Page 23 of Seductive Heat

"We are."

"Ewww. Invite him for dinner or something. I'd like to interrogate him myself.” Marguerite smiles. “I mean, talk to him."

"Okay, now go. I'll decide on my own."

I finally put on a white sundress with red and blue flowers all over. My sandals are red, and I'm leaving the hat because I think it's too much. I do grab some sunglasses because the day is bright and shiny. I'm not sure who is going to be there, and I'm freaking out a little bit when the doorbell rings. I get my purse and open the door.

Theo holds up a huge bouquet of red roses and gives me a thorough kiss. He knows how to get me to my happy place quickly, and I adore him for it. I take the flowers from him and put the purse on the table beside me.

"Let me put these in water. Roses are my favorite."

"I know."

"Exactly how much did I divulge on those posts?"

"Quite a bit, actually. I was tempted to DM you and tell you not to put so much personal stuff in there, but I remembered I needed that information to get to know you better."

"Well, I won't do it anymore. If there's anything you need to know, you can ask the old-fashioned way."

He grabs me by the waist and holds me close.

"I'd like to ask the sexy way. With you naked in bed."

"We've got an appointment to keep."

"My friends won't mind."

"Come on, I want to make a good impression. Let's go."

I peel his hand away from my waist and pull him towards the door, picking up my purse along the way. I lock my door and then go to the passenger side of the car. He opens the door for me and buckles me in, putting his hand on my knee when he does it. I steal a kiss while he's doing that, and I swear he blushes.

The drive takes us to a swanky part of town, and finally, we stop at a gated community. Theo talks to the guard, and he's let in. The houses are huge and look so expensive.

"Who will I be meeting?"

"Just my two best friends and their significant others."

"Okay, do you think they'll like me?"

"You're a goddess. Everyone will like you."

"You see me with rose-colored glasses. I'm flawed, just like everyone else."

He looks at me intently.

"Your nose might be a little too pointy, but that brings out the rest of your beauty."

"Theo."

"You're an easy person to like, Helene. Stop worrying."

He reaches out to my knee and squeezes it gently, comforting me. He doesn't take his hand away, making me smile like the Cheshire cat. When the car stops, I'm in awe of the mansion before us.

"Theo, I don't think I'm dressed well enough to enter a house like this."

"I'm in jeans and a t-shirt."

"We should go back and get changed."

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