Friday night found me wine glass in hand, stomach twisted in knots, and pacing back and forth in my bedroom. Standing in front of Mama Sofia’s antique mirror, I once again gazed at my reflection. Dee, along with my best girlfriend, Shannon, had insisted on taking me shopping at Lennox earlier in the day. Everything in my closet that was dressy or sexy had too many Dev memories attached to them. I needed a whole new ensemble for my big splash back into the dating world.
After a few stores and a few close calls, we’d finally found something we all could agree on. Well, sort of. Although they’d insisted the dress was to die for and I was going to take AJ’s breath away, I was still unsure, as I turned left and right in front of the mirror. Red had always been my color, and tonight’s tight little number was ruby red with tiny spaghetti straps that made a crisscrossing pattern across my lower back. While I thought I should have gone up a size, Dee insisted that it hugged my body to the point it was like a second skin. “Trust me, baby girl. Latino men love a woman with curves.”
I took his word for it and bought the dress along with some killer red heels that had a patent leather strap. Shannon had insisted on taking me to have my hair and make-up done. For a sure fire sexcapade, I thought I was going to a little too much trouble, but I decided to bite my tongue and go along for the ride. Don’t get me wrong. I was all about dressing to impress and feeling sexy. I didn’t get a lot of chances to do it during the week in my scrubs. At the same time, I knew AJ wanted to screw my brains out whether I was wearing a Hefty bag or couture. In the end, I was so grateful for letting Dee talk me into the shoes and dress as well as Shannon with the hair and makeup. For the first time since Dev left, I felt truly sexy and desirable.
So I was all decked out at five until seven, waiting on my Prince Charming to arrive and begin this Cinderellaesque fantasy night. All the while, I fought the urge not to throw up or refuse to answer the door when AJ arrived. The doorbell rang, and I jumped a mile, sloshing wine onto the floor. “Shit!” I exclaimed. I sprinted into the bathroom and grabbed a towel. I threw it on the puddle and quickly wiped it up. I’d just made it into the hallway when the doorbell rang again. “Coming!” I shouted.
When I finally flung open the door, AJ’s appearance took what breath I had left away. He wore khaki pants, a crisp white shirt with an electric blue tie, along with a navy blazer. It was quite a difference from the jeans and T-shirt from the other day. “Hi,” I murmured.
“Hello there, sexy.” His gaze drank me in from head to toe. “You in that dress is testing my firm resolve to make this a true date and not just sex.”
I fought against the tiny fluttering of my heart at his words. “Thank you. You’re looking pretty amazing yourself.”
“Thanks. I do clean up nice, don’t I?”
Oh hell yes, you do. Now let’s get you out of that tie and out of those pants and into my bed. I shook my head to free me of my naughty thoughts. “Yes, you do.” I eyed the bouquet of flowers in his arms—they were my favorite pink roses.
“Flowers again?”
“Hey, I’m a firm believer in romance.” He handed the bouquet to me.
With the Baby’s Breath tickling my nose, I inhaled of the sweet smell. “But how did you know pink roses were my favorite?”
“Dee gave me a little head’s up.”
“Ah, I see.”
He motioned to the card. “Aren’t you going to read it?”
“Is it With Deepest Sympathy this time?” I teased.
“No smartass.”
“Fine then.” I balanced the flowers in the crook of my arm while I took the paper in my fingers. When I opened the envelope, I saw that there was a folded letter inside. After I unwrapped it, I saw that it was AJ’s test results. When I glanced up at him, he grinned.
“All clear and ready to roll.”
I laughed. “I’m glad to see that. Mine are in my purse.”
“Good to know. So are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I said softly. I closed the front door and then locked it.
Once I was out on the porch, AJ grinned. “When you took so long, I was beginning to think you’d decided to bail on me.”