“Break it.”
“My momma would skin my hide and then hang it out to dry like yesterday’s laundry. Boudreaux women donotbreak dates.”
Plus, if she broke the date, she wouldn’t see Lance again.
The way his eyes danced when he was trying not to laugh at her. The way he rolled with all of her punches. The way he smelled after a run.
Good gravy in heaven, she’d never liked the smell of sweat, but on him, she’d barely held back from jumping in his lap and riding him.
Which was another thing her momma would’ve skinned her hide for.
“He’s military. Strike one,” Tara said. “He’s a pilot. Strike two. And he just got out of a three-year relationship with a woman who practically dumped him at the altar. He’s out. If you’re developing feelings for him, seeing him more won’t make them go away. He could’ve killed you in that plane last weekend. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”
“We didn’t die, did we?” she whispered, though her heart shuddered and her fingers went temporarily tingly.
She’d been doing an admirable job ofnotthinking about getting on a plane to Germany in barely over a month. Canceling her tickets would make her look like a chicken. Coming down with a horrific case of the flu complicated by pneumonia, psoriasis, and an antibiotic-resistant strain of staph two hours before she was supposed to board her plane would be much better. Surely she could fake being medically quarantined fora week. Couldn’t she?
“Do you know what I put him through while he was trying to help me?” Kaci said. “The man deserves a medal. The least I can do is take him out to dinner.”
Even Miss Higgs snorted.
“Your date plan is to take him out to dinner?” Tara said.
Of course not. “That’s what normal people do on dates, isn’t it?”
“Normalpeople, Kaci. Not you.”
“Hush on up. Thepointis, I owe him one last show of gratitude. Are you gonna help me figure out how to stay detached, or do I have to do this all on my own?”
Tara’s bright eyes narrowed. “That’s not fair. If I say I won’t help you, I’m a bad friend. If I say Iwillhelp you, we’re taking on a doomed mission. You can’t detach. Not if you’re already attached. And you are definitely attached.Kaci! You bought newunderwear, didn’t you? Tell me you didn’t buy new underwear.”
“I—”
“Youdid.”
“Online. I didn’t go to the store or anything. Click-and-buy doesn’t count as shopping. It might not even look good.”
Tara gasped. “You boughtlotsof new underwear! Oh, honey. You’re going to do this, aren’t you?”
Kaci’s phone dinged. She checked the display and didn’t even care that she knew a dopey smile was spreading over her face.
So we’re clear—what exactly should I plan on wearing next weekend?Lance’s text said.
Nothing you wouldn’t mind getting dirty, she replied.
His answer came back almost immediately.So if I don’t mind getting my nothing dirty, I can wear that?
Tara, who was snooping, growled. “This isnotgood, Kaci.”
“You’re right.” Kaci typed an answer quickly.You sure you want to risk that?
Knowing you? Probably not.Rather not get my nuts taken off with a potato gun.
“Not fair that he knows me so well,” Kaci said.
Tara took Kaci’s latte and helped herself to a big gulp. “You need to walk away.”
“Will you watch Miss Higgs for me on Saturday?”
