Laughing, I turn back to the mirror. The camisole with skinny jeans and heels will have to do. I run a hand over my hair to smooth a fly-away as I turn back to her. “Of course I’ve seen him. With and without clothes, and I’ll be honest, I don’t know which one I prefer.”
“I saw him before. The workout pants at the grocery was one thing, but he’s in a fucking suit and it’s a completely different level now. He’s not just lickable, he’s edible.” She side-eyes me. “If I’d seen him like that first, I’d have fought you for him.”
“You have no idea,” I tease, grabbing my purse off the bed. “The things that man can do . . .”
“You’ve been holding out,” she says, stepping away from the door. “I know there are details I haven’t gotten, and I’m going to demand every single one of them when you get back. If I can’t have him, I want the fantasy, and I’m not even sorry I’m fantasizing about your man.”
“He’s not my man.” I cringe as the words float from my lips because it’s true. He’s not. Part of me wants to declare him mine anyway, but there’s the other, stupid, logical half that reminds me I have questions that haven’t been answered.
And he hasn’t exactly said he wants the job.
“No, but once your vagina touched him, he’s off limits.”
I look at her in disbelief. “You never fail to just astound me with your brilliant language.”
She pats me on the shoulder. “If I needed a job, I would’ve been a reporter. With these babies,” she lifts her boobs up with her hands, “They would’ve put me on TV.”
“If you didn’t actually talk first,” I laugh, pulling the door open. Fenton’s cologne hits me right away. I stutter-step, inhaling a lungful of the eau de male. Presley comes up beside me and does the very same thing.
We stand there, taking whiffs of the air like two bloodhounds looking for the target. We both breathe in at the same time and burst into a fit of giggles.
“We’re ridiculous,” I say.
“It’s only natural considering.”
“No, it’s probably a mistake,” I wince, considering his possible answers and knowing I might have to walk away.
“Hey,” Presley says, a gleam in her eye. “I never make the same mistake twice unless he’s super hot. And Fenton’s beyond that.”
“What am I gonna do with you, Pres?”
She winks. “I know I told you to go be a badass and force him to answer you, but if you forget because you’re wound around him like tinsel, I’ll forgive you. I mean, fuck.”
I want to laugh, to play along, but her words sparked the flame of uncertainty that’s been smoldering all day. It builds, growing hotter and hotter, and I say a little prayer that I can keep myself together.
“I shouldn’t have said that,” Pres says.
“No, you’re fine.” I start down the hallway, my friend at my side.
“I just start talking when I get nervous.”
“I know you do.”
“Brynnie,” she says, touching my shoulder so I stop a few feet away from the corner. I turn, taking in her newly sobered expression. “Don’t let that sexy bastard dazzle you. I know he was your reset button, but I haven’t seen you this lively in a long time and I like it. But I only like it if he’s the real deal.”
“That’s yet to be seen.”
“Exactly. So if he’s not, you just say ‘Fuck you very much,’ call me, and I’ll come get you. Because there are more fish in the sea. Maybe they won’t be that good looking because, I mean, you know . . .” she laughs. “But they’ll be great.”
“Shut up, Pres.” I return her laugh and we round the corner.
He’s standing in the entranceway.
Just as Presley said, he’s wearing a black suit and a silver tie. He draws his gaze over every curve of my body unabashedly. The heaviness of his inspection burns my skin as he rolls over every inch.
Presley clears her throat, and Fenton and I both look at her. “I hope you guys have a good night.”
“Thank you. We intend to,” Fenton says politely.
She looks at me and grins mischievously before turning back to him. “Cashmere, I’m going to be honest with you.”
Fenton looks at me and quirks a brow and I just shrug, stifling a laugh.
“I think you and Brynne would make beautiful children.”
“Presley! What are you doing?” I exclaim.
“Hush, Brynnie. Let me get this out so you can go be dazzled,” she laughs. “You are dazzling,” she tells him. “But so is she. She’s the smartest, kindest, sweetest person in the entire world and she deserves the best. So behind that dapper exterior, if you have anything but the best intentions, just walk away and don’t hurt her. Because whether you have a magic cock or not, I will remove it from your body.”
She tosses him a smile, blows me a kiss, and leaves us standing in the foyer.
“I’m sorry,” I groan, taking his hand. “She’s crazy.”
“I think I like her,” he grins. “She said I’m dazzling and I have a magic cock, even if she did threaten to chop it off.”
He leans forward and plants a gentle kiss on my lips. “Damn, baby.”
I roll my eyes to distract him from the heating of my cheeks. “What kind of a greeting is that?”