“Oh, do tell. I mean, if it turns out he’s a big jerk, I’d rather know now before I go to LA with him.”
“I already told you, he’s awesome,” Jules says with a laugh and zips up the strapless dress, then steps back and taps her lips as we both look in the mirror.
“Whoa,” Stasia says.
“Gorgeous,” Nat adds.
I just stare at the woman looking back at me in the mirror. This dress hugs my curves perfectly but doesn’t make me look fat. And the green really is great with my hair and eyes.
“Okay, this is the one.” I turn and look at my backside in the mirror. “It even makes my ass look great.”
“Hunter’s going to swallow his tongue,” Jules agrees. “You’re ridiculously sexy, Maeve.”
She’s not wrong.
“What were you going to tell me?” I ask her.
“Oh, right. I know that what’s in the past doesn’t really matter, but Hunter doesn’t date. He doesn’t take women to awards shows. He’s never been photographed with anyone. He always said that he didn’t want his daughter to look at images of him online when she got older, only to see him with a different woman in each of the photos.”
“Okay, that’s… I don’t even know what that is, but it’s totally swoony,” Nat decides and props her hands on her hips.
“And something Luke would have done,” Jules points out.
“So, the fact that he’s taking you to this event and introduced you to Rachel, tells me that you mean something to him. And I just think that’s pretty awesome.”
“He can’t possibly have been celibate for the past fifteen years,” I say.
“No, I’d say not. But he’s discreet and discerning. He’s a professional. And he’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, he’s a good guy,” I agree and turn back to look at myself in the mirror. “I don’t want to take off this dress.”
“Here’s one word of advice,” Jules says as she steps up beside me and holds my gaze in the mirror. “Maybe, if you feel comfortable, when you do wear this dress, let him be the one to peel you out of it. Because holy shit. Once he unwraps you from this, he’s going to rock your world.”
“I should hope so,” I whisper. “Wait, I don’t know if I can buy it. There aren’t price tags on these dresses.”
“Oh, that’s on purpose,” Nat says, waving me off. “Hunter has it covered. We also have some shoes for you to choose, and he’ll have a stylist on hand in LA to do your hair and makeup.”
I stare at them, certain I’ve misheard. “Well, holy shit. He doesn’t have to do that.”
“He wants to,” Jules says. “He was excited about it when he called me. Let him do it. It’s sweet.”
I glance over when Stasia sniffles. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s just so great.” She wipes at a tear. “And you totally deserve to be spoiled like this. It’s awesome, isn’t it? To have a sexy guy think you’re the shit and spoil you with fun things and all of that happy stuff.”
“It’s…disconcerting. And, yeah, a little awesome.”
We narrow the shoes down to a black pair that goes well with the dress and that I can wear with other things later. They have a red sole.
I never, in a million years, thought I’d own a pair of red-soled shoes.
Then, we make our way to the kitchen, and Natalie pulls a cheesecake out of the fridge.
“Just a small piece for me,” I tell her, already thinking about the fit of that dress and how I don’t want to gain any weight before I have to fit myself into it.
“Oh, honey, we don’t slice it up.” She takes out four forks and passes them out. “We just dig in.”
“Aren’t they great?” Stasia asks with a wide smile before scooping up a big bite and shoveling it into her mouth. “These girls know how to live.”
“I think I’ve fallen in love with you guys. I mean, who needs men when you have gorgeous clothes and cheesecake?”
“Exactly,” Jules says. “Though I’m rather fond of other things that Nate offers as well. Still, this is hard to beat.”
“Thank you. For everything today,” I say as I take a bite of the best chocolate cheesecake I’ve ever had. “I’m still nervous to go, but at least I know I’ll look good.”
“Oh, it’s completely our pleasure,” Jules assures me. “And we can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“I think we’ll need a girls’ night after Maeve gets back to town,” Nat says. “So she can tell us everything.”
“Agreed,” Stasia says.
“I’m in,” I reply. “Can we do it on the island so Izzy can come? She just had the baby and isn’t going far yet. But I know she won’t want to miss it.”
“I love that island,” Jules says. “I think Nate and I should buy a weekend place there.”