Bodice of Evidence by Nancy J. Parra Read Free Book Online

because even Denny’s was packed full.
    Gage reached over and lifted my chin with his index finger. “Are you still up for going out?”
    â€œOh, yeah,” I said. “If a man makes reservations, I’m so there.” Thankfully I had a little black dress in the back of my closet. I’d bought it for one of Felicity’s dinner parties. “Let me pop in the shower.”
    â€œA woman says ‘let me pop in the shower’ and I’m unbuttoning my shirt,” he teased and pretended to unbutton the second button on his shirt.
    â€œOh, no,” I said and wagged my finger. “We have reservations.” I scooted to the bedroom. “Make yourself at home. There are glasses and a variety of drinks in the antique liquor cabinet.” I waved toward the corner of the living area that didn’t contain my home office.
    â€œNice,” he said. “Where’d you get the cabinet?”
    â€œIt was a flea market find,” I said as I rushed into my bedroom. I slipped off my socks and shoes, grabbed clean, date-appropriate underwear, and my brand-new silky robe. “I won’t be too long.”
    â€œTake your time,” his voice trailed behind me. “I like the idea of being here when you get ready for a date.”
    Wow, why did that sound so darn sexy? When did getting ready for a date become romantic? Bobby and I had dated since my sophomore year in high school. It occurred to me that I had missed out on a lot of things normal women experienced.
    I was in and out of the shower in record time. The humidity of the bathroom had my hair curling in mad ringlets. I figured why not go with it. Gage didn’t seem to mind that I didn’t wear the latest straight style. I had tried it once, but after ninety minutes spent with a straightening iron in my hands, I took one step outside and my hair bounced right back to its frizzy self. I wrapped the robe around me, spritzed curl spray in my hair, and let it do its thing while I applied makeup.
    There was a knock at the bathroom door. “Are you decent?”
    I laughed. “Now that’s the real question, isn’t it?” I opened the door and enjoyed the way his pupils widened in his dark blue eyes. Did I mention that he had the longest, thickest black lashes? Something any redhead would give her eyeteeth for. It took me five coats of mascara to achieve his natural look.
    â€œNice.”
    â€œThanks.” I saw that he held two glasses of white wine. “Is one of those for me?”
    â€œYeah.” He passed one my way. “I thought maybe you could use it as you got ready.”
    â€œThanks.” I took the glass from his hand and sipped the cold wine. “Okay, I’m closing the door. A girl needs to work her magic far from a man’s watchful gaze. It’s too early in this relationship for you to know all my secrets.”
    Gage chuckled as I reluctantly closed the door on him.
    Ten minutes later I scooted from the bathroom to the bedroom, threw the dress over my head, put on earrings and a necklace, and tossed back the last of my wine. I walked out in the living room to find Gage staring out the window.
    â€œHey, I’m ready,” I said as I slipped on my shoes.
    He put his wineglass down on the coffee table and strode over. “You look beautiful.”
    Why was it that whenever anyone said that to me I thought they were lying? I swallowed my protest. “Thanks.”
    I opened the coat closet and pulled out his soft leather coat and my own princess-seamed black wool coat. “What were you looking at?”
    He put on his coat and then helped me with mine. “You have a view of The Naked Truth.”
    â€œI know.” I slipped my hands through the sleeves and then buttoned up my coat. “Kind of weird, right? Bobby picked this apartment.”
    â€œI thought you two never lived together.” Gage reached the door handle first and opened it for