Allison scowled at Cassie. “Thank you so much for reminding me what a loser I am with no life,” she replied sarcastically.
I laughed. “Come on. You’ll get to see even more of Savannah’s history and culture. The auction is being held at the Mercer Williams House.”
“Is that the house from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?”
Nodding, I replied, “It sure is.”
“I thought that was more of a museum now?”
“While it is open for tours, Jim Williams’s sister still lives there. That’s how Mother was able to book the event. She goes way back with her.”
“It really does sound like fun,” Allison said, with a hesitant smile.
“Then why haven’t you said yes? I don’t think I’ve had to work this hard for a date in a long, long time.” Allison dark eyes bulged at the mention of the word “date.” Trying to backtrack, I said, “Well, you know what I mean.”
“I just don’t want this to be a pity thing.”
“A pity thing?” I repeated.
“I know that Jake asked you to check in on me because I was homesick. I don’t want you to feel like I have to tag along to everything or else I’ll be at home sitting in a dark room all depressed.”
I laughed. “This has nothing to do with pity or Jake. It’s all about you and I having fun out on the town. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“So does that mean you’ll go?”
“Yes.” But then her brow creased with worry. “It’s black tie, right?”
“Yeah. Is that a problem?”
Her hands fretted anxiously with the umbrella in her drink. “It’s just with me being new in town, all my nice dresses are back home.”
Cassie cleared her throat. “No need to fear. I have the perfect dress you can borrow.”
“You do?” Allison asked.
With a laugh, Cassie replied, “Yes, it’s a little, black couture number with the tags still on it. My dear mother brought it back from Fashion Week in Paris a few years back.” She winked at us. “It was one of her last ditch efforts at trying to feminize me.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind me borrowing it?”
Cassie rolled her eyes. “Does it look like I’m ever going to wear a dress, least of all some bullshit couture one?”
“Not really,” Allison replied.
“Exactly. So it’s yours as long as you’re not uncomfortable wearing a dress that is a few seasons old.”
Allison furiously shook her head. “No, I’d be happy to.”
Cassie grinned. “Then it’s all settled.” She turned to me. “Now you make sure to show our girl a good time.”
Fuck me that the words, “Allison” and “good time”, sent my perverted mind once again in a direction it shouldn’t have. Of course, it didn’t help I had such a delectable vision in front of me with her fitted dress and high-heeled boots on. Shit, I was so utterly screwed.
After sucking down the rest of my Crown, I met Allison’s gaze and plastered on what I hoped was a brotherly smile. “I’ll try my best.”
Chapter Four
As soon as I could clock out, I peddled like lightning home. I only had an hour to shower and get ready before I was supposed to meet Rhys at the Mercer Williams House. Considering I reeked of pizza and beer, I needed some time to transform myself so that I would look and smell acceptable for him.
I tore through the front door to find Cassie lounging on the couch. “There you are. I laid the dress out for you on your bed.”
“Thank you,” I panted. Without another word to her, I streaked down the hall to my bedroom. When I threw open the door, I bent over at the waist, bracing my hands on my knees to try and catch my breath. Once I had regulated my breathing, I jerked my head up and eyed the dress draped across my homemade quilt. “What the…?” I murmured, taking a few shaky steps over to the bed. “Cassie!”
“What?” she called.
“Get in here!” I demanded.
Within seconds, I heard her footsteps hurrying along the creaky old floorboards. When she burst through the door, she stared quizzically at me. “What the hell is the matter?”
I couldn’t find the words, so I pointed to the dress. Cassie crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t tell me you don’t like it?”
Reaching my hand out, I lightly touched the silky material. “No, it’s not that. The dress is gorgeous.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
I didn’t know quite how to articulate that the little black dress was in fact an extremely tiny black dress. I took it in my hands and held it up to my body. “Don’t you think it’s a kinda…” I wrinkled my nose. “Slutty?”
Cassie threw her head back and laughed. “Well, duh, of course it is. After all, it came from Paris.”
As I eyed the bottom of the dress, I couldn’t help thinking the slits and tears in the fabric made it look like it had been caught in a paper shredder. I loved fashion, but at the moment, I was not digging the designer’s approach.
“You’re going to be a f**king knock-out in that dress. I predict that several guys will come in their pants at the mere sight of you.”
“Eww,” I muttered with a laugh.
With a knowing look, she said, “Would it be gross if it were Rhys blowing his load just looking at you?”
“Must you be so vulgar?” I said, mimicking the haughty tone I’d heard her mother use at Cassie’s antics.
Cassie grinned. “Why yes, darling, I must. And don’t try to change the subject from Rhys.”
Feeling warmth flooding my cheeks, I laid the dress back down on the bed. “I need to hop in the shower.”
“There you go avoiding it again. I know how you feel about him, Allison.”
“But he doesn’t know.”
“But he should. You need to tell him. Hell, if you can’t say the words, then you should show him with your actions.” When I opened my mouth to protest, Cassie shook her head. “I know what I saw the other night. The man may be in denial, but he is totally and completely into you.”
More than anything in the world, I wanted to believe what Cassie was saying was the truth. While I’d never had the chance to be alone much with Rhys, I couldn’t help but see how differently he had treated me yesterday, not to mention that he called me sexy and beautiful. Surely someone who just considered you their little sister wouldn’t say that. But at the same time, there was still far too much unsaid between us to believe that we had really turned a corner.