There had never really been a time when she hadn’t told Mara everything. But there were some things that were just too intimate and raw to discuss right now. “We had a good time at the wedding. I got to know him a little bit better. But he’s still annoyingly managing and bossy. He’s just not my type.”
He was all of those things she’d just mentioned, but there was so much more there beneath the surface when it came to Julian. He was a private man who’d had his whole life turned upside down by fame. Strangely, he dealt with it well, accepted it as part of doing what he loved, without letting his ego go into overdrive. Kristin suspected that his confidence and bossiness came more from being a Sinclair than his A-lister status. He’d probably been born feeling like he could control the world.
“Okay,” Mara agreed eagerly. “Then let me fix you up with my marketing manager. He’s a successful guy, and he’s pretty hot.”
Truth was, Kristin didn’t feel anywhere near ready to date. Her mind was still on Julian and what had happened over that magical weekend. Well, except for the times she was vomiting and then hungover. But the rest of her time spent in Sin City was something she hadn’t been able to forget.
She hadn’t heard a word from Julian after that stolen weekend, not that she’d expected him to show up for her. Going in, she’d known that those few days were going to be an experience that could never last. But it didn’t make her heart ache any less. She had gotten to know a different Julian, a separate man from the one who constantly did anything he could to annoy her.
Foreplay.
The word floated through her mind in his sexy, husky baritone, making her feel goose bumps on her flesh. As she rubbed her arms over her sweater to calm down her reaction, she told Mara, “Not now, okay? I just got some free time, and I’d like to do some things.”
Mara stared at her suspiciously. “What?”
“Read some books. Catch up on the TV shows everybody is talking about. Maybe see a movie some night.”
“Movies are perfect for a date. You just basically told me you didn’t know what to do with yourself. Now you’re saying you want to hide like a hermit?”
“Yeah, I kind of do want some time alone. It’s something I haven’t had in years.”
Mara’s expression softened. “I know. Just think about it, okay?”
“I’ll let you know when I finish my books and TV shows,” Kristin said as she smiled at Mara. She took a sip of her soda before adding, “I never did thank you for the dress.”
Mara shot her a confused look as she polished off her burger. “What dress?”
“The new one you packed in my suitcase for the wedding—along with the other . . . stuff. You went to my parents’, right? You packed my clothes.”
The brunette shook her head as she dipped her onion ring in ketchup. “I didn’t. Honestly, I was thrilled when I found out you were coming to the wedding, but I didn’t pack your bag. Though I would have if I thought that would bring you to Vegas.”
What. The. Hell.
“Then how did Julian get a packed bag for me? Some of the stuff was mine.”
Mara shrugged. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask Julian.”
“You and my parents are the only ones who have a key to my apartment,” Kristin said, still astonished to find out that Mara hadn’t been the one to add that sexy underwear to her suitcase . . . or the tiny dress.
The mystery was killing her, and she knew she’d end up dropping over to her parents’ house later.
“Ask your mom and dad. Maybe they gave it to somebody to pack your stuff.”
“Julian lied. He told me you did it.”
“Does it really matter?” Mara answered softly. “I’ve known you most of my life, Kristin. If he hadn’t pressed the issue, you would have stayed here worrying about Shamrock’s.”
“Very possible,” Kristin answered stiffly, not bothering to bullshit her best friend. Mara knew her too well.
“I would have been Julian’s accomplice had he asked,” Mara confessed. “But he didn’t. It had to be your parents.”
She shuddered as she thought about the possibilities. Had Julian gone straight to her parents, or had somebody else intervened?
“There’s something creepy about not knowing who went through your underwear drawer,” Kristin admitted unhappily.
Mara laughed. “Afraid your dad might find your vibrator?” she teased.
No. I’m afraid a stranger might have seen the pathetic state of my intimate apparel. I never thought about it being my dad, but the thought is almost as bad.
Kristin shot Mara a mischievous grin. “Nope. I don’t hide it in my drawer.”
Her best friend laughed even harder as she finished off her dinner. “That was delicious.” As Mara’s eyes darted up to the clock she added hastily, “Damn! I have to run. I have a meeting at the factory.”