Page 29 of Queen of Diamonds
He grinned. She didn’t have a clue how strong-willed the Gentrys were, but he’d leave her with her illusions for now. She poked his thigh with her toes, and he glanced down. Even her feet were sexy. “Is that a tat?” He picked up her foot for a closer look, realizing his mistake when he touched her. Her skin was soft, her toenails painted cherry red, and the sole was pale pink.
“It’s a hummingbird.” She leaned over and studied the tattoo just above her ankle. “My mother loved them. I got it shortly after she died.”
“That makes it special along with being very pretty.”
“Thanks. So, about Saturday. I’m all the more determined to show up with you as my date. My brothers need to know that they can’t decide my life for me.”
He absolutely should say no but found it impossible to refuse her. “You do realize I’m risking life and limb by agreeing, right?”
She laughed. “My hero.”
“I don’t know about that. I’ll be walking into the lion’s den, so more like too stupid to live.” He loved the way she laughed—deep from her throat and carefree, her eyes sparkling with amusement. He’d grown up in a world where emotions were checked at the door. One didn’t laugh too hard or too long, and you didn’t wear your heart on your sleeve for all to see. Maybe that was why he found Kinsey so refreshing. She was honest and open, not to mention mouthwateringly sexy. He had the feeling that when she did fall in love, that she would love hard. He wished he could be that man.
“It’s getting late,” she said on a yawn.
When she looked at him with a question in her eyes, he smiled with true regret. “You got a spare pillow?”
The light faded from her eyes. “Right. The stupid bro code. You’re bigger, so you take my bed.”
“Odds are you accidently left your door cracked, but on the off chance you didn’t and whoever it was decides to return, my gun and I’ll be waiting on the couch.”
She shrugged. “Whatever.”
After she’d tossed a pillow and blanket to him, then disappeared into her room without a word, Rand checked to make sure all the windows and doors were secure. Then he spent a restless night on a too-short, uncomfortable sofa wondering exactly why he wasn’t wrapped around Kinsey in her bed.
Kinsey blinked sleepy eyes, trying to focus on the e-mail that had popped up in her in-box from Summer Fashions’ owner. Having the sexiest man she’d ever known sleeping one room away from her hadn’t made for a restful night. She’d heard of the bro code, but she’d thought it was only a thing in romance novels meant to keep the hero and heroine apart until they realized how stupid that was. That guys actually believed they had to honor such a dumb rule blew her mind. What business was it to her brothers who she dated?
“Did you get the invitation, too?” Corrie asked, coming up behind Kinsey and reading over her shoulder.
“Appears so. Is the Friends of the Library’s Gala a big deal?” She scanned the invitation. She’d never been to a black-tie event and knew for a fact she didn’t have a suitable outfit in her closet.
Corrie gasped. “How can you even ask that?”
“Poor college student here.” Kinsey pointed at herself. “‘Gala’ wasn’t a word in my vocabulary. I guess I can’t decline since the invitation’s from the big boss?”
“Not even. I buy a new dress for it each year.”
Kinsey groaned, thinking of the hit her credit card was about to take. “I guess we better go shopping.”
An hour later Kinsey walked out of the dressing room and stood in front of the three-way mirrors. “What do you think?”
Corrie’s gaze ran over her. “I think I’d die to have your figure. It’s perfect.”
“Yeah?” The fitted red dress was sophisticated yet subtly sexy with the off-the-shoulder bodice that showed just enough cleavage to be daring, but not something she’d constantly be tugging up to keep her nipples covered when she wore it. She stepped away from the mirrors, then walked back, eyeing the slit that ran halfway up her thigh. With each step she took, her left leg was briefly exposed before being covered by the material again. She’d never owned a dress that made her feel this sensual, and she wished Rand could see her in it.
“Definitely perfect. All you need with the dress are these”—Corrie handed her a pair of strappy silver shoes with four-inch heels—“and these silver dangling earrings. Paint your fingernails and toenails red, and that’s it. Nothing else.”
Kinsey slipped on the shoes. Except for one thing, Corrie was right. Anything else would distract from the overall effect, so no rings, bracelets, or a necklace. Just the earrings and the silver hair comb her mother had given her one Christmas. The dress cost more than she’d ever spent on one, but she did get an employee discount, so that helped.
She grinned. “Sold. Ring me up.”
“Well, aren’t you a man’s wet dream?”
“Leave her alone, Sebastian,” Corrie said before walking away.
“Why should I?” he said, stepping into Kinsey’s personal space. “Not when you look like this.”
Kinsey backed away from him. “You should do as Corrie says and leave me alone.”
