She broke the connection and I stared down at my phone.
Then I let out a strangled little high-pitched scream and scampered to my room and frantically began to dig out and assemble the nicest outfit I could manage at such short notice.
Tartan featured heavily in the form of a mainly-red knee-length wraparound skirt, and I opted for my slim-cut black blazer and a white blouse to go with them.
I stripped like a maniac, struggled into clean and presentable lace knickers and bra, and finished dressing at a similarly breakneck pace.
I dug in a corner for my nicer black kitten heels, and then took stock.
I looked okay. A bit too much lost Scottish public schoolgirl but it would do in a pinch; I wouldn’t shame her.
A quick bit of subtle lipstick and there, almost normal if you ignored my garish fairground-attraction hair.
I quickly ran my comb through my rats-nest, and dug out my nice silver and walnut hairpins to contain everything into a sensible bun that left my ears and neck open.
I grabbed my phone and slipped it into my jacket’s inner pocket.
Then I closed the door of my room.
Marius whistled.
“Now that’s a solid makeover. You look bloody nice, Willa,” he said from where he’d claimed all the couch. “Got a date you didn’t tell Pete and me about, you tart?”
“Hah, no, if only. Meeting a friend for dinner.”
“A he friend or a she friend?”
“A she friend,” I said, “but straight as a rail, alas. I sure know how to pick ’em.”
“What a shame. Well, have fun, toots!”
“Enjoy the movie. Give Pete a kiss from me too when he gets back, will you?”
“I’ll be sure to slip him a bit of extra tongue on your behalf,” he said, grinning.
“Ooh, kinky. I approve. Enjoy!”
He laughed and waved.
.:.
Here pinged my phone.
I swallowed and stepped out into the evening, closing and locking our front door behind me.
She’d parked almost directly in front of the house; the Range Rover’s engine was clattering away merrily as she waited for me.
I walked slowly down the steps, feeling not at all in control of myself as I opened the door and peered in.
She smiled at me from the enfolding leather of the driver’s seat.
“Gosh, Willa, you look nice,” she breathed. “I feel underdressed now. Get in, it’s nippy.”
I climbed in and settled tentatively down into the luxurious leather, pulling the door closed behind me. I fumbled with the seat belt and sighed as it clicked into place.
“So,” she said.
“So,” I echoed her, nerves jangling.
“Are you all set?”
“Yeah.”
She eased us out into the road and off we went.
“I really do love your outfit, by the way,” she said. “If that’s what you can do in fifteen minutes God help us if you have time to prepare.”
“Thanks. You… you look really nice too,” I added, as I tried not to drool over the pale blue denim jeans she’d selected, the tight white tee shirt with its little pink sequin heart and the way she’d decided to let her magical hair fall loose down over her shoulders.
It made her look even younger. Younger than me, almost.
I felt a strange little fizz in my tummy at that thought.
“Thanks,” she said, smiling. “It’s nice to… to dress how I feel, sometimes.”
“How you feel looks great. Really great. God, those are nice jeans…”
And then I flushed and looked away.
“Where are we going?” I asked, to try to hide the blush.. “Or should I rather say, where are you taking me?”
“The Fox.”
“Which Fox?” I demanded.
“The Fox.”
“So that’s how it’s going to be, is it?”
She grinned, and I suddenly felt better. Whatever awkwardness had been brewing had now passed, we were back to our usual selves.
“So how are you at a loose end?” I said. “And why am I the lucky victim?”
“Because of all my friends, you’re the only one I’d actually want to spend tonight with.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“Willa… are you blushing?”
“Yes,” I admitted, sourly.
She was delighted by the discovery.
“That’s delicious.”
The way she said the word was also delicious.
I swallowed.
Hard.
Christ, was I ever besotted with her.
I hunted around for a safer topic…
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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