Page 17 of Accepting Love

The doorbell rings.

“Shit,” I mutter.

“Maybe don’t cuss in front of him,” she teases. “I’ll get the door.”

I quickly touch up my makeup, apply my favorite cherry lip gloss, and slip on my sandals. After another look in the mirror, I take a deep breath and head for the stairs.

I have mixed feelings about this outfit. On the one hand, no one my age would dress like this for a first date. On the other hand, I’m comfortable in it. It’s me. My style. And I suspect Zane will agree. If he doesn’t, I’ll be mortified.

His back is to me as I come down the stairs. He’s talking to Audrey. He’s wearing khaki pants and a pale pink dress shirt. I nearly swoon when I see it. I wouldn’t have pinned him for a man who would wear a pink shirt. It’s subtle, but it’s pink. We’re going to look like a matched set. Is that a good thing?

When Audrey sees me, she looks up, causing Zane to turn around.

In less than one second, I know two things: I’ve absolutely made the right choice, and I’m in love. Dangerously.

His expression is priceless. Eyes wide, smile wider and growing. He grabs the banister as I continue to descend on shaky legs. I like to think it’s because he needs something to hold on to.

His usually messy blond hair is combed. I think he got a trim this afternoon. His blue eyes are popping. His shirt has the first two buttons undone. He’s wearing brown loafers. GQ all the way.

When I arrive two steps from the floor, I stop, putting us eye to eye. I set my hand on top of his on the banister.

Zane flips his hand over, takes mine in his, and lifts my fingers to his cheek, rubbing my knuckles against his recently shaved skin. “I’m speechless, Little one. You take my breath away.”

“You’re very handsome, yourself,” I respond. “I love the pink shirt.”

He winks. “I thought we might match. I guessed right.”

I flush and glance down at myself. “It’s okay?” I feel uncertain all over again even though he’s clearly pleased.

“Okay? No, not okay. Perfect. I will forever remember you in this precious dress with those silver sandals and that pretty hair clip.” He’s staring into my eyes the entire time he speaks. He doesn’t glance down at my feet or up at my hair. He already memorized my ensemble.

I draw in a breath. “Everything I own that was in my closet is currently lying on my bed,” I confess. “I couldn’t decide, but the truth is, except for my black formalwear I perform in, I don’t have outfits that are sleek and sexy.”

His hand comes to my waist, his palm large enough to circle around my hip so his fingers rest at the small of my back while his thumb teases my belly. “I can’t imagine you any other way than this for vanilla society.” He leans in closer and speaks into my ear. “I love everything in your wardrobe you’ve ever worn to Surrender too.”

I shudder as his breath hits my neck. He’s not disappointed. I can relax.

Audrey clears her throat from behind Zane. “Okay, then. I’m going to my apartment for the night. You two have fun.” She wiggles her fingers at us and turns to flee the main house.

My cheeks heat at the emphasis she put onnightas if to make sure we knew she would not come back and possibly catch us doing who knows what when we return. It’s preposterous, but I do have on the sexy lingerie.

“Ready?” Zane asks.

I nod. “Oh, I forgot to grab a purse.” I start to head back upstairs, but he stops me by grabbing my hand.

“Do you need it for anything?”

I turn back around. “Uh, ID? Lip gloss? Money?”

He narrows his gaze at that last word. “You don’t need any of those things tonight. We won’t be drinking alcohol, and you won’t be paying for anything. But if you feel like you need lip gloss, you can put it in my pocket.”

“I’ll be right back.” I race back up the stairs, run for my closet, and snag the small silver purse that matches these shoes. After quickly transferring my ID, a credit card, some cash, and my cherry lip gloss to the tiny purse, I strap it over my shoulder, grab a white sweater, and dash back down the stairs.

Zane is waiting right where I left him. He’s smiling and completely relaxed.

I tap the small purse. “Just in case you abandon me somewhere, I’ll have money. And if we get arrested, I’ll have ID.”

He chuckles as he takes my sweater from me and holds it up to help me put it on. “Neither of those things will ever happen, but if it makes you feel better…” He takes my hand and leads me to the door. He snags my keys off the entry table as if he’s done so a million times in the past.

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