“Cal, we really need to find you some girlfriends. I’m not qualified to answer these questions.”

I spin and head back for the bedroom after throwing Adam the bird and quickly change out of the blouse and into a red, sleeveless button down, then return to the kitchen.

“Better?”

“Callie, they’re both fine.”

“I don’t want fine,” I reply with a scowl. “I want sexy.”

“I’m really the wrong person to ask. You’re practically my sister. I don’t want to have sex with you.”

“I’m relieved to hear it,” I quip and turn a circle, showing off the open back. “I can’t wear a bra with this one.”

“Jesus, Callie,” he says, a pained look on his face. “It’s the first date. At least start it out with most of your clothes on.”

I cock a brow. “Are you preaching to me about keeping my clothes on, Mr. I Walk Around The Apartment Mostly Naked?”

“I’m not on a date.”

“You don’t date.”

“Exactly.”

“I don’t even know what we’re talking about anymore!” I groan and stomp back to my bedroom, changing into a baby blue cami with a pretty chiffon see-through blouse over the top and return to the kitchen. “This is pretty and not slutty.”

“I didn’t say you were slutty before,” he replies, but stops chopping and looks me up and down. “That works.”

“Okay.” I smile, dance a little jig, and run back to my room for my black heels and handbag, then return to the kitchen to put on my jewelry.

“You’re excited about tonight,” Adam says casually while completely destroying an innocent stalk of celery. “What changed your mind about Declan?”

“What do you mean?”

“Didn’t seem like you liked him, and now you’re going out with him.”

“It’s been a while since I went out on a date with a reasonably attractive man,” I reply, not giving away that there’s something about Declan that pulls at me. “A girl’s entitled to want to look pretty.”

“Well, you do,” he says and sighs. “Look, it’s none of my business who you date. I like Declan, and we go back a ways. But he’s also a bit of a player. Not as bad as me, because well, I’m me, but he goes through his share of women.”

I cross my arms and grin at my friend. “I love you too. I’m not marrying him, I’m letting him buy me food.”

“And letting him talk you out of that blouse.”

“Maybe.” My grin spreads as I slip my favorite Alex and Ani bracelets on my arm. “We’ll see.”

The doorbell rings, and I plaster on my completely calm face as I cross to the door and answer it.  As soon as I see him, my stomach is full of butterflies on speed and I’m quite sure my upper lip is sweating.

Not sexy, Callie.

“Hi,” I say lamely and grin as I let my eyes wander up and down his long, lean body. I wasn’t kidding when I told him that I love his height. I love that no matter what shoes I wear, he’s taller than me. At five foot nine, that’s rare for me.

His dark hair is just long enough to touch the collar of his T-shirt, and his clear hazel eyes are soft and sexy as they travel up and down my body. He always looks at me just like this, and it makes me crazy.

It makes me want to climb him, and that’s probably not appropriate for a first date.

Damn it.

“You are gorgeous, darlin’,” he says as he takes my hand and kisses my fingers, sending warm currents up my arm. “You’ll be the sexiest woman in the stadium.”

“Stadium?” I ask.

“The Superdome,” he says with a shrug. “The Saints are playing tonight, and my family has season tickets.”

I simply blink at him for several seconds before my heart skips into overdrive.

“You’re taking me to a football game?”

“Do you hate football?” he asks and cringes. “I’m sorry, we can just go to dinner or anything else you might want to do.”

“I love football,” I reply honestly. “I had season tickets to all of the Denver games when I lived there.”

“Perfect.” He looks over my shoulder at Adam and frowns. “Dude, you’re naked.”

“I’m wearing pants.” Adam looks down and shrugs. “What’s wrong with how I’m dressed?”

“Nothing at all, if you’re Christian Grey,” I reply and roll my eyes. “Bye.”

“Are you going to wear those shoes?” Adam asks. “You’re going to a football game.”

“Yes. I am.” I wave and walk out ahead of Declan, who closes the door behind us and escorts me down to his car. “I expected you to drive something a little more… posh.” I watch him as he starts the car and pulls out into traffic.

“Why?” he asks and takes my hand as he maneuvers his way through the after-work rush. I stare down at our hands and briefly think about pulling away, but his hand feels so good around mine, I leave it.

What’s the harm?

“I know who your family is, Declan.”

“It’s a big family. Hard to miss.”

I roll my eyes and then chuckle. “So, Declan Boudreaux, the youngest son of a billionaire, drives a Jeep?”

“And a fancy bar owner drives a ’68 Camaro.” He laughs and squeezes my hand. “Aren’t we both just full of surprises.”

“I didn’t mean that to sound insulting,” I reply. “I was just surprised.”

“I leave the Bentleys and Maseratis to Beau and Eli.”

“They drive Bentleys?” I ask and then shake my head when he laughs.

“No. Mama and Daddy always had sensible cars. I like my Jeep. It’s fun.”

“I like it too,” I reply, feeling a little embarrassed for the whole conversation.

“How did you come to own your car?” he asks with genuine interest. “She’s a beauty.”

“It was a gift.” From Keith. Declan glances over, but doesn’t press me, and rather than shut up, I keep going. “My ex bought it for me for my last birthday. I was raised by my dad, and I was an only child, so I have a thing for cars and football.”

“Those aren’t bad things to enjoy at all, darlin’,” Declan says with a smile. Rather than rolling his eyes, or accusing me of not being feminine enough the way Keith used to, Declan just smiles at me, accepting me for me.

I haven’t felt that from a man in a very long time. I can feel my guard lowering more and more with Declan and it’s exciting and scary all at the same time. He’s so laid back, easy going, easy to talk to.

When’s the other shoe going to drop?

Stop worrying!

“So your daddy raised you?” he asks as he takes the exit for the Superdome.

“Yes. It was just the two of us. My mom passed away when I was about eight.” I shrug, the way I always do to make it seem like it’s no big deal.

“I’m sorry.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Doesn’t make it hurt less,” he murmurs and kisses my hand. He finds parking, but before I can climb out, he turns toward me and cups my cheek. “I’m also sorry that you lost your daddy a few months ago. I didn’t have a chance to say that before.”

I blink at him, willing myself not to cry. Who is this guy?

“Thank you.”

“Losing a parent is hard, but I can’t imagine losing both of them.”

“I’m doing okay.”

“You’re doing better than okay, Callie. And you should be proud of that.” He leans in and places a soft, gentle kiss on my lips, then leans back with a wide smile. “Okay, let’s go watch some ball.”

***

“What are you, blind?” I yell at the ref hands cupped around my mouth. “He was off-sides!”

“Why are you cheering for the Lions?” Declan asks with a laugh.

“I always cheer for the underdog,” I reply and sip my beer as he passes me a plastic bowl of nachos. “Yum.”

“See? I promised you dinner and I delivered.”

“You did.” I nod as I chew the cheesy goodness, not even trying to worry about all of the preservatives in what I’m throwing down my throat. “I love game food.”

“Me too. Who is your favorite team?”

“The Seahawks.” I grin and steal a bite of Declan’s hotdog, then hold a cheesy chip up to his lips, which he takes and licks my thumb at the same time.

My nipples are rock hard at a football game. That’s a first.