Erin might be a lot of things, but she firmly believed in first come, first served. If she smelt the faintest whiff of another woman in a man’s life, she crossed him off her list of potential dates quicker than a fly swat whipping through the air.
She took another look around. Who was she kidding? She’d hardly been on a date in the last ten months. She doubted she’d even know what to do with a man if he showed the slightest bit of interest in her.
Nicky locked the pickup and dropped the keys into her purse. “We’re going to a charity ball, not an all you can eat human buffet. And stop pulling on that bodice. The whole thing’s going to fall down around your waist if it gets any lower.”
With a mischievous smile, Erin ran her hands down the side of her crimson dress. She tweaked her satin bodice again before Nicky’s hands slapped her fingers away. “You’re turning into a mother hen,” she laughed. “Just because you’re engaged to Sam, it doesn’t mean I’m off limits to the male population as well. This dress is practically decent.”
Nicky stared at Erin’s chest. “It started off decent when you wore it to Ellie’s wedding, but that new bra has pushed every square inch of decency out the window.”
Erin pulled her shoulders back, straining the seams of the gown even further. “I’m sick of being sensible,” she growled. “I’m a librarian, for God’s sake. How sensible can one person get? I’m going to break free of the mold I’ve squished myself into. I want to be frivolous.”
“Well don’t go breaking free tonight.”
The scowl on Nicky’s face worried Erin. “What have you done?”
“Nothing…well, almost nothing.”
Erin and Nicky had been friends since kindergarten. From personal experience she knew ‘almost nothing’ usually turned into ‘something’. “You’d better tell me now before we get into the hotel.”
Nicky pulled her black lace shawl over her shoulders, stalling for time.
“I’m waiting…”
Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Nicky glared at Erin as if it was her fault they were having a heart-to-heart discussion in the middle of the parking lot. “The thing is, Sam’s friend invited us to the ball. And we invited you.”
Erin felt her buffet option disappear in a puff of Chanel perfume. “And where is this friend going to sit?”
“With us.”
Her mouth fell open. “I’m twenty-eight-years-old. I’m too old for a blind date.” So much for her night of frivolity. Sam and Nicky had tied her to someone as desperate and dateless as she was.
“Don’t get all pouty on me. Jake’s a lawyer. He moved back home a few months ago.” Nicky rolled her eyes at the scoffing noise coming from Erin’s disbelieving mouth. “He’s a great guy.”
“A great guy?” Erin walked toward a row of miniature trees covered in twinkling fairy lights. His life sounded just about as riveting as hers. Instead of cataloging rules and collection management plans, his life revolved around interpreting statutes and locking criminals behind bars. Lawyers didn’t live for the moment. Erin wanted spontaneous and impulsive. Everything that lawyers and librarians weren’t.
She tried to imagine what would go through the man’s head when he saw her. “You know what he’s going to think, don’t you? He’s going to think I’m pathetic, and that’s just for starters.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. One look at you and he’ll be blown away.”
“Don’t try wiggling out of this with flattery. I’m looking for hot romance, not a night of polite conversation with a boring lawyer.” A taxi honked its horn. Erin’s head shot up. Twenty feet and she’d be a free woman. No Nicky, no Sam, and most definitely no lawyer.
Nicky’s gaze flicked toward the street. “Don’t even think about it.”
With a lingering glance at the row of taxis, Erin hauled the strap of her evening purse over her shoulder. “You are in so much trouble. If he starts snoring during dinner I’m going home and leaving you to explain what happened.”
Nicky pulled her toward the entrance. “I’ve met Jake, and you won’t be disappointed.”
Erin stared at her reflection in the glass doors and yanked her bodice up a notch. She didn’t want him getting the wrong idea, especially if Jake whatever-his-name made her want to bolt for the nearest exit.
***
Arm in arm, Erin and Nicky marched into the lobby of the Baxter Hotel. Luxurious sofas and armchairs sat in a room three times the size of Erin’s entire house. An enormous crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft mellow light on the gleaming wooden floors.
Sam met them by the front counter.
Erin stared at the goofy grin plastered across his face. “I don’t care how crazy love has made you, Samuel Delaney. I don’t appreciate being set up on a blind date.”
He looked at Nicky. “She knows?”
Nicky shrugged her shoulders. “Of course she knows. We’ve been standing outside for the last ten minutes debating the merits of hot romance over a blind date.”
Erin cringed. She might be looking for a bad boy, but Sam didn’t need to know all the gory details. “You’re not supposed to tell him that.”
Sam’s brown eyes filled with laughter. “I’m kind of hoping for some hot romance, too.”
Erin shook her head. “That’s too much information for a woman who wants to live dangerously.” She looked around the room rather than at the two lovebirds making eyes at each other. “So where’s Mr. Desperate and Dateless?”
“Right behind you,” a male voice said.
Forever Wishes - Available Now!
Other Contemporary Romances by Leeanna Morgan:
Montana Brides:
Book 1: Forever Dreams (Gracie and Trent)
Book 2: Forever in Love (Amy and Nathan)
Book 3: Forever After (Nicky and Sam)
Book 4: Forever Wishes (Erin and Jake)
Book 4.5 Forever Santa (A Montana Brides Christmas Novella)
Book 5: Forever Cowboy (Emily and Alex)
Book 6: Forever Together (Kate and Dan)
Book 7: Forever and a Day (Sarah and Jordan)
The Bridesmaids Club (Linked to Montana Brides):
Book 1: All of Me (Tess and Logan)
Book 2: Loving You (Annie and Dylan)
Book 3: Head Over Heels (Sally and Todd)
Book 4: Sweet on You (Molly and Jacob)
Emerald Lake Billionaires
(Linked to The Bridesmaids Club & Montana Brides):
Book 1: Sealed with a Kiss (Rachel and John)
Book 2: Playing for Keeps (Sophie and Ryan)
Book 3: Crazy Love (Holly and Daniel)
Forever After (Montana Brides, Book 3) Page 22