Page 107 of A Lesson for Laurel

HOT MAMA

“Damn,” Easton said on Saturday afternoon when Laurel came out of his bathroom.

Her hair was straight as could be but pulled away from her face by some pretty sparkly clips. Nothing big or gaudy and of course there were some flowers on them. A metal one over one of her fabric ones.

Her makeup was there but not much that he could see. Nicole joked that anyone who didn’t look like they were wearing makeup when they had it on just meant they were in touch with what worked for them.

He wasn’t so sure of that and it didn’t matter to him all that much.

He only knew what he liked and the hot mama in front of him was that person.

The sleeveless high-neck dress was almost an eggplant color fitted to her body snugly and stopping right at her knees. On her feet was another pair of sexy heels that he might have to convince her to keep on later tonight.

She did a little spin for him. “Do you like?”

“What is there not to like?” he asked, reaching his hand out and pulling her close. “I swear that dress was made with you in mind.”

“Why, thank you,” she said. “I need to make sure I’m worthy to be on your arm.”

He leaned back but still had her in his arms. “Are you nervous?”

She snorted. “Well, yeah.”

“Why?” he asked. “Not one woman in that place has anything on you.”

“Very sweet of you to say, but you know in the past people thought I look one way and then they talk to me.”

“Stop,” he said. “I hope you’re honest and tell them what you do.”

“Of course I’m going to,” she said. “I’d never lie about that or be someone I’m not. If your coworkers don’t like me, too bad, but I still want to look good on your arm.”

“That’s my girl,” he said. “And you look damn good. Smoking is more like it. I want to say you’re overdressed.”

“Really?” she asked. “I’ve got another dress I can change into. I brought two. Nicole said both were appropriate.”

“No,” he said. “Don’t change. I mean it. I want you wearing that if you’re comfortable.”

“I am. I’m comfortable in a lot of ways.”

“As long as you are with me that is all I care about.”

“See, sweet again. Are you trying or is it coming out naturally for you?”

“Sorry, but I’m not one to try for those things. Must be it’s natural.”

“I’m not even going to take offense to the fact that you just said you’re not trying.”

He put his foot in his mouth with that. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

She put a loud kiss on his lips. “I told you I’m not taking offense. I mean it. I didn’t say it to get your back up or anything like that. I wanted to point out that I understand you.”

“Thanks,” he said. He wasn’t often understood and it was hard to get that out of his head. Or to get out of his own way half the time.

“Are we ready to go get Nicole and Liam?”

“We are,” he said.

It was easier for the two of them to drive in. Parking was going to be an issue so they were parking at their hotel, then catching a taxi to the restaurant. They debated going into the city earlier today and spending the day and then changing at their hotel after, but they couldn’t get into the hotel until four anyway. They were having dinner at five. By the time they got there and checked in, they’d leave to meet everyone else.

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