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Thirteen dresses later, we walked out of the mall like two vixens in a music video, slow motion with the wind blowing in our hair as we high-fived one another with the winning dress in hand. Boom!

“Thank you for helping me, Mom. I must admit, it’s pretty cool to have a mama that’s a friend too.”

She grabbed my hand. “You and I are more than friends, Fern. We’re like a really small gang.”

I nodded. “Oooh. We’re like bad bitches.”

“Yes, we may talk too much and be bad influences at times, but damn we’re fun.” We continued holding hands with her car in sight.

I nudged her with my shoulder “Yup, and we will not be remembered as people who kept their mouths shut. Ever.”

She unlocked her door as I walked to the passenger side while she yelled. “Don’t mess with us. There’s regular crazy, and then there’s crazy with an internet connection to crazy!”

After a full day of Sharon and Fern time , I locked my door and bedroom window—Sharon is capable of anything—and took a delightful bubble bath.

I put some curls in my hair, and after several failed attempts, ended up with beautiful fake lashes that I prayed would stay on. The last thing I needed was an eyelash kurplunking into Gabe’s cocktail.

I stood at Fern’s front door just about to ring the doorbell when it flew open with Sharon standing there sporting a smile. She reached up and cupped my face with her hands. “Hello, you sweet boy.”

Her warm hands on my face along with that look in her eye brought my adoptive mother back for a moment. The tiny woman who was a force to be reckoned with. The one who taught and scared the crap out of me at the same time.

She looked me up and down. “Oh, Gabriel, you look so handsome in that suit!” She peeked around me. “And you have a car and driver?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

“Come on in.” She pulled me inside the toasty house. “Jerry, Gabriel’s here.”

Jerry rose and walked over. “Well, look at you.” He extended his hand, and we shook.

“Thank you.”

Sharon sprung up the stairs and out of sight.

“Have a seat. I was just checking out some clips on ESPN.”

I sat on the couch and jumped when Sharon appeared out of nowhere. “Fern will be right down.”

“Great.” I looked at the living room that screamed board games . “I like this room. Very comfortable.”

“Thank you. I got out my paint roller last month and gave the whole place a facelift.” She snickered. “Us old gals need a little nip and tuck from time to time.”

Her cell phone sang out Red Neck Woman , and she grabbed it from the coffee table. “Hello?”

I turned my focus back to ESPN.

“Yes, I can. Do you have a tarp?” She nodded as she listened. “I can bring bleach.”

I looked at Jerry who was mesmerized by the television, missing out on a somewhat alarming conversation.

“Sounds good. See you soon.” She disconnected the call and smiled at me.

I didn’t want to be nosey, but WTF? “Is everything okay?”

She waved her hand in the air. “Of course. Just a little project I’m helping a friend with tonight.”

“I see.”

What was Sharon up to? I was about to dig deeper in the questionable evening plans of Mrs. Novotny, but the world stopped spinning when I noticed the stunning beauty who was making her way down the stairs.

I don’t remember standing, but the next thing I knew, I was in front of her. Dry air hit the back of my throat as I took her in. Her flawless face, popping eyes, and long hair provided the perfect backdrop for the dress that kicked my pulse through the roof.

It hugged every curve and had thin straps that went over her delicate shoulders and fell to just above her knee.

It was navy blue with silver flecks everywhere, making it impossible to not be staring at her.

It highlighted her amazing legs, and the silver shoes with the sexy strap around the ankle sent visions that should not be dancing through my head while in the same room as her father.

My words caught in my throat as I looked into her sapphire eyes that had a sensual glow in contrast to her shiny, ebony hair that spilled over one shoulder.

“You look amazing.” There were no words that could sum up her beauty. Not only the dress, but her inner beauty shined through like a blinding light. Pussy!

“Thank you.”

I was very aware that my mouth was open, and I couldn’t quite pull my eyes from her even when I felt Sharon at my side.

“My little Boo!” She stepped forward and hugged Fern. “Stunning.”

I stepped back as Jerry approached. “Honey, you look wonderful.” He kissed her cheek.

“Thank you.” She looked up at me and bit her lip. With that one look, she had me in the palm of her hand. Never leave me.

“Well, you two had better get out of here. I’m sure Gabriel has a reservation.” Sharon took Jerry’s hand in hers, and I realized that was what I wanted.

Something that could result in a fifty-year relationship. I was waiting for the panic to creep in at the thought, but nada. “Yes, we should probably get going.”

