Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87825 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 293(@300wpm)
“Brett’s brother?” she says, her tone implying I should know who she’s talking about.
Right. The guy she’s trying to strong-arm me into dating.
“I don’t know, Mandy.”
“Why not? We’ll call it a double. We haven’t done that in forever.” She pauses, brows scrunching in thought. “And I don’t think we’ve ever gone out with two hot brothers. It’s just one date, Sadie. You’ve gotta come with next weekend. Unless you have plans?”
Knowing Ashton, he’ll keep me plenty busy. A memory flashes through my mind of how his cock filled my mouth as he gazed down at me, biceps bulging as he propped himself up in the shower. God, thinking about the way he took control and came down my throat makes me wet between the legs. I can’t imagine going out with anyone right now—not while feeling this way about a guy I have no business having feelings for in the first place.
And maybe that’s why I should do it.
“It’ll be fun,” she adds, sliding one…two…three hangers to the right. “And Brett’s brother is hot and loaded.”
“I don’t care about money. You should know me better than that. Last thing I need is some bossy rich guy telling me what to do.” I already have enough people dictating my life.
“He’s not like that. Shane’s very down to earth.”
“I don’t know. Let me think about it, but keep this between us, okay?”
“Jeez, you’re a hard sell.”
If she knew about Ashton, she’d get it, but confiding in her isn’t an option right now. I rise from the stool in front of my makeshift vanity—a white oak desk with a mirror hanging on the wall above it—and watch Mandy raid my closet. “What are you doing in there?”
She casts an assessing look my way. “Finding a dress for you.”
“I am wearing a dress.” I tilt my head down to inspect the dark green number I’d chosen, with its wide spaghetti straps and sweetheart neckline. My father insisted I use his credit card to buy something “appropriate.” So I spent a fortune on it to spite his demand that I attend this dinner. It’s stylish, simple with a hint of sexy, but most of all, it’s safe.
“Just because my brother is taking you to this thing doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look good. If you’re going to paint on a killer face, you should dress to kill too. Hit Jake where it’ll hurt the most.” She fingers a plum-colored dress that drapes open in the back. It’s slinky yet classy and barely reaches mid-thigh. “I think this will do the trick.”
It’s most definitely not safe.
Dad will have a fit if I show up in that. But more importantly, one glance at me in that dress, and Ash will lose his mind.
I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
“I can’t wear that,” I finally say, my voice thick with indecision. It was a Christmas gift from Mandy last year, but I haven’t had the guts to wear it yet.
“Oh, yes you can. You can’t let such a sexy dress go to waste.” Decision made, she slides it from the hanger and stalks toward me. “C’mon, let’s see it on you.”
I gulp. My undergarments will be a dead giveaway that I’m out to impress. Mandy and I have never been shy about dressing around each other, so I pull the zipper down and let the material slide to a puddle around my feet.
Mandy whistles. “Are you sure you’re not going on a hot date?”
My cheeks must be as bright as my hair. “Too much?”
I know it’s too much for a work gathering, but I can’t tell her I put on the black balconette bra and matching thong with her brother in mind. I feel my nipples harden in the see-through lace cups.
“Too much? No way, but you’ll have to lose the bra if you’re gonna wear this.” She shoves the dress into my hands. Apparently, I don’t have a choice. With a sigh, I drape the garment over the stool before removing my bra. As I shimmy into the dress, Mandy searches my closet for a pair of shoes.
“Wear these.” She tosses a pair of black stilettos onto my bed. My feet aren’t looking forward to those shoes for the next few hours, but it’s a quarter to six, so I put them on anyway. I reach for my black clutch when someone rings the doorbell.
And that’s when my heart starts pounding with equal amounts of apprehension and excitement.
Apprehension because I told Jake I wasn’t going with him and I’m worried he’ll show up anyway. And excitement…because it could be Ashton on our front step.
My spirit takes a nosedive as I realize that if it were Ashton, he’d probably just walk in. Mandy beats me to the door, and when she pulls it open, my heart skips a thousand beats.