“I have no idea. Small? Medium? Somewhere in between, I guess. Is there a medium-level small in women’s clothes?”
She groans dramatically into the phone. “Honestly, I can’t believe we are even related. I’ll just get a few different options. I’m assuming you want me to dig up shoes also, but you have no earthly idea what size her feet are.”
I don’t think I’ve even looked at her feet. I’ve been too busy studying the rest of her.
“They’re medium-small too.”
“I’d better at least like her if I’m going to all this trouble. I’m shocked you even have a date, honestly. After all this time, I assumed you were either asexual or in the closet.”
I bark out a laugh at her assumption. She’s right though. I haven’t been out with anyone in years. Being a Navy SEAL didn’t allow time for women, and since I was discharged, I always assume they’re working for someone who wants to kill me. Because usually, they are.
I also can’t tell Fallon that Kate is technically coming as my PA because then she’d know I’m planning to work at her wedding.
“I think you will. She’s down-to-earth.”
“Bleh, she sounds awful. I could just get someone for you. All my model friends are dying to jump your ex-military bones.”
A stuck-up, self-obsessed, toothpick-sized airhead is the last type of date I want. Not that all models are like that, but I’ve met enough of Fallon’s friends to know that the general stereotype isn’t too far off.
“No, thanks, Fal, I like a little more meat on the bones.”And brain cells in their heads.
Kate is theoretically perfect for me. She’s adorable, sexy, and I absolutely can’t forget the way she looked at me that night—before I realized she had ulterior motives. She wasn’t a virgin, but it was almost like she’d never experienced sex with someone who didn’t just go straight for home plate.
I shift in my seat, beginning to get uncomfortable with my thoughts, knowing my sister is still on the phone.
“Well, let me know if you change your mind. In the meantime, I’ll see if I can get her a dress and shoes without knowing at all what she looks like.”
“She has blue eyes and blonde hair,” I blurt out. Okay, maybe I want her to wear blue again.
“That’s a little better. I’m glad you’re at least coming to my wedding now. See you soon, Lukie.”
“Bye, Fal.”
My stomach feels tight after the call ends.
The last thing I want to do next weekend is watch my sister marry the man who ruined my life.
CHAPTER 14
KATE
“It is absolutetorture—youhave no idea. This guy is the most confusing human being I’ve ever met. One minute, he looks at me like I’m his reason for living, and the next, it’s like I don’t exist. He used my name—myfirstname. All this time, he’s been calling me Miss Dawson, like I’m his freaking substitute teacher, and then out of the blue, he called me Kate. A few hours later, he was back to the formality.”
Mel is cuddling on the sofa with Nikolai, eating a bowl of popcorn for dinner, while I pace the living room floor.
“I mean, honestly, if he does remember that night and he’s onlypretendingnot to, I don’t get why. Even if he doesn’t want to have a relationship with me because we work together now, wouldn’t it be easier to confront the issue head-on?”
She sips on a glass of wine thoughtfully before finally responding. “I think he does remember. Unless he was trashed that night, which you said he wasn’t, then there’s no way he didn’t recognize you only two days later in his office. So, yeah, he probably doesn’t want the complication of acknowledging that it happened.”
Nikolai is rubbing the inside of her foot with his thumb as he begins to speak. “What happened that night? Anything that he might be embarrassed about?”
Mel thinks his accent is sexy, and I don’t disagree.
I collapse into a dining table chair, which is basically a part of the living room. “It was...perfect. Nothing went wrong. I’ve literally never experienced a night so hot. His place is...” I cut off as my mind travels back to my boss’s luxurious penthouse. “But he was so sexy, and he was definitely into it. It wasn’t just a drunk hook-up to me. I really thought we, like...connected, you know?”
Have you learned your lesson yet? Hook-ups aren’t it.
I start to remove the heels I wore to work as Mel responds, “Maybe he’s a commitment-phobe. You’re so damn cute and fun. He could be some kind of chronic playboy, and if he brings up that night, he might expect you to want more, which scares him shitless.”
