Just One Thing (The Alexanders 6)

“Anytime, man. You know we’d do anything for you. For what it’s worth, Katie seems like one of the good ones. She's practically family already. Just remember, man: show her what’s under the lab coat.”

Bennett made a face. “That doesn’t sound right.”

Nick grinned. “I didn’t exactly mean it like that but hell, you might want to show her that, too. I’m not judging. I came prepared for that, too.” He was laughing as he left. That’s when Bennett noticed the other thing Nick had brought him. A box of condoms. He laughed, caught between mortification and appreciation. His brothers were nosy as hell but at least they were practical. He seriously doubted if he’d need condoms tonight but Mark Alexander had drilled it into their heads that being prepared was always preferable to the alternative. So he slipped several packets into his wallet and then went to get ready.

Bennett showered, shaved, ran a comb through his curly hair while it was still wet and slapped on a small bit of cologne. Then he dressed carefully in the borrowed blue shirt and his own pair of gray trousers. The shoes pinched but that couldn’t be helped. He took in his reflection in the mirror.

The guy staring back looked determined and excited.

“Remember what Nick said. Show her what’s under the lab coat.” It sounded ridiculous but Bennett wasn’t averse to using every one of his talents. Science wasn’t the only thing he’d studied over the years.

He was more than happy to show her just how accomplished he was in the bedroom, as well.

CHAPTER TEN

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Katie stood in front of the full-length mirror in her closet and threw yet another dress on the floor. This was useless!

How was it possible that she’d gained so much weight that none of her dresses fit properly? She didn’t feel any bigger. Peering into the mirror she assessed herself from all sides. Considering that she’d had two kids, she didn’t think she looked too bad. There was a maze of faint stretch marks on her stomach that stood out starkly against her deep skin tone, but other than that, it wasn’t too bad.

Ugh, this was all Mari’s fault. She’d been goading Katie to try dating. That must be why she’d suggested this. Fired up, she grabbed her phone and sent her sister a text.

Katie: Took your advice. I’m going on a date.

It wasn’t long for the blue response bubble to pop up.

Mari: Good. Hopefully he’ll have a nice ass. And don’t make those weird faces when you don’t agree with something.

She stuck out her tongue at the screen.

Katie: What faces?

She sucked in her belly and then turned to the side. When she couldn’t hold it anymore she let out her breath and returned to her usual state of looking vaguely pregnant. It was hard to see how much her body had changed over the years, especially after having her marriage crumble around her. What if she never got up the nerve to take her clothes off in front of anyone else? At least Don knew what battle scars she carried. Bennett had probably never seen what a woman looked like naked after childbirth.

Stop it, she thought. It’s not like Bennett is going to see your stomach. Or any other part of what’s going on under your clothes. This is not a date. This is a teaching tool.

“Mom! Miss Ridley’s here!”

The screech from right outside the closet door startled her so badly she almost fell into the rack of clothes. Katie grasped wildly at the closest thing which turned out to be a dress. There was a loud ripping sound as it was torn from the hanger.

“Coming!”

Katie snatched a robe from one of the hangers and wrapped herself up in it, leaving the crumpled dress at her feet. She was being ridiculous. What difference did it make if she had stretch marks and a bit of a pooch belly? This was a practice date. P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E. She repeated the word to herself as she went downstairs.

Ri was already on the bottom step making her way upstairs. “Hey, girl. I’m coming up. I’m just slow as usual.”

Ridley leaned on the rail heavily as she made her way up the stairs. Once she reached the top, she followed Katie into her room.

“So, Jackson and I planned to make popcorn and s’mores for the kids so they can have a movie night.”

“That sounds fun. They always have a good time when they’re with Chris and Jase.”

Ridley suddenly narrowed her eyes and took in the disheveled state of Katie’s room. Her eyes slid over the makeup spread across her vanity table and then to the open closet door where heaps of clothes were visible on the floor.

“I thought you said you were just hanging out tonight. You’re going on a date?”

“It’s not … it’s not what you think.” Katie winced. She should have known that her friend wouldn’t buy her needing a night alone story. Ri was too much of a natural born detective not to notice all the clues.