Go out on my first date with Rhett like this?Oh.Hell.No.
“I’ll be right back.”I spun around and shut the door.Two steps later, I realized I’d closed it with Rhettoutside.
“Shit!”
I yanked the door open and took him in, standing on my front stoop with a smile on his face.I didn’t even attempt to lie.“I’m flustered.This is all because of you.Would you like to waitinside?”
Rhett stepped in the house, leaving barely an inch between us, and closed the door behind himself.“Take your time.I’ve been waiting what seems like my whole life for this.I can wait a littlelonger.”
Oh.My.God.
His hooded green eyes told me he spoke the truth, and it took everything I had to turn away and put one foot in front of the other until I reached mybedroom.
As soon as I eased the door closed behind me, I broke into a dance that was way more enthusiastic than the one Esme and Erik had witnessed earlier.With both fists in the air, I spun into mycloset.
You can get what you want.Sometimes it just takes halfyourlife.
With a deep breath, I surveyed my clothes.Now, what in the world am I goingtowear?
The need tobalance not wasting too much precious time on getting ready warred with the need to look hot as hell.After an objective scan of my closet, I opted for a little black dress that went everywhere with me because it was so versatile.The draping V-neck was low enough that it was sexy, but the extra swath of fabric teased more than it revealed, keeping itclassy.
Once I’d selected a pair of simple black stilettos and jewelry, I rushed to the bathroom with my armful and stared into themirror.
My hair was every bit as much of a disaster as I’d thought it might be.It had reached bird’s-nest-level proportions, and it was painfully obvious I wasn’t wearing a bra under my T-shirt.
And still Rhett had kissed me like he was a man coming backfromwar.
That was averygood sign, in myopinion.
I stripped in minutes and kept my hair in a knot on my head before I hopped in the shower and did the fastest shaving job of my life.I was taking no chances that things might end up in a bed later—or up against a wall, in a car, or on a table, because my imagination was very well-versed in creativity when it came toRhett.
Luckily, no blood was spilled in the shower and I was dressed, made up, and my hair had been tamed into a sophisticated twist with tendrils falling around my face in under twenty-five minutes.I considered it a minor miracle, although not the type that would reasonably put me in contention forcanonization.
Slipping my right foot into my second stiletto, I adjusted the strap and buckled it before straightening and preparing myself to walk back into thelivingroom.
I’m going on a date with RhettHennessy.
I will not worry aboutbeingcool.
I will not worry about beingawesome.
I will be my own damn self, and if that’s not good enough for him, it’s not meanttobe.
With that pep talk bringing me solidly back to earth, I strode in his direction.He rose from his seat on the sofa, his faceunreadable.
He kissed me when I was looking like a hot mess, so he has to appreciate this effort,right?
Rhett stepped forward, meeting me in the middle.“You’re beautiful, Ari.Whether you’re wearing a T-shirt with a pencil jammed in your hair or a ball gown, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.Thank you for not telling me I missedmyshot.”
His words, ones I didn’t realize I needed to hear, echoed withsincerity.
“I wondered if you were ever going to let me know what happened with my brother.I kept myself busy all day trying not to thinkaboutit.”
Rhett reached for my hand and gripped it.“Turns out he’s a hell of a lot more levelheaded about the situation than I would be if I had a sister.But I don’t, and he’s not standing in our way.So let’s go see what we thinkaboutthis.”
As I let Rhett lead me to my front door, I appreciated his no-nonsense approach.With all the waiting, longing, hoping, praying—on my side of the fence, obviously—it was hard not to wonder if reality would be anything near what I’d dreamed of as ateenager.
Neither of us were in high school anymore, and those old feelings might not have faded, but they weren’t relevant here.This was new ground for us to cover, and I was going to put everything elsebehindme.