Page 45 of Let Me Say It Again

“Your crack?”

“What crack?” she asked, furrowing her brows.

“About me coming in my boxers.”

“No crack. I actually think it’s hot as hell.”

I shook my head. Sorry, I must not have heard her right. “What was that?”

“I’m not repeating it. You heard me.” She shrugged. “Any man willing to do that must be secure in his masculinity. The other men I’ve been with would’ve held back.”

Did Jade just. . . compliment me?

“Sherrilyn invited us to the vow renewal weekend.”

“Weekend?” she sputtered, her eyes growing wide. “It was supposed to be a couple of hours. One stupid event. That’s it.”

“I know.” I cracked my fingers. “But now it’s a weekend. It’s going to be fine.”

She narrowed her eyes, giving me a death stare. “How do you figure?”

“It’ll be the thing that ends all of this.” Fortunately. And unfortunately.

But with those words I must have finally gotten through to her because she perked up—well, as perked up as I’d ever seen her—and swallowed. “Fine. I’ll go with you.”

“Gee, thanks,” I replied sarcastically. “You’ll need clothes, though.”

“Don’t worry.” She waved me off. “I’m the fashion editor of a magazine now. I know what to wear.”

“Pretty sure that’s not the way this works. You’ve never been to functions like this.” When she didn’t so much as blink, I pushed, “Have you?”

“Dress like I’m loaded and belong on the arm of a man worth millions? How hard could it be? I’ll throw some shit together.”

“No.” I shook my head. “I’m taking you shopping.” We couldn’t take any chances.

“I’d rather gouge my eyes out than go shopping with you.”

“Too bad because that’s what’s happening.”

“I thought you just said you like my usual clothes.”

“I do, but I’m not the one you have to impress. Mark is.”

“I don’thaveto impress anyone. You can all kiss my ass as far as I’m concerned.”

“Real nice, but that ass is all mine until Mark invests in my company.”

“Then you can watch it as I walk away.” She stepped in her sneakers, walked to the door, and flipped me the bird from behind. “Good luck cleaning those boxers, Red.”

Heaven help me, I was crushing on the woman who was going to put me in an early grave.

Chapter Seventeen

Jade

Bianca:A little birdie told me you tried on a wedding dress, and it wasn’t a Bianca original. Explain yourself.

Jade:Blame Maria.

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