She set a pair of white ankle-strap sandals at my feet. “The stiletto heel will add that right amount of sass.”
Smiling, I stepped into the heels, zipped them up at the back and slipped on the dress. I kept my eyes on the mirror while I buttoned up. The dress was sleeveless, leaving my arms bare.I caught sight of the faint, jagged circle on the inside of my left forearm. An old burn mark I hardly thought about, having accepted it just a part of me, besides, not remembering helped.
“Yes!” I got a shout from Trixie. “I love it. God, I wish the girls were here to see how sexy you look.” Stasia and Brandi were still on duty and why Trixie was here alone. “What about you?”
I turned from left to right for a bit, admiring the fit. Red with small white flowers, the garment ended mid-thigh. Simple buttons from a deep cleavage down exposed a fair amount of skin. A cinched waist hugged my curves while the lightly flared skirt danced around as I moved. Earlier, I’d washed my hair and left it to dry naturally. Now, the big curls bounced mid-back, making the overall look, hot.
“I love it too.” My response got another excited shout. “Thank you, Trix.” She moved closer to kiss my cheek and I let her. The peal of the doorbell had me glancing at my bedside clock. “Punctual man.”
“I’ll get the door while you finish up.” Trixie threw over her shoulder as she headed out the door.
Shaking my head at her enthusiasm, I added mascara to the smokey eyes Trixie insisted on. Touched up my naturally pink lips with clear gloss and finished my look with small diamond ear drops.
Downstairs, I walked into the living room to find Trixie engaging Sean with her usual babble. She stood with him as I entered.
“Wow.” His smile appreciative, his gaze roved the length of my body.
With sandy-blond short hair, green eyes and a muscular build, the man was dressed in dark denim and a white button-down. I could see why he’d piqued Trixie’s interest. He was extremely good looking.
“Hi.” I held out a hand the same time he leaned forward to hug me. Laughing, I dropped my hand and accepted his light embrace. He ended it with a soft kiss to my cheek.
“When Stasia mentioned you were beautiful, I wrote it off as her usual appreciation for the girls she’s always trying to hook me up with. I’m glad I finally gave into her ministrations. You’re stunning.”
“Thank you.” My flaming cheeks sabotaged my attempt to act natural. I hadn’t done the dating thing since first-year college. There was never enough time. “You’re easy on the eye too.”
His head dipped in gratitude, his laugh a throaty chuckle. “Shall we go?”
I nodded then turned to Trixie. “Thank you for tonight. Lock up when you leave, okay.”
“Sure.” With a quick kiss to both my cheeks, she watched me climb into Sean’s car before closing the door.
As the engine purred to life, I glanced back at the house. For just a second, I felt a prickle on the back of my neck. The feeling of being watched. I shook it off. It was just nerves.
thirty-six
. . .
Ishika– 31 years old
The trip to the restaurant was filled with idle chatter I found both entertaining and amusing. By the time we took our seats at a table that overlooked the midnight sky kissing the ocean, I figured Sean was the type of man a father would readily accept as his future son-in-law. Not only did he help me relax, but he was also funny, attentive, respectable and his questions weren’t intrusive. I couldn’t deny I was enjoying my date.
It wasn’t until they served dessert that I began feeling uncomfortable and couldn’t ignore that ever-growing notion that someone was watching me. Several times I found myself looking around and trying to act inconspicuous doing so.
Sean was extremely observant. “You’ve tensed up, is everything okay?” he asked over his glass of wine. Nodding, I downed my wine and his brow shot. We both laughed at the same time. “Refill?” At my nod, he poured me another glass.
As I took a sip, my eyes lifted over Sean’s shoulder, landing on the farther end of the room. I choked on the drink. Between strangled splutters, I managed to set the glass down on the table and coughed several times to clear my throat.
“Are you okay?” Sean’s worried expression came into view as I shifted my gaze.
“Wrong pipe,” I gasped, my gaze drifting back over his shoulder to the person I assumed I’d mistaken for someone else.
Instead, Remo Rossi’s slow lift of a brow taunted my desire to be wrong. His hair slicked back, his angular face sporting a neatly trimmed beard, added a deadly allure to his dark features.
He tilted his head to the side, studying me. I swallowed several times before shifting my gaze to the woman next to him with a not-so-subtle gape. She was stunning. Straight long black hair, articulate make-up and a white dress that showed off a lot more cleavage I’d never dare to expose, I balked at that streak of jealousy riffling through me.
Seriously, the man assaulted you, twice.
Was I jealous over a mad man? Okay, a very good-looking mad man, who was currently eyeing me like I was dessert. Why did he have to come back just when I met a nice guy like Sean? His companion said something, breaking his stare down with me.
