I’ve seen Summer in a bikini hundreds of times.And sure, I sometimes get taken aback at how amazing her body is, but it’s never made things weird between us.Maybe that’s because Summer’s bikini serves a purpose.She wears it to raft or kayak down the river.To jump off the dock into the lake.To lounge in the hot springs or hose down a sweaty horse.
There’s no purpose for this dress, with its barely there shoulder straps, its high slit to the thigh, and its low vee neckline.The only reason dresses like this one exist in the world is to get men to stare and think,oh, holy shit—she’s a knockout.
Dresses like this are supposed to make men like me lose their fucking minds.
Nailed it!
Summer stops squirming.She suddenly glares at me, her mouth hitched in a smirk.She straightens, lifts her chin, and pulls back her shoulders.
“Boobs, Declan,” she says.“Say hello to my boobs.I have two of them.I’ve always had them, and here they are again, my two boobs, but in a dress.Deal with it.”
“Whatever,” I grumble.
“Kirk is probably waiting for us at the restaurant,” Bryttni points out.
“Kirk?”
I completely forgot about Kirk the Jerk.Kirk’s… aman.That means Kirk will have a similar reaction to the sight of Summer in this dress.He’ll see every dip and swell of her body.He’ll see her shiny hair and her pretty lips and her pink nails.
Kirk’s going to see her boobs.Both of them.In a dress.How is that acceptable?
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” I say.
“You’re not backing out!”Bryttni shrieks and stomps her foot.“Do you understand the amount of effort that was required for Summer’s makeover?I’ve never spent so much money in such a short time in mylife!And how about me, Declan?It’s New Year’s Eve.You will not screw this up for me!”
I glance over at Summer.I’ll do anything to protect her, even if she hates me for it.Which means I’ll have to protect her from Kirk.
Summer grins at me.It’s almost as if she’s enjoying having a front-row seat to my breakdown.“Yeah, what Bryttni said, Declan.Don’t screw this up for me.”
“Fine.”I hold the door for both women.“Let’s go see Kirk.And let’s go get Declan a big, fat drink.”
CHAPTER 14
Summer
“These are my boobs.I have two of them…”
Did I really say that to Declan?I’m so far out of my comfort zone it isn’t funny.This is way worse than the queasiness of jet travel.Way past my baseline dislike of Las Vegas.
I just stuck out my chest and drew attention to my boobs.
I so want to back out.I so want to hitch a ride home to Yosemite Ranch.Evander and Phoebe have probably already tied the knot, anyway.Sure, I’ll return as a failure, but at least my boobs will no longer be out on display for Declan to criticize.
“Aren’t you cold?”
That’s what he asked.And the answer is an enthusiasticyes.Yes, I’m cold.Because the waxer woman didn’t leave a single strand of hair anywhere on my body except for my eyelashes and what grows from the top of my head.The only reason I still have most of my eyebrows is because I fought to save them.
The rest of me is as slick as a dolphin.
Dammit it, I blew it.Instead of standing there in front of Declan all nervous and uncomfortable because of the way he was looking at me, I should have told him about how I’ve been waxed to within an inch of my life, smooth as a newborn piglet.Then I could’ve watched him squirm.That would have been way better than how I fidgeted like a pathetic, shy little girl who’s afraid of her own shadow.
Next time I get a chance, I’m definitely going to use the piglet line on him.
We step out of the elevator on the top floor and make our way toward the restaurant.I have to hand it to Bryttni.The dress and shoes she picked out for me are as comfortable as they are pretty.The dress is silk, and it feels great on my newly bald skin.The strappy heels feel lovely on my callus-free heels.They may not look it, but they provide excellent arch support.
Dancing is definitely in the cards for me tonight.
My only clothing complaint has to do with slingshot underwear riding up my crack.I think I’m going to have to ditch them and go commando.
