Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee Read Free Book Online Page A

and questioned him with her stare.
    “Did you see the shoes?” He nodded toward the box.
    Jessie glanced over her shoulder and saw two strappy heels with tiny rhinestones adorning the edges, perfect for the dress.
    “Are they my size?”
    “You said seven, right?”
    “Yeah.”
    She moved back over to the box and gently laid the dress inside. “I don’t know, Jack. This is pricey stuff. I’d hate for you to get caught borrowing it and find yourself canned all on my account.”
    “I’m telling you, no one will be the wiser. This dress has been sitting there for months. I’m surprised it hasn’t collected dust. Seems a shame to let it sit in the box instead of being worn by a beautiful lady.”
    Jessie passed him a frown. “You’re incorrigible.”
    “Been called worse.”
    “Still.”
    Jack helped her put the lid back on the box. “The party starts at eight this Saturday night.” He fished out a piece of paper from his pocket. “Here’s your ticket.”
    She glanced at the embossed paper withthe time, date, and place stamped on it. A tiny bit of holly took up a corner. Elegant.
    Pam, another of the night servers, poked her head through the break room door. “Getting busy out here,” she said.
    “I’ll leave you so you can get to work,” Jack said. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
    “As long as you’re sure you won’t get in any trouble.”
    Jack rolled his eyes. “I won’t. Promise.”
    Jessie slid the box on the top of the lockers and turned for the door.
    “Hey, Jack,” she called out to him before he could leave.
    He turned and gave her his signature smile, dimples and all. “Yeah.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Eight o’clock,” he said with a wink.
    “Got it.”
    He gave her a little salute with the brim of his hat and sauntered his Levi’s-clad butt right out the door.
    “Who was that?” Pam asked.
    “A-A friend.”
    “Right. Is that what we’re calling them these days?”
    Jessie turned away from her. “Oh, stop. Not you, too.”
    “If he needs more friends ,you can give him my number.”
    “You have a boyfriend,” Jessie reminded her.
    “Ha! Exactly.” Pam shuffled around her and mumbled to herself. “Friend…yeah, right.”

Chapter Four

    “You’re stalling,” Monica saidwith laughter in her voice.
    “Am not.”
    “Are too.”
    Jessie wrinkled her nose at her sister and turned to the mirror one last time. The dress fit perfectly. The cut of the dress accentuated her slim waist and the shoes showed off her calves.
    Her hair sat piled on her head with plenty of whimsy strips falling to her shoulders. Jack had even tucked a pair of earrings into the box. Or maybe the man who originally bought the dress had tossed them in and Jack had no idea they were in there.
    “You look gorgeous.” Monica was sprawled on the bed, gazing at Jessie while tossing popcorn in her mouth.
    Jessie ran her hands over her nervous stomach and turned to the side. “It’s not bad, huh?”
    “So tell me more about this guy…Jack.”
    Maybe it is time to get going? “I’ve already told you. He’s just a guy I met at the restaurant who wants to help me find a nice, well-off man who can help dig me out of this hole I’m in. And then I can finish my degree, too.”
    “Is he cute?”
    “Who, Jack?”
    Monica rolledher eyes. “No, the well-off guy you haven’t met yet! Of course I mean Jack.”
    Answering Monica’s question honestly would result in constant harassment. “He’s all right, I guess.” If you want your men sexy, gorgeous, and confident beyond reason . Jessie pictured his dimpled grin and couldn’t stop the smile from spreading on her own face.
    “He’s from Texas?”
    “Yep.”
    “Accent?”
    “One that matches the cowboy hat he’s always wearing.”
    “When are we going to meet him?”
    Jessie turned to her sister and placed her hands on her waist. “It isn’t what you’re thinking, Mo. Jack is a friend. That’s it. I’ve told him no to him and me dating.”
    “So he