Page 22 of Some Like It Hops

“It’s not a date,” I reply quickly. “And, no.”

She sighs. “Fine. I guess, if you have to suffer through an evening with that man, maybe you can at least find out if he looks as goodoutof the suit as he doesinit.”

My cheeks flush with heat and I pull my lips between my teeth.

“Oh, please,” Jo says with a laugh. “Like you haven’t already thought about sleeping with him. I knew the moment I laid eyes on him he was your type.” She rolls her eyes, then unzips the garment bag. “Where is he taking you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Hmm. Did he give you any clues? Anything that would tell you what to wear?”

I shake my head. “It’s just dinner.”

Josie scoffs. “Yeah. And he’s just a harmless guy you met at church.” She shakes her head. “I have a feeling nothing with that man is everjustanything.” She turns her attention back to her clothes spread out on the bed and nods. “Okay. I think I have just the thing. Sexy but simple. We want to knock his socks off, yes?” I open my mouth but she waves her hand. “Rhetorical, babe. We always want to knock their socks off.” She lifts up a black mini dress and turns around to face me. “Put this on.”

My eyes widen. “Isn’t that a bit… much?” Or,little, in this case. “I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard.”

“Dress too casual, and you could be embarrassed when you walk into somewhere nice; dress too fancy and, well, you could look foolish if it turns out he’s taking you somewhere for pizza and beer.” She scrunches her nose. “Which, judging by that tailored suit and the watch he had on, I doubt he’s a pizza and beer type of guy.”

Add that to the list of reasons we don’t make sense. I’m absolutely a pizza and beer kind of girl. Oh well. We’ll keep this strictly physical.

My cheeks heat at the thought.

Josie watches me suspiciously as she brings the black dress up to my chin. “Can’t really go wrong with the right LBD.”

I shrug and take the dress from her, then pull it over my head. My towel falls—

Josie gasps and I freeze with the dress bunched around my boobs.

“What? Did I rip it?” I raise my hands away from the dress. Maybe I should have stepped into it instead of pulling it over my head?

“What. Are. Those.”

I look down at my panties. “My underwear?”

She makes a face like she’s going to be sick. “So… you weren’t lying… this really isn’t a date.”

My mouth drops open.

Josie grabs my shoulder and turns me in a half circle. “Is that… it is. It’s a full butt. Not even cheeky panties.” She clicks her tongue and steps past me to my dresser. “Tell me you have something smaller.”

“What’s wrong with these? They’re that invisible kind. No panty lines.”

Jo scoffs. “There’s nothinginvisibleabout those, Char.”

“It’s a black dress. You won’t be able to see the polka dots through the fabric.”

“Take them off.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Off with ’em.”

“Myunderwear?”

“Yes, Charlie.”

I narrow my gaze, but do as I’m told, pulling the dress down around my thighs, then pushing my underwear to the floor and stepping out of them. “Happy?”

---