Page 31 of Something Cheeky

“Most people don’t ask me what story a bra or a negligee tells.”

“But they know when they see your clothes and imagine what they’ll do when they wear it.”

He picked up a hanger with a neon-and-black-lace bra and placed it against his chest. He posed and gave her an exaggerated smolder. “This bra saysI am a badass who can wear this to the club because who says bras have to be hidden under clothes?”

Derek pursed his lips in a sexy pout as he pretended to dance in a nightclub. He was trying to cheer her up and was successful at it, too. Zoe bit her lip to keep from laughing. She loved that he was never afraid to look silly. What mattered to him was enjoying the character he embodied at the time. He was a natural onstage.

But this wasn’t a stage. He did all this for her and to make her feel better about her lack of experience. Somehow he always knew the right way to boost her confidence, whether it was by being silly or giving her a pep talk when she needed it the most.

“And this—” Derek flung a floor-length red chiffon robe around his shoulders. It was too small for him to slip his arms into the sleeves with red marabou feathers sewn to them. More soft fluffy feathers trimmed the lapels all the way down to the hem of the train.

“This,” he continued as he glided around the workroom, “saysI just killed my rich husband and I am pretending to be sad until I get my inheritance.”

“We call that the murder robe—privately, of course.” Zoe laughed as he continued to act out the part of a grieving widow. “It’s one of our most requested commissions.”

“Aha!” He grinned. “Point made.”

“Fine, you’re right. Now put that back before you rip it!”

He made one more round with it before hanging it up.

“For each launch, I do tell some kind of story, but it’s intuitive. I don’t actively create pieces to fit into a story when I start out.”

“Then pretend you’re designing full body lingerie for all the characters.”

She snorted at the image he’d created. “I don’t think that’s the vibe you want for this musical.”

“You have to trust yourself.” Derek grabbed her hand and placed it against her chest.

She looked down at his hand on top of hers as her chest rose with each breath. His hand burned her skin. Everything around her fell silent except for the sounds of them breathing. At first each had their own rhythm but slowly, they synchronized. Goose bumps spread across her arm.

Zoe looked up right into his eyes. His pupils were dilated and his lips opened in a content smile. A jumble of emotions she couldn’teven name swirled inside her. Naming them was too scary, so she removed their hands from her chest and took a step back.

He remained in place but stuck his hands in his pockets. Was he waiting for her to say something aboutthat?

“That’s easier said than done,” she said, pretending she hadn’t noticed his earlier expression. “I’ve designed lingerie for years.”

He ran his hand through his hair as he frowned but smiled quickly to cover it up. As if sensing her discomfort, he backed away closer to his workspace.

“Z, I’ll trust you until you can trust in yourself,” he said quietly but with plenty of confidence.

“That was so cheesy.” But she liked it. She felt better knowing that he’d stand behind her as she figured out what the hell she was doing. He’d always stood by her in school, except for that one time. But it had been hard for both of them. She shouldn’t have made him choose.

“I don’t care if I’m being cheesy. I just put on a murder robe and pranced around the room. I meant it.”

“Okay, will you remind me of that whenever I freak out?”

“I wasn’t always here for you before, but I am now, Z.” He winked at her. “Best friends, right?”

Zoe nodded. Their friends-only pact protected them from relationship drama and awkwardness. Best friends didn’t think about the other’s body in a tight spandex suit. Would he still stick with her if he knew she was struggling to see him as only a friend?

Chapter 14

Derek cringed inwardly. Why did he have to reiterate their best friends status? He thought they’d shared a moment when he placed their hands on her chest. Only two of his fingers were graced with her soft, silky skin. Maybe one day soon she’d allow him to trace lazy circles all over her body while they snuggled in bed watching old Tony Awards performances.

“You’re going to kick ass during our meeting with Greg tomorrow,” Derek said for both Zoe’s benefit and his.

“I’ll do my best,” Zoe replied with more confidence than she’d had all afternoon.

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