Page 85 of House of Desire

“He says we are going to Harbor View Bistro. Isn’t that supposed to be fancy?”

“You know that blue dress you have that makes you look like a ‘50s housewife minus the mood stabilizers?”

“I’m afraid to say yes to that.”

“Wear that. With those shoes with the things.” He wiggles his fingers around in the air. One thing I’ll say about Dom is he’s very supportive, even if not always effective support.

“The shoes with the things?” I ask, rooting around inside my closet, looking for the dress he suggested. “This dress?”

“Yeah, that one. With the shoes.”

“Oh my God, what shoes?” I ask, hanging the dress on the hook, before turning back toward the closet looking at my shoes.

“Get outta my way,” he says, standing from the bed and shoving me out of his way.

“Dominic, you dick!”

“It’s Stylist Dominic,” he says, rooting around in my closet, pulling out my nude pumps with ankle straps and tosses them at me.

“You couldn’t think of the word strap?” I ask, hanging one off my finger.

“Bite me. I’m pretty, not smart.”

“Are you pretty, though?” I ask, and he flips me off as I grab the clothes and move into my bathroom, shutting the door to change.

I put on the dress, and I know Dom was right in picking it. While it has a sweetness to it, the deep V neckline shows enough cleavage so it crosses the line from sweet to sexy. I put on the shoes Dom picked out and check myself out in the mirror.

Looking polished and feeling hot, I give myself a wink in the mirror before opening the door.

“What do you think?”

“Lookin’ good,” he says, flashing me a thumbs up. I move to my closet once more, grabbing out a cream pashmina just in case it’s cold in the restaurant.

My phone vibrates, the screen lighting up with a text from Miles.

Miles: Arriving in thirty seconds

“Okay, he’s about to be here. Lock up when you leave, yeah? Let us get away before you head out.”

“Have a good time,” he calls out as I head for the front door.

Miles raps on the door twice and I pull it open before it stops echoing in the entry.

“You look beautiful,” he says in way of greeting.

“Thank you. You look very nice as well,” I say, taking in his green suit that looks like a second skin. His cream knit shirt shows the ridges of his muscles. Everything about his outfit looks brand new and perfectly coordinated and stylish. I almost feel frumpy next to his outstanding style.

“How was practice today?” I ask as we make our way to the car.

“It was good. Just a quick run through. I’m sure Dom told you,” he says, opening my door for me.

“He didn’t mention it,” I say, not really sure what to talk to him about. The car ride is full of awkward silence as we make our way to the restaurant.

Harbor View Bistro comes into view and the evening is perfect. Sky painted in burnt oranges and pinks as the sun sinks down, the water is bathed in gold as it crashes on the shore. I shut the car door behind myself and even if this date is a dud, I’m very excited for the experience.

“Welcome, Mr. Lawson. We have your table ready. Would you please follow me?” the hostess asks rhetorically. A part of me wonders if it bothers Miles to have people recognize him. It must be oppressive to have the spotlight on him. It’s been unnerving whenever I’m out in town and someone stops me to talk about House of Desire.

She turns and guides us through the dining room. As we turn the corner from the entry, the glass wall comes into view and the stunning sunset.

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