“Go on. Try it, Mama,” Evie urged.
I pulled out a few dresses from the rack, wondering how I could choose when everything was perfect.
I slipped into a red gown first. The fabric hugged my figure, and the back dipped lower than I was used to. I turned to face the girls, already sensing their verdict.
“Too bold,” Sasha said with a raised brow.
Evie squinted, then shook her head. “It’s scary,” she added seriously.
Disappointed, I tried on a deep aquamarine dress, made of silk. It fell beautifully against my skin, the color reminding me of a Hawaiian ocean. Once it was on me, I couldn’t resist doing a little twirl, but their reactions were instant.
“Too blue,” Sasha said, tilting her head.
“You look like a mermaid, Mom,” Evie declared, eyes wide with wonder.
That might’ve been a compliment. In fact, coming from her, it probably was. But I didn’t want Jonah thinking of mermaids or sea sirens when he saw me.
Finally, I tried a strapless white evening gown, which hugged me without being too constricting, and the fabric flared gently from the waist.
“You sure this isn’t overkill?” I asked, smoothing the fabric nervously. “It’s just his family and some close friends, right?”
Sasha raised an eyebrow. “Lexi, we’re talking about the Walkers. ‘Close friends’ means business partners and board members. And his father’s yacht isn’t some fishing boat. It’s quite possibly a floating mansion. Trust me, you’ll be underdressed if anything.”
She handed me a velvet box, and inside lay a diamond necklace from Cartier. It was a slim platinum chain with a single solitaire that caught the light without demanding attention. I fastened it around my neck carefully, my pulse racing as I looked in the mirror.
Evie gasped. Her little hands clapped together, and she proclaimed, “You look beautiful, Mama. Like a real-life Disney princess.”
My throat tightened, and my eyes brimmed with tears I didn’t try to hide. No compliment from anyone else could touch hers. To my daughter, I was just beautiful, and that made my day.
Now, all I could think about was Jonah. I wanted to see his eyes when he looked at me in this dress. I wanted to see if he saw what Evie did. And, God help me, I wanted to take his breath away.
“So, the one-night stand is turning out to be so much more,” Sasha said, giving me a knowing look while Evie ran off to find her toy camera to take pictures of me. “Have you thought about that? The guy can’t seem to get enough of you, Lexi.”
I thought about it.
“I … can’t decide how I feel about it, to be honest,” I admitted. “On one hand, I’m thrilled. He’s amazing and handsome, the sexis great, and I love spending time with him, even when we’re not?—”
“Going at it like rabbits?” Sasha interrupted, smirking as I blushed.
“Something like that,” I admitted. “But sometimes, it feels like … I need to watch out for myself. I’m afraid I’ll get hurt. It’s just a relationship, but sometimes …”
“Sometimes?” Sasha prodded.
“Sometimes, this feels like it’s evolving into something more,” I said at last. “And I’m afraid I’m the only one who’s feeling this way.”
Sasha stepped away as the doorbell rang. “Well, he sent medicines, food, and a freaking nanny over to take care of you and Evie. Would a man do that if it’s only a meaningless relationship?”
Good question. One I had tried to avoid answering myself.
She paused. “Are you in love, Lexi?” she asked, taking a second look at me.
I laughed instantly, defensively, because I hadn’t talked about my recent feelings for Jonah out loud to anyone. But I couldn’t outright deny Sasha’s question. I did love Jonah. I nodded.
There was a knock downstairs on the front door, and I knew it was Jonah. Sasha turned to leave my room, when she paused and looked at me.
“He’s older than I expected for you,” she said with a serious expression. “But if you two love each other, then I’m happy for you, Lexi. I can overlook the age gap because I see something like love in his eyes.”
Jonah had explicitly told me he didn’t do love. But somehow, the people closest to us seemed to think there was more to us than met the eye.
