Page 65 of Last First Date

“Yeah?” Behind the curtain, I could see her bare feet and the rest was left to my imagination.

“I changed my mind. This is ridiculous. I’m not doing it.”

I had a feeling something like this would happen. “That’s why I asked for the champagne. You need a little liquid courage.”

“I can’t do this.”

I got up, carrying the champagne, and casually pulled back the curtain. I’d seen countless models in various stages of undress during my modeling days, not to mention naked women in general. I wasn’t worried about seeing a little skin.

“What the hell, Knox?! Knock much?” she exclaimed, hastily trying to cover herself.

I shrugged, a mischievous grin playing on my lips. “You’re going to be changing backstage in front of hundreds of people. You’re going to be parading down a runway and posing for pictures in front of another hundred people. What’s the difference?”

Waverly glared at me, clearly unimpressed by my logic. “The difference is that you’re not supposed to be one of those people.”

I laughed, enjoying the flustered state I’d managed to put her in. “Relax, Waverly. It’s just lingerie.”

“Just lingerie? It’s not the same when it’s your boss peeking at you in your underwear,” she retorted with her cheeks turning red.

“Didn’t you say you were going to be professional about this? Besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen hundreds of women in less than what you have on.”

“That’s entirely different.”

I ignored her protests. “You know, this isn’t so bad. Red lace, almost sheer, covered in tiny pink sparkly hearts. It screams Valentine’s. You’ll look great.”

Waverly scoffed and glanced at herself in the mirror. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one wearing it in front of an audience.”

I reached around her to pick up another red bra with sparkling sequins. “This one is nice.”

“Watch it, Knox,” Waverly warned when I brushed against her body.

“I’m trying to help,” I said. “Did you try all of this on?” There were pieces of lace and satin scattered around the area.

“No. I thought about it, but I didn’t want to.”

“It’s just lingerie,” I said again. “It’s not bad. It’s full coverage.”

She turned, still trying to cover her boobs. Just as I reached for another bra, her elbow caught me in the nose. “Ouch,” I said and reeled back.

“That’s what you get for barging into dressing rooms,” she retorted. “There’s barely enough room in here for me, let alone both of us.”

“You’ve got a whole room out there to change in,” I said.

“No! I am not about to try on lingerie in front of you.”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” I insisted.

“Go,” she ordered. “You can’t be in here.”

“Then come into the room so you can see yourself in the mirrors.”

“I can see myself just fine,” she muttered.

I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the tiny dressing space. I put my hands on her shoulders and turned her to look at herself. Her hands were still crossed over her chest. I gently reached for her wrists and pulled them away from her, holding her hands at her sides. “Look,” I whispered.

Waverly hesitated, her gaze flickering nervously between me and the reflection. I had to credit her for being brave and putting up with my teasing. She was trying so hard to play it cool. Her cheeks were flushed a soft pink, but she held her chin up high, refusing to back down.

Her eyes slid closed for a moment, and when they opened again, she was staring at herself in the mirror. The lingerie looked beautiful on her. It was as if it had been made just for her. She was breathtakingly gorgeous. If this didn’t turn heads at the event, nothing would.