Page 14 of His Undercover Wolf

“Shame, it was elegant and demure for you.”

“I have a new pale pink dress I think would be perfect for you.”

“Have you worn it yet?”

“No. I decided it wasn’t my color when I got it home. If you like it, it’s yours. I’ll bring the emerald and pink over and be there in half an hour.

“Thanks, Zarina. You’re a life saver.”

I disconnected the call as I turned into my driveway and pushed the button on the remote control to raise the garage door. After driving inside, I hit the remote a second time and it lowered.

I sat for a few moments, thinking about what Zarina had said about Xavier being my soulmate and the consequences of becoming involved with him. He was a…client. I guessed it was one word for who Xavier was at the moment.

“Get real, Otsana. You are turning into Zarina with all your thinking about soulmates. Xavier is taking you for one dinner, not proposing marriage.”

I grabbed the Worlds Apart file from the passenger seat, my purse, and cell phone, and pulled the keys from the ignition before climbing from the car and entering the house through a door leading from the garage into the kitchen.

I dropped everything on the nearest counter and glanced at the clock on the wall. It showed 5:27pm, I had a little less than an hour and a half before I’d need to leave to drive to the restaurant. I jogged upstairs to shower while I waited for Zarina to arrive with the dresses. She had a key to my place and could let herself inside if necessary.

***

“Your savior has arrived!”Zarina shouted from downstairs, presumably as she entered the house since seconds later the front door slammed shut causing me to raise my shoulders as I cringed. I swear the woman had no clue how to close a door without causing the windows to rattle.

“Upstairs…Bedroom!” I shouted back while packing away the makeup I’d been using.

My hair was tied up in a knot on top of my head, necessary so it didn’t become wet in the shower. I’d deal with the thick, curly mass after I decided on a dress.

I walked out of the bathroom adjoining my bedroom at the same time Zarina breezed through the door with a plastic suit bag draped over one arm.

“Lose the bra,” she commanded after checking out the matching white lacy panties and bra I wore.

“Excuse me? I’m not going anywhere without a bra.”

Zarina laid the bag flat on my bed and faced me with both hands jammed on his hips. Leaning forward a little, as she was taller than me, she pinned me with her stare.

“Honey, your boobs are no bigger than swollen bee stings and the pink dress is strapless and doesn’t allow for a bra which is why it will be better on you than me.”

Zarina straightened and made a sweeping motion over her chest. “These babies were too heavy and kept escaping out of the top which, apart from not liking the color on me, is why I decided against wearing it anywhere.”

The lady was very well endowed, and I swear four of my breasts would have equaled one of hers. I allowed my thoughts to drift back to when we were only young girls.

We’d begun to mature around the age of eleven for Zarina, and twelve for me. I’d been jealous as hell of her shapely body and developing boobs. When I reached thirteen, and still had fuck all growing out of my chest, I’d talked my mother into taking me to the store for padded training bras and had proudly paraded around in low cut tops that showed off my newly found cleavage.

Things hadn’t changed much as Zarina had alluded to and men I’d been with in the past suggested I consider implants if I wanted a long-term relationship. Needless to say, the men had been shown the door, and a year and a half earlier, I’d given up on finding a man who would want me for who I was…both of me, and I’d quit dating. It hadn’t been a difficult decision since the dating pool was shit. I was happy on my own…Wasn’t I? Although I wasn’t really on my own, Zarina was always there when I needed and we’d stalked movie theaters for all the latest releases, went out for dinners, hung out at the beach, and had even spent a week cruising the Bahamas. Not to mention the hours we spent playing in the state forest as wolves.

Zarina was a man magnet, and always had been. She was a beautiful, confident woman who played men like a musical instrument and soon had them falling at her feet and worshiping the ground she walked on.

Like me, Zarina had been hurt by a man she loved, but where I’d since avoided men…until Xavier, Zarina lured them to her and played with them like a cat plays with a mouse. Once they gave their heart, she tossed them aside, leaving a lot of broken hearts in her wake. I didn’t agree with her actions, but nobody, including me, meddled in my friend’s life and remained her friend.

Zarina unzipped the bag and pulled out a pink satin-blend dress, holding it up for me to examine. The strapless corset-like bodice was made from fine lace with strategically placed pads underneath to cover the nipples. A wide band of fabric circling the waist held the skirts in place. The left side hugged my curves, draping to just below the knee while the right side fell in waterfall folds. A deep split reaching the top of the thigh allowed the one to walk, dance, or sit without hindrance. Beneath the light of my bedroom, the fabric shimmered with an opalescent glow. The dress was gorgeous but daring and not like anything I would have considered buying.

“Come on, Otsana. Just for once in your life let me show you what a beautiful woman you are. You’ll have Xavier’s tongue hanging out of his mouth from the moment he lays eyes on you.”

Is that what I wanted? There had certainly been an unusual and unique connection between me and Xavier when we’d met. Did I want to explore what the connection was and where it could lead? Was I ready to take a leap of faith and plunge back into a life which included dating a man?

“Stop thinking so hard, Otsana. Nick was an asshole. He always was and always will be. I’m sorry he abused your friendship and relationship but it’s time to give someone else a chance. You can’t hold a grudge against all men forever.”

I raised my eyebrows. “Um…Pot, this is kettle.”

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