Page 16 of Love Undiscovered
Chapter 4
Remi
Lexie and I get ready together for the Law Enforcement Annual Ball. It’s not an event either of us would ordinarily attend, but tonight is special. Kat is getting engaged to her boyfriend, Brad.
Again.
Only she doesn’t know it.
Brad has arranged dates for both Lexie and I so we can attend and surprise her. We’ll be the first surprise, and Brad’s proposal will be the second. Even though I have no desire to go anywhere near the institution of marriage, I’m excited for Kat. Brad is a really good guy and such an amazing partner for her.
It’s only because Brad is proposing that I let him talk me in to attending the ball with Kat’s sometimes law enforcement partner, Chance Bauer. And she’s only a sometimes partner because she’s on an indefinite leave of absence from all work. Chance and I knew one another briefly in college, and I’ve had an intense dislike for him since. But, because of his connection to Kat, I run into him from time to time.
I’ll admit that he’s good-looking, but he knows it. And once upon a time, I found him attractive enough to almost fuck him. I saved myself by vomiting on him instead. That’s a story for another time.
Tonight, I need to focus on being civil to him, for Kat’s sake and making sure she has the perfect night. She deserves it.
Even though tonight is for Kat, I still feel the need to make sure I look amazing at the ball. Better than amazing.
Drop. Fucking. Dead. Gorgeous.
I want Chance Bauer’s little head to explode when he sees me.
I see no need to examine my rationale behind that feeling too much, however.
The event is semi-formal, so I got a new dress. One that can fit with a variety of dress codes. I like styles from the 1950s, if I had to pick a fashion icon, Dita Von Teese would fit the bill. In true Dita fashion, my hair is pinned back in victory rolls, eyes are lined like a cat, and my lips are red to match my dress.
A gathered, red wiggle dress with a crossover neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a slit up the back. My legs are bare, as are my ass and tits, this dress can’t afford any lines under it. Black peep-toe stilettos complete the look.
“Wow,” Lexie exclaims when she sees me, her eyes wide. “All I can say is wow.”
I look at myself in the full-length mirror, trying to be both objective and critical at the same time. I have to agree, I look good. I may detest Chance, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want him to eat his heart out. So to speak.
Lexie, on the other hand, is almost my polar opposite. While my look screams Hollywood siren, hers screams sexy punk-rock pixie. Her black strapless baby doll dress fits her personality to a tee with the full tulle skirt, large glitter belt, patterned tights, and stiletto ankle boots, she is ready to rock. She’s petite so she can easily pull off a mini with tulle. We styled her pink hair in little spikey knots on either side of her head, gave her a black smoky eye, and a nude lip. She’s perfection personified.
“Back at you, Lex. You look positively edible.” I wink. “I’d do you.” And I would too, if Lexie were into it and I could guarantee it wouldn’t completely fuck up our friendship. I’m not bisexual, I would consider myself to be more fluid with my sexuality. Basing it on attraction to the person more than anything else. And I find Lexie attractive. But, not only is Lexie not into chicks, she’s a relationship girl. And if there’s one thing I do not do, it’s relationships.
My doorbell rings.
“That’s either Ethan or Chance,” I say.
At the same time that Brad arranged for me to attend with Chance, he arranged for Lexie to attend with his SSFD partner, Ethan. There was a time I thought Ethan and Lexie would make a cute pair, but Lex is slow to get involved. Even more so than me. I suspect Ethan would have her in a heartbeat, he makes no secret that he’s had a crush on her for a while.
I open the door to find Ethan on the front stoop. I eye him up and down appreciatively, after all, he was once the cover model for the annual firefighter calendar. Brad was as well. Both men are worthy of appreciative stares. Tonight, Ethan’s blonde hair is slicked back, making it look a shade darker, giving his all-American boy look an edge. Between that, and his perpetual surfer boy tan, his green eyes pop.
“Hello, handsome.” I smile.
“Hey gorgeous.” He leans in to kiss my cheek.
Lexie comes bounding up behind us. “Hey, date!”
Ethan looks up at her, his eyes lighting up when he sees her. “Lexie, you take my breath away.” He grabs her hand and kisses the back of it, bowing slightly at her. “How about we go right now? Ride into the sunset, rescue dogs, have babies, drink wine, and live happily ever after. What do you say?” The look on his face hopeful.
She giggles at him and pats his chest. “I’m not the girl for you, E.”
“You could be,” he says.
She leans in to give him a hug, and I catch him taking a quick whiff of her hair. Man, he’s got it bad.
