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I smiled.

“Not at all.”

She was quiet for a second.

“I know I probably should’ve called earlier.”

“You should have.”

She laughed softly. “Okay, don’t make me regret calling now.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

“I wanted to tell you I’m free Saturday.”

My eyes moved back to Jerry. Minutes ago, he’d been sitting on my couch telling me to send Samantha his way when I was finished with her. And now Samantha was calling me.

There was something satisfying about the timing.

“I’ll pick you up Saturday at eight.”

“Sounds good.”

“And Samantha?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you called.”

Her voice softened. “Me too.”

The line went dead. I lowered the phone. I turned back toward Jerry.

“Looks like she said yes.”

I slipped the phone back into my jacket and looked around the living room. A few minutes ago, cleaning up Jerry had felt like an inconvenience.

Now I had something to look forward to when I was finished.

Chapter 5

Samantha

Ichanged my dress three times.

The first made me look like I was headed to a funeral. The second screamed trying too hard. The third was brown, soft, with thin straps and a hem that brushed just above my knees.

I stared at my reflection. My loose curls, muted red lipstick, the small gold earrings my father gave me for my twenty-first with the helpful note that they were ‘elegant and practical.’ Even his gifts came with footnotes.

I tugged the neckline up, then let it fall again.

“This is fine,” I whispered.

It didn’t feel fine. Richard Kincaid would be here in twenty minutes, and I was standing in my bedroom like I’d never been on a date before.

Ridiculous.

There was a knock at the door.