“Why would he order cupcakes? He doesn’t like cake and he isn’t too fond of his employees, so…” She sighed. “What about this outfit?”
Josie studied her for a moment before shaking her head. “You need a dress. He’s taking you to Winston’s. They’re business casual for lunch but more formal for dinner. That outfit is a business casual look for sure. Go back to the black dress and we’ll add some big earrings and your pearl choker. Very classic. A little Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
“Okay.” Slipping her robe off, Lea stepped into the dress and turned for Josie to zip her up.
“What do you think he would have done if you weren’t the one delivering again today?”
Laughing softly, she said, “He told me he was going to keep ordering until I did. Can you imagine? What if he kept upping the amount every time?”
Shaking her head, Josie laughed with her. “You have to admit it’s kind of adorable. And the fact that he apologized kind of ups my opinion of him.”
“Mine too.”
“Are you going to sleep with him tonight?”
“Josie!” she cried, spinning around to face her friend. “What…I mean why…?”
“Stop acting like an offended virgin, for crying out loud. You slept with him once and I can guarantee if things hadn’t gotten messed up Sunday morning, you would have slept with him again.”
Damn. She did have a point.
“So I’ll ask you again–and be honest. Are you going to sleep with him tonight?”
Letting out a long breath, Lea walked out into the bedroom and sat on the corner of her bed. “Is it wrong that I really want to?”
Then she waited for Josie to berate her and tell her she was being silly.
Sitting beside her, Josie wrapped an arm around Lea and hugged her close. “It’s definitely not wrong,” she said softly. “And I think it’s about time that you found a guy who makes you feel this way.”
Tilting her head, she rested it on Josie’s shoulder. “Yeah, I just wish Brody was the kind of guy who…you know…wanted the same things I do.”
“How do you know he doesn’t?”
“We talked a lot over the weekend and again earlier today and…we’re just different. I think part of this date tonight is just because he felt bad about what happened. And if I were the kind of woman who didn’t have any problems with having a casual affair, this wouldn’t be such a big deal. But I know me, Jos, and I’m going to get too emotionally involved and end up getting hurt.”
“Wow, you worked that all out before having a single date with the guy?”
“Technically, we’ve had three dates already, so…”
“Those don’t really count as dates because you were both putting on a show for your families.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybes about it.” With a slight shove, Josie stood up. “I want you to promise me something.”
“Josie…”
“I’m serious. You have to promise me that you’re going to go into this with an open mind and treat it like a first date–like this is the first time you’re out together and get to know him.”
“Then I definitely can’t sleep with him tonight. You know I don’t do that on the first date.”
Josie’s head fell back as she let out a frustrated little growl. “Why are you like this?”
“What? I’m just being honest!”
“No, you’re being difficult.” She pulled Leanna to her feet and into the bathroom. “Come on. Let’s get your hair and makeup done and then we’ll get you accessorized.”
Luckily the conversation moved to jewelry and hairstyles and it helped her relax a bit. Brody would be picking her up in less than an hour and if they continued talking about sex and whether or not she was going to sleep with him tonight, Lea knew she’d completely freak out.
Did she want to sleep with him again? Yes.
But was tonight the night to do that? She wasn’t quite sure.
Other than their misunderstanding about the morning after, they had gotten along very well and when Brody pointed out all the things they actually had in common, Lea let herself imagine where this relationship could go.
Unfortunately, she had learned enough about him to know that his job was his life. Even if they found some sort of balance so they could go out a night or two a week, she wanted more.
And that was more about her and her needs than it was about Brody.
At this point in her life, she was looking to meet a nice guy and get married. She wanted babies and house and a dog and…all the old-fashioned clichés she could think of.
Maybe Brody would be a good distraction.
A temporary distraction.
But boy-oh-boy did she wish he were more.
You’re getting ahead of yourself…
Yeah, she did have a tendency to do that, but still…she knew she was a workaholic and was well aware of the kind of effort it took to make sure she had a life outside of Meet Me at the Altar. She had a feeling Brody wasn’t capable of doing the same–especially because he worked with family. There was an added layer of pressure there that she would never relate to.
By the time Josie stepped away from Leanna almost twenty minutes later, Leanna could only stare at her reflection.
She looked…sexy.
And that suddenly scared the hell out of her.
“Um…I don’t think…”
But her friend was one step ahead of her.
“You look beautiful,” Josie stated firmly. “I went a little bolder with the makeup than you usually do and I gave your hair some added curl, but with it pinned half up like this, it really frames your face in a playfully sexy way. Brody’s going to have to pick his jaw up off the floor.” Then she walked out of the bathroom and grabbed her purse from Leanna’s bed. “Now I’ve got to go. I’m meeting Tyler for some last-minute changes to this charity event.”
Lea followed her out of the room and to the front door. “Is this thing ever going to happen?”
“The event? Yeah, I know. It feels like he’s been planning it forever but he’s finally ready and it’s going to be spectacular. I just hope it helps him get the promotion he’s vying for.”
“Seems like a lot of work when he should just…you know…be putting the effort into actually doing his job.”
That just made Josie laugh. “Yeah, but it’s giving Meet Me at the Altar some great exposure, so as far as I’m concerned, it’s a win.” Pulling the door open, she smiled. “Have a fantastic night and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”
Before Lea could ask what exactly that might be, Josie was out of sight.
Now that she had a few minutes to herself, she seriously contemplated running back into the bathroom and toning down her makeup and maybe brushing out her hair. The way she looked right now made it seem like she was trying too hard.
And definitely trying to seduce him.
“Oh, God…” Walking briskly back to her bathroom, she turned on the light, faced the mirror and paused.
The little black dress really fit her perfectly. She turned this way and that and suddenly felt good about the dress. The pearl choker was the perfect accessory. And her hair? Well…it certainly looked better than her messy bun and now that she looked a little closer, it was very cute. The eye makeup was a little heavy, but…