang over her breasts like long necklaces stacked on top of each other.
After grabbing a handful of items, she walks herself into the changing room, looks at me, and leaves it open a crack just like a tease. Instead of taking her up on the offer, I jerk the curtain shut.
She laughs. “Prude.”
“Sorry, I’m not into public experiences.”
I stand out there waiting until I see a semi-familiar face. I think he was one of my father’s friends or Uncle Tony’s friends. He glances at me and then walks over with a smile. “Gio! Funny running into you here.”
“I could say the same for you ....” His name doesn’t come to mind.