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Right now? I do feel confident. Sexy even.
And it’s not the dress. Notonlythe dress at least. It’s Kit, who’s said—and shown—how much he appreciates my body like this.
I hurry into the bathroom, applying a light layer of makeup. I pull my hair out of its bun and run a brush through it. And then, after pulling on the black wrap coat I wear to work, I make the reckless decision to wear heels. They tap rhythmically against the hardwood as I walk down the hallway. If Kit hadn’t indicated we were in a rush, I’d stop in the living room to sit at the piano and pretend I was performing at Carnegie Hall.
Kit’s leaning a shoulder against one of the entryway walls when I turn the corner. He straightens at the sound of my approaching footsteps, eyes skimming over the silk swishing around my calves and journeying upward until they land on my face. The appreciative expression on his makes the pinch in my toes worth it.
I attempted to dress up on New Year’s Eve, but aside from that he’s mostly seen me in baggy clothes meant to disguise-slash-accommodate my growing bump. And I like that I felt comfortable enough around Kit to lounge around in my pajamas and no makeup most of today, but he’s also who I want to admire my effort to appear a little more glamorous. And who I want to ruin that effort later.
“You look beautiful,” Kit tells me, pressing a soft kiss against my mouth before we head into the hallway and then inside the elevator.
“So, where are we going?” I ask as it starts to descend.
“You’ll see,” he replies cryptically.
I huff, but I’m not really annoyed. Mostly giddy. This is already the best date I’ve ever been on.
The elevator stops a few seconds later, only a few floors down.
I stiffen when the blonde who visited Kit at work walks in. Sadie … something.
I know there were other women before August. Since she visited him at work and apparently lives in his building, I’m guessing Sadie’s on that list. And I can trust him and love him and feel secure in our relationship andalsobe jealous. I was jealous the last time I met Sadie, too, I just refused to admit it.
“Hey, Kit,” she greets sunnily.
“Hi, Sadie,” he replies.
Her eyes jump to me next. I’m expecting aloofness, maybe even rudeness, but she startles me by laughing. “Oh. Okay. You were right.”
I glance at Kit, but he says nothing. One corner of his mouth is curved up though, like he’s restraining a smile. Inside joke, I guess?
“Hi. I’m Collins,” I say, not sure what else to contribute to the strange interaction.
Kit hasn’t mentioned Sadie since the day she visited, but they seem … close.
“Oh, I know,” she replies. “We met at Kensington Consolidated, remember? You’re Kit’s assistant.”
“I remember. But I don’t, uh … I’m not his assistant anymore.”
Sadie nods. “Good for you. It seemed like a stressful job.”
I’m not sure how to respond to that, and we stop in the lobby a few seconds later.
“Have a great night,” Sadie says, stepping off. “Nice to see you again, Collins.”
“You too,” I respond, my smile slipping as soon as the doors close.
Kit makes an amused sound in the back of his throat.
I glance at him. “What?”
He shrugs. “Nothing. Just a tickle.”
I press my lips tightly together as the doors open again, this time in the garage.
I have no real reason to feel jealous. But it’s the same irrational surge I experienced when I saw him sitting alone out on the patio with that brunette. I’d walked in on Isaac actively screwing someone else, and I was hurt and pissed, but I wasn’t jealous. I never handed my ex the power to truly hurt me. Kit holds that ability.
“Which one do you want to take?” Kit asks, nodding to the line of vehicles parked ahead.