haven’t had time to shop yet, Mr. Fashion Plate,” she said dryly, “but I did have my surgery, see?”
He stared at Lanie’s eyes. He had been too busy looking at her hideous outfit and gorgeous ride to notice them. Now that he saw them, it was difficult to look away. Even in the dim light, he could see she had mesmerizing eyes. They were hazel but completely unique, with a fluctuating color that transitioned somewhere between the earthy forest floor and bright golden stars. Kyle was lost in them. Her eyes were definitely her best feature.
“Very nice,” he replied, swallowing hard. Only when she turned away was he able to regain his composure.
Brad and Cassie arrived then, so Kyle’s exchange with Lanie was cut short. It irked Kyle, but he had no idea why, since the point of the date was to create a false pretense for Brad. Kyle and Brad sat on one side of the table while the girls sat on the other. Kyle missed Lanie’s presence next to him. He’d gotten used to it.
He sat through most of dinner listening to Cassie drone on about new eyeliners and perfume samples. Brad and Lanie occasionally chatted about work, but Cassie was quick to interrupt them. Kyle had started to focus his attention on the buxom strawberry blonde at the next table when Lanie kicked his shin. Oh yeah, he was supposed to keep his eyes on her. He shifted his gaze, noticing that Lanie’s hair was very soft and shiny. He wondered if it felt as good as it looked. He leaned forward to brush it away from her face, but she jerked from his touch with apparent discomfort. The reaction made him wince. Even though she had some starry-eyed crush on Brad, she could at least act interested. “I really like your tie, Kyle,” Cassie said with fake sweetness, interrupting his thoughts.
“Thanks. Lanie picked it out.” It was a complete lie, but it served a purpose: letting the other couple at the table know their relationship was serious.
“Lanie picked that out?” Cassie asked, rolling her eyes.
Brad said, “That’s a new tie, Kyle? I thought you wore—“
“Yes, Brad, it’s new. Lanie has very good taste,” Kyle interrupted, hoping Brad would just shut up.
“Too bad she can’t apply it to her own clothes,” Cassie said, once again acting as if Lanie weren’t present.
“It’s not what’s on the outside, Cassie. Lanie’s hiding some pretty valuable assets.” Even as he said it, Kyle tried hard not to grin. Brad choked on his drink. Kyle patted his friend on the back much harder than necessary.
Cassie narrowed her eyes at Kyle. “I don’t know about that. This one’s wound pretty tight,” Cassie retorted, putting her arm around Lanie in a sisterly gesture that was more patronizing than affectionate. Lanie was as red as a tomato and about to pass out. Kyle realized he was not doing her any favors. Still, he hated the taunting way her sister spoke to her.
“I prefer tight over loose any day of the week,” Kyle replied, watching for Cassie’s reaction. He hoped she wasn’t too dim-witted to understand his meaning.
Judging from the natural flush that further reddened Cassie’s artificially blushed complexion, she got it. However, unlike Lanie, Cassie wasn’t blushing because she was embarrassed. She was pissed off. She smoothed back her blonde hair, pouted her cherry-colored lips, and crossed her arms.
“Cassie, relax. Kyle wasn’t directing it at you.” Lanie’s voice came out strong but comforting. She rubbed her sister’s back with compassion. “Right, Kyle?” Lanie’s look was almost pleading.
“Kyle…“ Brad started, but Kyle had to stop this now. Their table was about to burst into flames.
“No, my statement was not meant maliciously. Sorry, Cassie. I’m not very good with words.”
“Which is really surprising since you’re a journalist,” Brad replied with sarcastic animosity.
Kyle turned to Brad and gave him his best “I’m a jerk and I know it” look. It had always worked in college, and
He stared at Lanie’s eyes. He had been too busy looking at her hideous outfit and gorgeous ride to notice them. Now that he saw them, it was difficult to look away. Even in the dim light, he could see she had mesmerizing eyes. They were hazel but completely unique, with a fluctuating color that transitioned somewhere between the earthy forest floor and bright golden stars. Kyle was lost in them. Her eyes were definitely her best feature.
“Very nice,” he replied, swallowing hard. Only when she turned away was he able to regain his composure.
Brad and Cassie arrived then, so Kyle’s exchange with Lanie was cut short. It irked Kyle, but he had no idea why, since the point of the date was to create a false pretense for Brad. Kyle and Brad sat on one side of the table while the girls sat on the other. Kyle missed Lanie’s presence next to him. He’d gotten used to it.
He sat through most of dinner listening to Cassie drone on about new eyeliners and perfume samples. Brad and Lanie occasionally chatted about work, but Cassie was quick to interrupt them. Kyle had started to focus his attention on the buxom strawberry blonde at the next table when Lanie kicked his shin. Oh yeah, he was supposed to keep his eyes on her. He shifted his gaze, noticing that Lanie’s hair was very soft and shiny. He wondered if it felt as good as it looked. He leaned forward to brush it away from her face, but she jerked from his touch with apparent discomfort. The reaction made him wince. Even though she had some starry-eyed crush on Brad, she could at least act interested. “I really like your tie, Kyle,” Cassie said with fake sweetness, interrupting his thoughts.
“Thanks. Lanie picked it out.” It was a complete lie, but it served a purpose: letting the other couple at the table know their relationship was serious.
“Lanie picked that out?” Cassie asked, rolling her eyes.
Brad said, “That’s a new tie, Kyle? I thought you wore—“
“Yes, Brad, it’s new. Lanie has very good taste,” Kyle interrupted, hoping Brad would just shut up.
“Too bad she can’t apply it to her own clothes,” Cassie said, once again acting as if Lanie weren’t present.
“It’s not what’s on the outside, Cassie. Lanie’s hiding some pretty valuable assets.” Even as he said it, Kyle tried hard not to grin. Brad choked on his drink. Kyle patted his friend on the back much harder than necessary.
Cassie narrowed her eyes at Kyle. “I don’t know about that. This one’s wound pretty tight,” Cassie retorted, putting her arm around Lanie in a sisterly gesture that was more patronizing than affectionate. Lanie was as red as a tomato and about to pass out. Kyle realized he was not doing her any favors. Still, he hated the taunting way her sister spoke to her.
“I prefer tight over loose any day of the week,” Kyle replied, watching for Cassie’s reaction. He hoped she wasn’t too dim-witted to understand his meaning.
Judging from the natural flush that further reddened Cassie’s artificially blushed complexion, she got it. However, unlike Lanie, Cassie wasn’t blushing because she was embarrassed. She was pissed off. She smoothed back her blonde hair, pouted her cherry-colored lips, and crossed her arms.
“Cassie, relax. Kyle wasn’t directing it at you.” Lanie’s voice came out strong but comforting. She rubbed her sister’s back with compassion. “Right, Kyle?” Lanie’s look was almost pleading.
“Kyle…“ Brad started, but Kyle had to stop this now. Their table was about to burst into flames.
“No, my statement was not meant maliciously. Sorry, Cassie. I’m not very good with words.”
“Which is really surprising since you’re a journalist,” Brad replied with sarcastic animosity.
Kyle turned to Brad and gave him his best “I’m a jerk and I know it” look. It had always worked in college, and
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