I hopped on one foot over to the ringing phone, tugging at my new red Jimmy Choos. “Hello.”
“Should I wear a royal blue dress or basic black on a second date?”
“I don’t know, Mom. Where are you going?”
“Harvey’s taking me out to dinner and dancing Friday night.”
“Wear whatever you want.”
“The blue looks really good on me.”
“Then wear the blue.” I slipped on the other shoe.
“But it has a low neckline, and I don’t know if it’s too sexy for a second date.”
“Then wear the black.” I flipped the bedside drawer open, shuffling the contents around until I spotted the lint roller.
“The shoes that go with the black are high, and I don’t want to get sore feet while dancing.”
“Then wear the black dress with the blue shoes.” The lint roller wisped up and down my dress, removing Sirius’s hairs.
“Is that allowed? Can I wear royal blue with black?”
“You can wear whatever you want. Step outside your comfort zone. Combine colors. Remove the neutral tones from your life.”
The doorbell rang and Sirius set up barking.
“Mom, I’ve got to go. My ride’s here.”
“Wait a minute. Do you have a date?”
“Not exactly.”
“Who’s at your door?”
“My client and his stepsister.”
“Are you going out to dinner?”
“Yes.”
“With the guy you told me about? The one whose pool you fell into?”
“Yes, and it’s not like that. His sister’s in town and he asked me to join them for dinner. It’s not really a date.”
The doorbell chimed again. Sirius beelined into my room at full tilt to bark at me. Just in case I didn’t hear him the first time. “Sirius, quiet!”
“Are you wearing a dress?”
“Yes.” I trailed Sirius down the hall.
“And he wants you to eat with his sister?”
“I suppose.”
“Then it’s a date.”
Ian stood at my door wearing black slacks, shoes, and a crisp white button-down. Heat pooled in my belly as I perused my delectable client. He eyed me from head to toe, taking in the flirty red and yellow scarf, little black dress, and red peep-toe platforms. A full-on smile gleamed at me and my breath hitched.
“Mom, wear the blue. I’ve got to go. Love you. Bye.” I tossed the phone onto the hall table, grabbed Sirius’s collar, and pushed open the storm door. The faint scent of fresh laundry and musky aftershave met my nose.
“Hi.” I gave a shy smile.
“You look exquisite.” He leaned in and bussed my cheek.
A flash of warm pleasure rushed through me.
“This must be Sirius. The other man in your life.” Ian held his hand out for Sirius to sniff.
I was glad he knew dog protocol. One more mark in the good book for him. After a few snuffles, Sirius shoved his head under Ian’s hand.
“I’m almost ready. I need to feed Sirius and check e-mail before we go. Do you and Kate want to come in and wait?” I glanced past his shoulder and gave a whoop of glee. “You brought the Mustang!”
“I promised you the last time we went out I’d bring it.”
The passenger seat was empty. “Where’s Kate?”
“She’s meeting us at the restaurant. I hope you don’t mind. She’s bringing a friend from university to dinner.” Ian followed me into the kitchen.
“No problem. The more the merrier.” This was good news. Since Kate walked in on me slavering over Ian, I’d been wondering how the dinner would play out. A fourth person would keep awkward questions at bay. Sirius followed me around the kitchen as I prepared his dinner and shoved me out of the way when I laid it on the back patio.
“Would you like something to drink while I check my e-mail? Water, wine, diet soda?”
“Do you have any beer?”
With a cringe, I shook my head, and made a mental note to get some beer.
“Water will be fine.”
I handed over a bottle from the fridge and invited him to sit at the counter while I slipped on reading glasses to sort through the e-mails on my iPad.
“Ooo, I like those glasses. They make you look like a naughty librarian.”
My lips twitched. “Good news. The sofa we ordered will be delivered on Monday. That’s three days earlier than I expected. We should be finished with your reno by next week.” I held up my hand and Ian high-fived me.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“I know it’s hard living through renovations, but you’ve been a real trooper. Just be glad we didn’t have to rip up the entire kitchen.”
“The mess hasn’t been the problem. The problem has been waiting for you.”
I flushed to the tips of my toes, pleased his interest hadn’t waned over the weeks.
“So, you’ll be finished by next Friday.”
“Yup.” I responded to an e-mail from Jack.
“Where would you like to have dinner?”
I lowered the iPad. “You mean next Friday.”
“Once you toffs are done, all bets are off. It’s time to pay the piper, luv.”
My mouth went arid like the desert sun. Stalling, I scooped the water out of Ian’s hand and drank deeply. “So, you’re still in for … you know ...”
His eyebrows lifted. “You couldn’t tell from earlier today?”
My head bobbed. “Ok.”
“Where would you like to go?”
“You pick.”
“I pick my house.”
