“Oh, no, babe.” Jenny shook her head. “The dress is smokin’ hot, just like you. Own it, baby. Strut your stuff.”
“But the dress has no back to it, Jenny. What was I high on at lunch today that I listened to you when you said it would be perfect?”
“You were high on life and love, sweetie. You’d just spent ten minutes telling me how on fire you are for Dr. Foxy’s rockin’ bod, and describing to me just what you wanted to do once you got him alone—”
“This is what comes from taking the afternoon off, having martinis at lunch and then shopping with you in Lakeland,” I groaned. I turned again. The dress was a pretty color, a deep aqua, and the material was a brushed cotton that lay like a dream over my skin. The deep V in the front wasn’t too revealing, but in the back, it dipped nearly to the top of my ass.
The skirt was full, which was very flattering, and it hit me just above the knee. That feature kept the whole thing from looking too skimpy—or at least, that was what Jenny claimed.
“Emma.” All teasing out of her voice, she fastened me with a stern look through the video. “I wouldn’t let you go out looking wrong. I promise, I was raised that a lady doesn’t give away all the goods to anyone who happens to get an eyeful of her.” She paused. “Deacon is absolutely going to swallow his tongue when he gets a load of you, though. You have that subtle sexy vibe . . . like, I’ll do you, but where, when and how depends on my mood.”
I giggled. “I like that vibe.” Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Okay. Thanks for talking me down from the ledge, Jen. I think I’m ready.” The sound of an engine drew my gaze to the window, and my heartbeat stuttered. “And without a moment to spare, because my date is driving up right now. Right on time, of course.”
“Of course,” Jenny echoed. “I wouldn’t expect less of our Dr. Foxy.” She made a dorky sounding growl. “Go get ‘im, Emma. Do it for all of us who’ve been silently lusting after him for ages.”
“Is that a mandate?” I teased. “I’ll do my best. Have fun with Nico tonight. Call me when you get home tomorrow.”
“Will you be alone tomorrow morning? Or are you planning to bring Deacon back to rock the trailer?”
“No. I told you, this is just a date—a first date—and I don’t think either of us plans to take things to another level.” My eyes tracked Deacon climbing out of the driver’s seat of his car. “Gotta go, Jen.”
“Love you, girl. Have fun.”
I clicked off my phone, tucked it into my small purse, and took two steps to the door of the trailer, opening it before Deacon could knock. He stood on the deck, and when his gaze raised to me, I was gratified by the flare of heat and need there.
“Hey.” He grinned. “You look beautiful.”
I smiled, feeling my cheeks go warm. “Thank you. Was this worth an afternoon off—and one that I took at the last minute, no less?” Deacon had teased me when I’d let him know I wasn’t coming back to work after lunch today.
“Totally worth it . . . but you would’ve been worth it, no matter what you’re wearing now. And you know, Emma, you’re entitled to time off. You work way over your contracted hours every week. No one begrudges you an afternoon or even a full day away once in a while.”
I nodded. “I appreciate that. It’s just that I hate to feel that I might be needed and not be there.”
“We can’t function at our top performance if we don’t take some time to recharge.” He shook his head. “And that’s the last work talk tonight, okay? I promised that this date would have no hospital talk, and I aim to stick to that.”
“Agreed. Sorry.” I shrugged. “So do you want to come in, or should we get going?”
“If you’re ready, it would be a good idea for us to head out. I hope you don’t mind, but our dinner reservations are at a place that’s a little bit of a drive.”
“No complaints from me.” I picked up my purse and stepped down onto the deck, closing the door behind me.
“Aren’t you going to lock it?” Deacon frowned as I began walking toward his truck.
I shot him a look. “Just who is going to come out here and rob me, Deacon? And if they are, more power to them.” I pointed to my own car. “I lock my laptop and anything else valuable I might own in my car, and it’s got a tracking system on it, too. If someone breaks into the trailer and messes it up, I have insurance—and I might even be able to upgrade to one with a real bathroom. Who knows?”
“Okay. If you say so.” Casting one dubious look over his shoulder, Deacon led me to the passenger side of his truck and handed me in before he walked around the back of it to his door. I watched him fasten his seatbelt, the action pulling the green cotton of his dress shirt tight over his chest. He looked delectable, I decided, with that perfectly fitted shirt, open at the collar and turned up at the sleeves to display his forearms, and the simple dark dress pants.
“I didn’t say it back at my door, but you look very handsome tonight.” I spoke up as he turned the truck around and bumped us slowly toward the dirt road.
“Thanks.” He slid a sideways glance at me. “I didn’t go shopping today, but I hoped you’d like this.”
“You always dress well,” I observed. “I know I teased you about not owning jeans, but I never in a million years would’ve thought you’d grown up on a farm.”
He laughed. “And my mission is accomplished. When I was sixteen, that was my goal in life—to look like a man who’d never set foot in a field or on a tractor. I wanted to be well-dressed and polished.” Shaking his head, he added, “I was an idiot. I don’t know how my grandparents put up with me and my attitude.”
I settled into a corner of the bench seat, making myself comfortable for the drive. “You talk about your grandparents a lot. You’re close to them?”
“I am.” It was a simple confirmation, without prevarication or explanation.
