Page 39 of Hesi-Dating
"I want to do this. I like him."
Amber moved forward to pull me into a side hug. "You look beautiful. I love you to pieces, Jo, but you've got to make better choices. Choices that'll keep that scary motherfucker out of our lives. This could put Seth's life at risk. It could put yours…"
"Nosh wouldn't be dumb enough to murder a cop over me."
"Nosh wouldn't do it himself. He has people."
I stared at myself. "I look good, though, don't I?"
She took a deep breath. "You call me if you need to be picked up. Anytime. Got it?"
I nodded.
She grinned. "That poor man is going to fall for you. He won't know what's coming."
ChapterFourteen
SETH
Joley's suburban one-story was in desperate need of a gardener and a power wash, but it was in a good neighborhood. Three cars sat in the driveway—a gray sedan, an early nineties Toyota with a severely dented bumper, and her Honda. I wondered if I'd get to meet her brothers today. Based on the unmatched left passenger tire on the Toyota, that car belonged to Marino, the one who borrowed the car jack.
A pull on my tie didn’t make it feel less like a hangman’s noose. I despised suits and never wore ties unless forced. As the best man I had little control over the wardrobe choice.
Heart pounding, I rang the doorbell. Sweat trickled down my back. For July, even though it was a dry heat day like it was 364 days of the year, it was so hot. I loosened my tie more. Still felt as if it was trying to suffocate me.
What sounded like twelve dogs barked viciously. From inside Joley yelled at them to stop, not that it dimmed the noise.
She slipped out the door and pulled it closed, but not before I saw at least two furry creatures baring teeth.
Speechless at her outfit, my brain fritzed out. Holy hell she looked beautiful. My gaze dropped from her generous lips, carefully highlighted in a shade of dark red that brought out flecks of green in her gray eyes, to her green dress. It wasn’t an indecent outfit, but it dipped low enough to give a hint of the tops of her breasts. The bodice was draped to highlight the indent of her waist where there was a little blue belt. It flared out to land a bit past her knees and show off slim tanned calves.
She put one flinger on my jaw and pushed it closed, effectively pulling my gaze back to her face. With a mischievous smile she said, "You clean up nice too. It's a dress designed to make you look. Glad it worked."
She descended the steps and sauntered to my car with a hip swagger that had my eyes glued to her body. Damn, I never knew I was a heels man, but on her those were the kind of spiky high heels that made me envision having her naked and wearing only the shoes.
She glanced over her shoulder and winked. Even dressed tastefully with her long, brown hair in waves, she exuded a carnality I couldn't ignore.
"Come on, Sheriff. Let’s go make ’em jealous."
I rushed to beat her to the car and open her door.
"Where is your hat?"
"Not part of the wedding outfit today."
"I miss the hat. It’s your signature piece. Not every man can pull it off." She slid into her seat. “You look nice in the gray suit but I think you’d look good in anything.”
Was I supposed to make small talk with this goddess? I couldn’t get coherent words past my lips, even as I started the car and got us on the freeway. I was one lucky bastard to have her with me. Every man, including the groom, would agree. "Yes, wedding rental. No hats."
"Lets me get a better look at your hair, though. I love the sprinkles of gray and the cut with it longer on top." After a while of silence she asked, "Where does your drawl come from?"
"I spent ten years growing up in Austin."
"You told me you lost your dad, but what about your mom?"
"She died when I was in high school. They were divorced. Most of my life was just my dad and me."
"I'm sorry. I never had parents. Foster kid the whole way through."