That could be dangerous. I needed a public restaurant to provide a buffer. If we ate at Ian’s, there’d be no way I could make it through the salad course, much less a full meal, before stripping him naked and trying out the new hardwoods, or possibly the sofa. Besides, I probably needed a full meal to provide energy before caving to his masculine charms.
“I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
• • •
Kate and her friend, Fletcher, walked into Nobu, a swanky Japanese restaurant Kate swore was “the absolute best,” five minutes after our arrival. Kate’s designer boots, skinny jeans, and flowy blouse looked like something straight from a New York fashion magazine shoot. Considering her job, it probably was. Fletcher’s gregarious personality and rubber-like facial expressions loosened our group. However, I was still smarting from the post-kiss scene Kate had witnessed, and her behavior toward me was been a bit stand-offish. My defensive walls remained high.
Through the meal, I was placed in a tortuous situation of Ian’s making. At the start of the meal, his knee “accidentally” brushed mine and sent little zingers up my spine. Then he moved on to gently drift a hand along my thigh. Frissons of heat hummed through my body. By the time dessert arrived, he scooted closer and comfortably slung his arm across the back of my chair, then proceeded to play with my hair. It took all my efforts to remain calm and unfazed by his touch on the outside, while my nether regions trembled with pleasure and anticipation. I tried to behave normally—laughing at Fletcher’s jokes, glancing at Ian but not staring like an enraptured teenager.
Perhaps my hand reached too often for the wine because by the time dessert arrived, I couldn’t stand it any longer and gave some sauce back to the gander. Ian ordered a chocolate concoction that arrived with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Before he could touch it, I stole the sweet, cream-covered fruit and popped it in my mouth. Making an O, I leisurely dragged it through my lips, laving the whipped cream with my tongue. His eyes widened and his nostrils flared. Once the cherry was clean, I sucked it back in and bit down with a snap. Ian sucked wind, and his blunt fingers reflexively gripped my neck.
“Gentlemen, I need to visit the ladies’ room. Sophie?” Kate’s eyes zeroed in on me.
In general, I wasn’t one to go to the restroom en masse with the girls. Nonetheless, I acquiesced to Kate’s silent request. I had a feeling a lecture or uncomfortable questions about my relationship with her brother were coming my way.
Kate stood in front of the long mirror putting on lipstick with the concentration of a heart surgeon, which was why I jumped when she spoke.
“So, what do you think of my brother?” Her eyes met mine in the mirror.
Here it comes. “I think he’s smart, funny, and handsome. A talented actor.”
“You’re not his usual type.” Her watery blue gaze widened innocently to look me up and down.
I narrowed my eyes at her scrutiny, well aware of my shortcomings. “What, intelligent?” I crossed my arms and leaned a hip against the counter.
A hoarse laugh rolled out. “That, too. But, no. Ian usually goes for the easy target and can capture the most stunning woman in the room by barely lifting a finger. Unfortunately, many of them are superficial flakes, hoping to hop the O’Connor gravy train. Nothing personal, but you’re none of those things. You have a natural beauty, you don’t seem to be interested in show biz, and there’s nothing easy about you. When I walked in on you earlier today, I thought you two were just having hot monkey sex. However, my brother has mentioned your name in a dozen different conversations since I arrived. Tonight he can’t stop watching or touching you. The two of you light up when you look at each other. The cherry almost made him fall out of his chair.” Her guarded expression dropped, and she gave me an open, honest look. “I like you, Sophie. So, as a woman and his sister, I feel it’s my job to provide a fair warning. Ian’s a heartbreaker.”
My smile dropped during Kate’s offensive little narrative and my face burned. “No surprise there.” Sarcasm dripped.
“But with you, I don’t know. I think, maybe, you could break his heart.” She tilted her head, and the lighting shadows accentuated her long, narrow nose.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but we’re not dating or having wild monkey sex. I don’t date my clients. Nobody’s getting heartbroken.”
“You will when he’s no longer a client,” she said with certainty.
I remained silent and thinned my lips into a straight line, wondering what Ian had told his stepsister.
“You’re a smart woman.” She gave a throaty chuckle. “Making him wait. Most women jump in the sack with him right away. That’s their downfall. He’s had time to develop feelings for you. That hasn’t happened to him in a while.” Suddenly, her perfectly painted mouth split into a smile and she leaned in to impart her confidence. “I hope you catch my brother. It’s time he settled down with a good woman.”
Before I realized what was happening, she encompassed me in a peppery-scented and entirely unexpected hug. I remained stiff from shock during the brief embrace, but Kate didn’t seem to notice.
“Just don’t break my brother’s heart, or you’ll have to answer to me.” She scooped up the lipstick, tossed it into her handbag, and strode out of the bathroom without a backward glance to see if I followed.