Page 57 of Kiss Me, Sweetheart (Something Borrowed 2)

The woman doing her toes put the clear coat on and took her hands to help her up.

“What are you thinking about?” Marley asked.

“Nothing, just my date.”

Marley gave her a look that clearly said she could smell the bullshit Rylie was slinging. “Is Asher still bothering you?”

Rylie didn’t want to talk about Asher. She’d had to block his number after he’d sent her twenty-eight text messages, one after another, all about whether or not she was living with Dustin. It had been her fault for trying to explain that she was just renting from him; that had only seemed to make things worse.

“No, not for a couple days now.”

“I wish you would just file a restraining order on his ass.”

Rylie sat down in the chair the woman indicated and slipped her feet into the dryer. “I think if I just avoid him, he’ll get tired of trying. Asher never liked to put in much effort when we were dating.”

The other woman finished with Marley’s toes and when she helped her into the chair next to Rylie’s, Marley gave her a hug. “I am so sorry you are going through all this.”

“It’s okay. Dustin has been really great about it.” At Marley’s disgusted face, Rylie protested, “I’m serious. He’s not a bad guy. He’s actually pretty great, he just likes to hide it.”

“Yeah, beneath a layer of slime and sleaze.”

Rylie didn’t respond, and Marley shot her a sharp look. “Do you like Dustin?”

“I just said he was a good guy—”

“No, I mean, do you like him?”

“Of course not,” she said. Was it a lie if she wasn’t sure? She was attracted to him, and obviously wanted him, if this morning’s antics were any clue. Was it anything more than lust, though?

“Why don’t I believe you?” Marley asked.

“Because you are a distrustful person?”

Marley tapped her newly painted red nails against her lips. “Hmmm, no, that’s not

it.”

Rylie did not want to analyze her feelings for Dustin today. “So, after this, it’s eyebrow waxing and then we’re done?”

Marley took the change in subject easily. “We’re not just getting our eyebrows done.”

“We’re not?”

“Nope. You’re getting back into the dating game. You need to be prepared.”

“I shaved my legs this morning…” Rylie’s voice trailed off as she realized what Marley had planned. “Uh uh, hell to the no!”

Marley cackled gleefully, like she was a supervillain revealing her evil plan. “Yes, yes! This is happening.”

“If I get waxed down there I won’t be able to walk for a week!”

“You’ll be fine, seriously… And your date will appreciate it.”

Rylie glared at her. “He won’t be seeing it. At least, not tonight.”

An image of Dustin lifting the skirt of her dress and finding her groomed flashed unbidden through her mind. What did it say that she couldn’t imagine hooking up with Will on the first date, but she had no trouble fantasizing about Dustin getting all up in her business?

Marley seemed to think her silence meant she was mad at her. “Okay, well, it was just a thought. I know that getting my hair and nails done makes me feel pretty and getting a special wax gives me this weird confidence—”