Page 58 of One Night Only
I can’t remember a time my heart has felt this full. These girls are my whole world.
“I don’t know what I’d do without you… both,” I say through a sob.
“Honey, you’d be living in Mom and Dad’s basement with that creepy-ass carboard cutout of Don Mattingly and his huge mustache watching you while you sleep,” Tess says with a grimace.
I laugh again. “Will you help me get ready?”
Tess downs the rest of her champagne like it’s a shot of Fireball and she’s at some Frat house ready to party. “Baby, I was born to help you get ready.”
D: I just pulled up, Goldie. Do I come to the door?
D: This is my first date in 26 years, after all.
Panic sets in the second I read Dallas’s text messages, my self-doubt returning with a vengeance at the thought that this is his first date because, again, he’s a serial womanizer. I chewnervously on my bottom lip, butterflies the size of birds flying around my stomach.
Me: No, I’ll come down. My family has embarrassed me enough for one day.
Looking at myself in the mirror one last time, I’m suddenly doubting Tess and Bron’s mini-makeover. Slouchy thigh-high boots and a sweater dress that is so short I’m convinced it’s actually just a sweater. I’m not sure if I’ll freeze the second I walk outside, but Tess is adamant that it’s the perfect first date outfit. I rub my red lips together and do one last fluff of my hair before grabbing my purse and my coat.
“Is he here?” Tess jumps up from the couch the second I walk out of my bedroom and into the hall, her face lit up with excitement.
“Yeah, he’s downstairs.”
“He’s not coming to pick you up from your door?” She places her hands on her hips, her smile falling.
I glance at Bron to find a knowing smirk on her lips.
“Uh, no,” I say, lying as I add, “he wasn’t able to find a parking spot.”
Tess frowns.
“It’s okay,” I placate her with a hand on her arm. “You’ll see him again. I promise.”
That seems to do the trick, her smile returning. She assesses me with a slow look from head to toe, nodding. “You look—” She kisses her fingers for effect.
I start to leave, but then I stop myself, turning back to my sister. And, surprising not only her, but myself too, I wrap my arms around her, pulling her in for a hug.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For everything.”
As she pulls back, I notice a telling sheen mist her eyes. But she doesn’t say anything. Just nods once and steps back, watching as I turn and continue down the hallway toward the entry.
When the elevator reaches ground, I walk out through the small lobby area, the night doorman opening the glass door for me, and when I see Dallas standing there, casually leaning against the side of his car, arms folded over his broad chest, dimpled grin lighting up his face, I almost trip over my own feet.
He’s givingcountry boy,dressed in blue jeans that fit him perfectly, a flannel shirt, and brown suede boots instead of sneakers. His hair is swept back from his face, stubble lining his jaw, and I know I’m ogling him right now, but I don’t even care.
“Chrissake, Goldie,” he mutters, taking my hand and looking down at me, his gaze lingering on the short hem of my dress. “You fixin’ to get me into a fight tonight, or what?”
Tugging on the hem of my dress, I’m suddenly more self-conscious than I was upstairs. “Should I change?”
“Over my dead fuckin’ body,” Dallas whispers, pulling me flush against him and leaning down to claim my lips with the kind of kiss that feels like almost too much for a public sidewalk outside my apartment building but also not nearly enough.
Dragging his lips along my jaw with peppered kisses, he stops just shy of my ear, murmuring, “Let’s go before I drag you back upstairs and have my way with you in your bed.”
At the thought of Dallas with me, in my bed, I feel myself shiver, and when I meet his twinkling eyes, I can tell he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. And as nerves and trepidation battle it out in my belly, I can already tell tonight is going to be a long night… in the best possible way, of course.
CHAPTER 24
DALLAS
