“Finally! Tell me, how’d you turn things around so fast?”
“Fast?” I huffed. “Since I left Lauderdale, every minute has felt like a year.”
I explained the elaborate scheme that Troy had come up with to get me in Colson’s presence, along with a brief layout of the chat that took place at his house. How the turn of events occurred after I unraveled in front of him. That had been about a week ago, and we had talked or texted every day since.
“Shit, you’re good,” Hayden responded when I turned quiet.
“I wouldn’t say that. I’m far better at law. But if he was going to sign up for more, then he needed to know exactly who he was going to hold hands with. So, I peeled everything back and emotionally bared myself.”
“I’m proud of you.”
My gaze loweredto the floor. “Baby steps.”
“No, Soph, those were giant steps.”
I nodded even though he couldn’t see me. “Back to my original question. The ladies—do they go out in dresses? Pantsuits?”
“Pantsuits? This isn’t the fucking courtroom.”
I sighed. “Hayden, I own work clothes and lounge clothes. I don’t date, remember?”
I didn’t mention Lush clothes. That had a whole private area in my closet, and it was scandalous. And in that section was nothing I would wear to a restaurant, where I had the potential of seeing my peers and clients.
“I don’t date either …remember?”
My brother and the rest of our family were all bachelors. Of course, they had dated in the past. Throughout the years, there was a sprinkling of women who had come in and out of their lives. Some more than once. But never did any of them get engaged or married.
“You certainly date more than I do.”
“You mean I fuck more than you do. My present situation? I wouldn’t call that dating.”
“Please spare me those details. I know we tell each other everything, but there are some things we don’t have to delve into, and this is one.”
He laughed.
So, I continued, “For your meetups—or whatever you want to call them—what do the women wear?”
“They wear nothing. Clothes aren’t required.”
I left the doorway and dragged my fingers across a row of hanging silk shirts. “Hayden, you’re not helping at all.”
“Listen, there’s zero doubt in my mind that Colson will like whatever you wear. This isn’t the first time he’s seeing you, so there’s no need to make an initial impression. You’ve already made one. Just be you, Soph. That’s who he’s fallen for.”
My brother had a point.
And so far, Colson had seen plenty of sides of me—the casual looks, like I’d worn to his house, the Lush looks, the naked looks.
“How do you know he’s fallen?”
“Because I think I have a solid read on the dude. He’s not the type to climb into anything unless he’s really thought it through. Not after you shared your feelings on abandonment. I get that you’re in the beginning, but I think the two of you are much deeper than you think.”
“An interesting take.”
“I bet I’m right.”
I smiled as I lifted a dress off one of the racks. I’d purchased it a few years ago, and I’d only worn it once to an event I attended as Hayden’s plus-one, the dress code requiring something light and humidity-appropriate. The dress fit that description. It landed mid-thigh and hugged my body; the banded material was a lightweight, spandex-like fabric; and the color was a deep copper that went so well with my light hair.
“Where is he taking you?” he asked.
