I shook away the thought as Chastity zipped up my little red cocktail dress. “How can you be so sure Tanner’s going to ask me out?” I asked.
“I just know these things. And with you wearing that?” She whistled. “He’s done.”
I looked in the mirror and spun around with a huge grin on my face. I wasn’t sure I’d ever looked this good before. I felt like freaking Cinderella. But in a slutty little dress rather than a ballgown.It’s finally going to happen. Tanner’s going to ask me out!
“Just make sure you don’t let up until the moment he asks you out. You’re so close to getting un-wifey-zoned. But one misstep and you’ll be right back where you started.”
“What constitutes not letting up?”
“Just little things. Text me a few times to make sure you aren’t giving Tanner too much attention. Make a comment about one of the waiters being hot. Or better yet, flirt with a waiter! And no matter what, do not, under any circumstances, recant your actions at Club Onyx last night. As far as Tanner is concerned,you whole-heartedly believe in Rule #8 and would have gladly let Angel and Diablo go to town on you.”
Hopefully that won’t come up.“Are you sure he doesn’t just hate me?” He’d been out inspecting the yacht so I hadn’t seen him all day. And Chastity had forbidden me from texting him so that I wouldn’t seem desperate. But I was desperate. I liked him so much my chest actually hurt.Oh, God, am I having a heart attack?!
Chastity grabbed my shoulders and turned me toward her. “There’s no way he hates you. I could feel the jealousy radiating off of him last night when he dragged us out of Club Onyx. And then he had Nigel babysit us to make sure we didn’t go back. That was when I knew for sure he was about to make things official. If he hated you, he wouldn’t have done all that. Now put these Odegaards on and go get your man.” She handed me a pair of strappy red heels with the signature blue bottoms.
“I think I’m having a heart attack.”
She shook her head. “Cut it out and put on the shoes. You’re fine.”
She never believed me. One day, when I actually was super sick, she’d be sorry. Especially if my greatest fear actually happened and I punctured my liver real good. I’d talked about that so much that she’d never believe me if it actually happened. Which just made the fear of it happening that much worse. I took a deep breath and tried to shake away the thought.You will not puncture your liver tonight!
I put the heels on and did a final outfit check in the mirror.Hopefully sexy is the right vibe this evening…
Chastity put a few finishing touches on my makeup and then I went downstairs to catch the ride Tanner had sent for me.
Nigel was in a full chauffeur outfit leaning against a limo. When he saw me, he scurried over.
Oh God, please no! Why Nigel again?I wanted to run the other way.
“Good evening, Mistress,” said Nigel with a little bow. “Did you enjoy the breakfast I prepared for you?”
I pictured the bacon, sausage, and scrambled eggs from this morning. It was some of the most delicious food I’d ever eaten. But I’d had to scarf it down so that Chastity didn’t know she’d been left out. Sure…I could have saved some for her. But even though I was slightly annoyed with Nigel, I still wanted him to like me. Because I wanted everyone to like me. Being unliked sucked. That was why people hating me was #7 on my list of greatest fears. Worse than my fear of going to jail. I cleared my throat. “It was lovely.”
“Excellent!” He opened the limo door for me.
What were the odds of me being bagged again if I climbed inside? But Nigel wasn’t staring at me like he was about to attack. He just looked very, very friendly. Overly friendly? He was probably going to murder me or something. Or suck my blood…
I awkwardly peered inside without getting too close to Nigel. Tanner unfortunately wasn’t inside, but there was at least a glass of champagne waiting for me. And champagne was just what I needed to calm my nerves. I climbed inside. Tanner sending a limo felt like a good sign for tonight.Maybe he really will ask me out!My stomach did a little flip. Tanner Rhodes was going to be my boyfriend! How was this real life? I started playing out different scenarios in my head as Nigel crawled into the front and hit the gas.
Would the cake tasting actually be a romantic dinner for two? I could totally see him doing a big romantic gesture and renting out the entire restaurant so that it’s just the two of us.
Or maybe he’ll put a ring in one of the cake samples…
Okay not that.Who would be crazy enough to propose without even being exclusive first? But Tanner was kinda crazy, just like me. And I’d totally say yes. I mean…it was Tanner Rhodes. My stalker. And I’d been in love with him since the first moment I saw him step out of One57. For the first time I didn’t chastise myself for thinking it was love. And I didn’t even care how stalkery that was. Because it was true. Tanner was everything I’d ever wanted, wrapped up in a fancy suit.
And he was about to be either my boyfriend or freaking fiancé. I was sure of it. And I had no idea how I’d gotten so lucky.
Or maybe I did. I thought about my list of new things to try.
Try new smoothie flavors.
Go for a run.
Get blackout drunk.
I smiled to myself. It was a dumb list. And it only had three items, one of which I’d definitely not accomplished. Well, technically I had gone on a run…if running away from fake FBI agents counted. But it wasn’t about the individual items. It was about the spirit of the list. Because I sure as hell had tried a lot of new things over the past month.
I’d joined a sex club.
