Her gaze slid to the side before she nodded. “Of course.”
“Great. And just warning, I plan to dress for dinner tonight, so be prepared to be wowed.”
“Isn’t that my line?” She gave me a funny look.
I shook my head. “I’m wowed every time I see you, baby girl. I just want you to know that I’m here and willing to put in the work. See you at six.”
Chapter 5
Saylor
I debated way too long over what I was going to wear tonight. Concealer was a given. I’d learned that lesson. But dresses? I’d brought three of my own creations, and two of them felt too casual given Mal’s warning.
And that look he’d given me when he’d called me baby girl?
I swooned just remembering.
But this blood-red dress with the high neck, bare arms, and high thigh slit just felt… Obvious?
Mal wasn’t the only one in the middle of a dry spell.
Hopefully nearing the end.
I had matching strappy sandals to wear with the dress, and I just hoped I didn’t twist my ankles walking down the stairs before the night even began.
I could do this.
I wanted to do this.
Trent was done screwing up my life.
Making me feel bad about my decisions.
I was moving on.
The best way to get over a man was to get under a new one, after all.
And Mal seemed oh so very willing to me.
I could do this.
It was my mantra as I left my treehouse and walked down the stairs. I really tried not to stumble when I caught sight of Mal waiting for me at the bottom step.
“I was just coming up to get you.”
My smile felt wobbly. “I’m starving. Plus, I doubt you need more cardio after our morning.”
Really it was hard to walk down the remaining stairs without tripping as I took in all that was him.
His idea of dressing up was a long-sleeved black button-up shirt and black pants. But he’d done that thing guys did where they rolled their sleeves back to their elbows and the tattoos peeping out from his rolled sleeves and on his neck were delicious. All tough guy hard warring with that gentle look in his eyes.
I was spellbound.
When I reached the bottom step, I just stood there and stared.
But that was okay, because Mal was staring back at me.
“Wow,” he finally murmured. “You look amazing.”
