“How much does this all-around-genius charge?”
Reb waves a hand dismissively. “It'll be my treat. Besides, I think I missed your last birthday, didn't I?”
She did. But she was away at a conference, so it's not like I mind. Still, I'm not sure I'm comfortable accepting charity from yet another friend.
“Okay, I'll see your guy. But you have to let me pay.”
“This place isn't that expensive. I promise. Besides, think of all the times you've dragged me out to lunch when I was too distracted with work to eat. I owe you. I'd be wasting away in front of my monitor, trapped in a never ending debate about boob armor if it wasn't for you.”
Thea gives a sage nod, then adds, “For this gala and your presentation next week, you deserve to look like a star.”
I let the idea of accepting charity battle it out against my need for a self-confidence boost, then nod. “Okay. I'll take the appointment.”
“And you'll let me pay?”
“We can reconvene this debate on Thursday, okay?”
I need to go into this presentation feeling like a whole new person. And I want to look amazing at the gala. Not because I expect the gala to change anything about my friendship with Keegan, but because I want him to be proud to be seen with me.
Thea's gaze gleams with anticipation. “Excellent. Thursday afternoon, we'll get you a fabulous new haircut, a glamorous dress for the gala, and something for your presentation on Friday. Something to show off your marvelous figure,” she says with a cluck of her tongue.
“My clothes are professionally appropriate,” I try to argue.
“Nonsense. Life's too short to wear such ugly clothing. Besides, you need a costume to help you get into character.”
I eye her warily. “Why do I suspect this 'costume' will involve a lot of skimpy clothes I normally wouldn't be caught dead in?”
Thea quirks one elegantly penciled-in eyebrow. “This presentation. You're giving it to men, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Men are hard-wired to respond to short skirts and low-cut dresses. Why not use that to your advantage?”
I'm pretty sure my stridently feminist mother could have come up with some excellent reasons why not, as well as my History of Feminism professor.
I nudge Keegan, cuing him to back me up, but he just says, “I’m a man, Meg. I don’t think you want my opinion on this.”
I gape, shooting over a glare. “What isthatsupposed to mean?”
He shrugs, and his arm brushes mine a bit in a way I’m definitelynotreacting to physically. So I tell myself. But then Keegan does that thing. That look where he briefly, so quickly you wouldn’t see it unless you were looking, which I am, looks me over. His gaze darts from my face down to my chest, lower even, then back up. His eyes—they’re a little more hooded, and his mouth is in a crooked grin when he says, “There isn’t a red-blooded man in this room who would turn down seeing you in a low cut dress, Meg.”
And I’m literally struck speechless.
chapternine
There isn’ta red-blooded man in this room who would turn down seeing you in a low cut dress, Meg.
Keegan just said that … that men want to see me in a low cut dress. Implying thathewould want to see me in a dress like that. But that doesn’t make sense. I narrow my eyes, suspicious that he’s just teasing. Just being Keegan about it. “Nice try. W-we’re not in a room.”
He smirks. “Good point. But I stand by it. So that means there’s not a red-blooded man in this city who wouldn’t want to see you in a—”
I sock him in the arm. “Just stop. You’re making it weird.”
He laughs, rubbing the spot on his arm even though there’s no way I actually hurt him.
Before he can say anything else, Thea steps in, “See? Men appreciate a beautiful woman—and theybuyfrom beautiful women, Meg. It’s a quick way to do well with your talk. Don the armor of our kind.”
Unnerved by everything about this conversation—and that’s on top of being unnerved by Keegan’s proximity—I pick up my drink and down the half that’s left. “I thought we were better than this as a sex. As a gender. I thought you were a feminist!” I hiss at Thea.