Sharon went to the hall closet and grabbed a long black coat and held it out as Fern slipped her body inside. I followed her to the door like a lovesick pup while whatever the hell perfume she wore weaved itself through me.

I was relieved when the cold air hit me because this woman was literally making me sizzle.

Once inside the car, I reached over and pulled her closer to me.

She took my hand in hers. “So where are we going for dinner?”

“Your mom told me your favorite food in the world was pizza. While that was unexpected, I’m taking you to the very best pizzeria I’ve found.”

“She would know.”

“Speaking of your mom, I overheard a strange conversation?—”

She put her finger over my lips. “Don’t even tell me. Its better I not know anything.”

“Okay, so you prefer to not know things?” I took her finger and kissed it.

“Abso-freaking-lutely. I want to live in a world where the skies are filled with rainbows, unicorns, and glitter.”

“I see. Well, we can shoot for that tonight.” I was fighting the urge to push her back on the seat and let my mouth do the walking. Instead, she leaned over and kissed me.

Her kisses were something out of a fantasy and put me in a time warp. Before I knew it, the car stopped. She pulled away, and it took me a second to regain my brain balance. I sat back, awaiting her reaction to the surprise that had me calling in favors until after midnight.

She looked out the window as her eyes went wide. “What is this?” She looked over at me. “That’s a plane.”

I nodded. “Yeah. We’re going to Chicago for dinner.”

Her jaw dropped. “What? We’re going to Chicago?”

I rubbed her knee. “I said I was taking you to my favorite pizzeria of all time. Right?”

Her eyes, lips, and spirit all at once smiled at me. “We’re going for pizza in Chicago? Tonight?” She giggled. “Like right now?”

The chauffeur opened the door.

“Like right now.” I stood and extended my hand to her. “Come on, Fern Ethel, a night filled with rainbows and glitter is right before us.”

She wrinkled her nose as she stood up. “Aw, that was so damn sweet, Gabe.”

We scooted through the frigid air to the stairs and into the plane.

“Holy crap.” Fern did a spin as she looked around like a child at the circus. “I can’t even believe this.” She turned to me and rested her hands on my chest. “You did this so I could have pizza?”

I watched her eyes travel the stunning plane. White leather seats, a sofa, and dark mahogany everywhere.

“I’d swim across shark-infested waters to bring you a slice.”

She shook her head and started to dig in her purse as she blinked back a tear. “This is the sweetest fucking thing ever.”

I handed her my pocket square.

“Excuse me.” We both spun around to see our pilot. “Good evening, Gabe and Fern. I’m Captain Dan Reid, and I’ll be flying you into Chicago. Let me know when you’re ready, and we can be on our way.”

I looked over at Fern who was staring in disbelief.

“Are we ready?”

She bit that lower lip and nodded. “Yes.”

I took her coat and purse and hung them in the closet by the door before we sat down on the sofa.

“How did you do this?” She buckled her seat belt.

“Let’s just say I have a friend of a friend who has a friend. And that friend loves the Minnesota Wild.” I clicked my seatbelt. “Last night I spent a few hours bargaining on the phone, getting him a suite at a VIP event with a few of my teammates in exchange for the use of this here jet.”

“You did all that for pizza?” She put her hand over that beautiful mouth that I was having trouble staying away from.

“No. I did all that for you.”

She moved her hand to my cheek and looked so hard into my eyes I forgot to breath. “I don’t even know what’s happening.”

I brushed my lips over hers. “We don’t have to know what’s happening. Day by day, right?”

She nodded. “Day by day.”

We walked down the sidewalk to Gino’s East Pizzeria.

“I think I’m overdressed.”

“You are perfection.” I stopped walking and took her hand in mine. “I knew you’d wear what I requested.”

“Oh, did you?” She rolled her eyes. “Maybe I do like you bossing me around a little after all.”

“Hmm.” I slipped my hand into her coat and down to the hem of her dress. Her eyes stayed with mine as I slid it up and caressed her upper thigh. A smirk made its way across her lips before she pulled me to her and kissed me. Everything was cranking up to something I hadn’t known before.

She pulled away and wiped her lipstick from my lips before looking in the window. “It looks closed.”

I pulled open the door. “Not for us.”

We entered as Step Two of the plan was right in front of us. The restaurant was empty and dark except for one table in the center of the room covered with a white tablecloth and lit by candles. I watched her scope out the room.

“Shut the front door. You did all this for dinner?”

I took her hand as our fingers laced together. “When are you going to hear my words?” I kissed her cheek. “I did this for Fern Ethel Novotny.”