Please dress formally.
Oh my. I stare at the text and read it again.
I glance at the clock. It’s five thirty, and I’m definitely not anywhere near close to being formal or sexy. I don’t even know where to start.
This is a job for Jules.
“Jules!” I yell out my bedroom door, mentally thumbing through my closet.
“What?”
“I need to get sexy.”
“What?”
I shove my phone in her hands and she breaks out into a huge smile.
“Wow, he knows how to woo a girl.”
“Jules!” I clasp onto her shoulders and shake her. “Help me. I’m not good at this.”
“Come on.” She grabs my wrist and drags me into my closet. “The new red Louboutins are a no-brainer.” She pulls them off the shelf and hands them to me.
“What am I going to wear with them?”
I’m in a panic.
“Don’t you have a little black dress?”
“No.” I frown. I don’t have many dresses at all.
“Everyone has a little black dress, Natalie.”
“Not me.” I shrug.
“Get in the shower and scrub, shave and loofa. I’ll be back.”
“That sounds painful.” My eyes widen in fear and Jules smirks at me.
“We’re just getting started. Go!
Clock’s ticking.” She jogs back to her room and I start the shower.
***
Fifty minutes later, I am buffed and polished. Jules has curled my thick chestnut hair and managed to twist it up into some kind of sexy knot thing, with tendrils hanging around my face.
The face is a Julianne masterpiece.
She’s made my eyes look all smokey and sultry, accentuating the green in them.
My cheekbones are defined, and my lips are pouty with a cranberry red lip stain that is guaranteed to not smudge or come off for eighteen hours, which sounds too good to be true to me, but I’ll take it.
My eyes run down the rest of my body in the full-length mirror hanging on the back of my closet door.
I’m hot.
Jules has lent me a to-die-for black dress. The neckline reminds me of something Elizabeth Taylor would have worn, just off the shoulder with a deep V-neck. The back swoops down low across the small of my back. It’s sleeveless and is gathered at the waist with a thick waistband. The skirt is floaty and soft, and flirts just at my knees.
Under the dress is some impressive black underwear and a garter belt with nude stockings. I’ve never worn stockings before, but they’re amazingly comfortable and feel silky and sexy.
My beautiful red stiletto Louboutins are killer with this dress.
Jules walks into the room and lets out a loud wolf whistle.
“Well, don’t you clean up well, best friend of mine?”
I laugh and do a turn so she can see the whole effect.
“Will I do?”
“Girl, he’s going to die of heart failure the minute he sees you. You look amazing.” She smiles and hugs me tight.
“Here, this wrap and purse will go with your outfit.” She hands me a beautiful red wrap and handbag that perfectly match the shoes and I smile in gratitude.
The doorbell rings and there are now about five million butterflies in my stomach.
“I’ll answer. Take your time, make him sweat.” She kisses my cheek and hurries down the stairs.
I stare at myself in the mirror for a few more minutes, and then put my things in Jules’ red handbag.
Here goes nothing.
Do not fall down the stairs. Do not fall down the stairs. This is my mantra as I walk down the stairs. I don’t think I’m breathing, I’m too nervous. Where is he taking me?
I get to the bottom of the stairs and enter the foyer and all of my wits completely scatter.
Luke is wearing a black double breasted suit with a white shirt and a blue tie that perfectly matches his incredible eyes. His messy hair has been tamed somewhat, and it’s begging for my fingers. He looks every bit the wealthy, sophisticated movie star, and he’s all mine.
His eyes lock on mine and a slow, delighted grin spreads across his face.
“Natalie, you take my breath away.”
“You’re not so bad yourself.”
Luke closes the gap between us and hands me a bouquet of red roses.
“These are for you.”
“Thank you,” I murmur as I bury my nose in them and breathe them in.
“They’re lovely.”
“We
should
go,
we
have
reservations.” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, shooting shivers up my arm.
“Okay.”
Jules
magically
appears
from
nowhere. “I’ll put those in water for you. Have fun, you guys. You both look incredible.”
“Thanks, Jules.” I hand her the flowers and Luke ushers me out of the house.
Instead of his Mercedes or the Lexus, there’s a black stretch limo parked in my driveway with a sharply dressed driver standing at the open back door.
“Madam,” he nods at me and I smile in return. Holy shit, Luke’s gone all out! Is this how he says he’s sorry? If so, we might have to argue more often.
I climb in the back of the spacious limo and slide over so Luke can follow.
The inside must seat ten easily, is all soft black leather seats and has some sort of impressive sound system and other gadgets. The privacy glass is up.
Luke slides gracefully next to me and kisses my hand again.
“Luke, this is… amazing. Thank you.”
“We haven’t even gone anywhere yet.” He looks so young and happy, and he’s clearly excited for what he has planned for us tonight.
“It’s already more than you should have done.”
“No, it’s exactly what you deserve, baby.” He leans over and gives me his sweet, tender kiss; the one that makes my insides quiver. “You look gorgeous tonight.”
I smile and flush at the compliment.
“Thank you.”
“Are those the new shoes?”
“Yes,” I grin.
“They are wow.”
“I know.”
He laughs and pours me a glass of champagne as the driver pulls away from the house and heads toward Seattle.
“A toast.” He holds his glass in the air and I mirror him. “To a beautiful woman, who has become very special to me, and who is the most incredible person I’ve ever known. Thank you for being here with me.” He clinks his glass to mine and I blink back tears as I take a sip of the sweet pink drink.
“You are charming,” I murmur and smile shyly at him.