Page 59 of The Rules of Dating

The funny thing was, not trusting Colby was never even a thought. It was me I didn’t trust alone with him in private anymore, especially not in a place with a big bed. But I was the one who was keeping things platonic, so I’d have to suck it up. “Of course, I trust you. I’ll see you when you get here..”

***

“You’re early…”

Colby’s eyes dropped down to my bare legs. I’d just finished doing my makeup and drying my hair and was dressed in a short, silk robe that skimmed the tops of my thighs.

He rocked back and forth on his heels. “It looks to me like I came at the perfect time.”

I chuckled and stepped aside for him to enter. “Come on in. Make yourself at home. I’m going to go get dressed.”

In my bedroom, I slipped out of my robe and into the sundress I’d picked out.

Colby yelled from the other room. “I was trying to imagine what your apartment would look like.”

I yelled back. “Well, what’s the verdict? Is it what you expected?”

“It totally is. It’s feminine and girly, yet also kind of funky. By the way, is the handle on this mug a dick?”

I laughed as I put on my shoes. “Indeed it is. Deek made it for me for my birthday. He and his boyfriend took a pottery class, and everything they made had a dick or balls on it.”

I looked in the full-length mirror on the back of my bedroom door and didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. It had been a long time since I’d worn an outfit like this, but I knew walking into my mother’s gallery in my regular duds would give her a heart attack. So I gave a little, hoping she would do the same tonight.

Out in the living room, Colby was busy checking out the dozens of framed art pieces I had along one wall.

“Did you draw th—” He stopped mid-sentence when he turned and blinked a few times. “Wow. You look…”

“Like I’m on my way to church?”

“Church is the opposite of what I think of when I see you in that dress. I’m going to hell for what I’m thinking…”

I looked down. “Really? This does it for you? But you love my corsets so much.”

“Oh, I love those, too. But that dress…something about the innocent look of it mixed with your sleeve of tattoos… It makes me want to—” He dragged his eyes up and down my body again and shook his head. “Forget it. We should probably go.”

God, this man was killing me. My body tingled at the frustration in his voice. I wasn’t a stranger to men wanting me, but Colby made me feel like he wanted so much more than my body.

I nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. My mother loathes lateness.”

Colby’s brows pulled together. “Your mother?”

I grabbed my purse. “Oh, did I forget to mention that the art show is at my mother’s gallery?”

“I think you did.”

“Did I mention that I wasn’t technically a guest, but that I was exhibiting some of my work? The show is called The Edge because the artists are all supposed to be—” I made air quotes with my fingers. “—Edgy.”

“You definitely didn’t mention that either.”

“Welp, then let me wish you luck with my mother. Because you’re probably going to need it.”

***

“So, Colby. Tell me about yourself.” My mother lifted her wine to her perfectly painted red lips and sipped. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m an architect.”

“Oh, that’s a wonderful profession. It affords you an outlet for your creativity while still providing stability. I so wish I could have talked Billie into something along those lines.”