“It’s pretty big,” Micah confessed. “She deserves to have whatever she wants. As long as she takes me, too.”
Julian slapped him on the back. “She’ll be there with a smile on her face. I don’t have a single doubt.”
“You better be right,” Micah warned.
“I’m always right,” Julian reminded him as he followed Micah to the door.
“I’m glad you’re here, man. It means a lot to me.”
Maybe he’d never been there for his brothers before, but Julian was learning just how important his family was to him. “I wouldn’t miss it. The first one of us to get hitched.”
Julian wasn’t surprised when Micah actually yanked him in for a massive hug. The men pounded each other on the back for a moment before his big brother stepped away. “Stay out of trouble,” he warned Julian.
He grinned, knowing what Micah was really saying was to stay safe. After losing both of their parents and almost their younger brother, Micah had become the caretaker of the family.
After seeing his brother out, Julian made a call to his agent and finished off his beer, still trying not to think about the fact that Kristin was so damn close that he only had to take a short walk to see her.
Leave it alone right now.
Julian knew he needed to give her a little space, but it was the last thing he wanted.
Problem was, he knew it was the right thing to do. Maybe he’d come to understand what was happening between the two of them, but Kristin was still figuring it all out.
He reached into the refrigerator and pulled out another beer, twisted off the cap with a flick of his wrist, then sat down on the couch.
Digging into the pocket of his jeans, Julian pulled out the dark stone that Beatrice had given him on the day that Tessa had skated in New York.
It hadn’t left his person since the day he’d received it.
He rubbed the stone absently, knowing it had certainly worked for him.
Kristin was another matter entirely. “I can wait,” Julian said aloud, then put the crystal back in his pocket and took his tired ass to bed.
CHAPTER 6
Her dress was too damn short!
Kristin frowned at her reflection in the mirror as she twirled left and then right. The slinky black dress was like nothing she’d ever worn before, and she felt half-naked.
It was her size; it wasn’t her style.
Obviously, she had Mara to thank for some additions to her wardrobe. Honestly, she didn’t own a decent dress. She had no reason to have one. But what her best friend had chosen wasn’t the dress for a chubby redhead. The hem flirted with her knees, but the material didn’t cover them. Instead, it clung to her thighs, making Kristin want to keep pulling it down, which only made the bodice lower.
“Damn!” She turned away from the mirror as she cursed. It wasn’t like she had another dress, so she was going to have to deal with it.
Really, her legs weren’t that bad. It was her big butt that she had to keep covered with far less material than she really needed.
I’ll just have to be careful not to bend over much or my ass will be hanging out of my flimsy undies.
Her buddy had gone the sexy route, complete with stockings, garters, and barely-there fancy black silk underwear. There was no way she could wear a bra, so her breasts were standing proudly right beneath the skimpy fabric.
Telling herself it didn’t matter, Kristin scooped up the little black bag that had been included and managed to get to the living room without tripping on her too-high heels.
“Jesus Christ! I didn’t realize that dress would look like that!”
She turned to see Julian standing at his bedroom door, breathtakingly handsome in his black tuxedo.
Her heart fell to her feet. “I know. It doesn’t look good. But Mara didn’t pack anything else.”
He strode into the room, his eyes never leaving her. “You look like a fucking goddess, but it will be impossible not to be fighting the men off you all afternoon and evening.”
She put her hands on her ample hips. “Chubby redheads shouldn’t wear little black dresses. And I do mean little.”
Kristin had done what she could with her hair, leaving it down with a natural curl. Her makeup had been applied carefully, something she rarely wore.
Julian stepped up to her and kissed her on the forehead. “You look beautiful, Scarlet. I’m just not sure I want other men looking at you and thinking the same thoughts I am right now.”
“I feel naked,” she confessed as she looked up at him.
“I wish you were naked,” he answered hoarsely as he reached into his pocket. “I already knew you were wearing a black dress. I just didn’t realize it would be quite so sexy.”
Her heart jumped as she saw the sincerity in his gaze. For some unknown reason, Julian really did find her attractive. His heated gaze made her feel a little more confident.
Kristin automatically reached out as Julian shoved a box into her hands. “What’s this?”